SEPT '26: CCAG monthly report

4 hours ago

2 min read

This is the first of a monthly series we will be writing to update you on our animals and their enclosures.

Hawaiian Exhibit/Plants:

Our first ever Endemic Hawaiian plant: the Māmaki germinated this month Planted June 22, 2026, the sprouts are still small and delicate and will not be transplanted for at least a year or too. Mamaki is a large shrub or short lived tree that serves as a fast growing pioneer species that is one of the first to appear after wildfires.
Another Polynesian plant that we successfully germinated is the noni. The noni is a salt-tolerant coastal species that produces a white dogwood-like white fruit. The seeds typically have a lower germination rate than mamaki (one of fifteen planted in June germinated) and take around five - ten years to start maturing.
Another plant that is thriving in the Hawaiian Exhibit is our banana tree, which I took from San Diego earlier this year.
This summer we have also been experimenting with growing rice in small flooded mud containers. Pictured above are three small rice seedlings in a flooded mud container, with a heat lamp set at 80ºF
Due to the recent hot weather, our Kahili gingers and Hibiscus have been growing profusely.
In the above picture, you can see the progress of our Joshua Tree sprout that we planted in 2024. The

Still need to do

We are working on heating the greenhouse. Currently it is not heated and relying on external heat
We will consider a humidifier or a fogger to provide moisture for the plants
We are working on planting more Hawaiian endemics. This is a rough process as the seeds aren't always available and most have very low germination rates, or are just slow growers.
We are working on planting more rare/unique tropical produce. We hope to grow mango, taro, Longan/Lychee, and Rambutan
We need to start propagating an Australian Umbrella Tree to serve as canopy cover; large pothos and monstera, and establish a groundcover (tropical ferns)

We are slowly transitioning from using ocean water to artificial salt water. This is because ocean water has been becoming too difficult to acquire, and prone to bacteria and algal blooms. This habitat is temporarily closed
Once reopened, we will need a powerful filter as well as a wavemaker to simulate the rough rocky coasts of the West.
Additionally, we might need a fan to keep the temperatures cooler.

Lizard tanks are currently under construction. Check back for more updates