How to plant gaharu seedlings?

Gaharu seedlings can be planted in varies location. However, there are few precautions need to be concerned before planting gaharu trees. These included:

1. Flood area could not be planted with gaharu trees. Even the flood will only happen once to twice a year which might be last only for an hour or even half an hour. This is because after the roots are submerged in water, its root will be rotten. Maybe changes cannot be seen on the first few months. But, actually the roots are starting to be rotten days by days which will kill the trees in the long term. 
2. Thus, gaharu trees cannot be planted in heavy soil. This is because the heavy soil will have many clay particles that will retain water and stagnant water are happening all the time. So, gaharu trees planted in this area will die.
3. Other than the causes above, chemicals are not advisable to be used in gaharu plantation. Gaharu can be used to produce medicine. So, chemicals such as herbicide, fungicide, insecticide and chemical fertilizer should be avoided. 
4. Gaharu seedlings prefer shade and moist conditions. Hence, when the seedlings are first planted in the field, sun shade net or dry coconut leaves should be used to provide the shady situation. Besides, big trees also can be retained in the area that wish to plant gaharu seedlings.
5. Normally, when we give you the seedlings, we will water it before sending it to you. So, the seedlings sent are recommended to be planted on that particular day. If you wish to plant the seedlings a few days after, you should water the soil one night before you plant it in your field. 
6. Weather before planting and after planted are very crucial especially within that planting week. Gaharu seedlings can be planted  one or two day(s) after raining. This will increase the survival rate where the seedling will not lack of water. If the weather after planting gaharu seedlings is very hot, watering is needed to maintain the survival rate. 

Before planting gaharu seedlings, planting holes should be prepared. It is suggested that planting holes with size around 6 in X 6 in X 6 in are dug. And it is left for 2 weeks so that rain and sunshine can react repeatedly. Through this method, the soil is oxygenated, which mean it helps in the root growth. 

Planting holes prepared for planting gaharu seedlings.
(Retrieved from http://gaharujinkou.wordpress.com/cultivated-agarwood/planting/)

Afterward, organic fertilizer such as composted cow dung (preferable) or composted chicken dung (need to be fully composted so that the bacteria contain in it are fully killed) is added to the hole with a layer of soil covered on the fertilizer. Then the seedlings are planted in roughly half of the soil from polybag is above ground layer. The hole is then filled with soil and the boundary is chamfered to improve water drainage. Then the seedlings are covered with either sun shade net or coconut leaves and left for it to grow. Normally it will take around 2 months for the seedlings have new leaf. Once the roots absorb the nutrients, it will grow faster. 

Gaharu seedling that planted for around 4 months.

There are few planting distances are suggested in gaharu plantation and the nearest suggested planting distance is 6 ft X 6 ft. So, the suggested planting distance together with total trees can be planted in 1 acre are listed below.

Planting distance (ft)	Total trees can be planted in 1 acre
6 ft X 6 ft	1,210
8 ft X 8 ft	681
9 ft X 9 ft	538

Please feel free to contact me for more information: 
(O): +60 82 456 095 (Ms. Jong)
(H/P): +6014 699 5976
Email: hopebiotech.jong@gmail.com 

China’s species gaharu trees

There is a species of gaharu tree that have higher growing rates as compared to a local gaharu tree. This tree is scientifically known as Aquilaria sinensis. And we, Hope Biotech Sdn Bhd also sell this species. A. sinensis also belongs in the same family and genus with A. malaccensis which is stated below: 

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Tracheophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Myrtales

Family: Thymelaeaceae

Genus: Aquilaria

Species: Aquilaria sinensis

A. sinensis is native in China in the district of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Yunnan and it is being the main source species in gaharu plantation. Its characteristics are shown in the picture below:

Aquilaria sinensis characteristics.
(Retrieved from http://www.ngensis.com/flora/fn01.htm)

Before this, A. sinensis is a valuable fragrant wood used for incense and medicine. And now it is used in producing various products such as cosmetics products, daily usage items and also accessories. Good quality gaharu is mostly derived from A. malaccensis. However, due to the depleting of such quality gaharu, resin produced by A. sinensis has been used as a substitute for the former gaharu and thus it is also under threats. 

For us, Hope Biotech Sdn Bhd, we are selling A. sinensis in polybags with height below 2ft as you can see in the picture below. 

A. sinensis that are just transplanted into polybags.

A. sinensis that are ready to be planted. 

May today is your best day!

Please do feel free to contact us for more information.
Email: hopebiotech.jong@gmail.com
(O): +60 82 456 095
(H/P): +60 14 699 5976

Local Gaharu Tree Species

For Hope Biotech Sdn Bhd, we are selling two local species:

• Aquilaria malaccensis and 
• Aquilaria microcarpa.

Both of these species are locally known as gaharu, agarwood, aloeswood, lign-aloes and oudh. So, in this article, I'll only discuss about these two species. 

Aquilaria malaccensis
Aquilaria malaccensis belongs to the family of Thymelaeaceae where its scientific classification is as stated below:

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Tracheophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Myrtales

Family: Thymelaeaceae

Genus: Aquilaria

A. malaccensis is a native plant of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Iran, Islamic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. This is the very first species that are listed in Appendix II of CITES in February 1995 where all the export or re-export of this species and importing countries of CITES party will need permits to ensure that A. malaccensis is maintained within the levels that are not detrimental to the survival of the species (Barden et al., 2000). Its characteristics are shown in the figure below. 

Aquilaria malaccensis characteristics.
(Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/a0917e/a0917e04.htm)

As reported by the IUCN Red List, A. malaccensis is being traded internationally for the infected wood part that is known as gaharu for centuries. Only 7-10% of naturally grown gaharu trees will produce it and most of the gaharu in the market are collected from the wild. Thus, this had resulted in overexploitation throughout its range. 

Aquilaria microcarpa
Aquilaria microcarpa has the same scientific classification. However, it is only native in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. All the gaharu producing species are then listed in Appendix II, CITES in 2004. This is due to the increased level of trade over the past decade which is then led to the overexploitation of gaharu species. 

A. microcarpa can be found in lowland forests up to 200m elevation. Its characteristics are shown in the figure below. For centuries, gaharu is being used as incense, perfume and traditional medicine. And currently, gaharu can be processed into various types of products which included fragrance, pleasant purpose, daily item and also accessories. 

Aquilaria microcarpa characteristics. 
(Retrieved from http://htysite.com/gaharu.htm)

Please do feel free to contact us for more information.
May today is your best day!
Email: hopebiotech.jong@gmail.com
(O): +60 82 456 095
(H/P): +60 14 699 5976

Gaharu seedlings for sale!

Generally, there are 10 countries that can found gaharu trees which included Malaysia, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, India, Philippines and Bhutan. We, Hope Biotech Sdn Bhd is selling 2 types of gaharu seedlings which are:

1. Local (Malaysia's species) and 
2. China's species. 

For your reference, local species will have higher quality gaharu, however it has a lower growth rate as compared to China's species. For China's species, it will have a higher growth rate as compared to local species, but, lower quality gaharu produced. 

Gaharu trees can be planted in all types of soil except those will cause stagnant water. This is especially for those places that will flood, even half an hour or an hour flood also cannot be accepted. This is because if gaharu roots are immersed in water, it can cause rotten roots which is more then can be known from the yellowing leaves. 

Let's take our parts in greening our natural. 

Please feel free to contact me for more information. 

Jong (Ms)
Email: hopebiotech.jong@gmail.com

(O): +60 82 456095

(H/P): +60 14 6995976