Pothos vine

[JeffreyApolloBeach]

I have seen many pothos going up Live Oaks around town in Tampa Bay.  Does the pothos vine take nutrients off the tree, therefore probably hurting the tree in the long run?

Thanks.

Jeffrey

[junglegalfla]

Jeffrey,

I can't say for sure but I think if anything, they just add extra weight to the limbs. After a number of years, the vines will get massive. One of the oldest oaks in St. Pete at sunken gardens has them growing on it with no problems.

[fastfeat]

Jeffrey--

They don't the tree by taking anything with their roots, but they can smother foliage the tree needs to photosynthesize, though most of the pothos stems prefer to orient themselves vertically.

As Junglegal, said, weight of the vine mass is a serious issue. On a solid, rot-free live oak trunk, one could get away with pothos for years. But the vines typically conceal decay pockets and other branching defects. This is especially a problem on old laurel oaks!

Also, the foliage mass adds serious sail effect during hurricanes.

In general, I'd recommend keeping vines, especially big heavyweights like pothos, out of trees. If you don't have pothos in a tree, I can't recommend starting one!

[JeffreyApolloBeach]

Thanks for the replies.  I don't have any mature trees right now.  I was thining of building a trellis or standing a 2x4 or something so the pothos could grow up on it.  I like the large leaf and the variagation on some of them.

Thanks.

Jeffrey

[SubTropicRay]

Hello Jeffrey,

It's more likely to damage to the owner of the tree LOL.  I love the tropical appearance of these plants in someone elses yard/garden.  Unfortunately, I made the mistake of letting one of these go in the garden about 10 years ago.  It went through the amazing transformation from little leaves to gargantuan.  It will stain your clothes worse than crotons too!  Don't pick up any fallen leaves when you come home from work.

Ray

[Jeff Searle]

Like Ray just stated, the Pothos can really add to a tropical look or feeling. I had some small ones on the ground recently and were stating to climb up on some of my prized crotons. Well, it did'nt take long before they were starting to smother out the croton. So, you have to be very careful where this vine grows. It's hard to have that balance. But, in certain areas, it can be maintained if your willing to keep an eye on it.

Jeff

[JeffreyApolloBeach]

Thanks for the advice on keeping this plant under control.  I remember seen a couple of places where this plant was so out of control that it was a ground cover and a vine at the same time!!  (or, that was probably the intent of the owner, so it was probably under control!!  )  :-)

I'm planning on keeping it in a pot inside my lanai.  I'll stand a long 2x4 or something so it can grow up on it.  It will give the large leave and tropical look I want in the lanai, and I feel it won't take as much space as other plants might.

Thanks.

Jeffrey