Pothos vine

[SubTropicRay]

Will a well established Pothos vine die if all the roots are cut at the ground level?  The plant develops roots above the ground as it climbs but are these enough to sustain the plant?

Thanks in advance,

Ray

[Walt]

I once had a particular pothos vine that the vine stem was severed near the ground, yet the vine and leaves climbing the tree trunk seemed unaffected (long afterward of the severing).

I asked Bob Riffle about this and he said pothos was semi-epiphytic, hence why it was probably still healthy. However, he wasn't totally sure (as far as your question) if the vine would survive over time. Possibly it might reroot, I don't know.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Interesting question, Ray.  I would say that if the rainfall or irrigation is sufficient, and if there is a good bit of debris accumulated around the roots to hold the moisture, and the leaves are in shade, there is a good possibility of survival.

Jerry

[fastfeat]

I agree with Jerry. Might suffer some initial setback, but it will probably survive. Once established, I think most moisture uptake does occur from the aerial roots than from ones in the ground.

I've established small Monsteras in royal poinciana crotches (with only the leaf-litter as "soil") and they've taken off once they get some aerial roots out on the trunk.

[SubTropicRay]

OK , next question.  Short of renting a cherry picker, how can I rid myself of this pest?

Thanks again,

Ray

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Ray,

I would try mixing up a gallon of round-up in a bucket, cutting the Pothos off at ground level and sticking the stem into the bucket.  I bet it sucks up most of the stuff.  If that works, it will just dry up and blow away.  How high up on the tree is it?

Jerry

[jdapalms]

This plant is a pest and will swallow anything around. I have them climbing on my Ohia trees. What I have been doing is cutting everything away from the ground. What happens is all the large leaves will drop although the vine is not dead and will continue to try to get to the floor. I have been consistant with not letting the arial roots drop back to the floor. Some of the smaller vines have dried up. For the larger more establised vines this is not enough. I have been at this for a few years now and the larger vines are still alive and continue to try to regrow. Round up does not do anything. I may try dipping the ends in crossbow a product that kills hardwoods mixed with a little deisel fuel , I think this will do the trick.

Jerry

[fastfeat]

Vine removal in large trees is usually best left to professionals, IMO. A bucket truck and/or ropes are really needed to safely navigate in large trees, whether its to remove tree limbs or vine chunks. Pothos stems and leaves are heavy and will exude slippery and fairly caustic sap that make them difficult for novices not used to being in trees to handle safely. Throw in swinging a chainsaw and trying to dislodge aerial roots from bark (especially tough on live oaks, less so on palms), and you've got some real work here.

I'd personally bite the bullet; hire someone with a boom (easiest and fastest) and a chipper truck to cut and haul it away.

[SubTropicRay]

Ken,

I've already tried this.  The local companies I've called will not remove this vine.

Thanks,

Ray

[fastfeat]

Ray--

Bummer. Might try the ISA website; they list certified arborists by city:

www.isa-arbor.com

This situation is, unfortunately, too common. Tree companies, especially ones contracting with municipalities, don't like to remove vines when they're getting paid a flat rate per tree. So the vine remains until the next trim cycle, and of course, it's only gotten bigger and more time-consuming (i.e.: expensive) to remove. And so on, and on...

Might be worth trying the other cutting/herbicide methods suggested here. If they work, just realize you'll have a rather long-term clean-up issue to deal with from (hopefully) falling brown leaves.

Best of luck--

Ken.

[plant guy]

(Ray, Tampa @ Jan. 27 2008,10:26)

QUOTE

OK , next question.  Short of renting a cherry picker, how can I rid myself of this pest?

Thanks again,

Ray

Hi use killz all but be careful not to get it on the grass just spray it on a couple of your pothos leaves as the leaves absorb it it shuts down the plants way of taking up water and that s how it kills it .it will not hurt the trees or other plants as long as you dont get it on any other leaves of a plant!

[Dave-Vero]

Miami-Dade County pulled pothos from the Deering Estate's hammock.  Vines were gathered in clear plastic bags.  No herbicides.  

http://www.deeringestate.com/

[fastfeat]

Here are a few shots of  an all-green pothos I found in Pompano Beach yesterday.

Much less common (than the variegated one); no less vigorous!

[Alicehunter2000]

I am trying to grow one up an oak tree here........cold kills it.....but the roots survive and it will hopefully look like the ones in the pics one day.

The real reason I posted is that I am having to scroll way, way, way to the right to read this post.....very annoying.

[fastfeat]

David--

What are your monitor settings? The largest pic I posted is 1280 X 960.

[Alicehunter2000]

1024 by 768 pixels.....is this what you mean?

[fastfeat]

David,

I meant display size on your monitor. Mine is at 1280 X 800, so I guess that's why I don't have to scroll over on the bigger pics.

Can you adjust the display size (under Control Panel) so you can view bigger pics without having to scroll to the right?