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RE: Do you grow? ~ Propagating my Pothos Plant

in #doyougrow7 years ago

I vote we call it Devil's Ivy!
Here in Florida's sub-tropical climate your mild mannered house plant takes on a wholly different appearance and behavior. That leaf you see that's only about 3 inches long grows to over three FEET down here. As long as folks keep it contained in a pot it's alright, BUT if released into the wild it becomes the kudzu of house plants. I've seen it grow to the tops of an 80 foot pine trees (complete with gigantic leaves). The vine itself is 2-3 inches in diameter. You can swing on them. I have.
But the real surprise is that they contain oxalates which you might be familiar with from similar plants like dieffenbachia (dumb cane). Oxalates are a defence mechanism of many plants (e.g. tarro) to protect them from being eaten. They are micro crystals which cause an intense burning or itching so try not to rub your eyes after you've been pinching stems.
They are pretty and easy to grow and propagate. It's one of the few plants I know that grows nearly as well in tap water as dirt. The good news for you is that they are killed by freezing temperatures. So, if y'all head south to visit us PLEASE leave the pothos at home.

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Maybe I should head south and bring one back here! I can only imagine how prolific they get without a pot to bind their roots! My friend calls them swamp plants, you literally can't overwater them haha!!
Thank you for the oxalates tip, I have been lucky so far I guess! Sounds like rubbing it into your eyes would be bad news...

If you come bring a truck. We have plenty ;-)
We never grow them in dirt; too much trouble.
Just cut them and stick 'em in water. Even if you put them in the water upside down they'll live but not grow larger. I guess they only know how to grow up, not down.