Why Does Boston Ivy Climb Walls? Seedling Prices, Planting Methods and Damage to Houses
Boston ivy is also known as climbing ivy, Japanese ivy, flying centipede, false grape vine, red silk grass, stone blood, iron trust, iron railing. It blooms in summer, with small yellowish-green flowers and purple-black berries.So how much does a Boston ivy seedling cost per plant? Why does it climb walls? Is it harmful to houses? How do you plant it? According to Manager Wang of a nursery base in Zhejiang, seedlings of 40~60CM cost 0.65~0.8 yuan; seedlings of 60~90CM cost 0.8~1 yuan; seedlings of 80~120CM cost 1~1.2 yuan; seedlings of 120~160CM cost 1.6~2.9 yuan.
Why does Boston ivy climb walls?
The stems of Boston ivy bear many pink short fine filaments, which botanists call tendrils. Each short tendril can grow several suckers that secrete a sticky substance outward. These suckers can adhere tightly to the surface of hard objects just like the suction-cupped feet of a gecko, fixing the stem to rocks, trees or walls, and even strong winds cannot blow them off. New tender stems can continue to grow upward, and the vine stems can reach more than 30 meters, as if slowly climbing up.
Is Boston ivy harmful to houses?
Yes.
1. Attracts mosquitoes and insects
Mosquito bites in summer are a very annoying thing, and I believe everyone has felt this. Houses planted with Boston ivy naturally cannot avoid this drawback. Mosquitoes and insects are still a minor matter; it would be worse if it attracted venomous snakes that like shaded environments.
2. Damages the wall surface
The stems, leaves and tendril claws of Boston ivy are very strong. As it continuously climbs upward, it naturally penetrates into the gaps in the wall surface, gripping tightly to ensure the plant is not blown down, so over the years it is bound to cause damage to the wall.
Benefits:
1. Shade and noise reduction
When planting Boston ivy, leave a little distance from the base of the wall, and in one or two years it can grow very lushly. The dense branches and leaves cover the wall surface, forming a natural shading effect. In the hot summer, with the protection of Boston ivy, you will not feel hot even living in the house. In addition, the climbing of Boston ivy can also play an isolating role, reducing the harm of noise to residents, and because of the plant's natural air-purifying effect, it can also reduce dust accumulation and increase the humidity in the air environment.
2. Beauty and greening
The verdant, deep green leaves of Boston ivy also make it a wonderful greening plant. Spreading over the exterior walls of buildings, it is like putting on a magical coat. In spring you enjoy the green leaves, in summer you view the tiny flowers, and in autumn you can also admire that touch of slight yellow.
How do you plant Boston ivy?
1. Cutting propagation Boston ivy is easy to propagate by cuttings and can be done with softwood or hardwood cuttings, in spring, summer and autumn. For spring and summer cuttings in arid areas, bed cuttings can be done without a shade shed, and management is relatively extensive.
2. Layering propagation Layering roots relatively quickly and has a high survival rate. It is mostly carried out before the rainy season, and in autumn it can be severed from the parent plant to become a new plant. The seedlings can then be dug up and planted or heeled in, to be planted the following spring.
3. Seed propagation The seeds mature in October. After harvesting, remove the flesh, then sow immediately or wash and air-dry for storage. The following spring, 2 months before sowing, soak the seeds in clean water for 2 days and then stratify them in sand. Near the sowing period, place them in a sheltered, sunny spot or indoors for 5~7 days, keeping them moist to promote germination, and sow when some seeds have split open. Either bed sowing or ridge sowing can be used. With careful management, annual seedlings can grow to 1~2 meters.
4. Buried branch or buried root propagation Take branches or side roots of the mother plant, 0.5~1 cm thick, open a furrow and lay them flat, cover with 2-3 cm, press lightly, irrigate to preserve soil moisture, and let them grow into new plants. The following spring, cut each plant at the connection point to form separate individuals. This method can be carried out in spring, summer and autumn.