Taming Vines With Topiary

It’s a jungle out there! Are your belligerent beauties growing wild? Out of control vines take over a woman’s sunroom!

Relax, these aren’t tabloid headlines and the plants aren’t taking over the country.

Taming philandering philodendrons and insolent ivy can be as simple as constructing totems and topiaries. You may not be as ambitious as the creator of Mickey but shaping and forming plants can be started in a few steps.

Totems: Training a vine to grow around a slab of wood or tree bark creates a totem. First, select a container large enough to hold both a slab and your plant. This container should have good drainage and be wide enough to provide stability.

Next, choose a slab three to five times taller than the container. Make sure if you use bark or a fresh slice taken from a tree that it is pest and disease free. Center your slab upright and firmly pack two to four inches of potting soil around it.

Add your vine, fill with more soil and lightly tamp. Make sure your plant is at the same level it was in the previous pot.

Attach the stems to the slab with either tape, twist ties or string until roots are established. Treat these plantings as you would any other houseplant.

Topiaries: Topiary is the art of transforming plants into beautiful living ornaments. carefully guiding selected shoots and pinching back unwanted shoots; you can sculpt various eye-catching shapes.

This is where your artistic eye comes into play. Decide what you want to have as your finished product. Maybe a wreath or a heart made of ivy would be nice.

Trailing herbs like rosemary and thyme can also make interesting subjects for topiary. You can make frames by shaping a coat hanger or heavy gauge wire. If you don’t have the time or ability to create a wire frame, check your local garden shop or nursery for ready-made frames.

Don’t be afraid to ask them to order frames, most proprietors will be happy to order them for you. Another option is to add chicken wire to your frame and fill with coconut fiber. Air roots like those on philodendrons will attach to the fiber and create a stronger anchor.

Now that you have a shape in mind, it is time to train your unruly plant. First, insert your frame and transplant the subject into the container you want to use. Fasten the vines to the frame with green florist’s wire or tie with string. Keep a close watch that these fasteners never cut into the plant.

Next, keep an eye on the growth pattern. Pinch off unwanted shoots and root them for yourself or friends. You may need to occasionally turn the planter to curb branches from growing towards the light.

Totems and topiaries can make great winter projects. In time, you will have an attractive living ornament to show off to your gardening friends!