Mums Under Attack

We have an intruder at The Compound. About a month ago, I noticed an orange alien noodle growing along with one of my chrysanthemums. I was quite taken with it. It reminded me of the orange wire on the weed whacker. I sat mesmerized by the leafless orange noodle while visions of visitors from outer space danced before my eyes.

After only a week or so, it was obvious that this thing was not going to just go away. I pulled every bit of it off of the plant. It seemed to be attached to the stem with little sucker projections (insert another incredibly imaginable and creative alien day dream into the mix) and I realized it must be parasitic. It wasn't attached to the ground and that gave me the creeps. Within a week, it had grown back even thicker than before. Today, I noticed it was beginning to coil around the tomato cage beside it. It seemed much more menacing. 

I decided to consult my friend, Google. I typed in "parasitic orange vine" and got back Cuscuta, otherwise known as Dodder. How cute! Dodder the orange noodle vine. I went on to read that the old folks refer to it by many names including but not limited to - Devil's Guts, Goldthread, Love Vine, Pull-down, Witch's Hair and my all time fave, Strangleweed. I went off on a mental metaphorical tangent then but rest assured, no one was harmed during the process. 

I went on to learn Dodder seeds can remain dormant in the soil for decades. When it sprouts, it emerges as one, thin yellowish thread. Dodder is yellow or orange in color due to the absence of chlorophyll. If unable to attach itself to a host plant within 5-10 days, it dies. However, it has amazing skills, even for a plant. It prefers host plants such as chrysanthemum, tomato, potato, clover, flax, petunia, impatiens. Studies have shown it detects the chemicals emitted as odors from it's preferred host plants. Basically, the damn thing can smell your tomatoes! Once it produces haustoria, finger like projections, it inserts itself into the vascular system of the plant. And once it's settled in, it breaks all attachment with the soil. It's all over after that. It doesn't necessarily kill the host, it just compromises it's productivity and quality of life. It quickly spreads to neighboring plants and will soon effect large parts of your garden. I went off on another metaphorical jaunt in my mind...

If allowed, it will flower and produce large quantities of minute seeds. The same seed that can lie dormant in the ground for sixty years. Thus completing the vicious cycle of Dodder, the orange noodle vine intent on choking out everything in it's path. I removed the mum and scraped all the newest reaching tendrils from the tomato cage. I burned them. It all seemed so easy. I identified the problem and followed the recommendations for removal. Threat annihilated, right? 

We'll see what happens. If it works that easily, it will be a wonder. Because things never are as easy as they seem. Are they?