Flame vine

[Joss in Mexico]

I bought an old casa in Mexico with a very old flame vine, pyrostegia that never had any are and looks dead in areas. I would hate to remove this plant, any advice on how to fix it?

 

[Joss in Mexico]

 

[Meadowlark]

Welcome @Joss in Mexico.

Those can really be stunningly beautiful plants. I would start on yours by pruning out all the dead areas and all areas where you don't want the plant to be...such as hanging on power lines.

They're best pruned after blooming season but in the case of dead and/or unwanted vines they should be taken out sooner the better. Regular pruning thereafter will keep it in check and looking nice.

One growing tip I learned is that they don't do well with excess nitrogen. A regular light feeding works well.

We had one until last year's polar vortex brought in several hours of temps in the teens...but in mild winters it really does well in any garden.

 

[Joss in Mexico]

thank you!!!

 

[Anniekay]

Since it has grown all over your house and flame vines are so vigorous that they will grow over 10' in a year, I would cut it right back to only a foot tall and by the end of the year it'll be up to the roof once again .

 

[cpp gardener]

There’s that.

 

[oneeye]

Thanks for the post friend. Wow!! Where that is growing the plant is suppose to be green. I would go the base of the plant and find the main stalk and cut it off as close to the ground as possible and (wait a couple of weeks) then come back and pull the main base and remove the dead plant completely off the building. Remove anything on the roof that's brown and dead, then clean the areas well with a high pressure water sprayer. Leaving that stuff on the roof is asking for trouble in the future and if it were me I would never let it grow back like that again. Your roof may already be damaged.

Good luck friend keep us posted.

 

[Joss in Mexico]

Thank you! I’ll get on it

 

[Joss in Mexico]

I greatly appreciate all your knowledge

 

[cpp gardener]

Since the roof is clay tiles, I wouldn’t worry too much about the vine causing damage.

 

[oneeye]

Since the roof is clay tiles, I wouldn’t worry too much about the vine causing damage.

cpp your post tells me you don't know much about the damage caused from vegetation on roofs. Especially with clay tiles.

 

[oneeye]

Will vines growing on a clay tile roof cause damage AI?

Yes, plant vines, especially aggressive varieties with clinging roots or tendrils, and potentially destroy clay roofs, as they can wedge themselves into cracks in the clay tiles, lift them, and eventually cause significant damage to the roof structure by dislodging tiles and compromising the roof's integrity over time; therefore, it's generally not recommended to allow vines to grow on clay roofs without proper support and regular maintenance.

Clinging roots and tendrils:
Vines that use these mechanisms to climb can easily grip onto clay tiles, creating leverage to pry them loose, especially if the mortar between tiles is already weakened.

Moisture trapping:
Vines can trap moisture against the roof surface, which can accelerate the deterioration of clay tiles and mortar.

Weight and stress:
As the vine grows, its weight can put additional strain on the roof structure, further exacerbating potential damage. Google

 

[oneeye]

What to do instead:

Trellises or other supports:
If you want to grow vines near your home, use dedicated trellises or other structures positioned away from the roof to guide their growth.

Choose non-invasive vines:
Select vine varieties that are known to be less aggressive and do not have strong clinging mechanisms.

Regular maintenance:
Regularly prune vines to prevent them from reaching the roof and monitor for any signs of damage to your clay tiles. Google

 

[RockyAldo]

Flame vines love a good trim and need a sturdy support and some water to keep those blooms popping.

 

[Daria44]

I bought an old casa in Mexico with a very old flame vine, pyrostegia that never had any are and looks dead in areas. I would hate to remove this plant, any advice on how to fix it?

Trim back the dead parts to encourage new growth. Give it some good water, but not too much pyrostegia likes well-drained soil. You can also add some compost or slow-release fertilizer to boost it.