Mistletoe

[ScrubbieLady]

Anybody know how to intentionally start mistletoe.

We have some bunches around here. Little storm this past weekend blew one bunch down. I'd like to start it somewhere at an accessible level and maybe sell bunches next year.

I know it needs to be on a living tree. Can I just start it like grafting?

Thanks

[zebraman]

Hey ScrubbieLady;The reason you see it mostly in the tops of trees is because birds eat the white berries and when it goes through their system and out the other end any that lands on the tree will grow after a rain.You could just mix crushed berries w/bird or chicken/scat and with a putty knife slather it on to the bark of a tree.-

[kawalekm]

HI Scubbielady
God, I'm agast at the very idea! Some of the oaks on my property are mistletoe infected and I don't have to walk more than a few feet before I find a dead or dying tree. The bunches of mistletoe reach 1-2 feet in diameter and you'd need both hands to carry them. I think that intentially trying to spread mistletoe is the same as intentially infecting things with a disease. I don't know what the law is in your area, but intentially spreading mistletoe might be a criminal offense you could be fined for! I'd rather invite you to my property and let you cart off as much of it as you can carry.

[ScrubbieLady]

Thanks zebraman, but I am just talking about the patch that came down. We have other spots of mistletoe as we are in the middle of a forested area and we have a LOT of oak trees.

Kawalekm, sorry you are having problems with mistletoe in your area. I don't know where you are but we do not have that big of a problem around here. Our problem is kudzu which some "intelligent" government group thought would stop erosion. It does but it also covers everything in sight if you don't keep after it. That is the key. Any thing is a weed and/or a problem if it is growing where you don't want/need it. We keep after the kudzu in our woods and don't have a problem.

[kawalekm]

Sorry S.L.
I didn't mean to over-react. Mistletoe is the number one problem in our area. It kills more trees than any other cause. We have Black, Blue, and California White oaks on our property. The Blacks appear to be the must susceptable, while the C. Whites appear most resistant. I have started collecting acorns and sprouting seedlings from the resistant trees In the hope that I can start a healthier next generation. Sorry to hear about the Kuzdo! I guess everyone should focus on the local ecology of their areas before making perscriptions.

[ScrubbieLady]

No problem. Good luck with the seedlings.

[Pigzzilla]

Mistletoe is a parasite.

I used to make and sell belt buckles made with mistletoe many years ago. I may start making them again when we build our house on our land. Lotsa oaks and plenty of mistletoe.