|
Post by Sam on Aug 2, 2018 4:08:14 GMT -5
Jewel Weed has very pretty flowers. Some mottled brilliant orange and some bright yellow. The plant is widely recognized as a good treatment for poison ivy. Crush the succulent stems and rub the sap onto the affected area. It has virtually no odor, is not sticky or gooey and doesn't stain. It's also said to be good for bee stings. Here, I'm trying to post a side by side comparison of the two very different blossoms. Either will work for the poison ivy. [/url
|
|
|
Post by froglady on Aug 2, 2018 8:25:19 GMT -5
Thanks for these lovely images! I am almost sure I have the one on the right on my property in mid-spring. I will have to scrutinize the little flower closer, the next time I see that color out there. You always get such clear shots..........steady hand for sure.
|
|
|
Post by les on Aug 3, 2018 0:55:10 GMT -5
Good shot Sam
|
|
|
Post by Sam on Aug 3, 2018 3:57:45 GMT -5
Thank you froglady, and les, Froglady, the plant will be tall, usually with big 'knuckles' at the joints. It is a succulent and has LOTS of sap. If you do get poison ivy and have to locate a patch that isn't handy, you can cut lengths of the stalks and put them in the fridge. They'll stay fresh enough to use for several days. Take out one stalk, crush it, rub it on the poison ivy till it's gone. As always, if you have a sever case or if it's in your eyes ... see a Dr. and get the shot!
|
|
|
Post by froglady on Aug 3, 2018 12:27:25 GMT -5
Thanks for informing me that it is a taller weed. I'll be watching for it! Heaven forbid that I get poison ivy again. I was literally covered from head to toe about 15 years ago and discovered that a barbed wire fenceline that I was tearing down, was literally covered with poison ivy. One tree that had been 'dead' for a couple of years suddenly put on glorious leaves that year and puzzled me but when I got the rash, and did some investigating, I discovered that it was poison ivy totally bringing the tree to life again.......from top to bottom. I dressed myself almost totally in thick denim and leather for about another month digging the whole ditchline up, carefully following the thick ivy roots a shovelful at a time, trying to get every tiny thread of the root system off that ditchline. My son went out in shirtsleeves and ripped the whole vine off the 15 ft tall tree and never got one blister. Cut the dead tree down so it didn't hide roots that I could not dig out. I've never seen poison ivy on that ditchline again but do have about 10 ft of another fenceline where I've seen sprigs and a couple of vines climbing up the fence. I HATE poison control especially because the poison ivy is trying to climb one of my crepe myrtle trees but I will do just about anything to get rid of that stinking painful ivy!!!
|
|
|
Post by Sam on Aug 4, 2018 4:13:56 GMT -5
You can minimize the damage a little. Look for a 'selective' broad leaf spray. 2 - 4 - d is a good active ingredient. It will kill only broad leave vegetation. It shouldn't harm your grass unless you repeat treatments with a really strong solution. Ortho Weed B Gone is a decent brand. It is systemic and should kill roots and all. You can further control it by wearing GOOD nytril gloves and applying with a sponge paint brush directly to the leaves instead of spraying. If you're careful you can get the herbicide only on the poison ivy. If you're highly allergic, as is sounds, you should make an effort to get rid of all of it you can. Also ... burning the dead vine may not be advisable as I'm told you can even get the oil from the smoke while it's burning. I do know that you can get it from a pet that has it on its coat. Some folks are just not allergic to it. My dad could eat it, rub it on his arms ... nothing! I do get it but not as bad as some folks and I can usually get to some Jewel Weed quickly. I also treat it with household bleach.
|
|
|
Post by froglady on Aug 7, 2018 9:34:59 GMT -5
Great information Sam. Thank you. Waiting for these 'almost everyday' popup showers to stop, so I can take care of it. I tried bleach during the drought, and the first good rain brought them back.......so I HAVE to use some deep root spray. Already have that and I do think I'll use a brush this time. I have various plants in the same fenceline that I do not want to damage. I will also use my face mask. My mother was highly allergic and wound up in the hospital years ago, with poison ivy in her lungs. They did a lot of 'burning' back then, and she thought that is how she managed to breathe enough of it in to almost die from it. Stubborn weeds!!!
|
|
|
Post by Sam on Aug 8, 2018 4:20:30 GMT -5
If you know you're dealing with it, take every precaution you can. RUBBER boots,gloves, long sleeves, at least a mask and shower or at least wash off as soon as possible after being around it. I've seen folks hospitalized after an encounter with poison ivy.
I got a fresh dose on the back of my left hand yesterday. Weed eating. It's all over the place at Brooks.
|
|