Parasitic nuisance Ask JJ

Cindy van Heerden of Parklands, Cape Town writes We have been battling for ages to eradicate this awful invasive plant on our property in Britannia Bay that is overwhelming our succulents – apparently it is called dodder. We try to pick it off but simply cannot get it all out and it seems to spread to other surrounding succulents. What can we spray that will kill the dodder but not damage the plants themselves?

JJ replies Dodder is a parasitic plant that contains no chlorophyll – thus its yellow colour – so no herbicide will kill it. The best way to eradicate dodder is to cut it out and ensure that no pieces are left behind as the smallest piece of stem has the ability to regrow for two weeks without a host plant. Burn what you remove and check your plants as often as possible. >> Listen to JJ’s gardening tips and tricks on Derrich Gardner’s show Brekfis met Derrich at 07:40 every Saturday on RSG.