Whether as a privacy hedge, for greening walls and house edges or as ground cover - bare spots in the garden can be beautified with ivy. The robust climbing plant is very fast-growing and can live for many years. A little guide on how to plant ivy properly.

Since ivy is poisonous, gloves should be worn when planting

Can ivy be kept as a houseplant?

Ivy can be planted not only in the garden, but also in the tub. You can even plant it in flower boxes. You can even take care of ivy as a bonsai.

Which location is suitable for ivy?

  • shady
  • semi-shady
  • no direct midday sun
  • like north-facing balconies in tubs

Ivy likes shade, but can also cope with partially shaded locations. Strong midday sun should be avoided. Variegated varieties will only develop their colors if they get some sun each day.

As a houseplant, a place in the flower window is possible all year round. However, the plant should be protected from direct sunlight, especially at midday.

Which substrate does ivy prefer?

Ivy is not very demanding on the soil. Plain garden soil, which you can enrich with some compost before planting, is sufficient.

The substrate should be able to hold moisture well. Waterlogging must be avoided at all costs.

When is the best planting time?

It is best to plant ivy in spring or autumn. In principle, you can plant the climbing plant at any time, as long as it doesn't freeze. In summer you need to make sure that the soil does not dry out and water frequently.

What planting distance should be maintained?

When planting as ground cover or privacy screen, keep a planting distance of about 25 centimeters.

Keep a sufficient distance to walls, fences and neighboring properties so that the plant does not become a nuisance. Masonry can be damaged by the clinging roots. Old ivy plants can kill trees.

How is ivy planted?

If you bought ivy in a pot, dig a planting hole of the appropriate size. If you are growing your own plants, place them in the ground so that the roots are well covered.

Keep the soil moist but avoid waterlogging.

In the first winter, light winter protection makes sense. Apply a layer of mulch or cover the ivy with fir branches.

Can ivy be transplanted?

Transplanting ivy does not make sense. If you want to green other places in the garden, you should rather pull offshoots. In its mature form, ivy forms a very pronounced root system that cannot be dug up without damaging it.

How is ivy propagated?

Propagation is by cuttings, which should be cut in the spring if possible. If you cut shoots from young plants for propagation, you will get offshoots that also tend to climb. If you use adult shoots, the resulting plants will grow into upright bushes.

The cuttings are either placed in prepared pots or placed in a jar of water until they form new roots.

Another way to propagate ivy is through sinkers. Shoots are bent to the ground and covered with soil.

When is ivy flowering?

The flowering time of ivy is in autumn. That is why ivy is a very valuable plant for the ecological garden. It is an important food source for bees, wasps and other insects during flowering.

The fruits are ripe early in the following year.

What does age form mean in ivy?

During the first ten years, ivy is a pure climber that forms long tendrils. During this time no flowers form and no fruits. The ivy gets its old age after the tenth year. Then the leaves change and the plant grows upright.

Does ivy get along with other plants?

Ivy gets along with plants that also prefer a slightly damp and shady location. However, there is a risk that neighboring plants will become overgrown. This also applies to trees on which the ivy climbs.

Is ivy poisonous?

Ivy is poisonous in all parts of the plant. The leaves and stems contain substances that can cause inflammation if they come into contact with the skin.

Fruits and flowers are particularly poisonous, but they only occur in the mature form. If children or pets such as cats and dogs eat the fruit, there is a serious risk of poisoning.

In homeopathy, ivy is used for bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. Only the leaves are used for this. Furthermore, extracts are processed into shampoos and other personal care products.

How hardy is ivy?

Common ivy (Hedera helix) is absolutely hardy. Species with variegated foliage do not tolerate freezing temperatures as well. You should therefore rather cultivate these varieties in a bucket on the balcony or as a houseplant.

tips

In the first two years, the growth of ivy is still limited. In the following years, however, the climbing plant can spread rapidly. Regular pruning and thinning is therefore absolutely necessary.

Category:

Indoor plants