Ivy is a plant that is mostly grown in the garden, but is also suitable as a houseplant. The care is not very complex, which is why ivy is also very popular as a ground cover or climbing plant in the garden. What you need to consider when caring for ivy in the garden, on the balcony or in the room.

Ivy is also very easy to care for as a potted plant

Is caring for ivy different as a houseplant?

Ivy does best outdoors in the garden. Nevertheless, you can easily care for it as a houseplant in the house or in a bucket on the balcony.

If you keep them in a pot, you only have to water them more often and fertilize them occasionally.

How is ivy watered correctly?

Ivy prefers slightly moist soil. The root ball should never dry out completely, but it also does not tolerate waterlogging.

Water ivy whenever the soil surface has dried a little. You can also use hard water because hard water does not harm the plant.

When keeping them in a pot, make sure that excess water can drain through the drainage hole so that there is no waterlogging.

When and how is fertilized?

When caring for the garden, fertilizing is superfluous. Ivy grows rapidly even without additional nutrients. If necessary, spread some compost or horn shavings (32.93€) around the ivy at the beginning of the year. Horn shavings or liquid fertilizer for shrubs are also suitable fertilizers. Fertilize outdoors from March to August at the latest.

Ivy in the flower box (€16.99) or pot, on the other hand, should be fertilized more frequently. From March to September give liquid fertilizer at two-week intervals. Use less fertilizer than indicated on the package.

How do you properly cut ivy?

In the garden, ivy is cut to keep the plants in check. Otherwise there is a risk that the ivy will overgrow everything else, including walls and fences. The best time for pruning is spring or early summer. Ivy is often trimmed twice a year.

In the first few years, growth is not so pronounced that cutting the tips is sufficient. Later, you should prune the ivy harder to encourage branching and better control of the plant.

Even severe pruning does not affect ivy, the plant usually recovers very quickly.

Can ivy be transplanted?

Transplanting younger ivy is not worth it. Instead, you prefer to grow offshoots that you implement. If you want to transplant older ivy, you need to dig up the root ball as much as possible. You should trim the ivy tendrils first.

The best time for transplanting is spring.

When is ivy repotted?

When cared for in pots, you should repot ivy once a year, preferably in the spring when the growing season begins. Replace the soil completely.

What diseases can occur?

Fungal diseases such as leaf spot and ivy canker can occur. Affected plant parts are cut off and disposed of.

What pests to look out for?

Pests mainly affect houseplants when the humidity is too low. An infestation of spider mites and scale insects is indicated by discoloration of the leaves. In the worst case, they dry up and fall off.

Spray the plant with dish soap solution or use a commercial insecticide.

For prevention, you should increase the humidity in the room by spraying the ivy more often. Do not place the plants in direct midday sun and avoid a spot directly next to or above a heater in winter.

Why do ivy leaves change color?

If the leaves of the ivy turn yellow or brown, the plant may be too dry. Water more frequently, but avoid waterlogging.

Spots or brown leaves can also be caused by disease or pest infestation.

How is ivy overwintered?

Common ivy is absolutely hardy. Even in the tub, it tolerates low minus temperatures without winter protection. You should only protect freshly planted ivy from frost in the first year. Regular watering, even in winter, is more important than protection from the cold. Especially in very dry winters, the soil dries out severely. Ivy suffers more from drought than from cold temperatures.

Some variegated ivy species are only partially or not at all hardy. These varieties should only be grown in tubs or pots. Then you can easily overwinter them indoors or winterize them with burlap or bubble wrap.

Ivy as a houseplant is kept at constant temperatures all year round. A temperature reduction in winter is not necessary.

tips

Ivy is difficult to remove from the garden once it has established itself. If you want to get rid of ivy permanently, dig up all the roots. Do not leave any parts of the plant lying around, as the shoots will quickly form new roots.

Category:

Indoor plants