English Ivy Care

The botanical name for English ivy plant is Hedera helix. It is an extremely popular houseplant because of its wiry stems and small, lobed leaves which gives it an attractive look. It can be grown both indoors as well as outdoors. In indoors, it is kept as a hanging container plant. In outdoor landscapes, when it is allowed to climb on walls, arbors or fences, it looks very beautiful. With proper care, these attractive ornamental plants can be kept in the house for several years.

English Ivy Care Instructions

The English ivy plant is propagated from cuttings obtained from the tip of its stem. It should be planted in all purpose potting mix with a good drainage. The temperature requirements for this plant is cold to room temperature in the range of 50 - 70°F. It should be placed in one such location where it receives bright light but direct exposure to sunlight is not suitable for this plant. When grown indoors, it should be kept near a west or south facing window. The important steps are as follows:

Watering
Soon after planting, English ivy requires frequent watering. During this time, it should be given one inch of water every week. Once its roots are established into the soil, water the plant only when the soil turns dry. Put your fingers into the soil, if it feels dry, then it is time to water your plant. In winter, it does not require much watering. Water requirement is maximum in drought conditions.

Mulching
Mulch the soil around the newly planted English ivy with chopped leaves or wood chips. The thickness of the layer of mulch should be in between 2 - 4 inches. There are several advantages of mulching. It facilitates weed control which can cause harm to the roots of the plant. It helps to keep the soil temperature low, and also retains the soil moisture. English ivy should be mulched in the first two years only. Once its rich, dense foliage grows and covers up the soil, no mulching is needed.

Fertilizing
You have to add fertilizer to the soil twice a year. In the first year, the soil should be fertilized once in summer and then again in autumn. From the second year, it should be fertilized in the spring and autumn. A slow-releasing nitrogen fertilizer is best suited for English ivy. When the plant has a full-grown foliage, you have to be extra careful while adding fertilizer to the soil so that the fertilizer does not come in contact with the leaves of the plant. Read the label of the fertilizer for the recommended dosage. Use only a small amount of fertilizer. Excessive fertilizing can cause fungal diseases.

Pruning
Pruning helps to keep the growth of the plant confined to one area. Those varieties of English ivy that tend to grow in several side branches do not require much pruning as it gives thick dense foliage that looks attractive. However, those which grow from shoots need frequent pruning. During its active growing season, you may have to prune them 3 to 4 times. Prune the plant in such a way that the growth of the plant takes place in that direction where it can climb on the support structures.

Protection
English ivy is susceptible to attack from red spider mites. They are not easily visible but can cause substantial damage to the leaves of the plant. If you notice any sings of damage on the leaves, cut it off immediately and apply pesticide to the plant. Pesticides should be sprayed to the affected plant once a week after diluting with water.

The main steps of outdoor and indoor English ivy care are the same. The only difference is that you have to fertilize the indoor plants more frequently. It should be applied after a gap of two months. Mix one teaspoon of a balanced fertilizer in a gallon of water and then add it to the soil.