Happy Tuesday, everyone! We’re back this week to teach you how to grow English Ivy (and just about any ivy, really) indoors as a beautiful houseplant!
I really do have a love/hate relationship with Ivy, when I first started my plant collecting journey I went out and got a gorgeous variegated ivy from my local store, and within 2 weeks time I completely killed it off. Whoops.
Anyhow, I challenged myself to try it again, and do it right this time. So today I’m going to share with you everything that your Ivy needs in order for it to grow long and lush.
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What kind of lighting does English Ivy need?
Ivy does best in well lit areas, they do need quite a bit of light to really flourish. I wouldn’t recommend placing them somewhere where they get direct sunlight for very long, but if you can find a comfy spot that receives good indirect light throughout the day, you hit the jackpot.
Lighting is one of the things I see most people getting wrong when growing Ivy as a houseplant, because they’re not at all a low-light plant. Putting your ivy next to an East facing window will do it a lot of good.
How much water is enough?
Like many plants, really, they prefer to dry out between waterings. It’s best to check 1-2 inches into the soil and feel for moisture before you water your ivy. They are pretty prone to getting root rot disease due to their thin and shallow growing roots.
This is a tip I try remind myself all the time when I water my plants, you can always water the soil more if you need to, but once it’s in there, you can’t get it back out. Less is more when it comes to watering. If you’re on the edge about whether or not the soil is dry enough, just wait an extra day, it’s probably for the best.
English Ivy and humidity
So ivy is definitely a humidity lover and they would appreciate having probably 40%-50% humidity at the least in your home, but they would be okay without it. I’m currently growing it in my home right now without a humidifier in the room and it’s thriving, just a preference.
Read these for more houseplant care tips:
How To Care For A Bird of Paradise
Pothos & Philodendron Care Guide
Monstera Deliciosa Care Guide
Important side notes
- Pests: It’s fairly common knowledge that Ivy attracts pests. Specifically the malicious spider mites. A way to prevent this from happening is by getting a humidifier to combat dry air, which the mites love. If you do get them though, wipe off all of the leaves with a soft rag and a water & dish soap solvent. Do that weekly until there aren’t any signs of them left.
- Toxicity: English Ivy is also a toxic plant according to the ASPCA. Keep them out of reach of children and curious pets in your home to prevent unwanted doctor visits.
- Invasive Species: It’s also pretty known that Ivy is an extraordinary invasive species of plants. It started off as a landscaping detail in North America and it spiraled out of control by getting into native forests and other natural areas. Keep this in mind if you are to plant this outside, because it is a vicious grower and will dominate any terrain you put it on
- Vine Damage: Ivy is vine that loves to climb and grow upwards. Because of this you want to be aware of what it is climbing on, because the roots they grow in order to attach themselves to surfaces can damage walls and structural integrity if it gets out of hand. You’ll want to prune it often if it does get out of control in order to prevent a hefty maintenance bill.
- Propagation: You can also easily propagate Ivy like you would most vining plants! Simply cut beneath the nodes on the stem and plop them in a jar with water, and they’ll start rooting within 2 weeks!
There ya have it!
That’s really all there is to know in order to grow English Ivy as a flourishing houseplant! If you have any other questions, comment them below and I’d be more than happy to answer!
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Until next time,
