What are the characteristics of Boston ivy? How do you plant it so it grows well?

We often see green plants growing on the walls of houses in the countryside; this is actually what we call Boston ivy, which not only decorates the wall but also provides sun protection. So what are the characteristics of Boston ivy? How do you plant it so it grows well?

1. What are the characteristics of Boston ivy?

Boston ivy is a preferred plant for vertical greening. Vertical greening, also known as climbing greening, is a greening method that uses climbing plants to grow up buildings or trellises. Boston ivy is the most commonly used and most ideal climbing plant; it relies on suction cups to climb up walls. After it has been planted for a long time, dense green leaves cover the outer walls of a building, as if it has put on green clothing. In spring, Boston ivy grows lush and verdant; in summer, it produces small yellow-green flowers; in autumn, the leaves of Boston ivy turn orange-yellow; this gives the building's colors rich variation. Besides Boston ivy, morning glory, wisteria and others can also be used for vertical greening.

In summer, the branches and leaves are dense, and it often climbs on walls or rocks, suitable for planting on house walls, enclosing walls, garden entrances, stone banks at bridgeheads and other places. It can be used to green the walls of houses and rockeries in parks; it can beautify the environment, and it can also lower the temperature, regulate the air and reduce noise.

Because Boston ivy's stems and leaves are dense, when they cover a house wall they can not only block strong sunlight, but also, due to the air flow between the leaves and the wall, lower the indoor temperature. As a barrier, it can both absorb noise in the environment and adsorb flying dust. Boston ivy's tendril-type suction cups can also absorb moisture from the wall, helping to make a damp house drier; and in dry seasons, it can increase humidity.

2. How do you plant Boston ivy so it grows well?

1. Seed treatment: In September, when the berries ripen and turn purplish blue, pick them immediately, clean them, dry them in the shade, disinfect the surface with a 0.05% carbendazim solution, drain them, and then store them in moist sand stratification. By early March of the following year, soak the seeds in 45°C warm water for two days, changing the water twice a day, then mix them evenly with moist sand at a seed-to-sand ratio of 2:1, place them in a sunny, wind-sheltered spot, cover with a straw bag, and spray fine water frequently to keep them moist. After about 20 days, when 20% of the seeds have sprouted white, they can be sown.

2. Sowing method: Before sowing Boston ivy seeds, first break up and level the sowing bed, water it thoroughly, sow the seeds together with the sand on the bed surface at a sowing rate of 100 grams per sq m, cover with 1 cm of loose forest humus soil, and set up a small arched shed covered with polyethylene plastic film.

3. Seedling management: After Boston ivy cotyledons emerge, the film should be uncovered by day and covered at night on sunny days, and kept covered all day on cloudy and rainy days, to raise the soil temperature, promote uniform emergence, and prevent damage from scarab beetles. In addition, water frequently to keep the soil moist.

4. Transplanting management: After Boston ivy has three true leaves, choose a cloudy day or after 3 p.m. and transplant at a density of 1×1 chi. Immediately after planting, water once with diluted manure water (1:8). During the plum rain season, water must never be allowed to stand for too long. After two months, the vines generally grow to more than 60 cm; at this point, the first pinching can be done to prevent the vines from tangling with each other and blocking light, and to promote sturdy vine seedlings. Pinch once a month, combined with supplemental feeding. With the above measures, by the leaf-fall period, the average thickness of seedling vines can reach more than 0.5 cm, and they can then be lifted from the nursery for planting.

5. Reasonable fertilization: During the growing period, Boston ivy can be given liquid fertilizer 2-3 times as a top dressing, and weeds should be hoed and the soil loosened frequently to form a border, so that it is not overwhelmed by weeds and is encouraged to grow vigorously. It is afraid of waterlogging, so be careful to prevent soil water accumulation. It tolerates pruning; during growth, the branches and tendrils at doors and windows can be trimmed and tidied as appropriate to keep them neat, attractive and convenient.