How to Grow Ivy Well: Solutions for Yellowing Leaves

Ivy is a very lovely evergreen vine plant, symbolizing everlasting spring, and therefore has the beautiful name "evergreen vine," deeply loved by people. It is commonly seen in wall decoration, not only can it adorn the environment, but it also provides shade and cooling effects.How do you grow ivy well? What should you do when leaves turn yellow?

1. How do you grow ivy well?

1. Light and temperature

The suitable growing temperature is 18-20°C. When the temperature exceeds 35°C, the leaves turn yellow and growth stops. Therefore, in the hot summer, shade should be provided, or the plant should be placed in a spot with dappled shade, avoiding harsh sun exposure. It is fairly cold-hardy and can safely overwinter in ordinary indoor home conditions. In winter, it should be moved indoors to a sunny spot, receive more light, and be kept at a temperature above 3°C; it can also tolerate short periods of low temperature down to -7 to -8°C. Where there is no heating equipment, frost protection work should be done well, and heavy pruning can also be carried out to help it overwinter safely. Indoors, it should be placed in a bright location. Outdoors, besides avoiding intense direct sunlight, it needs 3-4 hours of direct sunlight every day; this is especially true for variegated varieties, which need sufficient light to maintain the vividness of their leaf color. If the light is insufficient and ventilation is poor, and the plant is kept in a dark place for a long time, the internodes will elongate and the plant will grow weaker and weaker.

2. Watering

Ivy requires a warm and humid environment. During the growing season, water supply must be ensured, and the potting soil should be kept moist at all times to prevent it from drying out completely. If water is insufficient, it will cause leaf drop. When the air is dry, water should be sprayed frequently on the leaf surfaces and the surrounding ground to increase air humidity. In winter, watering should be reduced so that the potting soil remains on the moist-to-dry side, but water should still be sprayed on the leaf surfaces to increase air humidity, so as to avoid poor growth and the phenomenon of scorched leaf edges.

3. Fertilizing

During the growing season, apply diluted organic liquid fertilizer 2-3 times a month. For potted plants that have already reached their growth form, fertilizing can be reduced. In winter, stop fertilizing.

4. Shaping and pruning

For newly planted specimens, after the spring buds sprout, pinch out the growing tips to encourage branching, and set up a frame to train the shape; they can also be grown as hanging potted plants. For plants that have grown for many years, pruning should be strengthened, removing overly dense, thin, weak branches and dead branches to prevent too many vines and branches from causing the shape to become disordered.

2. What should you do when ivy leaves turn yellow?

1. Yellowing of old leaves

Yellowing of old ivy leaves is mostly normal metabolism. There is no need to worry too much; simply clean them up in time.

2. The effect of temperature

Ivy likes a cool environment and fears stuffy heat and frost, especially early frost in autumn and winter. If it is not moved indoors in time, the leaves will droop from frost and turn yellow. In addition, when grown indoors in summer without timely ventilation, the stuffy, hot environment can also cause yellow leaves.

Solution: To avoid the effects of temperature on ivy, you must meet ivy's temperature requirements, control the ambient temperature at 20-25°C, and always pay attention to ambient humidity and ventilate frequently.

3. Insufficient humidity

Ivy likes a moist environment. No matter the season, attention must be paid to air humidity. If the air is too dry, the leaves will become dry and yellow. This is especially true in summer, when water should be sprayed frequently to increase air humidity.

Solution: In hot and dry seasons or indoors, water should frequently be sprayed on the leaf surfaces and around the plant, and the leaf surfaces should be cleaned regularly.

4. The effect of light

Ivy is a common green-leaf plant with a certain degree of shade tolerance, and slightly stronger light is not a problem. But summer sunlight is intense, and if the plant is not moved to a shady place, it can easily cause the leaf surfaces to become sun-yellowed.

Solution: If the plant turns yellow due to light, in severe cases cut off the leaves, keep the newly grown tender leaves, give appropriate light, and let it recover slowly.

5. Lack of fertilizer

During ivy care, if no fertilizer is applied for a long time, the plant's nutrients cannot keep up, which can also cause leaves to turn yellow.

Solution: When growing ivy at home, the potting soil can be made from rotted leaves or peat soil mixed with 1/4 river sand and a small amount of bone meal. During the growing season, apply diluted cake fertilizer water once every 2 to 3 weeks. Generally, do not fertilize in summer and winter. When fertilizing, also be careful not to dirty the leaves, so as to avoid causing the leaves to scorch. If yellow leaves are caused by iron deficiency, supplement iron in time; a ferrous sulfate solution can be watered on.

6. The effect of moisture

The greatest ornamental feature of ivy lies in its leaves, and water supply is the prerequisite for keeping the leaves plump. During the growing period, the potting soil needs to be kept moist, but not waterlogged. Many flower growers do not judge the degree well during care, causing the potting soil to alternate between dry and wet. The plant then cannot get enough water, its metabolism slows down, and the plant develops yellow leaves.

Solution: During the growing season, water based on whether the soil is dry or wet (that is, the potting soil must not be too wet or too dry). If there is too much water, it will cause root rot and leaf drop. Especially in winter, when the temperature is on the low side, watering must be controlled particularly well; just keep the potting soil slightly moist.

>>Recommended reading: What are the requirements for growing ivy? A detailed guide to super-practical cultivation methods and precautions