How to grow Boston ivy (Japanese ivy) and its pros and cons: will it damage walls?

Boston ivy, also known as “flying centipede,” is a green plant that combines beauty, medicinal value and environmental friendliness in one. So how do you grow Boston ivy? What are its pros and cons? Will it damage walls?

1. How much do Boston ivy seedlings cost?

Boston ivy seedlings are not expensive, and if you buy many there are plenty of discounts. They are generally 0.5 yuan/plant (50 cm tall); the taller the seedling, the higher the price.

2. How do you grow Boston ivy? When is the best time to plant it?

Boston ivy has extremely strong vitality, so there are many ways to grow it, and the planting time depends on the propagation method used.

1. Growing from seed

If you choose to grow it from seed, the most important thing is to treat the seeds. The specific steps are as follows:

(1) Harvest or buy Boston ivy seeds and rub off the skin and flesh of the fruit.

(2) Wash them clean with fresh water and dry them in the sun.

(3) Place them in damp sand to overwinter.

(4) In early March of the following year, sow them in the open ground, then cover them with a layer of plastic film before the seedlings emerge.

2. Growing from cuttings

(1) Around March, cut healthy Boston ivy stems and vines, preferably about 25 cm long.

(2) Water the ground where you plan to plant the Boston ivy well, then insert the stems and vines into the soil. Be sure to shade them; they will take root and survive in about 1 week.

3. Growing by layering

(1) Choose a cloudy, damp, rain-season day with no clouds for layering. March-April and July-August are suitable for layering.

(2) Press the stems and vines of the Boston ivy directly into the soil, and after they take root and sprout, cut them from the parent plant so they become independent seedlings.

4. Seedling-stage management

The main thing in growing Boston ivy is to water it often to keep the soil moist. When the weather is cold, cover it with a layer of plastic film, uncovering it by day and covering it at night.

3. What are the pros and cons of growing Boston ivy? Will it damage walls?

1. The benefits of growing Boston ivy

(1) Cleaning the air: Boston ivy has a strong ability to absorb dust particles in the air. If you live by a road or construction is going on outside your community, planting a patch of Boston ivy is a fairly good choice.

(2) Cooling, moisturizing and dehumidifying: Boston ivy likes to “climb walls.” It not only provides shade but also acts as a “natural air conditioner,” drawing heat out of the wall.

In this way, summer is cooler and more moisturized, while a dry autumn can be dehumidified, increasing the humidity in the room and making people feel very comfortable.

(3) Decorative effect: whether grown indoors or outdoors, Boston ivy is a very easy-on-the-eyes “home decoration,” giving a quiet sense of vitality.

(4) A handy everyday medicine: if you accidentally bump yourself and get a bruise or swelling, just pick a small piece of Boston ivy, crush it and apply it to reduce swelling, relieve pain, invigorate the blood and remove stasis.

2. The disadvantages and harm of growing Boston ivy

(1) It easily attracts mosquitoes, insects, snakes and ants: Boston ivy is the favorite habitat of mosquitoes, insects, snakes and ants; they not only live comfortably there but also get good cover from it.

(2) Damaging walls: Boston ivy is very good at “finding cracks to put its feet in.” As long as the wall has the slightest crack, Boston ivy will spread its roots and stems into the wall crack, and then those mosquitoes, insects, snakes and ants follow them in, which is bad for the wall.

4. How much can Boston ivy grow in a year? What is the longest it can grow to in meters?

The growth rate of Boston ivy is astonishing: it can grow about 2-5 m in a year, and at most it can grow to around 20 m.