The Latest Ivy Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial
Ivy, also known as climbing tree vine, lives up to its name by staying evergreen through all four seasons; no matter spring, summer, autumn or winter, it never withers or fades, always a lush mass of green leaves. Its branches and leaves are dense, and it mostly grows by clinging to other trees or walls, so it is often used for landscaping. At the same time, it is also an excellent foliage plant, very suitable for indoor potted display. Below, let us take a look at its cultivation techniques.
Growth Habits
Ivy is a shade-loving plant and tolerates shade, but it can also grow in environments with ample light. It is cold-tolerant and can survive at low temperatures of minus 7°C. It is not strict about soil requirements and prefers fertile, loose, moist, well-drained sandy soil, but it dislikes saline-alkaline land. It is mostly distributed in North China and South China.
Propagation Methods
Propagation methods include seed, cutting and layering propagation, mainly cutting propagation.
Propagation can be done in any season except periods of high or low temperatures. Select young branches of the current year; older growth can also be used, but it roots poorly. Cut branches about 10cm long, disinfect them after cutting, soak them in rooting solution for a few minutes after disinfection, then insert them into loose culture soil to a depth of about half the branch length, and water thoroughly after inserting. Keep the soil moist and the air humid, and roots will form in about 20 days.
Cultivation Techniques
Light: Ivy grown in a semi-light environment has shorter internodes, uniform leaf shape, and bright, glossy leaf color, so it can be placed in a bright spot for growing. In summer it is afraid of strong light, which easily causes leaf scorch, so appropriate shading is needed. On cloudy and rainy days it can be placed in a sheltered spot outdoors to let it get more light.
Temperature: The suitable growing temperature is 20-25°C. It is afraid of high temperatures, and in summer the temperature must not exceed 35°C. In winter it can tolerate low temperatures of minus 7°C, but it will suffer frost damage, so it is best to keep the temperature around 10°C.
Watering: Ivy likes a moist environment, but too much water easily causes root rot, so the amount of water must be controlled. In summer, when temperatures are high, it needs watering every day, but not too much. In winter it is dormant, so reduce both the amount and frequency of watering; watering once every half a month is enough.
Fertilizing: During the peak growing season, it has a relatively high demand for nutrients. Apply a dilute fertilizer solution or compound fertilizer once every half a month, and after each fertilization water thoroughly once, which helps nutrient absorption.
Pruning: When the plant grows to a certain size, we should pinch off its growing tips, which promotes branching, leads to more leaves later, and gives a fuller plant shape.
Pests and diseases: Ivy pests and diseases mainly occur in spring and in hot, dry environments. Improving ventilation can reduce their occurrence. Once pests or diseases are found, deal with them promptly to prevent them from spreading further.
The above is the ivy cultivation technique introduced by the editor. Once you understand ivy's growth habits, it is actually quite easy to grow. Pay attention to the points above, and your ivy is sure to grow into a full, thriving pot.