How to grow potted ivy? A detailed guide to the latest care methods
Ivy, also known as Chinese ivy, centipede plant and so on, is a perennial evergreen climbing shrub of the genus Hedera in the family Araliaceae. It is mainly grown for ornamental purposes. In the south it is often planted in front of buildings as an excellent plant material for vertical greening, while in the north it is mostly grown in pots. Because its leaf shapes and leaf colors vary greatly, it is often used as a trailing plant hung on hall, corridor and trellis frames. Now let us take a look at how to grow potted ivy!
Growth habits of ivy
Ivy is highly adaptable to the environment. It prefers a relatively cool climate and has strong cold resistance. It dislikes hot, stuffy environments, and its growth stalls when the temperature is above 30°C. It is not strict about light and can grow and develop both in direct sunlight and in indoor spaces with insufficient light. It is shade-tolerant, prefers warmth, is slightly cold-tolerant, likes moisture but is not tolerant of waterlogging. It is suited to fertile, well-drained sandy loam.
Propagation methods for ivy
Ivy is mainly propagated by cuttings. Apart from the severe cold of winter and the intense heat of summer, it can be cuttings-propagated at any time throughout the year as long as the temperature is suitable. Young branches are mostly used for cuttings; although old branches can also be used, they root poorly. Generally, 1- to 2-year-old branches about 10 cm long are cut as cuttings and inserted into a seedbed with coarse sand or vermiculite as the substrate, or inserted directly into a pot with loose potting soil. At a temperature of about 15-20°C, roots can form in about two weeks. After the mother plant's runners have rooted, they can also be cut off and planted. Sometimes the mother plant's runners are buried and pressed into sandy soil with the leaves exposed, and adventitious roots can form at each node. After the internodes have rooted, they can be cut into sections and planted.
How to grow potted ivy?
1. Soil: Ivy is not demanding about soil and tolerates poor soil. It prefers moist, loose, fertile sandy soil and dislikes saline-alkaline soil. Generally, fertile loose soil is used as the potting substrate, such as equal parts garden soil and leaf mold mixed together. It can also be made from leaf mold, peat soil and fine sandy soil with a small amount of base fertilizer, or from garden soil mixed with about 1/4 plant ash and a small amount of base fertilizer. Plant ash can both keep the potting soil loose and breathable and provide relatively abundant potassium fertilizer to meet ivy's growth needs. It can also be grown in sphagnum moss alone.
2. Light: Ivy is a typical shade-loving vine flower and shrub. It tolerates shade and moisture, and can also grow in a full-light environment. It can be grown indoors in a bright room for a long time. In a dark room, as long as supplementary lighting is provided, it can also grow very well. When branches and leaves sprout abundantly in spring, whether variegated or green-leaved, it should be placed in sunlight to receive sufficient light, so that the branches and leaves that grow out will be lush and sturdy.
3. Watering: When ivy is grown with insufficient water, the base of the plant tends to lose leaves; when watered too much, root rot easily occurs. Watering can be done in the early morning or evening to avoid a large difference between soil temperature and water temperature, which can cause root stress and injury and ultimately lead to the plant withering and dying. In winter, place it in a greenhouse to overwinter. The indoor air humidity should be maintained and it should not be too dry, but the potting soil should not be too wet.
4. Fertilizing: During the seedling stage of ivy, water and fertilizer management should be strengthened to speed up growth. During the growing season, especially in spring and autumn, apply liquid fertilizer once every 2 weeks, or apply granular fertilizer once a month. At the same time, note that the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the fertilizer should be 1:1:1. The nitrogen proportion must not be too high, so as to avoid variegated leaves turning green. During the plant's growth process, attention should be paid to pruning to encourage more branching and make the plant shape full. For column potted plants, frequent pruning and pinching off of growing tips are necessary.