Ivy Evergreen Vine Plant Cultivation Methods and Tips for Fast Growth
Ivy, also called English ivy, is a rather popular large indoor potted foliage plant, especially when placed in relatively spacious living rooms, studies, and sitting rooms, where it lends an elegant, simple style with a touch of southern charm. It is a world-famous new generation of indoor foliage plants with a graceful, neat plant shape. So how do you grow ivy so it grows fast? What are the cultivation methods and precautions for ivy?
Ivy, also known by the names Tudou teng, Zuotian feng, Sanjiao feng, Sangu feng, and Fengheli teng, is a perennial evergreen climbing shrub of the genus Hedera in the family Araliaceae, with aerial roots, stems grayish brown or blackish brown and smooth, and alternate simple leaves; the petiole has no stipules but has scales; the leaves on flowering branches are elliptic-lanceolate, the umbel is solitary and terminal, the flowers are pale yellowish white or pale greenish white, the anthers are purple; the disc is raised and yellow. The fruit is spherical, red or yellow, the flowering period is September to November, and the fruiting period is March to May of the following year.
Cultivation Methods for Ivy
There are no strict requirements for soil, but loose, breathable, neutral or slightly alkaline sandy loam is best.
1. Soil Selection
Use ordinary potting soil for potting, repot and change the soil once every 1 to 2 years, always keep the potting soil moist, place it in a shaded spot or display it indoors, do not fertilize too much, but strengthen ventilation to prevent scale insects.
2. Fertilization Method
During the spring and autumn growing seasons, apply a dilute liquid fertilizer once every 2 to 3 weeks. For variegated varieties, avoid applying too much nitrogen fertilizer, so that the patterns and patches on the leaves do not fade to green. Stop fertilizing in winter.
Ivy likes fertilizer, mainly nitrogen fertilizer. But if there is too much nitrogen fertilizer, it is prone to growing wildly, which is not good for a beautiful plant shape. When phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are insufficient, the markings on ivy leaves tend to fade. Young plants can be given a topdressing every 15 days during the growing season of decomposed liquid fertilizer diluted 10 times mixed with an equal amount of 500-times potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution.
Mature plants should be given a mixed liquid fertilizer topdressing once every 30 days. If mature plants are not fertilized routinely, when the leaves are found to turn yellow, spray the leaves with 1000-times urea solution 1 to 2 times. When applying decomposed liquid fertilizer, use a fine-spout watering can to slowly pour it along the edge of the pot, and do not splash the fertilizer liquid onto the leaves, otherwise the leaves are easily burned.
3. Watering Method
Ivy likes moist soil and relatively high air humidity, tolerates waterlogging, and fears drought. During the growing season, ivy should keep the potting soil moist. After the temperature drops in late autumn, gradually reduce the frequency of watering so that the potting soil becomes somewhat dry. When the temperature is lower in winter, it is better for the potting soil to be somewhat dry.
4. Temperature Requirements
The suitable growing temperature is 18 to 20°C. When the temperature reaches above 35°C, growth stops. Leaves turn yellow. Ivy has relatively strong cold resistance and can endure low temperatures of 2 to 3°C. In winter it should be kept indoors to overwinter. Temperatures of 0 to 5°C will not cause harm, and above 10°C is preferable.
5. Light Requirements
It requires sufficient light, and should be placed near a south-facing window as much as possible so it can get more sunlight; this way the internodes are short, the leaf shape is uniform, and the leaf color is vivid, but avoid strong direct sunlight. Low temperatures in winter easily cause the plant to drop leaves; as long as the stems and vines are not frozen, after a heavy pruning once the weather warms in the following year, new buds can grow again from the lower part of the stems and vines.
6. Propagation Method
Cuttage Propagation
If the temperature is suitable, it can be done in all four seasons. Put fine sand or another cutting medium into a plain clay pot, cut a 10 cm long stem and vine, keep the 2 leaves nearer the front end, insert the base to a depth of 1/3 the length of the stem and vine, water thoroughly, cover the rim of the pot with plastic film, and place it in a cool place; the cuttings will root quickly. After more roots have formed and the upper part of the cuttings has sprouted and grown, dig out the cuttings, shake off the sand clean, damage the roots as little as possible, divide and pot them, water thoroughly, and gradually return to normal care.
Layering Propagation
Lay the long stems and vines flat, cover them in sections with shallow moist soil, and the swollen nodes will root quickly; they can be cut apart in sections and planted separately to become new plants.
Precautions
(1) Planting can be done during any period when the branches and vines have stopped growing. For potting, it is best to use a loose, fertile soil mixed from garden soil, leaf mold, and sand. Change the pot once every 1-2 years. During the growing period, keep the potting soil moist, and frequently spray water on the leaf surfaces and the surrounding ground to increase air humidity; move it indoors in winter, and it can overwinter at above 3°C. Place it in a spot with sufficient light, pay attention to ventilation, and reduce the frequency of watering.
(2) For newly planted plants, pinch the tips after sprouting in spring to encourage branching. For perennial plants, strengthen pruning and cut off dead branches, thin weak branches, and diseased and pest-infested branches.
(3) Frequently mist the leaf surfaces of ivy to prevent the leaf tips from turning dry and brown due to dry air.
(4) If placed on a windowsill or a stand so the stems and vines hang down, it looks messy and has low ornamental value. In an indoor garden, it can be used as a material for beautifying walls; stretch thin strings on the wall for them to twine and climb. If displayed as a single pot, use a bamboo trellis or No. 8 galvanized wire to make a frame, and through artificial guiding, distribute the stems and vines evenly on the frame for shaping. Pruning should also be strengthened to prevent the stems and vines from winding in multiple layers and becoming tangled.
(5) Ivy has relatively strong cold resistance and can overwinter safely in ordinary homes. In winter, water less and stop topdressing. Place it near a south-facing window so it gets more sunlight. In a room without heating equipment, if it drops leaves because of low temperature, as long as the stems and vines are not frozen, there is no need to worry about it; after the weather warms in the following spring, carry out a heavy pruning to let the dormant buds on the lower part of the stems and vines sprout and send out new stems and vines, then guide and tie them again, so that the plant is renewed once each year, and the size of the plant can also be controlled within a certain range for easy indoor display.
The Symbolism of Ivy
Ivy is a very beautiful evergreen vine plant, foretelling that spring stays forever, so it has the lovely name "everlasting ivy" and is deeply loved by people. Giving ivy to a friend expresses that the tree of friendship stays evergreen. If a friend gets married, the bride's bouquet is also incomplete without the beautiful presence of ivy. It wishes them "happiness in the new marriage, and growing old together."
At weddings, you will find that the bride often has a green plant pinned in her hair, and that is ivy used to ward off evil; the bride's bouquet is also incomplete without the beautiful presence of ivy, symbolizing that life is not affected by petty people or ghosts and demons, while men who wear it can discern a lover's likes and dislikes. In addition, ivy also represents loyalty, marriage, love, friendship, and affection, and represents friendship or love that stays forever fresh and never fades.