How to care for potted ivy? These care tips you need to master
Ivy, also known as Chinese ivy, centipede plant, etc., is a perennial evergreen climbing shrub of the genus Hedera in the family Araliaceae. It is mainly used for ornamental purposes. In many places in the south, it is planted in front of buildings as an excellent plant material for vertical greening. In the north, it is mostly grown in pots. Because its leaf shape and leaf color vary greatly, it is often used as a trailing plant hung on halls, corridors, and trellises. Now let us take a look at how to care for potted ivy!
The growth habits of ivy
Ivy has strong adaptability to the environment. It prefers a relatively cool climate and has strong cold resistance. It dislikes high temperatures and stuffy heat, and growth stops when the temperature is above 30°C. It is not strict about light requirements and can grow and develop in direct sunlight or in indoor areas with insufficient light. It is shade-tolerant, likes warmth, is slightly cold-tolerant, likes moisture, and is not tolerant of waterlogging. It is suitable for fertile, well-drained sandy loam.
Propagation methods of ivy
Ivy is mainly propagated by cuttings. Apart from the severe cold of winter and the intense heat of summer, cuttings can be taken 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 for cuttings, they root poorly. Generally, 1-2 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 directly inserted into a pot with loose culture soil. At a temperature of about 15-20°C, roots can form in about two weeks. After the mother plant's stolons develop roots, they can also be cut off and planted. Sometimes the mother plant's stolons are buried and pressed into sandy soil with the leaves exposed, and adventitious roots can develop at each node. After the internodes have rooted, they can be cut into sections and planted.
How to care for potted ivy?
1. Soil: Ivy is not strict about soil requirements, tolerates poor soil, and prefers moist, loose, fertile sandy soil. It 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 prepared from leaf mold, peat soil, and fine sandy soil with a small amount of base fertilizer, or mixed from garden soil, about 1/4 plant ash, and a small amount of base fertilizer. Plant ash can not only keep the potting soil loose and breathable, but also provide relatively more potassium fertilizer to meet the growth needs of ivy. It can also be grown solely in sphagnum moss.
2. Light: Ivy is a typical shade-loving vine flower and tree. It tolerates shade and moisture, and can also grow in a full-light environment. It can be cultivated 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 a large number of branches and leaves sprout in spring, whether variegated or green-leaved, they should be placed in sunlight to receive sufficient light, so that the branches and leaves grown will be lush and sturdy.
3. Watering: When ivy is cultivated with insufficient water, the base of the plant is prone to leaf drop, and too much watering can easily cause root rot. 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, ultimately leading to plant wilting and death. In winter, place it in a greenhouse to overwinter. 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, liquid fertilizer can be applied once every 2 weeks, or 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 should 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 columnar potted plants, regular pruning and pinching should be done.