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Ivy Planting Methods and Care Tips

Growing Techniques By Emily Carter 0 views
Foliage Plants


Ivy, (Latin scientific name: Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis (Tobl.) Rehd), a perennial evergreen climbing shrub of the genus Hedera in the family Araliaceae, with aerial roots, stems grayish brown or blackish brown, smooth, leaves alternate, simple; petioles without stipules but with scales; leaves on flowering branches elliptic-lanceolate, umbels solitary and terminal, flowers pale yellowish white or pale greenish white, anthers purple; disk raised, yellow. Fruit spherical, red or yellow, flowering period September to November, fruiting period March to May of the following year.


Growth Habits

Ivy is a shade-loving plant, tolerant of shade, but it can also grow in environments with sufficient light; it is cold-hardy and can survive at low temperatures of minus 7 degrees. It is not demanding about soil, preferring fertile, loose, moist, well-drained sandy soil, but it dislikes saline-alkaline land, and 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 the high-temperature and low-temperature seasons. Select young branches of the current year; older growth can also be used, but rooting is poorer. 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 potting soil, to a depth of about half the branch, 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, more uniform leaf shape, and bright, glossy leaf color, so it can be kept in a brightly lit place. In summer it is afraid of strong light, and strong light can easily cause sunscald, 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 growth temperature is 20-25 degrees. It is afraid of high temperatures; in summer the temperature must not be higher than 35 degrees. In winter it can tolerate low temperatures of minus 7 degrees, but it will suffer frost damage, so it is best to keep the temperature at around 10 degrees.

Watering: Ivy likes a moist environment, but too much water can easily cause root rot, so the amount of water must be controlled. In summer, with high temperatures, it needs watering every day, but not too much; in winter it is dormant, so reduce the amount of water and the frequency of watering, watering once every half month.

Fertilizing: During the peak growing season it has a relatively high demand for nutrients, so apply dilute liquid fertilizer or compound fertilizer once every half month, and water thoroughly after each fertilizing, which helps nutrient absorption.

Pruning: When the plant grows to a certain extent, we should pinch it back, which can promote branching, and afterward there will be more leaves and a fuller plant shape.

Pests and Diseases: Ivy pests and diseases mainly occur in spring and in hot, dry environments. Improving ventilation can reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases. Once pests and diseases are found, deal with them promptly to prevent them from spreading further.



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