English Ivy Plant Care

Botanical Name: Hedera helix

With lobed leaves and lush, trailing vines, English Ivy is a beautiful accent plant.

It's a vigorous grower with strong, wiry stems densely covered with distinctive foliage. Although commonly grown as a hanging plant indoors, its aerial roots can easily be trained to climb a moss stick or trellis.

There are hundreds of types of ivy varieties -- some with plain green leaves, others are variegated with yellow, gold or creamy white.

The English Ivy Garden, shown at left, is available for sale.

Tips for Growing English Ivy House Plants

Cool, moist air and evenly moist soil will help your English Ivy thrive indoors. Protect it from drafts. Mist the plant often to keep its leaves from drying out. Misting also helps to keep away spider mites that love to attack this plant.

Growing ivy with plenty of bright light will help variegated ivies to keep their color. Prune off any stems of variegated ivy that reverts to all green.

CAUTION: The leaves of this plant are poisonous if eaten and it can cause skin irritation. It's a good idea to wear gloves while handling this plant.

Origin: Europe

Height: It will climb as high as it is allowed to.

Light: Bright light, but no direct sun. It thrives under fluorescent light. If variegated varieties change to mostly green, it isn't getting enough light.

Water: Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy spring through fall; slightly drier in winter.

Humidity: Increase the humidity by misting with water or standing the plant on a tray of wet pebbles.

Temperature: Cool to average room temperatures 50-70°F, 10-21°C

Soil: Soilless potting mix or any that provides good drainage.

Fertilizer: Feed monthly from spring through fall with a high-nitrogen liquid fertilizer.

Propagation: Take 3-4 in (8-10 cm) stem tip cuttings in spring and root in moist soil or water.