How to Grow Ivy

Ivy comes in many colors and varieties, but they all seem to have a certain wanderlust in common. This type of plant is famous for its climbing ability, which leads people to plant ivy next to walls or even against the side of their home. It is not only a lovely climbing plant but also spreads horizontally, making excellent ground cover.

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Ivy plant

Fertilizer

Use ivy as a ground cover in the absence of grass or other appropriate plants. It helps reverse soil erosion, and its roots create an underground network that binds the soil together, keeping it in place so it cannot wash away in the rain (particularly if the ivy is planted on a hill with a steep downward slant).

Plant your ivy in the spring. Space the plants about 12" to 18" apart in a shaded area, so the leaves will not get by the bright sun. Make sure the soil is watered sufficiently before you plant the ivy. If you want your ivy to climb a wall or trellis, plant it as close as possible to that object. Ivy uses its aerial roots to climb things, so whatever it can grasp, it will climb.

Plant your ivy in a hanging basket for a lovely and unique effect inside your house. Be careful about where you hang it, however, as this plant will climb objects given the chance. It is probably a good idea to keep the plant trimmed back unless you want it to travel all around the inside of your home. Some people actually prefer that effect.

Prune your new ivy plants down to 6", and don't fertilize them for the first three or four months. After that, give them fertilizer every other month, but only during the growing season. If you prune your ivy on a regular basis two or three times per year, it will enjoy fuller leaf growth. It is a good idea to trim the plants whenever they show bare areas.

You can try to propagate your ivy by taking cuttings of the leaves, but this method is not entirely successful. A much more useful technique is to simply tie a section of the ivy to the ground, where it will sprout roots; at that point, the newly rooted ivy plant can be cut off from the original plant. The ivy will perform this sort of propagation automatically anyway, so it is the easiest way to spread the plant.

Your ivy plant will thrive best if it gets four or more hours of direct sun each day, though it will tolerate bright artificial lighting and natural indirect lighting for extended hours.

Be careful with the gardening tools you use to plant your ivy. Many of them are sharp and can easily cut your fingers if you are not cautious.