The indoor ivy It has quite an attractive greenery of the leaves to decorate the house. Like other types of ferns that are also cared for, they can decorate the house quite easily. It is a type of climbing plant that comes from Europe and belongs to the Araliaceae family. They only have two varieties: hedera Helix (common ivy) and Canariensis (Canary ivy), both suitable for decorating interiors.
In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know to take care of indoor ivy and keep it in good condition.
Key features
Its leaves are petiolate and alternate, varying in shape from oval or oval, more like clusters, to triangular, with 3 or 5 lobes. The most common is that they are completely green, but there are also white or yellow stripes called marbled. Its flowers are small, green and inconspicuous.
Ivy has a hostile face as it belongs to a feared group of invasive plants that can damage your home. Its fruits are small greenish-yellow or black poisonous berries with seeds inside. outdoors, climbs walls, fences, flower beds and pergolas, and its woody stems have considerable stiffness. It can also be used as a vine, covering land, with branches that reach 14 or 15 meters. Some cultivated ivy, not as strong as the wild ones, may need a support to facilitate the grip when they are young plants.
indoor ivy care
It is a plant that grows best in full sun, although it tolerates little light and care must be taken with direct light as it can whiten the leaves. Variegated varieties, if grown in the shade, the leaves lose their light tint and become darker, with a uniform green color.
For optimal growth, ivy needs an ideal temperature between 12 ºC and 20 ºC, and variegated varieties require higher temperatures. This plant does not need a lot of water, so water it every other day, once in summer and once a day in winter. It is important to monitor drainage for it to be effective.
Some plants live in dark corners, so ivy growing indoors should be near a window, but not in very dark rooms, as its leaves will lose their color over time. The important thing is that it has enough humidity and no drafts.
How long does it take to grow
The pruning is definitive so that it does not stop growing, but be careful that you have to direct it more than 40cm a year. A good harvest goes through intelligent pruning. You have to cut the tip 1 or 2 times every 12 monthspreferably in summer or when you are going to change the pot.
This way, you will keep your vines more compact and dense, and your stems stronger. As the ivy shoots grow, they become more vigorous, so repotting in the spring every two to three years is recommended. We will avoid payment for 3-4 months after planting. During spring and summer we will make payments approximately every 15 days. Use liquid fertilizer.
You can have a nice and different structure with special pruning to increase the density of the foliage. Initially, the plants will grow more slowly, but will be more compact. Also ideal for practicing pruning techniques, that is, being able to model bushes, plants and trees with guides that are stuck into the substrate. These hanging and climbing plants are very suitable for putting them in suspended pots.
Indoor ivy uses
Chopped branches on tray
If they are going to visit you at home and you want to quickly improvise a centerpiece, you will love this proposal. To do this, use a large tray or mold and place several cut branches of ivy in it. In this case, to provide color and contrast, we chose two tones: dark green and mottled.
Ivy is a fairly long-lived plant. Also, when they get too big, we can move them outside. In the United States and Australia its cultivation is discouraged because it is considered an invasive plant due to its ability to adapt to different types of terrain and climate.
hanging potted ivy
Ivy is great for decorating a room with hanging potted plants. In this case, the lid of the pot is covered with a fabric that matches the upholstery.
The art of topiary is an ancient technique that consists of making plant sculptures by pruning, or in this case, with the help of plants or metal structures that adhere to a substrate and They are covered with plants as they grow. Along these lines we can see a good example of a circular structure nailed to the base plate covered with ivy.
floating ivy
We show you how to make a super easy and beautiful aquatic flower arrangement: Fill a large bowl or container with water, then sprinkle cut ivy leaves on top with petals and buds. A clay pot serves as the base for this centerpiece, in which large flowers and ivy branches of the same variety are combined to give it a refreshing touch.
Plagues and diseases
There are several indicators that can tell you what your ivy needs or what is left of it:
- pale leaves: Too much direct light.
- Dry and wrinkled leaves: too hot and too dry. If you keep it indoors, in a pot, move it to a cool spot and use a daily misting to increase humidity.
- White or yellow leaves turning green: This occurs due to lack of natural light. Put it in a brighter place and interrupt its fertilization until the following spring.
- black sheets: Too much humidity. Allow the substrate to dry before drying again, then reduce the frequency.
- Stiff leaves with yellow edges: increases the risk.
The easiest way to propagate ivy is through cuttings. Choose stems from healthy plants that are less than 2 years old and soak them in water for a few days until they begin to take root. You can also plant it in moist peat moss. Then it is planted in a universal substrate. Propagation of ivy can be done at any time of the year, but it is best to avoid the colder months.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the care of indoor ivy.
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