Indoor ivy (Hedera) can be found in almost every apartment - this evergreen plant does not require complex care and adapts perfectly to any conditions. Even when placed in a room with insufficient light and low temperature, it is content with what it has and continues to grow actively.

The main condition for how to care for ivy is to prevent the soil from drying out; this plant may not withstand drought and shed all its leaves.

Family: Araliaceae, deciduous and decorative, light-loving, shade-tolerant.

Evergreen climbing woody vines attached to the support using sucker roots. In the southern regions, common ivy (Hedera helix) entangles tree trunks and climbs rocks.

Is it possible to keep indoor ivy at home?

Many doubt whether it is possible to keep ivy at home - these fears are fueled by rumors that the plant supposedly “survives” all the green spaces growing around. Experienced flower growers advise not to be afraid of this neighborhood. At home, ivy is unpretentious and will not interfere with other plants.

Due to its variety of forms, high variability and ease of home care, ivy has long been widely used in indoor floriculture for vertical gardening.

Numerous varieties differ in leaf shape, size and color. The most characteristic leaf shape is five-lobed, but there are varieties with almost oval leaves, and, conversely, with elongated tips of the lobes, almost star-shaped. The edges of the leaf blade, usually smooth, can be corrugated or wavy. The color, usually even green, can consist of bizarre combinations of green, yellow, cream, white and gray.

The largest leaves are ivy canary(Hedera helix ssp. canariensis)- up to 20 cm long.

The Variegata variety of this species is distinguished by beautiful white veins on the leaves.

How to care for indoor ivy

Caring for ivy at home, unspoiled by the bounty of wild nature, is not difficult. He is content with “what he has” - dim lighting, dry air, decreased winter temperatures (up to +10 °C). You should try to water it regularly, since once the leaves have experienced a lack of moisture, they dry out and fall off (but this is partially compensated by the rapid growth rate). Variegated varieties need more intense lighting, otherwise the brightness of the leaf color is lost. Feeding is carried out once a month in winter, and every week in spring and summer.

When caring for home ivy, replant the plant once every 2-3 years in a soil mixture of turf soil, compost and sand (1:1:1), preferably several cuttings in one container for more luxuriant growth. It can be grown as a hanging plant - the shoots hang freely over the edges of the pots, or as a climbing plant - the ivy easily entwines itself with the provided support, anchored by sucker roots. But the more “noble” Canary ivy cannot do this; its shoots will have to be tied up or secured in some other way.

Caring for home ivy hybrids

For owners of spacious areas and lovers of large forms, a hybrid of common ivy (Hedera helix) and Japanese fatsia (Fatsia japonica) - Fatshedera (Fatshedera) has been developed. This is an evergreen liana with long (up to 5 m) woody shoots and large (up to 30 cm in diameter) palmate leathery leaves of dark green color. Yellowish-green flowers are collected in a panicle inflorescence up to 15 cm long.

Caring for home ivy hybrids is the same as for common ivy - these plants combine all the characteristics from both “parents” that are convenient for indoor floriculture. They grow successfully both in bright light and in shaded places, and tolerate dry air, dust, short daylight hours and high temperatures in winter. Ivy hybrids are watered abundantly; spraying will not be unnecessary. Fertilizing is carried out in spring and summer 2 times a month. They are replanted annually in spring into spacious containers using a soil mixture of turf and leaf soil and sand (1:1:1).

Leathery, slightly glossy and slightly wavy-edged lobed leaves on long flexible shoots, a fairly fast growth rate, hardiness and a wide variety of varieties have made ivy very popular indoor plants. They look good simply placed on a table or shelf, or in combination with other plants in flower arrangements. With the help of curly supports, long shoots can be given any intricate shape. Headers are used as ground cover and hanging plants, in the form of green screens, where shoots grow vertically upward. In addition to the most common ivy (Hederahelix), There are also other related types of ivy on sale with a great variety of varieties that differ in growth patterns, shape and coloring of leaves with shades of green, white, yellow, gray and cream. ( See on page Ivy).

Growing ivy at home is not difficult if you understand what the plant needs. The main problems arise in winter when it is kept in a warm and insufficiently lit room with low air humidity, when the plant is severely affected by spider mites.

Illumination. All heders need bright, diffused light; they should be protected only from direct midday summer sun, since ivies do not like heat and overheating of the roots. Some varieties can withstand lower light levels but will lose their color vibrancy. Ivy with variegated leaves are more demanding of light. The opinion has been firmly established that these are shade-loving plants, but without enough light the shoots will stretch out, the internodes will increase, and the plant will become more susceptible to pests. In the warm season, it is advisable to take the hedera to an open balcony or garden, placing it in the light shade of other plants and carefully covering the pot from the sun.

Air humidity for ivy is of great importance. This is a plant from humid forests, so it also needs high air humidity at home. Hedera tolerates even very frequent spraying well, since the leathery and slightly wavy leaves at the edges allow water droplets to easily drain. In dry air, especially in winter, ivy is severely damaged by spider mites, which is usually the cause of plant death. In summer, spray ivy regularly during dry, hot weather. In winter, if the plant is placed in a warm room with heating, spray the leaves 2-6 times a day and regularly take a cool shower, it will help cope with the mite. Hedera can be kept in a bright bathroom. If the hedera winters on a cool balcony or greenhouse at temperatures below +15 o C, spraying is not needed.

Watering. Before the next watering, check the soil moisture, let the top layer dry, without allowing the earthen ball to dry out completely. In summer, water regularly until water comes out into the pan. In winter, in cool conditions, the plant rests and consumes less water, so the frequency and abundance of watering is reduced. The soil must be well drained throughout so that water does not linger and quickly passes through it. Water the plant only from above, and be sure to drain excess water from the pan - ivy does not like excessive dampness in the roots. At the same time, he is calm about water hardness.

Temperature. Hedera grows well in summer at a temperature of +18...+24 o C and preferably in the open air. During hot weather it needs regular spraying. In winter, the plant rests, so do not place it near radiators, provide it with coolness, +10...+18 o C, although ivy can tolerate lower temperatures. Optimal conditions for the plant are on a bright, frost-free glazed balcony.

Feeding. From spring to autumn, apply water-soluble complex fertilizers for ornamental foliage plants or universal mixtures with microelements. In winter, when the ivy goes dormant, all feeding is canceled.

Soil and transplants. Headers are undemanding to the composition of the soil mixture; they grow well in both slightly acidic and slightly alkaline substrates, but they require good drainage. Add perlite to the prepared universal soil mixture before planting; it will ensure looseness and rapid passage of water through the substrate and prevent waterlogging. And the greater the tendency to overflow, the more perlite is needed in the soil mixture.

It is better to grow several shoots in one pot, this will give the plant lushness. Do not replant plants after purchase.

The hedera is replanted by careful transshipment only after the roots have thoroughly absorbed the entire previous volume of soil. A new pot is taken 1-2 cm larger in diameter. The best time for replanting is spring, but you can replant until the end of summer.

Trimming and shaping. Slow growing varieties require little to no pruning. Shoots with vigorous growth can be shortened if necessary at any time of the year, but preferably from early spring to mid-summer. Cut healthy parts of the stems can be used for propagation. In the spring, sanitary pruning is also carried out, removing shoots that have dried out and become very bare during the winter. Ivy can be given any shape. Shoots must be tied to vertical supports, since the stems themselves do not curl or cling, but are attached to surfaces using short aerial roots.

If you come into contact with ivy, an allergic reaction or contact dermatitis is possible, so it is recommended to use gloves when working with it.

Bloom does not occur at home, since flower buds are formed only on adult ivy shoots, which form on the tops in the open sun. All shoots in the pot are juvenile, not flowering.

Reproduction. The variety you like is propagated vegetatively, by rooting cuttings. To do this, take pieces of healthy leafy stems 5-10 cm long and root them in peat soil using root formation stimulants (Kornevin, Heteroauxin). Planted cuttings must be placed in greenhouses with high air humidity.

Pests. Hedera, like many other indoor plants, can be affected by scale insects and mealybugs; if a pest is detected, treat with Aktara. But the real disaster for ivy is the spider mite, which overwhelms the plant in unfavorable conditions for it. The tick is especially dangerous in winter, when the hedera is kept next to the radiator, in a warm and dark room with dry air. Urgently wash the plant thoroughly in the shower, find a bright and cool place, and increase the humidity.

The scientific name for indoor ivy is hedera, but popularly it is simply called loach. Loach, a plant from the Araliaceae family, is a shrub with many leaves. It received its popular name due to the fact that its adventitious roots cling and wrap around any supports that are nearby.

On one plant there are two types of leaves depending on the branches on which they grow: flowering branches with light green and entire leaves that have an oblong shape, non-flowering branches with dark green leaves of an angular lobed shape.

Ivy has flowers that are collected in clusters on the upper branches: the corolla consists of 5 petals, there are also 5 stamens, the calyx consists of 5 cloves, the pistil has a short style with a fleshy disc at the base. The loach also bears fruits: yellow or black berries with seeds.

Hedera has many varieties. The most famous of them is ivy, its distinctive feature is its thick roots that cling to supports. But there are other equally interesting varieties. Variety " Elsie Kessler"Has leaves of light green color with light veins.

Variety "Glacier" It is distinguished by silvery spots on the leaves and a border around the edges. Leaves of the variety " Ivalace"Over time they darken and turn slightly upward. Variety " Gold Child"has leaves with a yellowish border that turns white over time.

Is it worth growing it at home?

Of course, indoor ivy is worth growing at home, because it has many useful properties:

• Hedera has an anti-inflammatory effect, so it helps with various inflammatory infections.
• The fruits are used to reduce blood pressure and improve well-being.
• You can make infusions from the leaves that help treat coughs and joint pain.
• Infusions from the roots help with burns, boils and scabies.
• Hedera is one of the ingredients in the decoction for bladder stone problems.
• In addition, the loach cleanses the air of harmful chemical components (benzene, xylene).

Caring for ivy at home

1. Location. Indoor ivy is a plant that loves shade, but in measured quantities. It is better to place it in a place where there is no direct sunlight, but where it will still be sufficiently illuminated. It is worth remembering that the header does not tolerate changes in location, so it is better to immediately choose a suitable place for it and not change it.
2. Air humidity should be high, because the loach feels good in a more humid room. If the room is quite warm, then it needs to be sprayed from time to time and even, if possible, washed under water.
3. Temperature regime. Ivy likes cool temperatures, which can reach 16°C at night in summer and 12°C in winter. In the summer, you can keep the hedera outdoors, placing it so that it feels the air from the street.
4. Lighting. To maintain a loach, it is important that it has enough natural and artificial light. Therefore, it is better that the room with it has diffused lighting or partial shade, then it will feel quite comfortable and will not grow slowly.
5. Watering. Since ivy loves high humidity, it needs to be watered abundantly in the summer to maintain sufficient moisture content in the soil. In winter, you need to make sure that the soil does not dry out, but is not too wet, so at this time of year the hedera is watered less.
6. How to choose soil? When choosing soil, you must first take into account the acidity of the soil, because different plants need different acidic environments. Indoor ivy grows best in slightly acidic soils with a pH of 5.5-6.5. The soil that will provide hedera with the best growth has the following composition: leaf soil, humus, turf, peat and sand - all these elements should be in the ratio 1:1:1:1:1.
7. Feeding and fertilizer. Ivy needs to be fed and fertilized differently at different times. In winter, fertilizing should be done once a month with a complex fertilizer for decorative deciduous plants. In spring, summer and autumn, hedera should be fertilized every 2 weeks, alternating mineral and organic fertilizers.
8. Diseases and pests. Indoor ivy is not so easy to bring to a painful state, because it is quite resistant to negative influences. If you are a competent plant grower, then the hedera will be healthy throughout the entire growth period. If you are new to this business, then it is worth knowing and taking into account how the negative conditions of loach breeding can affect its health:
   • If your ivy is of a variegated variety, then low lighting will negatively affect it: the decorative shade of the flowers begins to fade, and they will soon die.
   • If the hedera is kept in a room with low air humidity and is not given enough moisture during watering, the leaves begin to weaken and fall off.
   • If you overdo it with watering or fertilizing, the leaves turn yellow and also die over time.

Also, indoor ivy can suffer from pests if proper inspection is not carried out periodically. The following pests can attack hedera:

• Red spider mite bites into the stem and quickly spreads, destroying the ivy due to active reproduction.
• Mealybug affects the leaves, releasing liquid that adheres to them and spreading the fungus, which contaminates the plant. The scale insects also try to sap the juices of shoots and leaves, thereby inhibiting the growth of the loach.
• Greenhouse thrips is activated in particularly hot weather if the ivy does not receive the required amount of moisture. It harms the leaves, infecting them and causing rapid yellowing and leaf drop.
• Aphids, like mealybugs feed on plant sap and infect leaves and shoots. Particularly dangerous are winged aphids, which can fly from one ivy to another.
• Thyroids, and more specifically their young larvae, stick to the loach, which is why such a white coating forms on its different parts, in fact, these are densely attached thyroid glands. The harm of this insect is that it causes the leaves to turn yellow and fall off.

To treat ivy from harmful effects, you usually do the following:

• Use of the drugs Actellik, Karbofos and Aktara. Two milliliters of one of the drugs must be dissolved in a liter of water and watered and sprayed with this solution.
• Repeated treatment should be carried out every three days until the prepared solution runs out.
• If the stage of the hedera disease is advanced, then deeper treatment is necessary. It consists of washing the part of the plant that is not in the ground with an insecticidal solution.

Transplantation should be carried out in order to improve the nutrient medium of the soil in which indoor ivy grows. Signs of the need for a transplant:

• Roots begin to grow through holes in the drainage, which slows growth.
• The leaves of the loach begin to wither, and no growth is observed.

Young ivy needs to be replanted every year. If the plant is 3 to 5 years old, then it only needs to replace the old soil with new one.

Hedera transplantation takes place in several stages:

• Water the entire plant abundantly to wet and soften the earthen clod.
• Drainage is placed at the bottom of the prepared pot to allow the roots to access the air and freely seep out moisture.
• Directly transplanting ivy from one pot to another. Here it is important to ensure that the root collar is neither deep in the ground nor on the surface.
• Next, you need to press the soil with your fingers, leaving edges for watering.
• Watering and spraying the plant.

Trimming. If there are bare shoots on the ivy, then they need to be cut off completely, leaving a couple of buds. After pruning, new shoots will grow in this place, with several at one place of the cut. Also, do not forget about pruning those shoots that look weak and unhealthy; they need to be trimmed without leaving buds.

Reproduction

Indoor ivy can be propagated in several possible ways:

• Reproduction by layering. Some of the shoots are buried in the ground next to the main plant, making cuts on their underside, and secured in an arched shape. After the roots appear on the cuttings, they are separated from the main plant and planted in another pot.
• Propagation by cuttings. Ivy with aerial roots reproduces better this way. Cuttings are cut from the top of the hedera and planted in a pot of 3 pieces. Next, they are covered with film to maintain the desired level of humidity. They must remain in this state for some time, after which the film is removed.
• Reproduction by shoots. A shoot with 10 leaves should be placed on the sand and pressed down so that only the leaves remain on the surface. After 10 days, roots form on the stem near the buds, located below the ground level. Then the shoot must be removed and trimmed so that one leaf and root system are preserved. After this, it is quite possible to plant the loach on the street. Under such conditions, it will quickly take root in the soil. It is important to remember that the cuttings must be treated with powder, which will contain root hormones. With this sequence of actions, the only possible drawback of the header will be the low speed of its rooting.

Answers to frequently asked questions

1. How to water ivy? In the warm season, it is necessary to water it 2-3 times a week. Under no circumstances should the soil be allowed to dry out excessively, as this will negatively affect the growth of hedera.
2. A couple of tricks that can help a gardener when propagating ivy. If you replant it and after 7-10 days no new shoots have appeared, it may not have enough minerals and fertilizers to grow productively. In this case, it makes sense to change the soil, which will be more rich in nutrients. The size of the piece of plant from which a new one will then appear should vary from 10 to 20 cm. Thanks to this, the root system of the hedera will receive an acceptable amount of micronutrients, which will allow the buds to bloom and give the loach new life.

In general, ivy is a very unpretentious plant that does not require excessive care. For its successful growth and development, it is necessary to provide an optimal level of fertilizing, heat and humidity, with the help of which the hedera will grow. The loach is quite suitable for use for decorating a particular room due to its appearance, which makes it similar to a liana.

One of the most popular plants among gardeners is indoor ivy. This spectacular flower comes in a variety of shapes and types. It received the popular names “loach” and “serpentine” because of its ability to wrap around nearby supports. If you pull ropes indoors, the plant can braid not only the wall, but also the ceiling. Breeders have bred more than a hundred species of home ivy

Description of the plant

You can propagate the flower by layering. In this case, cuts are made from the bottom of the long shoots and they are secured to the ground with staples. After rooting, young plants are separated and replanted.

There is a third way - propagation by shoots. Cut shoots with several leaves are laid out on the sand. Then the stem is pressed into it, leaving the foliage outside. After 10 days, underground roots appear on the stem. The shoots are taken out of the sand and divided into several cuttings. Each of them should have roots and 1 leaf.

How to properly care

Caring for indoor ivy at home is not at all difficult. You just need to provide the flower with suitable conditions for it.

Factors affecting plant growth and health:

• watering;
• lighting;
• feeding;
• humidity;
• topping;
• temperature regime.

In summer, ivy is watered generously 2 times a week, bathed in a warm shower and irrigated with clean water. You should not overwater the flower, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow due to excess moisture. In winter, once a week is enough, especially if the room temperature is cool.

Direct sunlight should never fall on the leaves. so that burns do not form on them. Indoor ivy loves light, but can also grow quietly in light shade. The only thing he endures painfully is a change of permanent place. It is better to initially determine where the flower will stand.

Feeding is carried out every 2 weeks during the spring-autumn period. Ordinary complex mineral fertilizers for decorative deciduous plants are suitable for this purpose. Sometimes gardeners feed ivy with mullein, but this often causes the leaves to become large and the ivy loses its decorative appeal.

There should always be moist air in the room where ivy grows. You can additionally spray the plant with a spray bottle. This is done more often in summer than in winter. If the room is hot in winter, then irrigation will not hurt. It is recommended to bathe the flower in the shower from time to time.

Description and use of the common ostrich

Periodically you need to pinch the ends of the ivy stems. This procedure promotes the growth of new side shoots. The cut tops serve as cuttings for flower propagation. On variegated plants, green shoots must be cut off.

Comfortable summer temperature for ivy is +22−25 °C. In the warm season, the flower can be placed on an open balcony or terrace. The western wall is more suitable for this, so that the place is slightly shaded. In winter, the best temperature is in the range of 15−18°C. The plant loves fresh air and is not afraid of drafts, so the room can be ventilated often.

Replanting ivy

The initial transplant must be done after purchasing the plant, but not immediately. You need to wait about a week for it to get used to the new conditions. Carefully remove the substrate from the pot so as not to damage the roots, and plant the flower in a wide pot with a drainage cushion. Young plants are replanted every year, and those that are 3 and 4 years old - once every 2 years.

Flowers older than five years old should not be replanted. They simply remove the old top layer of soil and fill it with a new one.

Indoor ivy belongs to the Araliaceae family. This is a woody vine with stems that climb using sucker roots. The plant has one peculiarity: the appearance of its leaves changes with age.

Currently, there are about 450 varieties of indoor ivy. They differ in size, shape and color of leaves. Ivy flowers are inconspicuous and small. At home, ivy blooms very rarely. The homeland of ivy is Europe.

The most common types in home floriculture are:

Hedera helix ssp. canariensis - Canarian ivy.

Canary ivy is a large species of ivy, distinguished by dark red petioles of large, up to 20 cm long, leaves. The most popular variety of this species is the Variegata variety: its popularity is ensured by its beautiful white veined leaves.

Ivy reaches a height of 100 to 200 cm or more.

Canary ivy needs regular but moderate watering, prefers partial shade and diffused light, air temperature +15...+20 degrees. During the growth period, it needs weekly feeding. To enhance branching in young plants, pinching the tips of the shoots is done. Propagation is done by stem cuttings (link). The plant is replanted once every 2-3 years.

Hedera helix - Common ivy.

This type of ivy is used mainly for decorating the walls of buildings, since it is able to conquer any vertical surface.

Once the ivy is planted, it needs regular watering until it is fully established, but this is only if you do not use mulching. When mulched and there is fertile soil, ivy is practically not watered, with the exception of a lack of precipitation for a week or two.

What is mulching used for? First, it retains moisture and improves soil structure, prevents weeds, and also retains soil moisture and cools the soil. 5-10 cm of sawdust or leaf compost is used as mulch.

As fertilizers, you can use nitrogen fertilizers at the rate of 6 tablespoons per square meter of soil surface. It is better to fertilize ivy in the spring. The main thing is not to overdo it, since an excess of nitrogen can lead to loss of color (especially true for the ‘Golden Dust’ or ‘Jubilee’ varieties).

After a dry autumn, it is necessary to saturate the soil where the ivy grows with water. This is done so that the bright sun or strong wind does not lead to “burning” of the foliage. Newly planted plants on the south side must be covered with white film.

Ivy propagation

Common ivy is propagated by cuttings and layering. A cut piece of stem with a top 10-15 cm long and 3-4 lower leaves removed is placed in a glass of water 1/3 of its length, or in a pot with wet sand, vermiculite or a mixture of well-mixed garden soil (1/3) and perlite (2/3).

Root formation usually occurs within 4-6 weeks. To check this, try pulling the cuttings out of the pot: if you feel resistance, it means that the roots have definitely already formed.

Basic rules for keeping indoor ivy:

Optimum temperature - +15 - +17 degrees;
Loves spraying and washing leaves in the shower;
To maintain the necessary humidity in winter, it is better to place the pot with the plant in a tray with wet expanded clay or gravel;
During the period of vegetative growth, it is necessary to fertilize with universal fertilizer once a week; in winter - once a week.
Variegated ivies need a lot of light, but they are contraindicated in direct sunlight and kept in a dark place.

Question asked on the forum on keeping ivy at home:

Over the winter, almost all the shoots of my ivy died and the leaves fell off. Why did this happen?
Lyubov NOSKOVA

An important factor in keeping hedera in winter is coolness. The plant does not tolerate hot, dry air from central heating radiators at all and may die, despite frequent spraying. If possible, ivy should be placed in a bright, cool place, watering should be reduced, thus giving it the opportunity to rest. The optimal temperature at this time is +10-12 degrees.

By the way, the summer heat also adversely affects the well-being of ivy. In the warm season, it is advisable to take the plants “on vacation” to the balcony or loggia, placing them in a place protected from direct sunlight. In the fresh air, plants bush and grow actively, the foliage becomes more saturated in color. They are helped in this by daily temperature changes, night coolness, and air that is more humid than indoors. The shoots grow additional sucker roots, as in nature, and with their help they attach to any protrusions and uneven walls and climb up.

Reproduction

Rooting cuttings is best done at the end of summer. Cuttings 8-20 cm long are planted 2-3 pieces in a pot with a soil mixture of the following composition: turf, humus soil and sand in equal proportions. After this, the cuttings are covered with a glass jar and sprayed and watered regularly.

The second method of propagation is that the cut shoot with 8-10 leaves is laid horizontally in a groove. The groove is 1.5-2 cm deep and is made in wet sand. The leaves remain on the surface of the sand.

On the tenth day, underground roots are formed from the aerial roots and the tip of the shoot begins to grow. After two weeks, the shoot is removed from the sand and cut into cuttings with one leaf and roots. Plant 3 cuttings in small pots.

Transfer

Once every 2-3 years, the plant needs to be replanted into a larger pot (its volume should be 2-3 cm larger than the size of the rhizome). Drainage placed at the bottom of the pot will ensure access of water and air to the roots. The main composition of the soil used for replanting is formed from: turf, leaf soil, humus, part of peat and sand at the rate of (1:1:1:1:1).

It is better to replant in the spring after a dormant period. In the first years of life, the plant is replanted annually; in the future, only the top layer of soil can be changed. The transplant should be done when you notice that the ivy has stopped growing.

Question asked on the forum on the maintenance of house ivy:

After transplantation, the ivy does not want to grow at all. In six months it produced only a few new leaves. Why?
Galina ZHUKOVICH

Hedera usually grows quite quickly; some varieties have increased the length of their shoots by almost half a meter over the course of a season. Poor growth can be caused by several factors. Perhaps the soil is not suitable. Hedera develops well in a slightly acidic (pH 5.5-6.5), permeable, light mixture of leaf soil, peat and sand (2:2:1). Heavy, excessively nutritious mixtures lead to plant oppression. Drainage is required.

The pot for planting hedera needs to be small, corresponding to the size of the root system. The plant develops better in cramped containers.

A possible reason for poor growth of a transplanted plant may be insufficient lighting. Hedera, of course, is shade-tolerant, but develops better in bright, diffused light, especially variegated varieties. Then the leaf petioles and internodes are shortened, the foliage covers the shoots more densely, and in general the plant looks more attractive.

Certain subtleties of care

If there is a lack of light, ivy leaves become faded; to prevent this from happening, provide the plant with the necessary amount of light, but remember that ivy prefers diffused light rather than direct sunlight.

Ivy requires special care in winter. High room temperature leads to dry air. Ivy feels great at an air temperature of +15-17 degrees, while it needs abundant watering and is demanding on air humidity.

During the growing season, the plant needs feeding and possibly replanting. Monitor growth, replant as necessary and feed the plant once a week.

Possible difficulties

Pests and diseases

If improperly cared for, ivy is affected by spider mites and scale insects.

Question asked on the forum on keeping ivy indoors:

A cobweb appeared on the ivy, and the leaves quickly began to fall. I water it moderately, spraying it every day if possible. Maybe it's a tick?
Alena RYBIK

The tick simply “adores” headers. Unfavorable factors and care costs that weaken the plant’s immunity lead to the appearance of spider mites and red mites. Dry air, high temperatures and insufficient watering contribute to this. The mite spreads quickly and can destroy a plant in 2-3 weeks. Therefore, at the first signs of its appearance, it is necessary to carry out 2-3 treatments with an interval of 5-6 days with special acaricidal preparations (Fitoverm, Neoron, Actellik, Omite), diluted according to the instructions, or in a slightly higher concentration. It is better to alternate medications. Carry out the treatment in the fresh air. Before this, the plant can be washed in the shower (to remove most of the pests) and the foliage allowed to dry.

Among the alternative remedies, a solution of laundry soap helps me deal with mites, or better yet, foam dishwashing detergent. I apply it to the leaves, leave it for about an hour, then wash it off. However, unlike the use of “chemistry”, such procedures have to be carried out twice as many (about 5 treatments). I tie the pot with a plastic bag. I advise, without waiting for the tick to appear, to carry out preventive treatments twice a year - in the spring (since the plant is weakened over the winter and the risk of its damage is high) and in the fall before wintering. It is also important to give plants showers more often. Sometimes ivy can be attacked by another, no less malicious pest - the scale insect. I carefully and repeatedly (as I find it) remove it manually with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, and additionally spill the soil with an actara or tanrek.

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