English Ivy Plant Care Guide (Maranta Leuconeura)
What is the English Ivy Plant?
Hedera Helix, also known as “English Ivy” and “European Ivy,” is a hardy vine that produces green, pointed leaves and can expand rapidly when properly taken care of. While it is native to Europe and parts of Asia, common Ivy can be found in households across the world, as it is considered to be a top tier houseplant.
Ivy requires little to no maintenance on your part, meaning that you can leave it to grow and flourish on its own for much of the time. Beautiful AND easy to take care of? Sounds like a real winner to us!
Light Care
Ivy prefers medium, indirect light, although it can still grow well in bright, indirect light as well. Do not leave your Ivy in a space that receives direct light, as this can lead to the plant’s leaves burning and losing their natural green color. Similarly, do not expose your Ivy to lowlight conditions for too long, as this can lead to complications such as stunted growth and eventual poisoning.
Water Care
Water your Ivy on a biweekly basis, and make sure that the water is evenly distributed throughout the soil. Remember to keep the plant’s soil moist, but don’t allow it to become too saturated with water and begin to pool. This will be extremely harmful, and potentially lethal, for your plant.
To check the water levels of your plant’s soil, place a water meter several inches into the soil, where it will give you an accurate indication. If you do not own a water meter, stick one finger knuckle-deep into the soil. At this depth, you will be able to accurately account for the soil’s level of moistness.
Food Guide
Ivy enjoys average houseplant soil that drains well, as it allows them to experience the ideal moisture level without being overwatered. The beauty of having a houseplant that grows as aggressively as Ivy is that you don’t have to fertilize often if at all. At the beginning of the growing season, sparingly provide your Ivy with diluted liquid fertilizer to encourage early growth.
Staff Holy Grail Pro-Tip:
Much like other members of the ivy family, the English Ivy is capable of being grown in a multitude of ways. While you can grow it in a basic pot, it also flourishes in hanging pots. Additionally, through the use of wiring or poles, you can train your English Ivy to grow along walls to create fantastic patterns and act as a natural border for picture frames and other wall accessories. Best of all, ivy practically grows on its own, so your job is to give it water occasionally and it’ll do much of the remaining work!
