Is English ivy a good houseplant for the average home? The short answer is yes if your home stays cool, bright and pet free. The plant rewards the right spot with lush green leaves. It punishes the wrong spot with crispy edges and a fast pest invasion.
My best ivy lives in a chilly north facing entryway near a side window. The room sits at about 60°F (16°C) most of the year. English ivy indoor care turned out to be much easier in that cool nook than in my warm living room.
I tried the same plant on a sunny living room shelf and watched it crash. The leaves got dry and brown within three weeks of moving rooms. Spider mites moved in by week five and I had to toss the whole pot in the trash.
The Clemson HGIC team gives clear numbers for the ideal home range. Aim for 50°F to 70°F (10°C to 21°C) during the daytime hours. Drop the night temperature by 5 to 10 degrees to match what the plant gets in the wild.
Water only when the top half inch of soil feels dry to your fingertip. Stick your finger in the pot each week to check before you reach for the can. Soggy soil rots the roots fast and you may not spot the trouble until the leaves droop.
Bright indirect light keeps the leaves full and tight on the stem. A spot near an east or north window works well for most homes. Skip the south facing window since strong sun bleaches the leaves to a pale yellow shade.
Growing English ivy indoors runs into the same trap for most new owners. Warm dry living rooms feel great for people but harsh for this cool weather plant. Costa Farms and Soltech both note that spider mite outbreaks hit warm dry rooms within weeks.
Spider mites love the dry air from your heater vent during winter months. The tiny bugs spin fine webs along the leaf veins and stems. By the time you spot the damage, the colony has spread to every leaf on the vine.
Mist the leaves twice a week to raise the local humidity around the plant. Wipe each leaf with a damp cloth once a month to knock off any early pests. A pebble tray under the pot adds steady moisture during the dry winter run.
Pick a cool bright bathroom, a north entryway or a quiet bedroom for your Hedera helix houseplant. Skip hot kitchens, sunny south windows and rooms near a heater vent. Those three spots cause about nine out of ten ivy deaths in the average home.
Keep your pot out of reach of cats, dogs and toddlers at all times. The leaves and berries are mildly toxic to pets and small kids. A high shelf or a hanging basket near the ceiling solves the safety side with no extra fuss.
Trim long vines back by a third each spring to keep the plant full and bushy. Save the cut pieces and root them in water for free new plants. Your ivy can live ten years or more with the right home and a bit of care each week.
Read the full article: English Ivy: Care, Cultivars and Caution
