If you’re looking for an easy-to-care-for groundcover or trailing plant, English ivy can be a great option. This iconic cottage plant produces evergreen leaves that thrive with little care. Although this plant is invasive in many areas, it grows well in containers both indoors and out.
We’ll cover how to care for English ivy growing in indoor containers and outdoor gardens. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll know everything about caring for this vining, evergreen plant.
English Ivy Basics
English ivy (Hedera helix) is a perennial, evergreen plant native to Europe. The plants start out as sprawling, vegetative vines that can form dense ground covers or climb up structures. These vines can easily cover the sides of brick houses and climb up large trees. As the plants grow older, they develop woody vines that are multiple inches in diameter.
Although people grow this plant for its foliage, mature plants produce clusters of tiny yellow flowers. These flowers give way to deep purple fruits that birds and mammals consume. Therefore, English ivy can spread via its trailing stems and roots as well as by seeds.
Growing English Ivy in the Garden
Before you plant English ivy in your garden, take note that it’s a prolific grower and can quickly become invasive. Its sprawling form can quickly take over vast swaths of ground, and its climbing nature means it can work its way up tree trunks and into canopies. If left unchecked, the plants can cause large trees to die and transform a diverse forest or garden into a dense monoculture. It can also damage buildings if it climbs up walls and anchors into bricks and stone.
That said, some people find English ivy an attractive addition to cottage gardens. Its quick growth also means it can be useful for controlling erosion on hillsides.
When to Plant English Ivy
The best time to plant English ivy is in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. You can also plant in the late summer or early fall as long as you water the plants regularly in the weeks following transplanting. Avoid planting in the late fall since cold temperatures can cause young plants to die.
Where to Plant English Ivy
English ivy grows best in full to partial shade. That’s why people often use it as a ground cover in wooded areas or near the base of houses. The plants can handle a few hours of sun, but they often suffer if exposed to hot afternoon sun coupled with high temperatures.
These plants aren’t too picky about soil. They won’t thrive in saturated soils or boggy areas, but they can grow well in sand, clay, loam, and rocky soils. So don’t worry about sticking them in that old gravel driveway or compacted clay.
Since English ivy can quickly spread, you should consider its rapid growth when determining where to plant it. If you don’t want it growing up trees or taking over the side of your house, plant it far away from these items. An even better option is planting it in a container that helps limit its spread.
How to Care for English Ivy Outdoors
Once your plants are in the ground, caring for them is easy! English ivy requires little water, except for in times of drought. If you’ve gone more than two weeks without any rain, give your plants a deep watering. They also grow well without any fertilizer, so you don’t have to worry about dowsing the plants with nutrients.
The hardest part of caring for English ivy is ensuring it doesn’t grow too well. If you let it grow wild, it can grow over your other garden plants and even damage structures. Check your ivy’s growth every week, and cut back any vines that are growing where they shouldn’t be. Since cut and pulled vines can easily re-root, burn or trash the vines rather than throwing them on a brush pile or adding them to your compost.
Growing English Ivy in Containers
If you want to enjoy the look of English ivy without worrying about it taking over your landscape, growing it in containers is a great option. This plant grows well indoors as a houseplant as well as outdoors as a container plant. Since we already covered how to grow ivy outdoors, this section will focus on how to care for English ivy indoors.
Choosing a Container and Soil Mix
One of the most important parts of English ivy care indoors is choosing the proper container. Since English ivy grows in a trailing form, look for a container that will support the plant’s cascading leaves and stems. The ideal container size depends on the size of the plant, but a 12-inch to 18-inch container is generally a good option. No matter the container size, ensure the bottom has drainage holes!
Once you’ve found a suitable container, it’s time to move on to choosing a proper soil mix. English ivy prefers its soil on the drier side, so choose a mix with excellent drainage. Materials including perlite, pine bark fines, and vermiculite help improve both aeration and drainage. You should also choose a mix that contains water-holding materials like coco coir and peat moss. A standard houseplant potting mix works great.
Light Requirements
If you’re growing English ivy indoors, choose a location with lots of bright, indirect light. While English ivy will survive in dark corners and hallways, this lack of light will lead to stalled growth and potentially unhealthy plants. Some ideal locations for English ivy include the interior of a brightly lit room or in front of a west-facing window.
Watering
A key component of English ivy care is providing the plants with the proper amount of water. These evergreen plants like their soil on the drier side, but that doesn’t mean you should let the potting mix dry out entirely. A good option is to water your plant when the top two to three inches of soil is dry. You can insert your finger into the middle of the pot to check the soil moisture.
If you find the soil is dry, go ahead and water. Slowly pour water onto the soil until all of the soil is fully saturated. If you have a catch dish under your pot, make sure to empty it once you’re done watering.
Temperature and Humidity
English ivy can thrive in hardiness zones 4-12, so it’s no surprise that these plants can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. If your home is at a temperature that’s comfortable to you, it’s fine for your English ivy! Although these plants are happy at temperatures between 50-90°F, you should avoid sudden and drastic changes in temperature.
These plants are also happy in both dry and humid environments, so they’re perfect for just about any home.
Fertilizing
English ivy isn’t a heavy feeder, so it doesn’t require much fertilizer to remain healthy and produce new growth. However, adding a small dose of a balanced houseplant fertilizer in the spring will help the plant thrive in the coming year. Look for a fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 1-1-1 and follow product instructions when adding it to your potted plant.
Pruning
Even if you’re growing English ivy in a pot indoors, it can quickly put on new growth! The trailing stems look gorgeous trailing out of a hanging basket, and you can also train the stems to run along a mantle or up a wall. However, sometimes the ivy’s growth gets a little out of control. If you want to control the ivy’s growth, grab a pair of clean pruning shears and trim the stems back.
Order Plants from The Bouqs Co.
Whether you want to add some English ivy to your home or have your eyes set on another type of houseplant, we’re here for you. We carry a selection of plants for delivery and also provide helpful care tips for your new green friend. Since you already know about English ivy care, take a moment to check out our fiddle fig care guide or learn about caring for spider plants.
And if plants aren’t your thing, don’t worry! We also carry a variety of cut flower bouquets to choose from. You can find bright birthday arrangements and subdued flowers perfect for zen households. All of these options are available for delivery, so ordering farm-fresh flowers has never been easier!
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