Indoor ivy: can you keep it at home, signs. Recommendations for caring for the plant: is it worth keeping ivy at home? Is it possible to plant ivy at home?

Ivy (chedera) has been known to mankind for a very long time. In Ancient Egypt, this vine was an object of cult and symbolized immortality, and in Greece wreaths were woven from ivy and worn at feasts.
In those days, it was claimed that a sprig of ivy placed on the chest of a sleeping woman would prevent her beauty and youth from quickly fading.
The hedera was also mentioned in works of art: on the grave of Isolde and Tristan, a grapevine and a vine of ivy were intertwined with each other.
Hedera perfectly purifies indoor air, absorbing harmful fumes, so it should be in every kitchen. You will learn about what types and varieties of ivy there are, how to grow a vine in your apartment and how to care for it in our article.

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Planting and caring for ivy

• Bloom: decorative foliage plant.
• Lighting: for forms with green leaves - partial shade or shade, for variegated leaves - bright diffused light or light partial shade.
• Temperature: during the growing season - 22-24 ˚C, in winter you need coolness, but not lower than 13 ˚C.
• Watering: regular, moderate.
• Air humidity: increased. The plant needs daily spraying, and when kept in a warm room in winter, the pot should be kept on a tray with wet pebbles.
• Feeding: from March to August twice a month with complex fertilizers for decorative foliage plants.
• Rest period: in winter.
• Transfer: young plants are replanted annually, adults - as needed, when the pot becomes too small for them.
• Reproduction: mainly vegetative: layering, shoots, apical cuttings.
• Pests: aphids, scale insects, false scale insects, cyclamen and spider mites, mealybugs, greenhouse thrips.
• Diseases: loss of decorativeness due to poor care and improper maintenance.

Read more about growing ivy below.

Plant ivy (lat. Hedera) genus of the Araliaceae family is a climbing evergreen shrub, reaching thirty meters in height in nature. About fifteen species of ivy are known, growing in the subtropics of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, mainly in shady, moist forests. The ivy flower has been known to mankind since time immemorial: among the ancient Greeks it was an emblem of fun and love, a plant of Bacchus himself - poets wore ivy wreaths at celebrations and feasts. Evergreen ivy was also popular as a medicinal plant. Modern designers actively use ivy both in floristry and in the design of rooms and gardens. In indoor culture, climbing ivy is also popular, since even a novice gardener and even a child can handle caring for the plant.

Indoor ivy - description

The houseplant ivy is most often represented by the species common ivy (Hedera helix) with a climbing stem and dense brushes of aerial roots on the underside of the stem, with the help of which the hedera ivy is attached to its support. The leaves of this species are alternate, simple, shiny, leathery, lobed, dark green with lighter veins, but there are also variegated forms. An ivy leaf can have from three to seven lobes. Small, greenish-yellow flowers are collected in umbellate, corymbose or racemose inflorescences, but you will not be able to see them - ivy does not bloom at home, so you do not have to collect ivy seeds.

The indoor ivy flower has more than a hundred forms, which differ in size, leaf shape and color.

Ivy - can I keep it at home?

Properties of ivy

Ivy has long been known to mankind for its healing properties, used in folk medicine. Ivy is also used as a raw material for the manufacture of medicinal preparations and cosmetics. Scientists have proven that substances contained in the wood of the plant successfully relieve spasms, therefore preparations from wood are used in the treatment of acute bronchitis. And ivy leaves have antifungal, antitumor, antibacterial and expectorant properties. Softening gels from ivy leaves and wood are used as an additional remedy in the treatment of purulent dermatoses, obesity and cellulite.

However, be careful, because poison ivy, or rather its fruits, which children mistake for edible berries, cause poisoning.

Ivy - signs

The OBS agency (one grandmother said) claims that the indoor ivy flower is a muzhegon, an energy vampire, that it attracts loneliness and other misfortunes to the house, and if you don’t like this plant, you can convince yourself and others that you don’t want to keep ivy at home , because you love your husband and take care of your family. But historical documents claim that in the ancient world - Greece and Rome - ivy symbolized fidelity and happiness in marriage, and in the east it is still considered a source of vital energy. Which signs to believe, choose for yourself.

I would like to add that caring for home ivy is so simple, and its decorative qualities are so undeniably high, that it would be foolish to refuse to grow ivy in an apartment. In addition, ivy can be kept at home in a place where it will have no time to absorb your energy (if it does so at all) - for example, in the kitchen, where ivy will have to clean the air from carcinogens and other harmful impurities day and night.

Caring for ivy at home

Caring for home ivy

If you don't know how to care for ivy, listen to our recommendations. One of the main advantages of ivy is its shade tolerance, because this is a rather rare quality for plants. House ivy can be placed at the back of a room and it will thrive there. This, unfortunately, does not apply to variegated forms, which just need good lighting, otherwise their leaves become uniformly green.

Ivy is also undemanding when it comes to watering: it is easier for it to tolerate dry soil than excess moisture in the roots, so for those who love or have to leave home often, ivy is an ideal plant. However, the plant still needs moisture, and if your bouts of forgetfulness become too frequent, first a brown edge will appear on the edges of the plant's leaves, and then they will begin to dry out and fall off. Watering should be in summer so that the soil always remains slightly moist. In winter, the top layer of soil should dry out slightly.

Ivy does not like dry and hot air; the best temperature for the plant is 22-24 ºC. In winter, ivy can feel normal in a cool room with a temperature of at least 13 ºC, but in plants located near heating devices, the leaves on the stems grow at large intervals, which makes it unattractive, so caring for ivy in such conditions involves not only timely watering , but also daily spraying of the leaves with soft, settled water.

When overwintering a plant in a hot room, it is best to place the ivy in a pot on a tray with wet pebbles or expanded clay. If the room is too hot in the summer, spray the plant as often as possible, sometimes give it a shower, also for hygienic purposes.

From March to August, twice a month, ivy is fed with complex fertilizer for decorative foliage plants, but keep in mind that excess fertilizer can lead to the loss of ivy's decorative qualities, since its leaves become too large.

Planting and replanting ivy

Ivy is replanted when the roots of the plant begin to crawl out of the drain hole of the pot or you notice that the plant has stopped developing. You can, of course, not wait for these hints, just replant young plants annually, older ones once every two years, and for adult ivy, simply change the top layer of substrate in the pot to fresh one without replanting. The preferred soil for ivy is the following composition: humus, leaves, turf, peat soil and sand in equal proportions.

The transplant is carried out after a dormant period, in March or April. A pot is chosen two to three centimeters larger in diameter than the previous one, and a thick layer of drainage material is placed in it. Before replanting, water the plant generously so that the entire earthen lump is wet, then carefully transfer the plant with the lump into a new pot, add the required amount of soil, press down the surface of the soil, leaving a groove for water under the walls of the pot. After transplantation, the plant should be watered and sprayed, and then placed in a permanent place, protected from drafts and direct sunlight.

Propagation of ivy at home

Ivy is propagated by vegetative methods: cuttings, shoots and layering.

Propagation of ivy by apical cuttings

The ends of the shoots, about ten centimeters long, are cut off from the ivy, planted in a mixture of sand and deciduous soil, covered on top with a transparent cap - a plastic bag or glass jar - and kept at a temperature of 15-20 ºC, keeping the soil moist, but not wet. Those cuttings that had aerial roots before planting take root best. The cuttings that have taken root are transplanted into pots with a soil mixture for adult ivy, several at a time. Ivy cuttings take root well in water.

Propagation of ivy by shoots

There is a way to grow several shoots from one. To do this, cut off an entire ivy shoot with eight to ten leaves, make a longitudinal cut along it, lay the shoot on the sand with the cut down and press it to a depth of 1.5-2 cm, leaving the leaves above the ground. During germination, you need to ensure that the soil is moist. Within two weeks, the shoot should form roots along its entire length, as evidenced by the growing tip of the shoot. The shoot is removed from the sand, cut into pieces with roots and at least one leaf and planted three in one pot with a diameter of 7-9 cm.

Reproduction of ivy by layering

How to grow ivy from cuttings? Exactly the same as from a shoot, only in this case the shoot is not separated from the mother plant before the start of the process and is not pressed into the soil, but a longitudinal cut is made on it and pressed against the surface of the soil with staples. Separate the cuttings when roots appear throughout the shoot and transplant them into a separate pot.

Pests and diseases of ivy

Ivy is a fairly disease resistant plant. It only gets into trouble if you chronically neglect to comply with the conditions for growing the plant. Thus, with a lack of lighting, variegated forms of ivy lose their variegation and become green, and chronically dry soil can cause leaf fall, just as too dry indoor air can cause bald stems with sparse and small foliage.

If after the first spraying you were unable to achieve success, repeat the procedure after 3-4 days. If this is not enough, instead of spraying, rinse all the foliage in a basin with an insecticide solution.

Types and varieties of ivy

We bring to your attention the most popular types and varieties of ivy in indoor culture.

Common ivy (Hedera helix)

A flexible, creeping evergreen vine with alternate simple three- to five-lobed leathery leaves of a dark green color with a network of light green veins. Has a huge number of forms. The most interesting varieties:

• Kholibra– dwarf ivy with tiny three-lobed leaves with a whitish pattern;
• Eva varieties And Mona Lisa– ivy with almost yellow leaves;
• varieties Jubilee, Glacier– ivy with spotted leaves;
• variety Ivalace– ivy with corrugated leaves;
• variety Harald- ivy with oval, almost rounded leaves.

Colchis ivy (Hedera colchica)

Also an evergreen climbing plant with thin shoots, large shiny leathery leaves of dark green color up to 25 cm long and up to 17 cm wide, sometimes three-lobed, but more often whole, smelling of nutmeg. Popular varieties:

• Dentata Variegata– a variety with oval-shaped leaves and pale yellow edges;
• Sulfur Heart– the large leaves of this variety are light green in color, slightly curled with the edges down, and yellow-green stripes run along the veins;
• Arborescens– light green drooping shoots and oval leaves.

Canary ivy (Hedera canariensis)

An evergreen climbing plant with dark green leaves up to 15 cm wide and up to 12 cm long with light green triangular veins. Used for interior decoration, canopy, ground cover and vertical gardening. It does not have aerial roots, so it needs strong support and regular pruning. Varieties:

• Gloire de Marengo- a large climbing plant with reddish stems and large three-lobed shiny leaves with whitish-green streaks along the edges;
• Striata– a variety with light – green or yellow – spots in the middle of the leaves;
• golden leaf– two-color green leaves shimmer with gold in strong light;
• Brigid- a variety with small, dense star-shaped leaves on graceful shoots - looks best in hanging structures.

Pastukhov's ivy (Hedera pastuchowii)

It is also used for decorative landscaping, but is rarely found in culture, especially indoors, which is why it is listed in the Red Book of Dagestan and Russia. Its leaves are entire, thin and leathery, up to 10 cm long. The upper part of the leaf plate is brighter, the lower part is lighter. On the lower shoots the leaves are rounded, heart-shaped, on the upper ones they are different: broadly ovate, lanceolate, rhombic and ovate-rhombic.

In addition to the described species, Swedish ivy, English ivy and Devil's ivy also exist in cultivation.

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Content

Indoor ivy has a lot of varieties and varieties. They decorate the facades of buildings, but they also look pretty good at home. The plant beautifully surrounds walls and window frames. The main attractive factor is unpretentiousness. This is very convenient for novice gardeners or busy housewives. This is where the bright prospects end. From knowledgeable people you can hear the terrifying characteristics of the mysterious plant.

History of bad opinions

Bindweed is a rather affectionate name that came from the people. The plant has no known origin. But there is evidence that confirms its popularity since ancient times. Hedera is a more serious name. And his appearance also remains a mystery. It may have come from the Roman Empire.

The plant has always been accompanied by legends and gossip. Unfortunately, they all boiled down to the negative consequences of home breeding. People have always believed in omens. Modernity is absorbing prejudices, but there are still experts left and, perhaps, it is worth listening to observations with a long history. Flowers and indoor plants can fill a room not only with a pleasant aroma and an attractive appearance. Signs about its home use were based on the same observations and gossip.

The most common sign concerns his evil disposition. Indoor ivy can act as an energy vampire and this will not have a positive effect on the atmosphere in the house and the condition of the household.

He knows how to transform energy. And it will take away the good and bright, and give away the negative and dark. Because of such metamorphoses, scandals, intrigues and a wave of misunderstanding can begin in the family.

No matter how it sounds, few people pay attention to the changed situation and even fewer people draw a parallel between the black stripe and the appearance of a new plant in the house.

Indoor ivy and signs about it also apply to women. The plant does not like them and can take revenge for no reason. A series of failures will grow slowly and may ultimately affect family well-being and love affairs. The man he loves will either leave the family or begin to cheat on his chosen one. He will suck out energy by any means and drive the man out of the house.

Attention! It is very dangerous to let ivy grow along the wall of a room in which small children or sick and elderly relatives live.

The energy and aura of those who are still small and those who are already old are very weak. Vampirism will have an extremely negative impact on the health of an elderly grandmother or a small child.

The plant can cure a serious disease, but this is a forced effect. Disease also acts as a dark energy enveloping a person. The loach can clash its energy and aura of illness. The strongest will win.

In addition, the floristic characteristics indicate its unpretentiousness. In fact, he does not tolerate lack of attention and begins to take revenge if he is poorly looked after.

Unfortunately, the plant initially carries bad energy and cannot be “re-educated”, but you can try to use the flower for your own purposes and direct the signs associated with it in the right direction.

street obstruction

Perhaps it is not for nothing that ivy is used as an outdoor plant to decorate the walls of entrances and facades of houses. When a flower is outside the house, it can serve as a protective element against evil impulses. A person who wants to enter a house with bad thoughts simply will not be able to carry out his plan if there is ivy hanging in front of the entrance. The plant is quite sensitive to the dark outlines of the aura and easily reads them, acting as an exposer of evil.

When indoor ivy climbs along the wall of a country house, it will protect it from natural disasters, the evil eye and the envious glances of neighbors. From this we can conclude that indoor ivy and signs about it are associated with the plant being in a confined space. You can take these observations into account and not give up growing indoor ivy.

Is there a good sign

There are practically no signs that indoor ivy can carry a positive charge. Or rather, they exist, but they are few. The fact is that each representative of the indoor ivy family has its own character and, perhaps, it was favorable to someone. But the small number of such stories rather confirms all of the above arguments.

All plants in nature have a certain energy. Indoor plants are no exception, and, being always close to a person, affect the physical, mental state and life events of residents. Ivy is one of the most common indoor flowers due to its beauty and unpretentiousness. There are many decorative varieties of it, with the help of which vertical gardening is carried out on external buildings and interior spaces. However, is it possible to keep it at home, and what signs are associated with this flower?

Ivy has been known since ancient times, when it was called hedera in Latin. Many legends and superstitions are associated with this climbing flower. There is also a Russian version of the origin of its name. It is believed that the word “ivy” comes from the verb to spit, which refers to the unpleasant taste of the flower. Some scientists adhere to the version that the loach owes its name to its expectorant properties, or rather, the ability to treat various colds.

Signs

Surprisingly, omens about ivy are interpreted differently in many countries; some are sure that the flower brings happiness and good luck, while others believe that it promises only evil.

Good

• If there is ivy in the house, then mutual understanding and kindness will always reign in it. This plant feeds on negative energy and thereby smooths out all misunderstandings in family life, reduces the number of divorces and conflicts.

The plant calms easily excitable people; it is recommended to grow it in a home where hyperactive children live.

• If you keep it at work, then things will tend to go up, since this plant is a symbol of fortitude and the personification of vitality.
• To give a flower to a married woman means to rid yourself of slander, adultery and other troubles.
• An unmarried girl courting him means a successful and quick marriage.
• If you plant ivy in your home for a timid person, his self-esteem will increase.
• If a stranger comes to the apartment with bad thoughts and intentions, then the plant will neutralize this negativity and cleanse the surrounding space.
• A good omen for a young girl is to wear a sprig of a climbing flower on her chest, as it will preserve her beauty, youth and give her vitality.

Bad

• Bringing ivy into your home is like bringing in an energy vampire; he will draw positive energy from the residents and transform it into negative.
• Whips climbing along the wall in the house of an unmarried girl steal her happiness, repel the opposite sex and prevent marriage.

For a married woman, a flower is a real enemy, as it drives her husband out of the house and destroys the family.

• If a vine suddenly falls off from a strong and large ivy, this promises financial difficulties and serious monetary losses.
• The plant lives on the energy of the residents of the house and if you keep it in your room, it will draw out all its strength.
• Suppresses the nervous system and makes melancholic people even more vulnerable and withdrawn.
• If the plant is poorly cared for, the negative impact increases several times.

Other beliefs

• If a child with whooping cough drinks from a wooden cup made from ivy, he will recover.
• If an old flower growing along the wall of a house unexpectedly falls, it means that the owner of the house will face financial troubles - even to the point that the house will change hands.
• If the leaves of the plant are placed in water for a day, the potion can then be used to wash the sore eyes, and they will heal.
• If a young guy on All Saints' Day silently picks 10 leaves of a flower, throws 1 of them away, and puts the remaining 9 under his pillow, then he will dream of his future wife and wedding.
• The latter belief is notable for the fact that it is the only love fortune-telling intended exclusively for men.

What would we want from a houseplant? Lush, elegant greenery all year round and not too difficult to care for. Indoor ivy, represented by various original species, meets these requirements. Even a novice gardener can cope with this plant.

General information

Common ivy is a climbing evergreen shrub of the Araliaceae family.

Its natural habitat is the humid subtropical regions of Asia, Africa and Europe.

There the plant can reach a length of 30 meters, and sometimes in gardens too. The size of indoor ivy is, of course, more modest, but in the variety of species the flower is not inferior to its natural “brother” - there are more than a hundred forms, differing in color, leaf shape, and size.

Ivy has always attracted human attention.: sometimes it was extolled, as in Ancient Greece, considering it a symbol of love, or it was feared that, according to signs, ivy could cause harm to a person, attracting troubles and troubles.

The plant has also found application in medicine; medicinal tinctures and other preparations are prepared from it.

Indoor ivy: can you keep it at home, signs and superstitions

There is a fairly strong belief that ivy in a house is an energy vampire that can bring misfortune to all its inhabitants and doom women to loneliness.

This houseplant is even sometimes called a “husband buster,” supposedly because it can destroy the relationships of loved ones, so some believe that it should not be kept in the house.

The nature of these superstitions is not entirely clear, because the ancient Romans and Greeks, on the contrary, were convinced that ivy was a guarantee of a happy marriage and male fidelity.

The problem interested psychoanalysts, who made the following conclusion: ivy is capable of absorbing (like many of our other green helpers) tobacco smoke, substances toxic to humans emitted by varnished furniture, any “chemistry”, for example, fumes from aerosols, household drugs, but in addition to all this, it can absorb bursts of aggressive energy.

This amazing ability distinguishes ivy from many other representatives of domestic flora and gives rise to various superstitions. This quality, according to experts, can be used for “peaceful purposes” by placing a flower in a room where there are hyperactive children - home ivy will act as a sedative, or keep it in a room where not the most pleasant guests often drop by, in order to neutralize the negativity that they bring with them.

Most popular varieties

Ivy looks especially interesting in the interior if it comes in different varieties. Among the popular species are Canarian ivy, Colchian ivy, English ivy, and hedera.

Hedera

In the Hedera variety, the color of the dense, leathery leaves can be either light or dark green. After flowering, small berries (not edible, but decorative!) of black or golden color are formed. The stems of the plant are equipped with hooked roots that cling to any support, as in the photo.

The Hedera ivy variety is ideal on the balcony and looks especially good in a hanging pot. The only thing the plant needs is protection from direct sunlight, which can lead to leaf burns.

Canary ivy

The leaves of this species are quite large, their width is 15 cm, length is 12 cm. The color is dark green. The light veins form, as can be seen from the photo, a triangle on the surface of the leaf.

A distinctive feature of this variety of ivy is the absence of aerial roots, so the owner must take care of reliable support for the vine and regularly provide “hairdressing services” to the pet.

Among the “Canaries” there are varieties:

• • "Gloire de Marengo" (with reddish stems);

• • “Golden leaf” (golden shades are added to the main color);

• "Brigitta" (this variety has the smallest star-shaped leaves, and the stems are distinguished by grace).

Colchis ivy

The leaves of Colchis ivy are even larger than those of the “Canary”, their average dimensions are 25x17 cm. The leaves are usually whole, very rarely three-lobed.

Unlike other varieties, Colchis ivy smells pleasantly of nutmeg. Here are the varieties offered for home breeding:

• • "Dentata Variegata" (oval leaves, pale yellow at the edges);

• • "Sulfur Heart" (leaves curl slightly inward);

• "Arborescens" (produces the effect of "drooping" shoots).

This plant, thanks to the variety of green and yellow shades, brings a feeling of celebration and freshness to the interior, see photo:

It is placed in the living room or kitchen (in a flowerpot).

Unlike its undemanding counterparts, this species needs the sun, otherwise it loses its colors, fades and even ceases to live up to its name.

ADVICE: do not overdo it with feeding - if your green pet is overfed, the leaves will become large, losing their grace and decorativeness.

English ivy

This species can be formed as a columnar tree or as a hanging crop. Not only the color, but also the shape of the leaves is striking in their diversity - they can be elongated, lobed and even heart-shaped. The plant has aerial roots.

Flowers appear only on a sunny windowsill (the “Englishman” will not bloom in the shade), they are small, yellow, grouped into “umbrellas”, but, alas, smell unpleasant.

The resulting berries of a thick, almost black purple color will also not please you - they are poisonous, which means that English ivy cannot be grown in a house where there are small children who are used to trying everything by taste. Among the varieties used in indoor floriculture:

• • "Harald" (with round leaves);

• • "Sagittaefolia" (with leaves shaped like a star);

• • "Ivalace" (with corrugated edges);

• • "Mona Lisa" (in yellow tones).

FOR HOME USE: types of ivy are almost the same in care, but their growth rates are different. This should be taken into account when creating general compositions from plants.

Wax ivy hoya

This variety is distinguished by fleshy glossy leaves. Aerial roots form on stems, which in young plants are soft and can be given any desired direction. However, over time, the stems become woody, so it becomes increasingly difficult to give them any shape.

In nature, hoya finds shelter in the shade of tall trees; at home, the plant is also not very demanding on lighting - only in winter will ivy need a south window, which provides more light. Therefore, caring for wax ivy at home is not difficult.

At other times of the year, windows facing west and east will be most suitable. This does not prevent the plant from delighting its owners with flowering: the fragrant star flowers are collected in baskets and look very elegant. Learn more about caring for wax ivy hoya here.

IMPORTANT: a flowering plant cannot be moved to another place or even turned over - the hoya will drop its buds.

Indoor ivy: care at home

Proper care of indoor ivy is the key to the fact that the plant will delight you and delight your guests for many years.

Selecting a location

Choosing a place is not only about light (especially since most species of this vine prefer shade and can be grown even deep in the room), it is also about support for the stems, an opportunity to grow and develop.

For hanging varieties, for example, a place at home near the wall is suitable - young shoots will be provided with sufficient space.

ATTENTION: This culture does not like moving, so you should try to immediately choose a permanent place for the green pet, where it will be comfortable.

Soil, pots

The soil required is slightly acidic. Composition – different types of soil (turf, humus, leaf), sand and peat. All components must be taken equally, and treated with a solution of potassium permanganate before use.

You can not only prepare the composition yourself, but also purchase it in a specialized store - the “Universal” flower mixture is suitable for ivy.

A drainage layer (made of expanded clay, crushed brick or pebbles) is poured onto the bottom of the pot; its height is from 3 to 5 cm.

The soil covering it should be loose and allow both moisture and air to pass through.

The root system of this indoor flower is superficial, so a very deep ivy pot is not needed.

The best option is a medium-sized container that is stable enough and made of high-quality material to last for several years. When the time for replanting comes, you will need a pot 2-3 times larger than the first, not very deep, but with a large diameter.

Watering and fertilizing

This indoor flower especially needs watering in the summer - the soil must remain moist at all times. In winter, watering is reduced to a minimum, and sometimes completely abandoned. However, you still cannot forget about the green pet, otherwise a brown edging will appear on the edges of the leaves, they will begin to dry out and fall off.

For irrigation you will need soft water.

You can take tap water that has been standing for several days.

In hot weather, ivy will benefit from a shower and wiping with a damp cloth.

Fertilizing is carried out twice a month, best of all with complex fertilizers that are quickly absorbed. In the cold season, the number of feedings is halved.

Planting and transplanting

If you decide to get ivy for the first time, it is best to plant it using a cutting, asking your friends for it. Each shoot node has root primordia, so planting and rooting of the future plant will take place quickly and without problems.

The need for replanting arises when roots begin to emerge from the hole in the bottom of the pot. If you do not wait for this moment, then it is advisable to adhere to the following schedule: transplant young plants into a new pot every year, older flowers - once every two years, adult specimens do not need to be disturbed, but only carefully replace the top layer of soil with fresh substrate.

ATTENTION: ivy transplantation is best done in the spring using the transshipment method. The neck of the plant must be left at the same level.

Propagation of ivy at home

If you have ivy at home, consider that you have provided yourself with planting material. All that remains is to choose the best way to do this - using cuttings, layering or shoots.

From seeds

It is quite difficult to propagate ivy from seeds at home, and all because your own seeds simply do not have time to ripen.

Those purchased externally, unfortunately, very rarely have varietal characteristics, especially of the specific type that may interest you. In addition, the germination process itself is difficult (in the natural environment, seeds undergo pre-treatment in the stomachs of birds, which activates their germination).

Seeds usually sprout two weeks after they hit the ground. When the first true leaf appears, the plant needs to be pruned.

Cuttings

10 cm long apical shoots are used as cuttings. It is desirable that they have aerial roots. The cuttings are planted in pots with nutritious soil (you can have 3 pieces in one). After rooting, they are planted in separate containers. You can also germinate cuttings in water.

By shoots

When propagating ivy in this way, cut off a shoot on which 8-10 leaves are located. A cut is made along the shoot, placed on the ground and pressed into it, going two centimeters deep. After a couple of weeks, roots usually form along the entire length of the shoot. By cutting the vine into several pieces (each should contain at least 1 leaf), you get several pieces of high-quality planting material.

By layering

This method is almost the same as propagation by shoots. The difference is that the shoot is not deepened into the soil, but only pressed against it, pinned with staples.

This video contains my own experience and tips on caring for indoor ivy:

Ivy on the balcony

This plant perfectly decorates the balcony.

It is most convenient to place it in a hanging basket.

To prevent water from flowing down after watering, cover the bottom of the basket with a reliable film, pour a layer of drainage on it, and only then add nutrient soil.

The basket should be placed on the balcony so that the plant is not exposed to direct sunlight.

In winter, such structures are usually brought into the house so that the plant does not die, because even a glazed balcony will not protect the “subtropical guest” from sub-zero temperatures. The ivy lashes are pre-rolled and laid on the ground so that in such a compact form the plant is waiting for warm spring days.

Possible diseases

In some diseases of indoor ivy, a person must look for his own fault. The leaves turn yellow - it means there is too much watering; dry out - the air in the room is too dry; become too small - the ivy does not get enough light.

Sometimes you have to fight aphids; one of the alarming signs is curling leaves. Spider mites can be recognized by characteristic punctures on the leaf blade and the web entangling it from below.

A white leaf on top and brown spots on the bottom warn of the presence of a pest such as yellow thrips.

Scale insects and mealybugs also pose a danger to the plant.

With decorative leaves they are widely used not only in gardening, but also in indoor floriculture for vertical gardening and creating original compositions. One of the brightest representatives is ivy. A spectacular plant with trifoliate leaves, it has an unpretentious disposition and beautiful leaves. However, besides this, it does not have a very good reputation, interestingly, in our country.

It is human nature to connect the events that happen to him with the environment and objects that are part of it. It is much easier to attribute the troubles that happened to him to a third party, or better yet, to an inanimate object. In particular, on Can I keep it at home? Signs say no. Let's understand the notoriety of the plant, as well as the peculiarities of its cultivation.

What kind of plant is this?

The name “ivy” is a genus of plants of the Araliaceae family, numbering 15 species. The Latin name Hedera for these plants was borrowed by C. Linnaeus from the Romans. Ivies are creeping shrubs that, as they grow, cling to support (trees, walls, etc.). The stems bear dense, leathery, angular-lobed leaves. The color is dark green; there are decorative forms with milky white stripes.

The natural habitat is the countries of the Northern Hemisphere with mild climatic conditions, as well as Australia. In our country, ivy (see photo in text) is mainly a houseplant.

Common types of ivy

• Colchis ivy is an evergreen liana-like shrub with large (up to 25 cm in length) leathery leaves attached to the stem with suckers. The shape of the plate can be different; when rubbed, a characteristic musky odor appears. It climbs to a height of up to 30 m. It grows quickly, but is less frost-resistant compared to ordinary ivy. Under natural conditions it grows in Iran, Transcaucasia, and Asia Minor.
• Common ivy (photo below) is an evergreen vine, the leaves are leathery, medium in size (up to 10 cm in length), the arrangement is regular. It grows slowly, is shade-tolerant and thermophilic, and is demanding on soil fertility. It has a high decorative value, and therefore has been used for a very long time in landscaping gardens as a ground cover and climbing plant. Many hybrid forms have been developed, differing in color and leaf shape. The photo shows the Calico variety.

• Canary ivy is an evergreen shrub that is extremely popular as a houseplant. A spectacular plant with variegated leaves does not tolerate frost and requires good lighting, warmth and fertile soil.
• Pastukhov's ivy is a rare evergreen vine that grows in Eastern Transcaucasia and is listed in the Red Book of Russia. Distributed both in mountainous regions and in lowlands, it spreads along the ground and clings to tree trunks.

Indoor ivy: can you keep it at home? Signs

Signs and superstitions of various kinds have always been present in our lives. Some believe in them, others do not, and others listen. Quite a lot of superstitions are associated with plants in the house, and people often find it difficult to say where they came from. Most of it doesn't sound reasonable at all. For example, about a gift of a flower that dried up after a couple of months, and therefore was not presented from the heart. An absolutely untenable argument. Store-bought flowers often have weakened immune systems and have difficulty withstanding changes in environment and microclimate.

Indoor ivy also did not go unnoticed by lovers. Is it possible to keep this plant at home (signs are given in the text)? It is possible, and most Europeans do so. They do not need to plant it indoors; the beautiful plant weaves around the outside of the house, covering all the walls with an even carpet of greenery. But is this such a significant difference?!

The main superstition about ivy is its supposed ability to “drive” men out of the house and to survive them. Agree, the plant is endowed with very impressive power. The ancient Greeks also treated ivy in a special way, but from a positive point of view. The plant was almost sacred, because according to legend, it was it that saved the life of the god of wine Dionysus (Bacchus). From then on, his images were decorated not only with grapevines, but also with climbing stems of ivy. The mythological properties of the plant, however, have a real basis. It, along with rosemary, is used in France to protect forests from wildfires.

Ivy is a climbing evergreen shrub and, who would have thought, one of the symbols of Christmas. It is with this spectacular plant that Europeans, especially the British, decorate temples and houses. It is interpreted as a symbol of eternity and resurrection, affection and love. Ivy is used in pairs with holly, the first being considered a symbol of the feminine (requiring support and protection), and the second - masculine. In practice, the plant really amazes with its unpretentiousness and ability to survive even in the homes of the most careless gardeners.

Ivy grows a very voluminous green mass, and therefore is considered one of the most effective air purifiers. Quite a useful quality for city apartments.

These facts answer quite reasonably whether indoor ivy is harmful and whether it can be kept at home. Signs are most often far-fetched and absurd. You should not blindly trust them, much less be guided by them.

Selection of location, lighting and temperature

Indoor ivy is a unique plant. By choosing it for your home, you can fill even the darkest corner of the room with greenery. He is very shade tolerant. However, variegated forms need sun to maintain a beautiful contrast on the leaves, it is best if it is slightly muted, avoid direct rays hitting the plant.

Ivy belongs to the evergreen, heat-loving plants. The most comfortable temperature for it will be 22-25 °C in the spring-summer period and cooler (15-18 °C) in the winter. You can take it out onto the balcony or summer terrace.

Soil for ivy

The plant prefers light but nutritious soil. You can buy ready-made soil at a specialty store or prepare it yourself. To do this, mix turf and leaf soil, humus, peat and sand in equal proportions. Place a drainage layer, such as expanded clay, at the bottom of the pot.

Adult plants are replanted every two years, and young plants - annually. The most optimal time for the procedure is March-April. Select a pot 2-3 cm larger than the previous one.

Watering and fertilizing

For active growth, ivy requires regular and abundant watering in the summer. But don't overwater the plant. Low air temperature and excess moisture are a favorable environment for the development of fungal and bacterial diseases.

In winter, a mild dormant period begins. At this time, the plant is watered less frequently, but the substrate should not be allowed to dry out completely. Spraying and high humidity are what indoor ivy prefers. Leaves dry out and fall off very often due to dry air. If possible, periodically place the plant under the shower, covering the lump of earth with waterproof material. After such a procedure, it looks much more attractive and begins to grow with renewed vigor.

Fertilizing should be carried out once every two weeks, starting from March and until the end of August, alternating organic and mineral complex fertilizers.

Reproduction methods

Ivy can be propagated by vegetative or seed methods. Moreover, the first one is the simplest and can be done in three ways.

Firstly, propagation by apical cuttings. Cut off the ends of the shoots 10 cm long and immediately plant them in a damp mixture of sand and leaf soil, covering the top with a glass or plastic cap. This creates greenhouse conditions, and it is important to maintain constant moisture in the soil. You can first place the cuttings in water and wait for the roots to appear. Then plant in the prepared soil mixture.

Secondly, propagation by shoots is practiced. One piece of stem can produce several plants. To do this, take a shoot with 8-10 leaves and make a cut along it. Not too deep, it should be superficial. Place the shoot on prepared moist soil with the cut side down and press it into the soil 1.5-2 cm, leaving the leaves on the surface. Within two weeks, the plant will form roots along its entire length, a sign of this will be the growing tip. Then the stem is taken out and cut into several parts, each planted in a separate pot.

Well, the third vegetative method is propagation by layering. The algorithm of action is the same as in the previous version, but with one amendment: the shoot is not separated from the mother plant, but is pressed to the ground with staples.

Pruning indoor ivy

As a rule, outdoor specimens require pruning and shaping of the bush. if desired, you can also update and rejuvenate it, giving it the desired shape. The procedure is carried out in early spring, before the plant begins its active growing season. First of all, remove diseased and damaged shoots; you can simply pinch out young shoots in order to stimulate the development of lateral stems. To rejuvenate the bush, cut old branches at a distance of 1 m from the root in outdoor conditions and half as much in indoor conditions.

As a support for ivy, you can use a wall, specially stretched threads, but they must be strong (the green mass is quite heavy), a decorative trellis, etc.