English Ivy Care Guide

Family: Araliaceae

Genus: Hedera

Botanical Name: Hedera helix

Difficulty: Easy to care for

Light

English Ivy loves bright sunlight (direct or indirect). They can get really leggy if they don’t receive enough light.

Water

They do not like to be over watered. You should let the soil dry out about half way before

Climate

English Ivy loves added humidity, but they actually prefer cooler temperatures (50-70°F).

Soil

They like a good moist, well-draining soil that will help keep the roots healthy.

Pests and Diseases

Spider mites LOVE to target English Ivy. Always keep an eye out for them because they look like tiny black specs. You won’t really know you have them until there are little webs on the undersides of the leaves.

Tips

• Let the soil stay a little more dry rather than a little more wet.

• Keep them out of direct sunlight in the summer when the sun’s rays are the harshest.

Signs your plant is unhappy

• Brown leaves/edges: over watered

• Yellow leaves: under watered

How to Propagate

Like other vining plants, English Ivy propagate very easily! Simply take a cutting that is about 4-5 inches long, prune back a few of the bottom leaves, and then place it in water. Wait for a root system to form and then you can place it in potting mix or directly in the ground!

Fun Facts

• It can be grown as a wall covering and makes a great ground cover in your garden (if you don’t mind their invasiveness).

• These guys are highly toxic to pets if ingested.

• It is on the list of “invasive species” in some regions and is not allowed to be planted outdoors without being confined to your property.

Hardiness Zones

Before you move your plant outside, be sure to check the hardiness zone to save yourself some grief and the loss of a beloved plant.

The hardiness zones for English Ivy are: 4-9

If you live in Tennessee, here’s a hardiness map to help you decide if your plant can survive outside!