Why is an Ivy Plant Drying Out in the Center of the Pot?

Potted ivy

Potted plants in the home bring the outdoors inside, adding life to a room. Placed outside, potted plants add visual interest to architecture and landscaping. Ivy plants are an option for either location, but when plants dry out in the center, it's time to take a look at where the plant is placed, how frequently it is watered, and how the plant is potted--all of which can affect its appearance and well-being.

Types of Ivy Plants

Ivy ground cover

Algerian, Persian, needlepoint and English ivy are types of vines in the ivy family that are popular as potted plants. Ivy leaves can be variegated, possessing a combination of green and cream colored leaves, or can be one solid shade of green. Well-known as a climbing vine that scales up walls and fences, ivy is ideal for shady areas. Ivy can also grow low, hugging the ground with roots that are deep, helping to keep soil from eroding.

Nursery Containers

Plants like ivy usually come from a nursery in plastic pots meant to be a temporary home for the plant. Most nursery plastic pots are identified in inches, measured by the diameter across the top of the pot. Small nursery plants are in 4-inch pots, followed by 6-inch pots, 8-inch pots and so on. When placing newly purchased plants in pots, always use a pot one to two sizes larger than the nursery plastic pot it came in.

Preventing Root Bound Plants

Because potted plants continue to grow once they are placed in a container, it is important to keep an eye on their growth and replant as needed. If a plant is three times taller or more than the planter it is in, there is a chance the plant will become root-bound, meaning their roots have run out of growth space. At this point, a plant sacrifices growth for the sake of saving the older stems.

Ideal Way to Pot an Ivy

Root-bound plants often take in water and show little growth, while the roots themselves become soggy, leading to eventual demise. An ivy should be potted in a pot with a drain hole, and the pot should possess a saucer to collect excess water. A few handfuls of pea gravel or rock should line the bottom of the pot, and potting soil--not regular dirt--should be used. To encourage a climbing ivy vine, use a small trellis placed in, or behind, the pot.

Avoiding Excessive Sunlight

Ivy needs bright, but indirect, light to thrive. If an ivy is getting too much sunlight, the leaves will turn brown on the edges and curl up. Plant leaves and stems near the center of the pot and surrounding soil may become overly dry and shrink, dropping leaves into the pot. Dropped leaves left in the pot to decompose can clog the flow of water through the soil onto the roots, causing the plant to overheat and exhibit dry soil.

Pests of the Ivy Plant

Aphids frequently attack ivy plants.

Pests attracted to ivy plants are aphids, spider mites and mealy bugs. Examination of plants that look overly dry, or with leaves that are falling off, is easily done. Aphids are visible to the human eyes and are black or green, while spider mites are very small and are found on the underside of leaves. Mealy bugs reside where an ivy leaf meets the stems, with nests that look like little tufts of cotton. The American Ivy Society recommends ridding ivy of bug infestation with a simple soapy bath to kill eggs and insects. Using a spray bottle filled with soapy water may also do the trick.

References

• Clemson University Extension Service: Home and Garden Information Center--Ivy
• Plant Care Guru: Ivy
• The American Ivy Society: What's That Crawling on My Ivy?

Resources

• Clemson University Extension Service: Poison Ivy