How to Propagate Ivy Plants

Grow ivy in a tabletop container and prune it to keep the stems short.

Ivy plants, English and Swedish, are vining or trailing plants that are commonly grown in hanging planters. You can plant them along the outer edge of large containers with taller-growing plants and allow them to trail over the side. Propagate ivy plants in the spring or summer. Propagate English ivy from stem cuttings, and propagate Swedish ivy from stem or leaf cuttings.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Ivy plant
• Sharp scissors
• Vase
• Water
• Peat-based potting mix
• Soilless propagating mix
• Container with drain hole
• Rooting hormone
• Spray bottle
• Small piece of clear plastic

Rooting Stem Cuttings in Water

1. The tip of the ivy stem is the last 1 to 2 inches where the stem and leaves are visibly smaller. Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

   Use sharp scissors to take 2- to 3-inch cuttings from a healthy plant stem in the spring or summer. The cuttings can include the tip of the stem in addition to the 2- to 3-inch cutting or can be just a center length of stem. Remove the leaves from the bottom 1 to 2 inches of the cutting.

2. Place the end of the cutting from which the leaves were removed in a small vase filled with water. Place the vase in a brightly lit location but do not expose it to direct sunlight.

3. Change the water once or twice per week. Plant the cuttings in peat-based potting mix that drains well, after the cuttings develop healthy root structures. Water the new plants once or twice per week to keep the potting mix uniformly moist.

Rooting Stem Cuttings in Potting Mix

1. Take the cuttings in the same way as you would take them for rooting in water. Purchase a commercially prepared peat-based mix that also contains perlite, vermiculite or sand or prepare a custom propagation mix. Make the mix with 2 parts peat and 1 part perlite; or 2 parts peat, 1 part perlite and 1 part vermiculite; or 2 to 3 parts peat and 1 part sand.

2. Place the growing mix into a container with a drain hole in the bottom and moisten it thoroughly before placing the cuttings into the mix. Peat is difficult to wet properly; you may need to water it several times to wet it thoroughly.

3. Dip the bottom end of the cutting in rooting hormone and stick the bottom 1 to 2 inches of stem into the moistened growing medium. Place the container in bright indirect sunlight. Keep the growing medium warm, between 70 and 75 degrees F., and moist at all times.

4. Mist the cuttings each morning or suspend a piece of clear plastic just above the cuttings to help maintain moisture levels. Do not seal the container by setting the plastic directly on top of the container. Adequate air flow is also important. Transplant the cuttings after they develop a good root structure and are growing vigorously.

Rooting Swedish Ivy Leaf Cuttings

1. Root Swedish ivy with leaf cuttings rather than taking 2- to 3-inch lengths of stems. Use a sharp pair of scissors, razor blade or sharp knife to remove the leaf and leaf stem from the plant stem.

2. Dip the leaf stem in rooting hormones and stick it into moistened growing mix. Maintain the leaf cutting in the same way as stem cuttings.

3. Discard the leaf when new plants form at the base of the leaf stem. They should form good root structures after two to three weeks. Transplant them into their new containers and keep the soil uniformly moist.

Tips & Warnings

• Cuttings may also be planted directly into the soil. It will take about three to four weeks for cuttings to take root and become established, so keep them in a shady and humid environment, and keep the soil moist (but not waterlogged).

• The Hedera ivies are the English ivy (Hedera helix), Algerian ivy (Hedera canariensis), and Persian ivy (Hedera colchina). Boston Ivy is also a climbing plant but not related to the Hedera ivies. Poison Ivy is a woody shrub or vine.

• Keep the new plants in a shady and relatively humid environment. You may want to put a plastic bag on it for a few days to keep the moisture level high. Don't forget to water.

• You can also let mature ivy crawl on the ground, and then when roots have formed along the runners, you can gently pull them out and cut them into individual plants for transplanting into their own pots.

References

• Guide to Houseplants: Swedish Ivy
• Guide to Houseplants: English Ivy Plant Care
• Texas A&M Univ.: Texas Agricultural Ext. Service: Propagating Foliage & Flowering Plants
• Guide to Houseplants: Propagating House Plants: Getting More From Your Plants
• Texas A&M Univ.: Texas Agricultural Ext. Service: Growing Media: Texas Greenhouse Management Handbook