How to Care for Indoor Ivy

Help ivy plants thrive

Although most ivy plants prefer living outdoors, ivy topiaries and plants are able to thrive indoors if watered properly and kept in the proper lighting and temperature conditions. Keep your indoor garden thriving by learning to care for indoor ivy plants with the following tips.

Instructions

1. Water the ivy plants consistently with tepid water to keep the roots moist. Allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings. Ensure the ivy plants are in pots that allow them to drain properly. If water fills the tray under the pot, pour out the excess water after one hour.

2. Keep indoor ivy plants in rooms with the consistent, moderate temperatures of about 50 to 70 degrees. Ivies also thrive in environments with that have temperatures about ten degrees colder at night. Keep them away from hot or cold drafts-away from doors or heater vents, for example.

3. Care for indoor ivy plants by misting them daily with water in winter to keep them moist when the air in your home is warm and dry due to heater use. (Hint: Regular spraying all year long may also combat spider mites by washing the detrimental insects away.)

4. Give ivy plants plenty of light, but avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight that can scorch the ivy leaves or make the temperature too hot for comfort. Try placing ivy plants on windowsills with gauzy curtains on the windows to let only filtered light in.

5. Care for indoor ivy plants and encourage full growth by pruning straggly stems. This will cause the ivy plants to generate new vines, creating a heartier-looking plant. You can also fertilize in the spring with a houseplant fertilizer at half strength.

6. Remove dead leaves and check for insects daily. If you notice tiny webs, yellowing or curled leaves, your ivy plants may have a mite infestation. Try spritzing the ivy plants with a specially formulated insect killing soap or bathing the leaves with mildly soapy water. (See the Resources section below for links to insecticides.)

Tips & Warnings

• If you have the option, consider letting indoor ivy plants sit outdoors in the shade 25% of the time to help them thrive. Consider rotating your ivy plants so you've always got some inside and some out. Ivy plants can "sunburn," however, so avoid placing them directly in the sun when they go outside.

Resources

• Try ready-to-use insecticidal soap from Amazon to combat mites on ivy plants.
• Use soap concentrate to mix a mild bath to wash mites from ivy leaves.