How to Care for an Ivy Bonsai

An ivy bonsai plant takes more care than ivy normally would. Watering the plant at specific intervals and restrained amounts is required to coax ivy into developing a more woody trunk. Ivy is normally allowed to spread, which encourages its vine tendencies. Creating an ivy bonsai means training the usually spreading ivy to the size and shape you desire. Ivy bonsai can be grown indoors or outdoors, however they prefer partial shade if outdoors. Bonsai trees are known for their small size and distinctive shape, which is acquired through pruning and wiring.

Things You'll Need

• Plant Food
• Plant Shears

Instructions

1. Water regularly. Take care to prevent the soil from becoming too dry or staying too wet. Either of those extremes are not ideal. In the helix ivy species, reduction in watering can help reduce leaves.

2. Feed it every two weeks using either ivy plant food or half of a dose of regular plant food.

3. Prune the new shoots back to the first one or two leaves near the trunk. This will work to strengthen the trunk because the ivy won't have to put out energy to the new growth.

4. Use wire to guide the ivy. While it doesn't work to create an upright plant, which is characteristic of typical bonsai trees, you can train the ivy to go where you want it to. This allows you to create a distinctive shape.

5. Re-pot the ivy every two or three years in the spring. Be sure to use fresh soil that is high in organic matter and drains well.

References

• University of California San Diego: Bonsai Trees, or How to Delegate a Lattice Basis
• Kitsune Bonsai: English Ivy
• Absolute Bonsai: English Ivy Bonsai