How to Help Dying Ivy Plants

Ivy doesn't like full sunlight or soil dampness.

Ivy plants are some of the most common varieties of ground covers and houseplants. There are more than 25 species of ivy plants within the United States. Ivies are members of the Hedera genus and Araliaceae family of plants. A dying ivy plant requires prompt care. Proper maintenance--including watering, fertilizing, pruning and pest control--can minimize poor health in ivy plants.

Things You'll Need

• Pesticide
• Pruning shears
• Well-drained soil
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Examine the leaves for signs of insect infestations. Tiny insects such as aphids, mites and thrips are common pests of many varieties of ivy plants. Check the area near the base of the plants and top of the soil for evidence of slugs and snails. These pests can eat through roots and stems. Treat the ivy plants with a foliar insecticide spray or soap to remove insects and apply a soil drench to eliminate snails and slugs, following the instructions on the product label.

2. Prune off any dead or damaged growth on the ivy plants. Use your pruning shears to snip the vines slightly above the area of damage, making your cut within the healthy portion of the stems. Remove the cut vegetation from the area to reduce the possibility of bacterial and viral growth.

3. Transplant your root-bound ivy houseplants or crowded ivy landscaping plants. Ivy is a hardy plant, but compacted roots and overcrowding from nearby aggressive plants may hinder its growth. Transplant flailing ivy plants in areas with partial shade that contain well-drained soil. Keep ivy plants out of full sunlight and areas of intense heat. When transplanting outdoor ivy plants, avoid low areas that tend to retain water and limit the amount of available oxygen in the soil. Ivy plants cannot withstand soil dampness for extended periods.

4. Water your ivy plants when the soil beneath the surface starts to feel slightly dry to your fingertip. Apply enough water to provide moisture throughout the root zone, allowing the surface soil to dry between waterings.

5. Fertilize your ivy plants to ensure adequate levels of nutrients necessary for optimal growth. Select a fertilizer with a nutrient ratio of 20-20-20. Following the application instructions, apply the fertilizer to the ivy plants approximately six to eight times each year during the active growing season.

Tips & Warnings

• Snip off two or three healthy vines from a wilting ivy plant. Remove the lower half of the leaves along the vines and place the stems in a vase of water to root into new plants. Propagating ivies this way allows you to produce new plants and may provide replacement plants for ivies that are too sickly to survive.

References

• University of Florida Extension; English Ivies to Know and Grow; R.W. Henley, et al.
• North Dakota State University Extension; Questions on Ivy; Ron Smith
• "Botanica's Gardening Encyclopedia"; Susan Page; 2001

Resources

• University of Hawaii: Ivy