- Ivy: properties, origin and meaning
- Buy ivy: You should pay attention to this
- Ivy species and varieties
- Plant Ivy
- Care for ivy
- Propagating Ivy
- Remove Ivy
- Ivy Diseases and Pests
- Fighting yellow leaves on ivy
- Is ivy poisonous?
Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
You either love or hate this fast-growing climber. We show what you have to consider when planting, caring for and cutting ivy.
Ivy (Hedera helix) is the plant of love. Do you still remember the carefully drawn little heart on your first love letter? Maybe your loved one even left you a quickly scribbled heart on a short note this morning? It's logical that it's about the human heart, isn't it? The only funny thing is that the heart symbol bears no resemblance to the real heart at all, it even looks more like an ivy leaf. In fact, the heart symbol does not represent a real heart as such, but an ivy leaf.
From the properties and origin to the choice of variety and everything about planting and care, you will find all the important information about ivy below. With the right tips, the easy-care plant can easily be kept in the garden or as a houseplant.
Ivy: properties, origin and meaning
Ivy is incredibly durable and resilient. Ivy can grow up to 450 years old. What some people curse and others appreciate has made the ivy a symbol of love. It stands for loy alty and long, deep love that can take a lot. The leaves of the plant do not always look the same. Young leaves are lobed and more angular in shape. Only the leaves on older shoots show the sweeping curves of a heart. The older shoots no longer creep, as is known from ivy, but grow more like a bush or liana. Only these shoots develop the small white-green flowers in autumn, which are so incredibly important for many pollinators. Hardly any other plant delivers such a large amount of nectar so late in the year, right into October. The bluish fruits that appear in January also offer birds an excellent source of food in harsh winters. In addition, ivy is evergreen and thus offers a dense privacy screen even in winter. Whether for hiding a bird or to protect the garden from prying eyesprotect, humans and animals benefit from this plant.
The native plant is hardy without any problems and can not only be used for facade greening, as a ground cover or opaque ivy hedge in the garden, but also makes an extremely decorative houseplant.
Buy ivy: You should pay attention to this
Not much can go wrong when you buy ivy, because the plants have a strong will to survive. Even weakened specimens have a good chance of recovering quickly. However, you should make sure that you find a he althy plant. It's worth keeping an eye out for spider mites. Apart from that, it is important to choose the right kind. Depending on the plant must meet the different requirements.
Summary you should consider this when buying ivy:
- The right way
- hardiness
- Maximum Plant Height
- Grabroot Strength
- Plant He alth
Ivy species and varieties
The genus of ivy includes at least seven species and over 400 varieties. The best-known are presented below.
- The most well-known species in Central Europe is common ivy (Hedera helix). He is native and optimally adapted to the conditions. Pretty varieties are, for example, 'Eva' with its white leaf edge or 'Gold Kolibri' with a golden yellow edge inside the leaf. If you like it golden yellow, you will probably also like the variety 'Goldheart' with a golden yellow heart in the middle of the leaf. The 'B altica' variety, on the other hand, stands in stark contrast with its dark green leaves and very light to almost white veining.
- Algerian ivy (Hedera algeriensis) often has a conspicuous white border around the dainty leaves patterned in shades of green. It is extremely decorative and grows to a height of about 4 m. However, its winter hardiness is limited as it only tolerates temperatures down to -12 °C.
- The Irish ivy (hedera hibernica) stands out because of its large leaves. However, it usually does not reach a height of more than 10 m.
- As the name suggests, the Persian ivy (Hedera colchica) comes from warmer regions. For this reason, the species tolerates heat very well, but still withstands temperatures down to -18 °C. she hasdoes not have such strong adhesive roots as ordinary ivy, which is why it is well suited for greening facades. The leaves of this species are large and heart-shaped.
Plant Ivy
Ivy is a wonderful plant and completely uncomplicated to plant. Although he prefers a shady spot, he even gets along well in the sun. Choose a time in autumn or spring for planting. A cloudy day is ideal for this. In order to guarantee the plant an optimal start, you can work our Plantura organic universal fertilizer into the soil. If you use high-quality garden soil such as the peat-free and sustainable Plantura organic universal soil, fertilization is not necessary when planting. Details on planting ivy can be found in this special article.
Planting ivy as a hedge
Ivy quickly develops into a dense privacy screen. However, in order for it to grow into a magnificent hedge, you must give it the opportunity to do so. What he needs above all is one thing: a stable climbing aid. This gives him the shape of his growth and within a very short time he will entwine it so well that it can no longer be seen. An occasional pruning keeps the hedge in shape. Find out how easy it is to create your own ivy hedge here.
Ivy as a houseplant in a pot
The beautiful climbing plant does not necessarily have to stay outside. The ivy also feels comfortable as a climbing houseplant. Climbing along shelves or banisters, or decoratively as a room lamp, ivy can be integrated into the home in many ways. However, it quickly becomes too dry for him when the humidity drops in winter. Then you should spray the plant from time to time with lime-free water. She also likes it a little cooler in winter than in summer. Otherwise, the ivy is quite easy to care for and also gets along well with less light. For tips on planting and caring for ivy in your room, click here.
Planting Ivy Summary:
- Ideally choose a shady location, but the ivy also tolerates some sun
- The right time to plant is autumn or spring
- Incorporate some slow-release fertiliser, manure or compost when planting
- With a suitable climbing aid, ivy can be planted as a hedge
- If ivy is kept as a houseplant, you should ensure that there is sufficient humidity
Care for ivy
In the open air, ivy is probably one of the easiest plants to care for. Since he is also native to Germany, he is well adapted to the conditions in this country. General information on caring for ivy can be found here.
Water and fertilize ivy
In a suitable location in the semi-shade or shade, the ivy needs no further care. However, long-term fertilization in spring stimulates growth. A long-term fertilizer such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is particularly suitable for this. Manure or compost also work as fertilizer. In a dry location you should water the plant from time to time. If the plant grows in a shady place anyway, this will hardly be necessary.
Pruning Ivy
Pruning is an important issue. The plant grows quickly and should therefore be cut back regularly. Luckily, ivy is fairly pruning-tolerant and you can prune it vigorously. A time in spring is ideal here, when no birds are yet nesting in the dense foliage. We have compiled a list for you here of how to properly cut back your ivy.
Summary of caring for ivy:
- In principle, ivy is a very easy-care plant
- Once a year in spring you can fertilize your ivy with slow-release fertilizer, compost or manure
- Occasional watering is necessary in dry locations
- Because of its rapid growth, regular pruning of the ivy is necessary; this is best done in spring and can also be more radical
Propagating Ivy
Ivy is durable and hardy. So it's no wonder that he is also very prolific. It constantly forms new roots as soon as its tendrils touch the ground. You can easily take advantage of this if you want to multiply the ivy yourself. Whether as a sinker or cuttings, the propagation of ivy is quick and very easy. You can find out exactly how to do this here.
Remove Ivy
In life, ivy is a beautiful plant and an excellent habitat for numerous animals. But those who find themselves in the embarrassment of having to remove the stubborn growth quickly start swearing. Removing ivy is no fun, it's hard work. The most important thing is to completely remove the root. To ensure this, you should carefully dig them out as a whole, if possible. Then it's time to close the above-ground tracesremove left by the ivy. You should be very careful, especially on facades. We have summarized everything you need to remove ivy from the garden, from trees or from walls and facades here.
Ivy Diseases and Pests
Ivy is a fairly resilient and very strong plant. It is therefore rarely afflicted by pests and diseases, at most when it is weak. This happens, for example, as a result of drought or dry air. Then spider mites (Tetranychidae) have an easy time. This can be a problem in winter, especially with ivy as a houseplant. You can recognize the infestation by the webs and the small, light-silver dots on the leaves that the spider mites leave behind. The best way to prevent the infestation is to place the plant in a place with high humidity or spray it regularly with low-lime water. If it is already too late, then you should separate the plant and first rinse off the worst of it in the shower. In order to kill the remaining spider mites, it is advisable to put a transparent bag over the plant for at least two weeks. Spider mites cannot tolerate the high humidity that occurs under the bag.
Fighting yellow leaves on ivy
Every spring the ivy gets some yellow leaves. This is quite normal, because at this time of year the old leaves are exchanged for young and fresh ones. But if the number of yellow leaves is more than normal, then you should check whether something is wrong with your plant. Reasons for yellow leaves on ivy can be waterlogging, drought, spider mites or too dense growth. You can find out what to do here.
Is ivy poisonous?
Ivy is poisonous to humans and many animals. The seductive berries in particular can pose a danger. But you don't need to fear the climbing plant. The leaves and berries are so bitter that hardly anyone would think of consuming large amounts of them. Here you can find out exactly what the toxicity of ivy is all about and what you can do if symptoms appear.