Potted ivyis a climber that is very popular in our homes. Its advantages are relatively easy care, low requirements and decorative leaves throughout the year. See whatcare for pot ivylooks like and check whichtypes of potted ivywill work in your apartment. Whatdiseases can attack potted ivyand what to do when the plant is bad? Here are all the secrets to growing ivy in a pot!
Potted ivy
Fig. pixabay.com
Potted ivygrows very quickly and does not require labor-intensive care, and is decorative and long-lived. Many types of ivy have been bred from several species of ivy, the main decoration of which are always leaves. Ivy leaves can be star-shaped, large, small, motley (green and white or cream). Ivy grown in a pot can climb upwards (then it needs supports) or hang freely downwards.Small-leaved varieties of potted ivyare eagerly used to create modern decorations such as a glass garden.
Potted ivy care
Caring for potted ivyrequires first of all a good growing position for this plant. Ivy prefers shaded or bright places, but never direct light. The basicrule for ivy careis: the greener the leaves, the shaded and cooler the position, and the more colorful the leaves, the more light and warmth the plant needs.It is important that the stand is airy and does not heat up. When caring for ivy, it is worth remembering that it feels best at a temperature of 15-18 ° C.
Universal soil for potted flowers is a good substrate for ivy. Remember that during the ivy growth period (spring, summer) the substrate must be constantly, moderately moist, and water at room temperature should be best used for watering. Whencare for pot ivy , you should also remember to fertilize. From April to August we fertilize with multi-component fertilizer once a week, and in winter only every 4 weeks.
Ripe plants should be replanted once a year in the spring, when the ivy begins to sprout new shoots. If you want to reproducepotted ivytake the top cuttings and root them in water or soil.
Potted ivy
Fig. pixabay.com
If the ivy begins to sprout too long, sparsely leafed shoots, trim them to force the plant to branch out. Potted ivy responds very well to cutting , so it's worth taking advantage of it and giving it a beautiful form. If shoots with green leaves appear on the cultivated ivy with green leaves, cut the whole shoot.
Ivy care in winteris not much different from spring-summer. You should keep the plant in a bright room at a temperature of about 10 ° C. We water a little, although the root ball must not dry out. If the ivy winters in a heated room, it should be sprinkled with water from time to time to increase the air humidity slightly. This will prevent the appearance of pests.
Types of potted ivy
The most important species of ivy is Hedera Helix, i.e. common ivy. Many varieties that grow in gardens and interiors come from this species. Those suitable for potted plants are usually characterized by tiny leaves.
Some of the more popularvarieties of potted ivyare:
- 'Chicago' - with small, light green leaves, very hardy.
- 'Glacier' - This type of common ivy has small dark green leaves with a thin white border on the outer edge.
Other types of ivy are grownas pot ivy. Among them, it is worth paying attention to:
- Persian ivy , or Hedera colchica - comes from Iran and is extremely resistant. It grows very quickly and has the largest leaves, 15-20 cm in diameter.
- Canary ivy(Hedera canariensis) - a type of ivy that is easy to grow and looks very good as a houseplant. The variety 'Gloire de Marengo' is one of the most popular varieties of ivy, it has variegated green and white leaves.
Potted ivy
Fig. pixabay.com
Diseases of potted ivy
Dry air, especially in heated apartments, can cause the leaves to wilt, discolor and then fall off. Similar symptoms can also be caused by an excess of sunlight. On the other hand, water shortage may cause the disappearance of white margins, limiting the growth and withering of young leaves. In order to prevent this type of damage, it is necessary to properlycare for potted ivyIt is always worth checking ifivy diseaseis the result of a pathogen or caused by the result of improper ivy care.
Any fungal diseases provoke the appearance of dirty spots on the leaf blade. When we notice similarstains on ivy leaveswatering should be limited so that the soil dries out, and then we use a fungicide, e.g. Biosept 33SL.
Pests of houseplants are also a frequent cause of ivy problems. Ivy growing in a pot is especially susceptible to spider mites, thrips, aphids, and scales.
If you noticeon the ivy very small red spiders , it means that the ivy has been attacked by the spider mite. Its appearance is favored by dry air. The symptoms on the plant are damaged yellowish-brown leaves, they are dusted, and a silky deposit appears on the plant surface. To prevent further development of the pest, spray the plant with an appropriate insecticide and increase air humidity.
When we noticesilvery spots on ivy leaves , it means that thrips have attacked the plant, which should also be treated with an insecticide. Remember to remove all damaged leaves before the treatment.
Aphids, on the other hand, gather on the tops of young shoots. Remove them by hand or spray the plant with an appropriate insecticide. Symptoms of the presence of aphids are wrinkling and curling of leaves, the edges become dry. Afterspotting the aphids on the ivyyou should act quickly as these pests reproduce quickly.Effective and safe to use at home against aphids will be the natural preparation Emulpar Spray, available in a convenient spray.
Whenappears on the ivy, shaggy spots , especially on the underside of the leaves and on the stems, will indicate that the scales are the cause of the ivy disease. They can be removed by applying a brush soaked in denatured alcohol, or spraying. Here, too, the Emulpar Spray will be a good choice.
Note!When deciding to use plant protection products against pests or diseases of potted ivy, make sure that these preparations are safe for use at home. It is often better to place the plant outside while spraying.
Katarzyna Matuszak
