Ivy is a common name referring to many different plant species. The most abundant is English ivy, scientifically Hedera helix, though there are Boston, grape, Swedish, Himalayan, and Algerian ivies, amongst others! This species is picky indoors, while other types, like grape and Swedish ivy, perform better inside our homes.
The key with these houseplants is moderate water, cool temperatures, bright light, and high humidity. Outdoors, their vines access rain, air, and sunlight freely as they ramble and roam. Indoors, you’ll need to simulate these conditions to keep your tender perennial bursting with new growth.
The best way to think of ivy houseplant care is through this question: “Does my plant’s current conditions match what it prefers outdoors?” If the answer is no, you can use these seven expert tips to turn a struggling houseplant into a healthy, free-vining one.
7 Care Tips for Ivy Houseplants
Whether you bring home a potted specimen or grow new ones from cuttings, these care tips ensure the vines perform their best inside your home.
Choose a Bright Location
Outdoors, these vines scramble beneath large trees and shrubs. They tolerate dappled sunlight and full shade while they find suitable trunks to grow up. Once they grow tall, their leaves change shape and the plants begin flowering, fruiting, and reseeding.
Indoors, you’ll want to simulate forest floor conditions. Ivy houseplants rarely turn into their shrubby, adult form with these conditions, and they’ll retain their small leaves and vining habits. Grant them bright indirect light for most of the day, and avoid placing them under harsh direct sunlight. It may burn the houseplants’ leaves and turn them white, yellow, or brown.
Some gardeners like to transition their houseplant outdoors for the summer. These plants dislike change, so this is a risky venture. Transition them slowly, and do the same when you bring them back inside at summer’s end.
Avoid Drafts
Hot, dry drafts from heaters spell disaster for most houseplants. The dry air causes plants to dry out, and their leaves struggle to retain moisture. You’ll notice frequent leaf drop and slow growth on vines with hot air blowing over them.
A good way to compensate for dry air is to place a humidifier near your houseplant. Another simple trick is a humidity tray. Place pebbles inside a plant saucer, and fill it halfway with water. Put it near your plant’s container, and fill it so the water line sits below the rocks. The water will evaporate slowly and provide ambient humidity around the tendril-like stems.
Equally as harmful are cold drafts from windows and doors. These houseplants prefer cool temperatures during the day between 50-70°F (10-21°C), and cooler temperatures at night 5-10° lower. Any lower than this will shock the plants, as they’re used to growing in moderate temperatures common in our homes.
Use Fertile, Well-Drained Soil
Ivy grows well in most potting soils available at nurseries and online retailers. The roots need adequate drainage, fertility, and porosity to grow deep and wide. Choose a soil mix with plenty of perlite or vermiculite, compost, and soilless materials like coco coir.
Indoor or houseplant soil mixes are best. When mixing a homemade blend, choose soilless materials to avoid issues with fungus gnats and similar pests. Rotting organic matter attracts insects that like to feast on decaying things. With regular fertilizing, soilless mixes work well for indoor plants. They retain moisture well and drain freely when there’s excess. Some organic matter in your mix should be ok, and will feed the plant as it grows.
Avoid growing these plants in soil that may grow soggy or compact over time. The best soilless materials include coco coir, peat moss, sand, and rice hulls. Ensure the mix has an even blend of the components, then use it for all your propagating and transplanting needs.
Let the Soil Surface Dry
Although ivy roots appreciate consistent moisture, they also like drying out some between waterings. Overwatering causes roots to rot and decay as they struggle to grow and breathe. Before watering, use the finger test to see if it’s time.
The finger test is a simple method for testing soil moisture levels. Stab your finger into the soil, pull it out, and see if you sense moisture. If it’s still readily moist beneath the surface it’s best to wait a few days before checking again. If it’s dry beneath the surface, add plenty of water until it flows freely from the drainage holes.
Outdoors these plants have access to more soil than they do in containers, as each vine that roots can draw up moisture and nutrients for the benefit of the entire plant. Care for your ivy houseplant’s sensitive roots so it thrives inside your home despite its small container.
Fertilize Monthly
Ivy houseplants require more fertilizer than outdoor plants because of their small containers. They have limited access to soil, and extra fertilizer helps them grow their best. Avoid fertilizing during the winter, and add monthly doses of balanced organic fertilizer during the growing season.
Liquid, powder, or pellet fertilizer works well. Indoor plants require more nitrogen than any other nutrient, so ensure they have enough to grow well. Too much nitrogen causes dark green leaves and burnt brown tips, while not enough causes yellow leaves and slow growth.
Monthly fertilizer applications from spring through fall should ensure healthy growth. If you’re unsure, consider using a soil test kit to see how nutritious your soil is so you know how to best amend it.
Prune Leggy Stems
These vines, like pothos, grow long when they’re happy. Individual stems in hanging baskets may extend to the floor or grow up walls! To keep your ivy houseplant bushy, consider pruning the long stems. Multiple new shoots should emerge from each cut, creating a dense appearance.
The extra stems you cut off make for excellent propagules! Root them in water or soil, then plant them in the container. This propagating action creates a lovely indoor specimen that stands out in your home. If your plant is bushy enough already, you can pot up the extra cuttings for free plants. Situate them within your house, or gift them to friends and family!
Instead of pruning, some indoor growers train leggy stems on trellises or prongs on the wall. You can situate the stems how you’d like on a metal or wooden trellis, forming a heart, circle, or star shape. Ensure each stem has bright indirect light, and prune any spreading outside the structure to keep it tidy.
Watch for Pests
Dry, sick, or weak ivy houseplants are prime pest targets. Spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, scales, and white flies are common visitors of indoor specimens. They target fresh stems and leaves, sucking nutrient-rich sap out of your plant.
Strong, healthy plants resist pests with turgid leaves and thick stems, although weak plants struggle to hold them off. First, ensure your plant receives what it needs to grow its best inside. Avoid drafts, add water consistently, and avoid soggy soil. Give developing vines bright indirect light and cool temperatures with high humidity.
Remove pests by trying the water trick. Spray your plant with a strong stream of water daily for a week or two until the pests disappear. Stronger ones, like scales and white flies, may remain. Rub them off with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol, and wash your plant off once you remove them all.
Prevent future infestations by spraying horticultural oil, soap, or neem oil on your plant. Spray outdoors in the morning or afternoon to prevent damage to nearby pollinators.
Popular Ivy Houseplant Varieties
When choosing ivy cultivars, select ones you’ll enjoy growing that perform well in your regional climate. If English types struggles indoors in your area, consider Swedish or grape species instead.
‘Gold Child’
‘Gold Child’ shows off with yellow-green variegated leaves on creeping stems. It’s a perfect candidate for pots, planters, or hanging baskets. Pair it with a green English ivy, or grow it alone to let the creamy variegation stand out. The more sun it receives the brighter the yellow color appears, so give it plenty of bright indirect sunlight.
‘Glacier’
This type is similar to ‘Gold Child’ but with white leaf edges instead of yellow ones. The white evolves into light green, then dark green at the base of the leaf. The stems root freely and grow lengthy like those on the species type of English ivy. Give it plenty of room to spread its tendril-like vines.
‘Shamrock’
This English cultivar has leaves with unique shapes—they have two bottom lobes and a large central one, like a shamrock leaf. The leaves are solid green with white veins, and they’re ideal for adding charm to indoor rooms. Ensure this type has enough light during the day so the leaves stay large, lush, and dark green.
Swedish Ivy
This species differs greatly from English types. Swedish ivy, or Plectranthus verticillatus, is a relative of coleus shrubs and spurflowers. It grows low to the ground, forming a dense mat of foliage. The bright green leaves have serrations on their edges. In spring, purple-white flower spikes emerge from the stems and stand tall above the rest of the plant.
Grape Ivy
Like the Swedish species, grape ivy is a cultivar perfect for houseplant growers who struggle to cultivate the English vines. The care tips above apply to these two species, as they grow under similar conditions in their native habitat of the tropical Americas. Let the soil dry between waterings, and ensure the leaves receive bright indirect light for most of the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ivy frequently dies from too much water, not enough water, insufficient light, or drafty airflow. First, correct these growing conditions, then focus on reviving the plant. Cut off dead leaves and stems, and ensure the soil dries between waterings.
Water your ivy houseplant after the soil surface dries. Use the finger test to know when to water by digging your finger in the pot to sense the moisture levels.
Propagate them using division, cuttings, or seeds. Cuttings are the easiest option, as you can turn pruned stems into new plants from spring through fall.
