Houseplant of the Week: Ivy

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Ivy houseplant positioned on a wooden shelf

The image that probably pops into most people’s heads when you mention Ivy is the vine you often see clinging to the sides of houses. In fact, as a vine, it’s often considered invasive because of its aggressive growth.

But Ivy as a houseplant makes a lovely addition to a home, where its leaves will cascade down from pots and hanging baskets.

Caring for Your Ivy Plant

The most important thing your ivy plant needs is the right amount of light. The mostly green varieties like a bright light, but if you have a variegated version with white on the leaves, you might want to bring that down to medium light.

While Ivy like humidity and to be watered regularly (think of English Ivy in the rainy British Isles), it doesn’t like to be soaking in water, which can make the roots rot.

Remember to feed your plant, too. Fertilize your ivy with a water soluble, nitrogen-rich fertilizer about once a month except in winter, when the plant is dormant.

Finally, remember this is a plant from northern Europe, so it tends to like its temperatures on the cool side.