Plant Care English Ivy

English Ivy

4.4 out of 5 (532 experiences)

English Ivy has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower
English Ivy has a Survivor plant personality Survivor

About English Ivy

Plants in the Hedera genus are commonly known as Ivy, and are native to Eurasia and northern Africa although they've been introduced and are now common in the Americas and Australia. They're excellent climbers and have been known to grow on buildings and trees to over 100ft/30m tall! 🪜 You'll often see wreathes of ivy in Ancient Roman works of art, as they were believed to prevent intoxication. 🍷

Taxonomy

Hedera helix
Hedera
Araliaceae
Apiales

Also known as

Ivy, Common Ivy, Little Hermann Vvy, Garland Ivy, Dark Pittsburgh Ivy, Royal Hustler Ivy, Ingrid Liz Ivy, designer Ivy, kings choice ivy, Dark Pittsburg Ivy, Mini Adam Ivy, Little Hermann Ivy and Sweetheart Ivy

How to care for English Ivy

💦 Water

How often to water your English Ivy

Water needs for English Ivy
0.5 cups
every 9

English Ivy needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of English Ivy

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for English Ivy in your home

Light needs and placement for plant English Ivy: 3ft from a window
3ft or less from
a window

English Ivy may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of English Ivy in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize English Ivy

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for English Ivy: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your English Ivy after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Hedera
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

English Ivy is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Common English Ivy Problems →


💦 Water Needs

English Ivy prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

English Ivy Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

English Ivy may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

English Ivy is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. English Ivy is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Is English Ivy Edible? →

English Ivy Toxicity to Cats →

English Ivy Toxicity to Dogs →

English Ivy Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

English Ivy doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.


🪴 Soil

English Ivy does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

What Are Healthy English Ivy Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

English Ivy grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


🌎 Native Region

English Ivy is native to Western Europe to Japan.


🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your English Ivy bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Is English Ivy an Annual Plant? →

Is English Ivy a Perennial Plant? →

Common English Ivy Flower Problems →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

English Ivy is a naturally climbing plant and can be trained to climb indoors if you provide a moss pole or trellis. The newest growth will emerge from the end of the stems.

English Ivy Lifecycle →

English Ivy Size Guide →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
English Ivy can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 4a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

English Ivy Hardiness Zones →

Is English Ivy a Weed? →


🌱 Propagation

English Ivy can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

  • Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
  • To get the cutting to root, you can either:
    • Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
    • Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in English Ivy, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for English Ivy

English Ivy

English Ivy


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

English Ivy has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 312
English Ivy has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 243
English Ivy has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 108
English Ivy has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 100
English Ivy has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 88
English Ivy has a Pest magnet plant personality Pest magnet 29
English Ivy has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 21
@Vikas_plants avatar
@@Vikas_plants
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 85 XP
04/05/2022

It’s not a beginner plant

Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Pest magnet Pest magnet
Browns easily Browns easily
@IdealSalad avatar
@@IdealSalad
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 86 XP
globe Ayden, NC
04/02/2022

Make sure you have an appropriate size pot.

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@cobie avatar
@@cobie
leaf-1 14 Plants
xp 837 XP
03/19/2022

it grows VERY fast and you will have to trim it quite a lot

Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
@ExecJavamoss avatar
@@ExecJavamoss
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 31 XP
globe Maricopa, AZ
03/14/2022

Give it some light

Fast grower Fast grower
@YesSalad avatar
@@YesSalad
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 69 XP
globe Augusta, ME
02/27/2022

Love my Ivy baby

Fast grower Fast grower
@haleyd111 avatar
@@haleyd111
leaf-1 16 Plants
xp 1,253 XP
globe Poughkeepsie, NY
02/04/2022

great plant! doesnt need too much watering!

Survivor Survivor
Roberto avatar
@Roberto
leaf-1 0 Plants
xp 36 XP
globe New York
01/28/2022

great plant foliage for my kitchen window in a nyc apartment

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Lauren avatar
@Lauren
leaf-1 8 Plants
xp 138 XP
globe Kings Park, NY
01/23/2022

This ivy plant seems to need room temp with semi light. Water every 4-6 days.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
@georgiakatex avatar
@@georgiakatex
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 112 XP
01/10/2022

This plant is super easy to take care of, you should only need to water it every 6-10 days in the summer and every 10-14 days in the winter. Keep it away from direct sunlight. Grows quite quickly so choose the spot for your plant wisely.

Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@FastTawapou avatar
@@FastTawapou
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 36 XP
globe Beaumont, CA
01/05/2022

i instantly fell in love with this plant when i saw it, the leaves are beautiful and the plant itself was just gorgeous

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@PlantEuphoria avatar
@@PlantEuphoria
leaf-1 37 Plants
xp 6,156 XP
globe Foley, AL
12/29/2021

I love my Ivy plant. It’s not fussy at all. It’s in an east facing window with indirect light and it’s loving it. I let it dry out between waterings.

Fast grower Fast grower
@mossycabbages avatar
@@mossycabbages
leaf-1 66 Plants
xp 3,455 XP
12/28/2021

This plant grows very quickly but can be kind of dramatic when underwatered

Fast grower Fast grower
@EternalCaleypea avatar
@@EternalCaleypea
leaf-1 12 Plants
xp 224 XP
globe Conroe, TX
12/26/2021

Difficult plant in my experience. But I do not have a green thumb

Leigh avatar
@Leigh
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 100 XP
globe Noblesville, IN
12/07/2021

Needs good drainage! Also make sure it’s no receiving light that’s too intense or it will burn the leaves. Perfect for a kitchen house plant

Survivor Survivor
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Adrienne avatar
@Adrienne
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 72 XP
globe Arcadia, CA
12/06/2021

Starting ivy is not for the faint of heart, but if you screw up you can keep trying until you figure it out

Survivor Survivor
Browns easily Browns easily
@opheliaio avatar
@@opheliaio
leaf-1 12 Plants
xp 2,799 XP
globe Attleboro, MA
12/03/2021

everyone says ivies are super easy but i disagree. i live in a dry room and she needs constant misting and watering to stay alive and keep spider mites away (her biggest problem). she is leggy and her leaves are sparse, and often drops leaves. i put her in a west-facing window for a week which encouraged a lot of new growth but also lots of browned leaves. would probably thrive best in a humid environment in a north or south facing window.

Fast grower Fast grower
Browns easily Browns easily
Pest magnet Pest magnet
@valentheral avatar
@@valentheral
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 101 XP
11/16/2021

English Ivy is a beautiful addition to any collection with its elegant leaves and sleek stem. They’re very low maintenance, but do require more water than one might think. Sometimes the leaves can get a little dry if you live in an arid climate, so I like to mist Esmeralda’s leaves occasionally. These are SUPER easy to propagate—just cut a piece of stem with some leaves and stick it in water (the roots do take a little longer than most, so just be sure to change the water frequently to prevent slimy roots). As with any plant, English Ivy enjoys a little bit of fertilizer now and then—when I give Es some, her leaves perk up significantly.

Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
Fast grower Fast grower
@Morgs avatar
@@Morgs
leaf-1 19 Plants
xp 1,019 XP
globe Chicago, IL
11/15/2021

The most beautiful plant!! As it grows it will have these beautiful long veins that amazing! Keep up with watering or it will brown. Easy plant to keep happy & looks very pretty!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Survivor Survivor
Browns easily Browns easily
@Chijioke avatar
@@Chijioke
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 293 XP
globe Newcastle upon Tyne, England
11/03/2021

Needs light!!!

@Ptownnn avatar
@@Ptownnn
leaf-1 1 Plants
xp 32 XP
globe Minneapolis, MN
10/31/2021

It’s soooooo pretty

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