Plant Care variegated ivy

variegated ivy

4.6 out of 5 (11 experiences)

variegated ivy has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower
variegated ivy has a Survivor plant personality Survivor

About variegated 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 'Variegata'
Hedera
Araliaceae
Apiales

Also known as

Hedera helix variegata

How to care for variegated ivy

💦 Water

How often to water your variegated ivy

Water needs for variegated ivy
0.5 cups
every 9

variegated 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 variegated ivy

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for variegated ivy in your home

Light needs and placement for plant variegated ivy: 3ft from a window
3ft or less from
a window

variegated 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 variegated ivy in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize variegated ivy

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for variegated 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 variegated ivy after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Hedera
💡 FAQs
💦 Water Needs

variegated 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.

variegated ivy Water Frequency →

variegated ivy Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

variegated 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 🏡.

variegated ivy Light Requirements →

variegated ivy Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

variegated 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. variegated ivy is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.


💨 Humidity

variegated 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.

variegated ivy Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

variegated 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!

When and How to Successfully Repot variegated ivy →

What Are Healthy variegated ivy Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

variegated 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

variegated ivy is native to Western Europe to Japan.


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

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

variegated ivy Temperature Tolerance →

variegated ivy Hardiness Zones →

Is variegated ivy a Weed? →


🌱 Propagation

variegated 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 variegated 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 variegated ivy

variegated ivy

variegated 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

variegated ivy has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 8
variegated ivy has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 6
variegated ivy has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 3
variegated ivy has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 2
variegated ivy has a Pest magnet plant personality Pest magnet 1
variegated ivy has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 1
@jinx avatar
@@jinx
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 157 XP
globe Langhorne, PA
07/10/2021

Each one looks truly unique. i haven’t run into any issues yet, aside from accidental overwater when repotting. The ivy bounced back and handled the bit of abuse like a champ though!

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@kassieheun avatar
@@kassieheun
leaf-1 13 Plants
xp 444 XP
globe San Marcos, TX
06/12/2021

I LOVE IVY. However, I have had a lot of trouble keeping ivy alive because of misinformation. I keep this Variegated ivy in a north facing window and she continues to grow and grow. Shes my fav i love her

Fast grower Fast grower
@ashley.oram avatar
@@ashley.oram
leaf-1 12 Plants
xp 194 XP
globe Cochrane, Alberta
05/23/2021

Love it

Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
Browns easily Browns easily
@shaeshae avatar
@@shaeshae
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 1,437 XP
05/02/2021

Will definitely show signs of underwatering with droopy leaves!

I allowed mine to dry out for a bit. Although it perked back up the next day, ended up experiencing spider mites for the first time 🕷 Got rid of them with a good rinse down and neem oil until treated!

Pest magnet Pest magnet
Survivor Survivor

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