Ivy

Q. Do ivy plants need direct or indirect sunlight? How much and when should I be watering them?

A. Ivy are rather touchy and rules are not set in stone. So much depends upon your light room temperature soil mix and size of plant. First they do not like much in the way of direct sunlight They can take a couple hours of early AM sun before 10AM but from then on keep protected from the rays with taller plants sheer curtains or blinds. They love light though so do not attempt to grow in the shade.

Watering should be done only when the top inch of the soil feels dry to your fingers. Water well allowing excess to drain out the bottom holes into a saucer. Empty the saucer after 1/2 hour or keep some pebbles or sand in it and have the pot sit on top of the water but not down in it or the roots will rot. Excess water in any manner will destroy ivy.

The soil mix should be light well-drained and organic. Do not use garden soil. Buy a fresh bag of potting mix when moving your plant up an inch in pot diameter. This should be done no less than yearly. An inch of gravel or charcoal at the inside bottom of pot helps keep the roots fresh and not waterlogged.

Feed your ivy and all other house plants regularly. Give them a good indoor plant food as Miracle-Gro Peters Optimara SpoonIt or Hyponex monthly. Keep a wary eye out for insects and any damage that suddenly appears.

A. Ivies are reported to be able to be grown in anything from full sun to full shade. The ones you have in 1/2 sun now will grow in your new spot but they may suffer for several months until the new growth can adapt to the new bright environments I see the large-leafed English ivy Hedera helix growing in yards here and in the suburbs where it gets quite hot and they are thick as can be in full sun. But they may have been there for years though. I would realize that you will lose some of the cuttings out there but wait for the others to grown and fill in. I would not grow a large area of them as it may take a year before they look very good while the other ground covers do much better. But do not rule out a portion of them though.

Ivies adapt to a wide range of conditions of light heat soil food and water. Regular pruning is needed for bushiness and climbing a wall or stump to fill in.