English Ivy Care Indoors: Light, Water and Spider Mites

English ivy care indoors works best when you think of where ivy grows wild: cool, shady woodlands across Europe and western Asia. Give Hedera helix bright, indirect light, keep it on the cool side, water when the top few centimetres of soil dry, and rinse the leaves regularly to keep spider mites away. In those conditions it trails, climbs and fills hanging baskets or topiary frames quickly. In a hot, dry, dim room it tends to struggle.

Indoors, ivy is a well-behaved trailing plant. Outdoors, it can become invasive in some regions, such as parts of the US Pacific Northwest, so don't plant it out from your houseplant collection without checking local guidance.

English ivy care at a glance

Light

English ivy grows best in bright, indirect light, such as near an east window or set back from a south or west window. Plain green varieties manage medium light. Variegated ivies, with white, cream or yellow patterns, need more light to keep their colour and may revert to green in dim rooms. In low light, stems get long and leggy with big gaps between leaves. Strong afternoon sun through glass can scorch leaves. Check light levels with the plant light meter converter.

Watering

1. Water when the top 2 to 3 cm of soil is dry.
2. Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom; empty the saucer.
3. Water less in winter, especially in cool rooms.

Ivy dislikes both extremes. Constantly wet soil causes yellow leaves and root rot; bone-dry soil causes crispy brown edges. Hanging baskets dry out faster, so check them more often. See how to water houseplants or set up a routine with the plant watering schedule.

Temperature and humidity

Ivy prefers cooler rooms than most houseplants: about 10 to 21 °C (50 to 70 °F), with nights a few degrees cooler. A cool hallway, bright bathroom or unheated room with a window can suit it better than a warm living room. Dry, warm air is the main reason indoor ivy gets spider mites. Raise humidity by grouping plants, using a humidifier, or growing ivy in a bright bathroom (see bathroom plants).

Spider mites: ivy's main problem

English ivy is one of the plants spider mites like best. Signs include fine pale speckling on leaves, a dusty look, and fine webbing on stems in heavier attacks. Prevention is easy:

• Rinse the plant in the shower every two to four weeks, especially in winter.
• Keep it cool and away from radiators.
• Inspect undersides during watering.

If mites appear, prune the worst stems, rinse thoroughly and spray with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil every 4 to 7 days for several weeks. Full instructions are in spider mites on plants.

Soil and potting

Use a standard indoor potting mix with about a quarter perlite for drainage. Ivy has a modest root system, so it doesn't need a big pot; repot every one to two years in spring, one size up. Shallow, wide pots and hanging baskets suit its trailing habit. See how to repot a houseplant.

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength. Skip feeding in autumn and winter. Variegated types can lose contrast with too much nitrogen. The fertilizer dilution calculator gives exact amounts.

Pruning and shaping

Regular pruning keeps ivy full and tidy.

• Pinch tips of long stems to encourage branching.
• Cut back leggy or bare stems by up to half in spring.
• Remove any all-green shoots on variegated plants, which grow faster and can take over.
• Train onto a moss pole, hoop, trellis or topiary frame by tying stems loosely.
• Wear gloves if your skin is sensitive; the sap can irritate.

Propagation

English ivy roots very easily from stem cuttings.

1. Cut 10 to 15 cm stem tips with several leaves, just below a node.
2. Remove the bottom leaves.
3. Root in water or straight into moist potting mix.
4. Keep in bright, indirect light; roots form in two to four weeks.
5. Plant several rooted cuttings together for a full pot, or push them back into the mother plant's pot to fill gaps.

More techniques in how to propagate houseplants.

Popular English ivy varieties

Common problems

For more symptoms see plant leaf problems.

English ivy and pets

The ASPCA lists English ivy as toxic to cats and dogs, with saponins that can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling and diarrhoea. Hang it high or choose a pet-safe trailing plant such as a hoya, string of hearts or spider plant (see hoya care and spider plant care). Check plants with the plant toxicity checker.

Growing ivy in water

Ivy cuttings can live in a jar of water for months, which makes a simple display for a windowsill or shelf. Change the water every week or two, keep the leaves above the waterline, and add a drop of diluted liquid fertiliser once a month. Growth is slower than in soil, and long-term plants do better if potted up once roots are 5 to 10 cm long.

Ivy and air purification claims

English ivy often appears on "air-purifying plant" lists based on the 1989 NASA Clean Air Study, which tested plants in small sealed chambers. Later reviews concluded that houseplants at normal household numbers have little measurable effect on indoor air compared with ventilation. Grow ivy because it looks great, not as an air filter.

Growing ivy on a topiary frame

Ivy is the classic plant for indoor topiary, such as hearts, rings and cones.

1. Choose a wire frame and a pot about the same width as the frame's base.
2. Plant three to five rooted cuttings around the edge.
3. As stems grow, wind them around the frame and tie loosely with soft string.
4. Pinch tips regularly so the shape fills in.
5. Trim stray stems monthly.

Small-leaved varieties such as 'Needlepoint' give the neatest shapes. Expect a well-covered frame in about six months to a year.

Quick checklist

• ☐ Bright, indirect light
• ☐ Cool room, away from heaters
• ☐ Water when the top 2–3 cm is dry
• ☐ Shower the plant monthly to deter mites
• ☐ Pinch tips for a fuller plant
• ☐ Keep out of reach of pets

Sources and further reading

• Royal Horticultural Society: Ivy, for growing and varieties.
• University of Minnesota Extension: Spider mites, for pest management.
• ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list, for pet safety.