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"RALPH" ENGLISH IVY

Outdoor & Indoor Hedera helix

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Photo Credit (C) Dennis Lee Brown 2017

Dennis's Plants & Gardens IMG_(1546) _Ra

"RALPH" ENGLISH IVY

(Hedera helix

Dennis's Plants & Gardens IMG_(1545) "Ra

"Ralph"  English Ivy 

The English ivy, Hedera helix, is known for its deep evergreen foliage that is often used as a year-round fence & ground-cover, and it’s also capable of clothing brick or stone walls.  It will attach and climb up tree bark, and trellises producing walls of Ivy.  The creeping and clinging character of the English Ivy vine in the right setting, can grow screens and walls of Ivy.

Ralph ivy care differs than normal green ivy, in that it can adopt to various environmental conditions.  This ivy plant needs less sunlight, which makes it ideal for indoor placement, even back from windows.  English ivy will do best on a window sill behind a sheer curtain producing indirect light.

Water thoroughly but infrequently.  When the soil feels dry, gently add water to the soil until the surface is totally wet and the water drains out of the bottom of the pot. Then do not water again until the soil is almost dry.  Do not allow pots to stand continually in water.  If the air is dry, raise the surrounding the plants by grouping ivies together on a humidity tray full of wet pebbles or perlite.  Water-logged soils result in poor plant growth including root rot and make the plants less resistant to insect attack.

Ivies are remarkably tolerant to a wide range of light conditions.  But in the home a south or west window can be quite drying especially in summer.  A north or east window or filtered or reduced light from a south or west window is acceptable.  Place English ivy in bright (filtered) light, as lower light may result in pale leaves and slow growth, but avoid intense, direct light.  Ivies respond well to artificial fluorescent light conditions.  In the home or office, put these ivy plants 6" to 10" from the fluorescent tubes or grow lights, as this will be more than enough light for vigorous growth.  In moderate “warm” climates, ivies may be summered outdoors in the shade.   During the cold days of winter, over-winter the plant indoors for continued growth.  In warmer parts of the country potted ivies will do well outdoors as well as indoors.  To avoid leaf burning and soil quickly drying, it is a good idea never put indoor ivies outdoors in direct sun.

Feed actively growing indoors ivy plants ivies monthly with any good foliage houseplant fertilizer.  Feed, according to the manufacturer's directions on the product.  Never fertilize the plants when growth stops either in the summer heat, or in cool temperatures.

RE-POTTING
When the plant becomes top heavy, root bound, or dries out too rapidly, it is time to repot in a larger planter.   Put ivies into slightly larger pots, just large enough to hold the roots.  Over-potting, or use of too large a pot for the size of the root system, and inadequate pot drainage can lead to root rot.  Use either plastic or clay pots, depending on your watering schedule.  Adequate drainage holes should be at least ¼” in diameter and there are enough in the container to allow good drainage.
 

GREEN THUMB TIP:

Clay pots dry out faster than plastic planters, needing frequent watering, especially outdoors in the hot mid-day sun

Dennis's Green Thumb Tips

Dennis's Green Thumb Tips & Ideas_edited

GREEN THUMB TIP:

Clay pots dry out faster than plastic planters, needing frequent watering, especially outdoors in the hot mid-day sun

Dennis's Green Thumb Tips

Dennis's Green Thumb Tips & Ideas_edited

When transplanting, transplant ivies into moist soil.   If you water your plants frequently, use a commercially available, soilless mix which drains and dries readily.  If you like a heavier mix which needs watering less frequently, make your own growing medium by:

  • using 1 part commercially available sterilized topsoil

  • 1-part sphagnum peat moss

  • 1-part perlite

  • ½ part sand

Aerate the growing medium, by loosen the root ball with chop-sticks or prongs. Lightly cover holes in the bottom of the pot with screening, old nylon hosiery, or clay pot fragments - anything to prevent soil from washing out of the pot without hindering water movement.  Place a small amount of fresh soil mix into the new pot, spread the roots out, and continue to fill soil around the roots to just below the rim. Then water gently, until water drains out of the pot. .

"Ralph" English Ivy

Ideal Preferences

 

Water:

Keep soil moist but well-drained.

When watering, Water thoroughly but infrequently.  

 Check the soil moisture with your finger.  If the top 2-4” (5-10 cm) of soil is dry, or you witness wilted leaves, it is time to water.  Apply water at the base of the plant, soil level if possible to avoid wetting the foliage. 

Humidity

If the air is dry, raise the surrounding the plants by grouping ivies together on a humidity tray full of wet pebbles or perlite.  

Light:

 This English ivy requires that you place the ivy plant in indirect or filtered bright sunlight.  Ivy leaves will burn if placed in direct sunlight.  This plant can adopt to partial shade to full shade.  Never locate it in direct sunlight.

Hardness Zone:

Varieties suitable Zones 5-12

Temperature:

Ivy plants can tolerate a wide range of temperatures from about -200  to -100  (-29° to -23°C)

Fertilizer :

Since foliage is the main feature of ivies, use fertilizers high in nitrogen (the first number in the fertilizer formulation) to provide good green growth.  Apply fertilizer to soil only, foliage

absorption would be minimal, and/or may even harm the ivy, under indoor growing conditions.

Soil:

Start with a good quality, commercial potting soil.  All-purpose houseplant or gardening soil helps with growing healthy plant whether in and outdoors. 

When transplanting, transplant ivies into moist soil.   If you water your plants frequently, use a commercially available, soil-less mix which drains and dries readily.   Make your own growing medium by mixing: 

  • using 1 part commercially available sterilized topsoil

  • 1-part sphagnum peat moss

  • 1-part perlite

  • ½ part sand

 

 

 

Bloom

N/A Does not flower

Make Your Own Potting Siol Mixture

Dennis's Plants & Gardens IMG_(1546) Ralph - English Ivy

"Ralph" English Ivy trailing 

Dennis's Plants & Gardens IMG_(1545) Var

"Ralph" English Ivy trailing 

Dennis's Plants & Gardens IMG_(1688) Ral
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