Grape Ivy – Plant

Grape Ivy is the plant for you, It’s easy to grow, forgiving when you forget to water, and adds a touch of the tropics to any space. Grape ivy is a vine, so shows to advantage in hanging baskets and urns where it will cascade over the side. Plant it in a container with a trellis and for a bright vertical accent.

Grape Ivy plants require medium to high light, If the stems stretch toward the light and new leaves are further apart on the stem, move your plant to a brighter location.

Varieties
The vast majority of ivies seen in garden centers are so-called true ivy, from the genus Hedera. There are actually 15 species of Hedera, but H. helix is the star as far as cultivated plants are concerned. It has been extensively hybridized into a number of interesting leaf patterns and shapes. Growth requirements for all Hedera ivies are similar.

Grower’s Tips
The trick to growing healthy ivy is to provide cool nights and moist, humid conditions. H. Helix varieties typically have aerial roots that cling, so the plant can be trained up supports or allowed to trail from hanging baskets. Remember to frequently mist your ivy for best results, especially during dry winters. To keep an ivy compact and bushy, pinch off the growing tips.

Planting And Care

• As mentioned above, when caring for grape ivy, a low light exposure is most advantageous, although grape ivy can tolerate bright to moderate light if kept sufficiently moist.
• Allow soil of grape ivy to dry slightly between waterings, taking care not to over irrigate.
• Soil considerations when growing grape ivy is important as the root systems require excellent aeration.
• A potting mixture of peat combined with particles such as bark, perlite, Styrofoam and calcined clay, is the best medium in how to care for grape ivy houseplants.