| I would like to grow English Ivy from cuttings that a friend said I could take. When should I cut them (I would like to plant them in the Spring). I read one of your answers on the web site about rooting them in a medium mix but I wasn't sure what that meant. Any specifics would be appreciated! Thank you for your time and answers!! |
| English ivy roots easily from cuttings taken in spring and early summer. You need tip cuttings about four to six inches long, remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting, dip into rooting hormone if desired (found at the garden center, read the label instructions)and stick upright into a barely moist soilless potting mix. The soilless potting mixes (potting mix is sometimes called medium) are usually based on peat moss and/or bark plus perlite and vermiculite; they are formulated to promote moisture holding plus the ability to hold adequate air by draining well. This will promote healthy roots forming. Once you have made the cuttings, water lightly to settle the soil around the stem, cover the pot with clear plastic and set it in a location that is bright but out of direct sun. (Direct sun will cause overheating like a parked car.) You can put several cuttings per cell or pot so that you will have thicker coverage when you transplant them to the garden. When you see roots at the drainage holes, they can be transplanted. The best times to plant them out however are spring and early September. The reason for this is that summer is hot and stresses young plants with new, developing root systems. Prepare the planting area soil well, adding ample organic matter. Planting about a foot apart will cover the area quickly, eighteen inches apart is also a typical spacing. After planting, keep the soil moist (not sopping wet) and mulch between the plants to keep down weeds and help keep the soil moist. I hope this answers your questions. |
