| I love needle tip ivy especially as a topiary, but I have no luck keeping them alive. Please tell me how to water and pest control, etc, to keep them alive and thriving. Thank you, Sonya |
| The most common mistake we all make with ivy is overwatering. These plants can tolerate, and actually thrive when the soil is allow to dry out slightly between waterings. So, if you are watering often, that's probably what's going on with yours. When a plant is stressed, it usually attracts insects and diseases. So, start out with a healthy ivy, and pot it up with a good brand of potting soil (cheap ones are hard to water!) I use Miracle Gro, but you can also use Kellogg's or another top of the line brand. Water completely after planting and then pick up the container so you know how heavy it will feel when the soil is moist. Ivy will take full sun but will be stressed when in a container in full sun because the roots can bake in the heat so either keep yours in bright shade or provide a few hours of morning sun and then afternoon shade. Or, keep it indoors. Wait until the top of the soil dries out and then pick up the container to see if it is still heavy or if it is lightweight. If it is light, water it throughly. If it still seems heavy, wait another day or two to water. Hope this information helps! |
