Growing Ivy from Cuttings: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction:
If you're a fan of the lush and beautiful Hedera species, or simply wish to add some greenery to your indoor space, growing ivy from cuttings might be the perfect project for you. This guide will walk you through the steps of successfully propagating your own ivy plant from cuttings using water as the initial growing medium.
1. Preparation
The first step in propagating ivy from cuttings is to select the right material. Choose a growing tip from a healthy, vigorous vine, ideally from new growth with about 7 leaves. This fresh growth is more likely to produce healthy roots. Using a scalpel or sharp, clean knife, cut the vine 2 to 3 inches below the two bottom leaves. This cut should be made flush with the stem, to ensure a clean wound.
2. Rooting Powder and Hormones
To promote root formation, dip the cut end of the stem into a rooting hormone powder, such as one containing gibberellins and auxins. Professional gardeners often use premixed bottles, but you can also experiment with different concentrations. A 1:1000 solution is a good starting point. While many propagators use water for rooting, my late mother-in-law had great success with water alone, so you can try both methods and see which works best for you.
3. Water Culture
Suspend the cutting in a clean container filled with distilled or rainwater. After a few weeks, you'll start to see tiny root hairs developing. Once these root hairs are present, it's time to transition the cutting to a more permanent growing medium.
4. Transplanting to Soil
To prepare the growing medium, mix one part composted soil, one part eroded sand, and one part red clay in a 50/50 ratio. This mixture provides a well-draining, nutrient-rich environment for your new ivy plant. Gently place the cutting in the mixture, ensuring the roots are completely covered. Immediately saturate the soil with water from the top. Use distilled or rainwater to avoid any phytotoxic effects. Place the container in a tray and cover it with Saran wrap to retain moisture.
5. Acclimatization
Once the cutting has rooted and shows signs of new growth, you can begin to acclimate it to its new environment. Spray the leaves with a very weak solution of liquid fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro, every couple of weeks. Be careful to use room temperature water, as chlorinated or fluoridated water can be harmful. If you need to use collected rainwater, check its pH and adjust it to 6.8 with aquarium pH chemicals.
Ivy plants thrive in partial light; they should not be cooked by direct sunlight or kept in complete shade. You can use shade cloth, which can be made or ordered online, to control the amount of light they receive. Ensure that the soil remains evenly moist but not waterlogged. A good soil composition is 25% organic compost, 25% sand or loess, 25% water, and 25% air. Do not pack the soil tightly to ensure adequate aeration.
6. Maintenance
Once your ivy cutting has grown to about 2 to 3 inches, you can transplant it to a larger container or plant it directly in the ground. Water every three days, depending on how dry the soil feels. Use your finger to check the moisture level. Continue to foliar feed weekly with a dilute spray of liquid fertilizer. Apply a layer of grass-preventing fabric mulch to retain moisture and prevent weeds. Keep a close eye on the plant to ensure it does not wilt.
Conclusion
With a little patience and care, you can propagate your very own ivy from cuttings throughout the growing season. Remember that ivy is a versatile plant that can be cloned from most vines and woody plants. If you have any questions or need further guidance, feel free to message me!