Planting, care and reproduction of garden ivy. Garden ivy is an evergreen

For residents middle lane hedera, an unpretentious evergreen ivy, is more familiar as a popular ampelous plant for the home. But in the southern regions of the country it is garden ivy.

Huge thickets of this culture can be found in the Crimea and the Caucasus. Growing up, ivy climbs the inaccessible tales, the walls of houses, covers the slopes with a dense carpet, its shoots hang from the trees. Plants belonging to perennial evergreen vines are not capricious, not demanding on growing conditions and care. They grow quickly and gladly delight with decorative foliage. different forms and colors.

It is not surprising that the plant was noticed by gardeners for a very long time. In Europe, evergreen garden ivy, which retains its attractiveness throughout the year, is used for decoration and landscaping of urban and rural buildings, parks and gazebos.

Description of garden ivy and cultivated species

In nature, there are half a dozen species of ivy. All of them are perennial climbing shrubs with long shoots that cling to the soil, stones, other vegetation and walls with the help of numerous adventitious roots that form on the adult part of the stem.

The leaves, depending on the type of garden ivy, can be either split, three- or five-toed, or whole. The leaf blades of most garden ivy are dense, leathery with a smooth surface and radially diverging veins. In addition to plants with monochromatic, green foliage, variegated specimens can be seen even in the wild.

If the long shoots reaching 30 meters in length and ornamental foliage of garden ivy are immediately striking, then the flowering of representatives of this genus sometimes goes unnoticed. Collected in capitate or umbellate inflorescences, greenish flowers are very small and do not represent decorative value.

Small rounded fruits of a dark, almost black color, formed after pollination, look much more interesting.

In culture on the territory of Russia, only a few, the most cold-resistant species are grown:

Garden ivy common is the most common plant and is also used as a houseplant. This species is distinguished by a slow growth rate, relatively medium-sized three- or five-toed leaf plates and an abundance of varieties.
Colchis or Caucasian ivy also grows in gardens. A strong, fast-growing liana with shoots up to 30 meters long and leaves, sometimes reaching 20 cm in diameter, is found naturally in the foothills of the Caucasus, as well as in a number of Asian regions. The shape of green or variegated leaves changes as it grows.
Crimean ivy is another Russian species that outwardly resembles the Maltese variety grown in Europe. Heat-loving plants, getting into favorable conditions, become powerful. Their trunks at the base become lignified, sometimes growing together with the trees, which this garden ivy willingly climbs.

Planting and caring for garden ivy

Ivy is rightfully considered a shade-tolerant crop that easily adapts to life as a ground cover plant. Settling under the crowns large trees in the southern regions, it winters well. But the farther north, the higher the risk of freezing is not only due to low temperatures but also because of high humidity, insufficient shelter.

To protect the plant and make it easier to care for garden ivy, planting is carried out in elevated places protected from the wind. The first few years, the culture does not grow too quickly, so young ivy is planted in the spring so that the seedlings are warm season matured and overwintered better. For ivy propagation, choose healthy shoots no older than 2-3 years. In this case, they will take root well, they will not have to be seriously injured when transferred to a new place.

Garden-friendly ivy is not overly capricious and adaptable. To make this happen faster, a moisture-consuming, breathable substrate with a high organic content is prepared for planting. The main part of ivy roots is located at a depth of 20 cm, so the planting hole is prepared a little deeper. At the bottom, a drainage layer must be provided.

After planting garden ivy, care consists of watering, feeding and simple tillage. Very careful loosening will help to increase the permeability of the soil to air and moisture, and mulching can save moisture and protect the plants from the first frost by winter.

The soil is loosened to avoid the formation of a dense crust after rain, trying not to harm the shoots and their adventitious roots, which form closer to the nodes and quickly penetrate into the substrate as they grow.

Mulching with leaf humus, or other porous organic matter, prevents the soil from drying out, and in damp years from decay. The mulch is poured gradually, in a thin layer in several steps, so as not to affect the foliage located near the ground. By autumn, the layer is increased in order to carry out a full-scale insulation and shelter of plants with the arrival of cold weather.

The farther north, the greater the likelihood of freezing of plants used for vertical gardening... This fully applies to ivy for hedges, arches and walls of houses. Ground cover specimens, especially those additionally covered with snow, winter better.

After the snow melts in the spring, do not rush to prune the shoots affected by frost or for other reasons. It is better to remove them at the beginning of summer, when the active movement of juices ends. Slices on large stems are treated with garden pitch.

Water your garden ivy regularly throughout the season, but in moderation, keeping an eye on the moisture content of the soil under the plants.

Breeding evergreen ivy

Most gardenable species form adventitious or aerial roots. This makes it easy to root cuttings cut in the spring and summer months.

For ivy propagation, semi-lignified shoots with visible rudiments or already real adventitious roots are suitable. If you cut off a very young, green growth, the rooting process takes much longer. And when unfavorable conditions, for example, in the coolness, the stalk can completely rot.

For propagation of evergreen ivy, it is better to use apical cuttings, but if this is not possible or you need to get a lot of young plants, the shoot is cut into 10 cm pieces, with at least one healthy node.

You can root cuttings in a street greenhouse by planting several pieces in a loose light soil, or in plain water. When a sufficient number of roots appear on the stems, the plants are transferred to their future residence. Given the growth of ground cover shrubs and the peculiarities of caring for garden ivy, planting is carried out at a distance of at least half a meter from each other.

We decorate the walls of the house with ivy - video

Garden ivy evergreen - unpretentious decorative climbing plant, which is actively used by gardeners and landscape designers for landscaping buildings, structures, outbuildings, slopes and creating hedges. Under natural conditions, evergreen ivy is widespread in oak and beech forests, as well as in the lowlands of Central, Western, Southern Europe and Asia. Bright and juicy thickets of perennial liana can be found in the southern regions of our country, Crimea, the Caucasus, where it is very popular. Garden ivy picturesquely intertwines any surface. The waterfall of decorative and attractive leaves is a real decoration of any corner of the garden. They can plant greenery on a gazebo, a gloomy wall of an old building, hide unattractive parts of a garden, or decorate a fence. In the lowlands, ivy, growing rapidly, forms a continuous carpet covering the ground. The evergreen liana retains its attractiveness and decorative effect throughout the year. Plant maintenance is minimal and not a hassle. Read about how to grow garden ivy on your site in this article.

Garden ivy evergreen: description

Evergreen ivy (Hedera) - climbing liana, belongs to the Araliaceae family. In nature, there are more than 15 species and more than 1000 varieties of ornamental plants, which differ in the shape and color of the leaves. Most ivy varieties have a dense and smooth leaf surface. The shape of the leaves is varied: there are varieties like with whole leaves, and three-fingered, five-fingered form. Foliage color advantage bright green, occur decorative species with variegated foliage, with stripes and splashes of yellow, orange, red, with a variegated edging. The main distinguishing feature of an ornamental plant is its unlimited growth. With the help of the stems and the aerial roots located on them, garden ivy can braid any surface, reaching a length of up to 30 meters.

Ivy inflorescence - an inconspicuous inflorescence of greenish-yellow color in the form of an umbrella, is an excellent honey plant and attracts the attention of various insects.

Blue-black berries - fruits that appear after flowering give additional attractiveness and decorative effect to ivy. Ivy berries are poisonous to the human body, unlike birds, which enjoy the fruits of evergreen ivy with pleasure.

Varieties of garden ivy evergreen

Ivy is a thermophilic crop and is predominantly distributed in the southern regions of the country; in the temperate climatic zone, only a few are grown. frost-resistant species plants:

Common ivy (garden ivy, evergreen frost-resistant) - is the most common species in our latitudes for landscaping the garden, and is also used as a houseplant. The leaves are medium-sized, have a three or five-toed shape. Depending on the variety, the color of the leaves can be saturated green with shine or have splashes. Common ivy grows moderately, reaching a length of up to 20 meters, braiding the surface with a curly stem with air roots-suction cups, which allow the plant to attach to any support. It is used for vertical gardening of buildings, structures, and is also used as a ground cover crop. Prefers shaded areas of the garden. Among the decorative winter-hardy varieties the most famous are: Sagittaefolia, Eva, Mona Lisa, Goldhert.

Colchis ivy or Caucasian ivy is a fast-growing species of evergreen liana, most widespread in the foothill regions of the Caucasus. The shoots are strong, with large leaves that change their shape during the growth process. The leaves are predominantly dark green in solid form; spotted varieties are less common. Due to the power of the shoots and rapid growth, this variety of ivy is capable of tightly braiding any surface in a short period of time, reaching a height of up to 30 meters. Prefers to grow in the shade. Famous varieties garden forms: Arborescens, Dentata Variegata.

Crimean ivy is a type of ivy, common in the southern regions of the country and the Crimea. It grows quickly, is unpretentious, resistant to drought and frost. As the ivy shoots grow, they become lignified and tightly entwine trees, shrubs, growing together with them. The trunk of an adult liana in a circle can reach up to 1 meter, and a length of up to 30 meters.

Garden ivy evergreen: planting

Ivy is an unpretentious shade-tolerant culture that easily adapts to any living conditions. The ideal location for planting ivy should be in elevated areas that are protected from strong gusts of wind. It is not recommended to choose a place where moisture stagnates, since excessive moisture in the soil is dangerous for the vines and can lead to its freezing in winter period... V northern regions there is a greater likelihood of freezing of a plant used for vertical gardening of gazebos, arches, buildings, hedges than ground cover specimens that tolerate winter better under snow.

In addition to the fact that the plant loves shade, it needs the sun's rays to preserve its decorative effect. Lack of light affects the brightness and saturation of the foliage color. When planting vine seedlings, the distance between plantings should be at least 50 cm in order to facilitate pruning and caring for the plant.

Ivy planting is carried out in the spring, so that young shoots for summer season managed to mature and prepare for wintering. It should be noted that the perennial vine grows slowly in the first years of its life, then, as it matures, it accelerates its growth.

How to plant garden ivy evergreen

Evergreen ivy rooted well and grows in almost any soil, but young seedlings, for faster rooting and growth, need a fertile, organic-rich substrate. Too dense and clayey soil is not suitable for growing ivy, since the roots of the plant need oxygen. The main condition for successful cultivation vines - good drainage so that moisture does not stagnate in the ground.

Stages of work:

To plant a crop, prepare a soil from equal parts of sod land, river sand and peat. The substrate must be breathable and moist. You can also use an organic-rich, general-purpose store substrate.
Dig a planting hole, its size should be slightly larger than the size of the root system of the seedlings, including the drainage layer.
The bottom of the pit must be covered with a drainage layer. Expanded clay, broken brick, pebbles can be used as drainage.
Place the vine seedling in the planting hole, cover with soil and lightly tamp. Water the plant abundantly immediately after planting.

Garden ivy evergreen: care

It is not difficult to take care of the vine, it is enough to loosen and mulch the soil in a timely manner, water and feed the plant.

Watering garden ivy evergreen

Regular watering and maintaining moisture in the soil is the key to successful ivy growing on the site. Too much frequent watering, which lead to waterlogging of the soil, are dangerous for the plant. If the summer and autumn turned out to be rainy, the additional watering is reduced. To determine if the plant has enough moisture, you need to pay attention to the soil under the vine and the condition of the plant's leaves. If the soil crusted, and the leaves began to dry out, this indicates excessive dryness of the soil. Loosening the topsoil and watering will correct the situation and bring the plant back to life.

Mulching garden ivy evergreen

Young plantings of ivy for rapid growth and good rooting requires not only moisture, but also air. Therefore, regular loosening of the soil under planting, as well as its mulching, will help maintain air exchange and water balance in the soil. Mulching is also necessary to protect the plant from the first frost. Any organic material is used as mulch: dry foliage, compost, sawdust or peat. Mulch should be added gradually - first in a thin layer, then, by autumn, its layer is increased to prepare the plant for wintering.

After heavy rains, the soil where ivy grows must be loosened to prevent the formation of a dense layer of earth that prevents moisture and oxygen from penetrating to the roots of the plant.

Top dressing of garden ivy evergreen

In order for the evergreen liana to grow quickly and decorate the garden area, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are periodically introduced into the soil, contributing to the lush growth of new shoots and leaves. Complex fertilizer with nitrogen is applied at the beginning of summer. From July, top dressing should contain phosphorus and potassium, which will contribute to increased growth and ripening of shoots, preparing the plants for the upcoming wintering.

Pruning garden ivy

In order for ivy to beautifully frame buildings and buildings, as well as create lush hedges, growing shoots need to be trimmed and pinched. After pruning, ivy produces many lateral shoots that give the vines a spectacular look.
It should be remembered that pruning dry, weak and damaged branches after winter is recommended only at the end of the spring sap flow, approximately in early June. Sanitary pruning is also carried out in the fall, before wintering. Slices on the stems should be treated with garden varnish to prevent infestation of the vines.

How to prepare evergreen ivy for winter

Since ivy is native to Europe, the plant is quite hardy and unpretentious for the regions of our country with a temperate and warm climate, where they are grown frost-resistant varieties perennial climbing vines. The harsh winters of the northern regions, even with winter shelter, ivy can break down and die. In the southern regions, with mild winters, frost-resistant ivy can hibernate without shelter. Its roots are protected with a thick layer of mulch from organic materials, and the snow that has fallen out creates additional protection against freezing of the root system.

In other regions in winter, the vine should be covered with burlap or plastic wrap... In warm climates, vertical vines do not have to be removed from the support, but in the northern regions it is better to remove them and cover them with burlap, spruce branches, with a film, carefully placing it on the ground.

In the spring, after the snow has melted, the film is removed to prevent the shoots from drying out.

How to get rid of the growth of garden ivy creeper evergreen?

Some gardeners are faced with such a problem as the growth of ivy over a large area of the site. A fast-growing vine prevents other plants and shrubs from growing fully or braids fruit trees... To remove a liana bush, you need to cut off its stem at the base with a pruning shears and dig out the root. Cut shoots should not be left on the ground as ivy takes root and continues to grow.

To prevent plentiful growth, it is recommended that you prune the ivy regularly to shape it to the desired shape.

Reproduction of garden ivy evergreen

Ivy reproduces quickly and well. It can be propagated by cuttings, so the plant forms adventitious or aerial roots, which take root very quickly. For ivy propagation, it is better to choose spring or summer - a period of active plant growth.

For grafting, you should choose the upper lignified shoots with primordial nodes or visible roots. It is better not to cut a green young stalk, since it will take a longer period of time for its rooting, and in unfavorable conditions it can die. Selected cuttings are cut into fragments up to 10 cm and rooted in loose fertile soil, creating a greenhouse or in water. After the emergence of strong roots, the young shoot can be planted in open ground.

You can propagate ivy on the site using a whole shoot, on which aerial roots are present. It is enough to lay the branch on the ground and lightly press it into the ground, leaving the leaves on the surface, and water it regularly. After about a week, the shoot will take root, its aerial roots will become underground.

Pests and diseases of garden ivy

A particular danger to evergreen liana is represented by ticks, aphids, whiteflies and thrips, which are carried by insects or the wind. If pests are found on ivy stems and leaves, you must immediately start treating the plant with insecticides. Ivy and nearby growing plants are sprayed with Aktellik, diluted with water, or Karbofos. For complete destruction of pests, a second procedure may be required.
Excessive soil moisture or moisture stagnation can lead to infection with fungal diseases. Affected vine leaves and stems should be removed.

Possible problems in growing garden ivy evergreen outdoors

Yellowing of the foliage indicates dry soil. When watering is resumed, the leaves return to their previous green color.
The appearance of dry and yellow leaves signals an overabundance of soil or top dressing.
Falling ivy leaves may indicate dry air. In dry summers, the ivy should be sprayed with water from a hose. Water treatments also help remove dust from the leaves and give the vine a luxurious look.
The pallor of the leaves is a sign of a lack of sunlight. If the plant is planted in the shade, it should be transplanted to a more illuminated area, in partial shade.

Garden ivy evergreen: use in the garden

Buildings, gazebos, verandas, woven with green vines, are incredibly beautiful and mesmerizing sight. The buildings look fabulous and simply magical. Ivy gives the gardener room to embody it. creative imagination in the arrangement of the garden area.

Fences covered with ivy, as well as hedges that divide the garden into zones, look beautiful and impressive. When deciding to plant an evergreen liana on the site, you need to prepare for the fact that, in order to give it a decorative and aesthetic appearance, you should regularly prune rapidly growing shoots, especially if ivy grows up a vertical support.

Garden ivy on the plot is a great way to hide unattractive areas, for example old building or a fence, decorate an empty wall at home. Liana can beautifully braid and decorate an arch, pillar, column or tree. Having evergreen ivy in the garden, you should be prepared for the fact that in the summer, during flowering, butterflies will flock to it, small insect pests and birds that feed on its berries can settle in its lush thickets. To give a beautiful, fresh look, the liana must be sprayed more often with water from a hose, cleaning the leaves from dirt and dust.

Ivy perfectly coexists with many plants: conifers and deciduous shrubs, successfully combined with the planting of rose bushes as a ground cover plant.

Garden ivy evergreen, photo

Content

Having country cottage or country cottage area, many may face such a problem: how, without much material investment and physical effort, to improve their site, make it beautiful and well-groomed, give a respectable look. Oddly enough it sounds, the house begins with a fence, a fence and an entrance to the site. This is the first thing that falls on the eye, and by these components others judge the owner, his tastes and capabilities. Everyone wants something creative, individual, but at the same time functional. For example, so that the fence is not just a blank fence that separates the site from the outside world, but serves as its decoration and does not cause problems with constant repairs.

The most effective, inexpensive and readily available method is a hedge. It will become not just a fence separating the milk from the site, but a green barrier between your garden and the dusty street. To achieve as quickly as possible desired result, it is best to plant ivy.

Ivy in the garden

Garden ivy is a climbing perennial plant. Flowering occurs from September to October.
Depending on how old the plant is, its appearance may change, and the ability to bloom appears. Nowadays there is a huge number of different types of plants that differ in shape, size of leaves (up to 20 centimeters), flowers (they can be different color, yellow, green, cream) and color. Ivy of any kind is unpretentious. It grows both in illuminated areas and in the shade. Absolutely any soil is suitable, even poor, but if you fertilize it, it will noticeably affect the appearance of your plant. It is like a professional climber, can climb the supports and climb high enough. Their powerful root system helps fight soil erosion. Hedge can serve not only as a fence. On the site itself, you can beautifully arrange a gazebo or a pool for her. Flowering bushes look good against her background.

Planting and leaving

There can be many options for what to do with ivy. It can be used as a ground cover. Ivy grows quickly and luxuriantly in a short time, the ground will be reliably covered with a green carpet. To organize a flower bed, it can become a wonderful background, decorate the foot of trees and shrubs. You can plant ivy in order to ennoble the ugly walls or facade of a building.

In order to to plant a herb you will need:

Saplings
Shovel
Support

When choosing seedlings, pay attention first of all to seedlings that are compact in size, healthy root system, fresh and shiny leaves. It is better to refuse plants with thin and weak shoots, drooping and yellowed leaves. In addition, it must be borne in mind that there are a great many varieties of ivy, they have different frost resistance, and some varieties can only grow at home.
Planting ivy is best, of course, in spring, the most suitable period is mid or late May. For planting, you need to dig small holes along the supports, at a distance of about 50 cm from each other. Pre-fertilize the soil with humus or compost, loosen it. The depth of each hole should be such that the roots will fit completely. Watering is required after planting. This completes the work, this plant will do the rest by itself. The plant reproduces by layering and cuttings. The growing shoots are directed to the support that you want to plant. During the summer, it will creep along the supports with a dense wall and will serve well as protection from wind and dust. It can be supported by both wooden fence, and metal or plastic mesh... There will even be enough pillars with wire stretched over them.

How to care for a hedge

To protect plants from diseases and various pests, pesticides can be used, within reasonable limits, of course. Since ivy grows very quickly, excess shoots are cut off to the right size, and dry ones are removed. It is necessary to ensure that the plant has enough moisture, and the earth does not dry out. To get new shoots, you need to cut the cuttings from the plant. To protect garden ivy in winter, you need to make sure that the ground does not freeze. A hedge, with the help of simple garden tools, you can give any look, and it looks very impressive. Ivy can grow for many years, and provide the site with fresh greenery, creating coziness and comfort.

Everyone is familiar with ivy, since this plant can be seen on decorative hedges in gardens, or in the wild on the side of the road, in partial shade. Today we will learn more about what ivy is, how to propagate it and whether it needs special conditions. Those who decide to start breeding ivy should be prepared for some difficulties.

Video: how to plant ivy If good soils already occupied, then when planting, add a small amount of humus or compost. After that, it will be enough to maintain humidity.

Be sure to pay attention to the acidity of the substrate. Ivy will die if planted on acidic soils... The reaction should be neutral or alkaline.

The best place for ivy is a wet area under the crown big tree that is adjacent to the fence. In such a place, ivy will not only grow well, but will also decorate the hedge.

On large open areas the plant will be useless, and you will have to take care of it as a demanding crop, since in the absence of shade, moisture will evaporate from the substrate much faster.

Reproduction by layering is the easiest way to get several new plants, since at the initial stage you do not have to cut anything from the mother bush.

First you need to forge several shallow grooves in the ground near the bush. Next, select the formed lower shoots, place them in the grooves, and then dig in. The soil is abundantly moistened, and a liquid solution is also introduced several times.
It should be propagated by layering in late spring or early summer, so that the rooted mustache can form a rhizome during the growing season. Separation from the mother bush is carried out in early autumn, or in the spring of next year.

Did you know? Ivy extract is widely used in traditional medicine. On its basis, medicines for coughs and asthma are produced, which can be used to treat small children, as well as pregnant women.

As you can see, this method is not dangerous for mother plant, however, it is impossible to use it to obtain a large number of young ivy.

Features of planting care

In order for the plant to feel good and have a beautiful appearance, it is necessary to adhere to some rules in the care.

It is necessary to lay mulch for two reasons: to retain moisture in the soil, and also to protect against winter frosts.

Also, mulch will feed the soil, so there is no need for additional fertilization. As a mulching material, humus or compost is excellent.

The mulch is laid several times so that a large layer does not "hide" foliage, which can rot. At the end of summer, the layer thickness should be increased so that the mulch functions as a thermos in winter.
Peat as a mulching material If for some reason you refused to lay the mulch layer, then you definitely need to carry out weeding regularly, especially if there are heavy clayey soils, as there is a problem with the oxygen supply.

Important! Mulch does not fit if ivy is grown as a groundcover. In this case, cover the bush with snow.

Watering the plant correctly

Ivy loves moisture, however, like any other plant, it can suffer from root rot. For this reason, it is important to water properly.

You are required to prevent the soil from drying out, that is, to water when there is no precipitation, which reduces the moisture content of the soil. Watering is carried out only during the growing season. It is not necessary to fill the bush in the fall, as this will lead to hypothermia of the root system.

One way or another, some of the above-ground shoots will freeze over the winter, after which you will need to carry out competent pruning.

Correct pruning means removing dry, damaged and frozen shoots at the right time.

In early spring, this procedure is not carried out, since such manipulations will significantly worsen the condition of the ivy. Sanitary and formative pruning should only be carried out in late spring or early summer. In this case, the plant will not suffer.
If not only annual branches are frozen, but also a shoot with a large diameter, then we must process the cut sites in order to exclude the appearance of diseases.

How to deal with major ivy diseases and pests

Ivy is susceptible to various lesions that can ruin its appearance or even ruin the plant. Therefore, it is important to know about them in advance in order to identify and eliminate in time:

We should also talk about diseases separately. The fact is that ivy is used in medicine for a reason. The leaves and shoots contain substances that destroy bacteria and fungi. It is for this reason that ivy is not affected by diseases, but the deterioration appearance directly related to poor conditions or pest activity.

With proper care and the right choice places, ivy can become a real decoration of your site. The main thing to remember is that it tends to grow, so you need to plant it away from valuable crops or buildings.

Garden ivy (Hedera) is considered to be one of the most beautiful ornamental plants. It can be grown both in the garden and in indoor conditions... The plant is pretty unpretentious. However, of course, you need to follow some rules when growing it.

general description

Ivy belongs to the gusset family. He is a very beautiful climbing vine... Sometimes evergreen ivy is also called hedera. One of the features of this plant is that its lashes are not limited in growth. Indoors, they can reach a length of 6 meters, and sometimes even 30 meters in gardens.

Most often, ordinary garden ivy (H. helix) is grown as an ornamental plant in Russia. The flowers of this basic form are small in size and are collected in racemose inflorescences. The leaves of the common ivy are leathery, shiny, five- and three-lobed. In nature, this plant climbs the surface of walls or trees using aerial roots.

Ivy leaves, depending on the shape, can have a variety of shades. Both dark and light green varieties of this decorative crop are grown in the gardens and indoors. Ivy varieties with variegated leaves.

What are the forms of a plant

In addition to the usual, other types of garden ivy are grown at home and in gardens. For lovers of decorative cultures, the following are especially beautiful forms:

wax ivy (hoya);
canary.

Both of these varieties are prized by gardeners primarily for their beautiful big leaves... Like Canary and Waxy, they grow very quickly. They also do not require too complicated self-care.

Wax ivy: description

Most often grown in gardens common form this decorative culture. In indoor conditions, the most common is Is it possible to keep this plant at home - this question is asked by many growers. The fact is that this beautiful shape ivy is often called muzhegon. It is believed that this flower, among other things, is able to bring financial well-being to the family. However, at the same time, as some believe superstitious people, he also drives men out of the house.

But be that as it may, the plant is actually very beautiful - hoya (wax ivy). Is it possible to keep this form at home - every housewife should, of course, answer this question for herself. In Asian countries, wax ivy, unlike Russia, for example, is not considered a muzhegon. There this decorative form grown everywhere. Moreover, in Asia, many people believe that wax ivy, on the contrary, brings family happiness.

Canary ivy

It is also very beautiful and popular with gardeners and amateurs. Canary ivy liana outside can reach a length of 20 cm. distinctive feature this form is the unusual color of the leaves. The plate itself is green with a silvery tint. In this case, a white stripe runs along the edge of each leaf. The sizes of the three-lobed leaves of the Canary ivy are large and look really very impressive.

How to grow indoors: preparing a pot

Ivy is a plant with long lashes, but at the same time not a very well-developed root system. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a very large pot for this decorative culture in indoor conditions. A medium-sized container is fine for ivy. In order for the plant to develop well, its pot should be filled with a soil mixture of the following composition:

humus;
sand;
leafy land;
sod soil.

All these components must be taken in equal amounts and mixed thoroughly. Stagnant water ivy garden evergreen, like most others indoor plants, does not love. Therefore, be sure to put broken shards or expanded clay on the bottom of the pot.

Garden ivy: planting and care indoors

The ivy plant is considered shade-resistant. But you still need to place it closer to the window (south or east). At the same time, direct sunlight should not fall on his whip. Ivy, although it is a southern plant, does not like heat. Summer optimal temperature for him it is 17-23 C, in winter - 13 C. This plant is not at all afraid of drafts.

Choosing a place for ivy should be approached immediately with maximum responsibility. The fact is that this plant does not like moving very much. It will be possible to transfer the pot with this vine in the future only as a last resort.

Ivy is a plant that requires regular but moderate watering. Water should not stand in a pot with it. However, drying out of the soil should not be allowed. The soil in the pot under the ivy should always be slightly damp. In summer, this plant is usually watered twice a week, in winter - once.

V warm time year ivy, among other things, it is also desirable to spray. It is worth carrying out such procedures when the air temperature in the room rises above 20 C.

You can fertilize ivy with a common all-purpose dry mix for indoor plants. Such dressings should be applied at the intervals indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging.

Caring for ivy in the garden

Garden ivy is native to Northern Europe. And therefore, the plant is quite hardy. However, the climate in Russia, unfortunately, is still more severe than in Europe. Therefore, it is possible to grow ivy on the street in our country mainly only in the southern regions. Only some varieties of common ivy are suitable for the middle lane. Moreover, in this case, they can be used mainly only as ground cover.

The place for this plant in the garden is chosen depending on the color of the leaves. For dark green ivy, partial shade is also quite suitable. Forms with variegated leaves need bright lighting. Watering this decorative in the garden is approximately the same technology as in indoor conditions. The ivy leaf of almost any variety is actually very beautiful and represents the main decorative value in this plant. Therefore, it is better to water the vines in the morning or evening by sprinkling. Thus, it will be possible not only to moisten the soil under the ivy, but also to wash off the dust from its lashes.

You can feed this decorative culture with ordinary rotted manure. This plant also responds very well to ash. Ivy of any variety, of course, in the first place - ornamental plant... This liana is hardy and unpretentious. But sometimes it happens that ivy whips slow down growth, and the leaves turn pale. In this case, the plants should be fed with urea ( Matchbox for a bucket of water 10 liters).

Ivy breeding

It is not difficult to breed this decorative culture on the site or in indoor conditions. Ivy is propagated most often by cuttings. Cut off planting material in the spring or summer. The length of the cuttings selected should be about 10 cm. The cut branches just need to be thrust into the moistened soil. Ivy cuttings take root very easily and quickly. Keeping them in the water before planting is completely optional. It is not required to process them with any means that stimulate root formation.

New long lashes grow from cuttings very quickly. After a year, you can see lush independent plants on the site.

If desired, garden ivy can be tried to propagate not by cuttings, but by shoots. It is also very simple and quick way... Ivy propagation shoots are not taken too long - with 8-10 leaves. Such planting material must be pressed into wet sand. In this case, only leaves should remain on the surface. After about two weeks, the shoot will sprout. During this time, the sand should be kept moist.

The twig that has taken root in the future needs to be dug out of the ground and cut into several parts so that each of them has a leaf and a root. Next, planting is done in the usual way - in pre-prepared beds or pots.