How to raise ivy
As a classic hanging plant, ivy has become the first choice for many plant lovers because of its unique leaf shape and strong vitality. But for this green elf to show its best condition, it is necessary to master scientific maintenance methods. This article systematically sorts out the key points of ivy cultivation from basic maintenance to advanced skills. The four core elements of ivy maintenance are scientific watering to maintain humidity balance. In spring and summer, the soil needs to be kept moist. The "see the dry and wet" method is used: the surface layer is 2 cm dry and poured thoroughly immediately, and the tray water method is used to maintain air humidity. Pay attention to water control in winter. When the room temperature is lower than 15℃, the watering interval should be extended to 7-10 days. It is recommended to configure a thermohygrometer to stabilize the environmental humidity within the range of 60%-75%. Light and shadow control promotes bright leaf colors. Soft light for 3 hours in the morning every day can effectively prevent excessive growth. At noon, you need to block strong light to avoid scorched leaf margins. Phnom Penh varieties need to increase the light amount by 30%, and pure green varieties are more resistant to shade. It is recommended to rotate the flowerpot 180° every half of the month to ensure that the plants receive even light. Temperature management ensures that the optimal growth temperature band for evergreen is 18-25℃ all year round. In summer, leaf water can be cooled by spraying water on the leaves, and in winter, it needs to be maintained above 10℃. Pay special attention to controlling the temperature difference between day and night to within 8℃. Sudden temperature fluctuations will lead to a large number of fallen leaves. Nutrient supply helps apply balanced liquid fertilizers of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (diluted to 1/2 of the standard concentration) every half of the month during the rapid growth period. Starting from September, additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizers will be applied to enhance cold resistance. It is recommended to use an organic fertilizer combination of decomposed bean cake water + banana peel soak solution, which can thicken the leaves by more than 30%. Advanced skills for ivy reproduction select semi-lignified branches in spring and autumn, and keep 3 bud points and oblique them 45 degrees. Using a mixed substrate of perlite: vermiculite =3:1 and soaking in rooting powder solution can increase the success rate of cuttage to 90%. The key is to maintain a constant temperature environment of 25 ° C, use a transparent cover moisturizing method, and ventilate twice a day to avoid mildew.
Through systematic maintenance and management, ivy can not only show bright leaf color, but also form spectacular vines as long as 3 meters. It is recommended to trim regularly to maintain the shape, and combine it with column cultivation to create a three-dimensional green wall, so that this vibrant plant can become a natural decoration of your home space.