Main Points for the Maintenance of Xueying Ivy
Here are some tips on the knowledge of maintaining Xueying ivy flowers. Let's dive into a comprehensive introduction.
If you want to keep an ornamental plant that is beautiful, easy to care for, shade-tolerant, heat-tolerant, and air-purifying, I recommend you to definitely keep a pot of Xueying ivy. Xueying is a kind of variegated ivy, with round leaves that have white gradients on the edges, making it highly ornamental. Moreover, its compact plant shape is very suitable for balcony potted plants or small space cultivation, and it can be shaped or hung for display.
Main Points for the Maintenance of Xueying Ivy
The most notable feature of Xueying ivy is the variegation of its leaves. So, how to maintain it to keep the variegation from turning green and to make it more prominent and beautiful? It's actually quite simple; just follow these points.
1. The potting soil should have good drainage.
Xueying ivy is usually kept on indoor balconies where the ventilation is relatively poor, so the potting soil must be loose, breathable, and have good drainage. It is recommended to use universal nutrient soil for planting. Also, make sure the flower pot is not too deep; short and fat pots or clay pots are more suitable for Xueying's growth.
When potting, it is suggested to add a sufficient amount of fermented organic fertilizer at the bottom of the pot as a base fertilizer. With enough base fertilizer, the amount of water-soluble fertilizer needed in daily management can be reduced.
2. Avoid direct strong sunlight.
Xueying ivy is quite shade-tolerant and prefers soft light or bright diffused light environments. Generally speaking, it can be exposed to full sun during winter and early spring. From the end of April to the end of October, the sunlight will be quite strong, so it is recommended to avoid direct sunlight and keep it in a bright area with diffused light.
Note that in summer, attention should be paid to maintaining good ventilation, and it should be kept in a well-ventilated area without direct sunlight.
3. Reasonable watering and fertilizing.
Xueying ivy does not require much water. When watering, you should adhere to the principle of watering when the soil is completely dry. When the surface of the potting soil is 2 cm deep dry, it's time to water. In hot summer weather, water when the surface of the soil is dry, and make sure to water thoroughly each time, avoiding half-watering. Avoid excessive drought, as Xueying ivy can easily develop leaf scorch.
Fertilizing should focus on a balanced growth fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and you can apply it every 15 days or so. If you want Xueying to grow faster, you can apply it every 7-10 days. Be careful not to overuse nitrogen fertilizer, or else the variegation on Xueying's leaves will easily turn green.
4. Prune appropriately and clear away yellow leaves.
The growth rate of Xueying ivy is not very fast, making it suitable for small space cultivation and display. The leaves of Xueying ivy are round when they grow in low temperatures, but they tend to be longer and not as round when the temperature is high.
If you prefer round leaves, it is recommended to prune the Xueying ivy in October every year to cut off the long leaf parts and allow them to regrow, resulting in rounder leaves.
Since Xueying is an evergreen plant, it inevitably has some yellow leaves at the base due to metabolism. These yellow leaves should be cleared regularly.
5. Avoid low temperatures in winter.
Xueying ivy has average cold resistance and can tolerate short periods of -5 degrees Celsius low temperature. In the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai regions, it can safely overwinter on indoor balconies, while in colder northern regions, it needs to be kept in a heated room.
In summary, the difficulty of maintaining Xueying is very low, and it can be said to be a stress-free variety for beginners.
The above[] introduces the main points for the maintenance of Xueying ivy and a comprehensive explanation of the five key points for maintaining popular Xueying ivy, hoping it can help you.