Ivy (Hedera helix) is a resilient evergreen vine often used for its trailing foliage indoors and its dense ground cover outdoors. As temperatures drop and daylight hours shorten, the plant requires specific adjustments to its care routine to survive the winter months successfully. Seasonal changes, particularly the dry, heated air indoors and the threat of desiccation outside, pose unique challenges. Adopting modified strategies for light, water, and protection is necessary to prevent leaf loss, pest infestation, or plant death until the spring growing season returns.
Specific Requirements for Indoor Ivy Care
Indoor ivy plants experience slowed growth during winter, necessitating a significant reduction in watering frequency. The plant’s metabolic rate decreases with lower light levels, meaning it takes up less moisture, and overwatering is the most common cause of root rot. Check the soil by inserting a finger about one inch deep, watering only when the top layer feels completely dry.
The reduced natural daylight requires moving the plant to the brightest available location, such as a south-facing window, while filtering direct sunlight. Variegated cultivars are sensitive to low light, often losing their distinct coloring and reverting to solid green foliage. Keep the plant away from cold drafts near windows or exterior doors, and direct blasts of hot air from radiators or heating vents.
Maintaining appropriate temperature and humidity is challenging in heated indoor environments. Ivy prefers cooler indoor temperatures, ideally ranging between 50°F and 70°F. Central heating drastically lowers air moisture, creating conditions where spider mites thrive. To counteract this dryness, increase local humidity with a pebble tray filled with water or use a room humidifier.
Protecting Outdoor Ivy from Winter Elements
Outdoor ivy, whether used as ground cover or grown in containers, requires proactive measures before the ground freezes solid. Thoroughly saturating the soil in late autumn provides a moisture reserve, as frozen soil prevents roots from absorbing water throughout the winter. This preemptive watering helps the evergreen foliage resist winter desiccation, which occurs when leaves lose moisture faster than the roots can replenish it.
Ivy planted directly in the ground benefits from a thick layer of mulch applied around the base, extending out to the drip line. Using organic materials like shredded bark or straw creates a 2- to 3-inch insulating blanket that stabilizes soil temperature. This insulation prevents frost heave, where repeated freezing and thawing pushes the roots out of the soil, exposing them to cold and drying winds.
Ivy in outdoor containers is vulnerable because its roots lack the insulation of the surrounding earth. Group the pots together and move them against a sheltered structure, such as a building wall, for protection from harsh winds. Wrap the containers with burlap, bubble wrap, or heavy fabric for additional insulation. On mild, dry days when the soil is not frozen, light supplemental watering may be necessary.
Identifying and Treating Common Winter Issues
The dry, warm air of heated homes makes indoor ivy highly susceptible to spider mite infestations. Signs include fine webbing on the leaves and stems, accompanied by tiny yellow or bronze stippling marks on the foliage. A practical first step involves forcefully spraying the plant with water, paying attention to the undersides of leaves, to physically dislodge the mites.
For comprehensive treatment, apply a solution of insecticidal soap or horticultural oil directly to the foliage, smothering the adult mites and their eggs. This application may need to be repeated every few days for several weeks to ensure all newly hatched pests are eliminated. Outdoors, the most visible damage is winter burn, which appears as browning or crispy leaf margins caused by cold temperatures, wind, and moisture loss.
Winter burn typically only affects the foliage, and the plant’s roots often remain viable beneath the soil. Resist the urge to prune away this damaged material during the winter, as the dead leaves offer a layer of protection to the inner growth. Once the threat of hard frost has passed in early spring, the damaged leaves and stems can be safely trimmed back to encourage new, healthy growth.