Question
How to I repot the runners off my ivy. It takes up an entire bay window and I would like to start new plants from this plant. I have had it for over 10 years. The runners are 6 to 8 feet long. What do you do?.  Thanks Brenda

Answer
Hi Brenda,

The best cuttings to propagate are 3-5 inches in length. You can take multiple cuttings from each of the vines, starting at the tip end farthest from the pot and moving back from there. It is best to pot up a minimum of 6 cuttings per pot. The more the better.

Strip the lowest leaf off of each cutting. Bunch the stem cuttings together and place them in either a small vase of water or a very small 3-inch pot filled with a damp porous potting mix. If you root the cuttings in water, change the water weekly and wait for each cutting to have  roots at least an inch long. At that point, they can be moved together into a small 3-inch pot filled with damp, porous potting mix.

Once you have the cuttings potted in soil, it is important to keep the soil evenly moist at all times. Fragile developing roots don't have much leeway regarding soil moisture. Warm temps and lots of bright light will encourage root development. Rooting hormones are not at all necessary. Keep the cuttings crowded and tightly potted for best results.

On the original plant, new growth will emerge on each vine that you cut just below where you make the pruning cuts and grow longer from there.


I have written detailed articles on plant propagation and on Ivy care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who emails a request to me at [email protected]. I have also written an indoor plant care book in a PDF format that I can sell you if you contact me at my email address.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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