Question
i have aquaired a nice algerian ivy from home depot. i have searched online for how to care for it in terms of where to place it indoors, how much and when to water it, fertilizer requirements, as well as how to sucessfully propagate it by various techniques (tip cuttings, leaf-bud cuttings, layering-they produce NO areial roots unlike an english ivy or pothos or arrowhead vine etc) so i was wondering how to propagate it too. if you can let me know how to care for it as a houseplant that would be great.

Answer
Hi James,

The care of Alerian ivy (Hedera canariensis) is not unlike the care of other Hedera species. Indoors, it has to be right in a moderately bright, uncovered window. If it is more than a couple of feet from the nearest window, it will not get enough light to thrive. It requires more light than a Pothos.

Keep it tightly potted to avoid root rot. Water it thoroughly as soon as the top half-inch of the soil is dry. It should reach this level of dryness again within a week or so. If it does not, then the light is inadequate or the pot is too big. Either under or over watering will cause new growth at the ends of the vines to die back. So will poor light and excessive fertilizing or using hard water.

Fertilize sparingly at half-strength monthly only when it is healthy and growing vigorously.

As with most vining plants, regular pruning is essential to keep the plant looking healthy and lush. Allowing the vines to grow ever longer will eventually lead to those long vines losing many of their older leaves so you end up with long, bare strands with foliage only at the ends. It is best to prune long before that happens.

Your Ivy vines can be pruned at any point along the vine. New growth will emerge from the node closest to where you make the pruning cut. It is generally better to prune back more than you think.

Cuttings propagate quite readily in water. Short tip cuttings about 4-6 inches in length root more readily than longer cuttings. Once roots are an inch or more long on the cuttings, they can be transferred to a SMALL pot filled with a porous, damp potting mix.

The only way to layer these vines is to use a paper clip to hold an intact vine in place in damp soil. That moisture in the soil will trigger a node to produce roots into the soil.

I have written articles on Hedera Ivies, on propagation and pruning that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who emails a request to me at [email protected].

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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