Question
Hi Will,

I recently purchased an Ivy "Garland", "Hedera Helix", at "Lowes" garden center. It is in a plastic pot, 6 inches wide by 3.5 inches deep, and has runners hanging over the pot to around 8 inches long. There are 18 vines or runners growing out of the soil in this pot.
Should I put the plant in a larger size pot now, and if so, what next size up would that pot need to be and what type potting soil should I use?

Thank you greatly!

Mark E.

Answer
Hi Mark,

I am so glad you asked me first. So often people go right ahead and repot their newly acquired plants and then later contact me after the plant has started to deteriorate, usually because of root rot caused by unnecessary repotting.

Leave your Hedera in its existing 6-inch pot and keep it there at least until next spring. In fact, it is best to keep it in that pot as long as possible because plants do best when they are quite potbound. As long as possible means as long as you can water it frequently enough to keep the roots supplied with water. A well-potted Hedera should be watered thoroughly as soon as the surface of the soil feels dry. If that is every other day and you don't mind watering every other day, then there is no reason to up-pot.

When it reaches the point that it is drying out every few days, you can then consider moving it to a 7 or 8-inch diameter pot, but no larger. Use a standard peat-based, soil-less potting mix. Its OK to put potting mix underneath the rootball when you repot, but not on top of the rootball.

I have written articles on Hedera Ivy care and on Repotting that I will email for free to anyone who sends a request to me at my address below.

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

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com
or email me at [email protected]
or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC