Question
i bought a small ivy plant not sure what kind, and put it into a shallow banzai pot. it hasn't been doing well, could this be because of the pot i used or just because of the very dry climate that i live in?
thank you.

Answer
Dear Alanda,

I imagine your ivy is not doing well for both the reasons you give.  Firstly why did you feel the need to repot it?  Was it because you like the bonsai pot and wanted to use it?  Bonsai pots are far too shallow and, in some cases, too wide and long if they are rectangular for a small plant.  

Imagine you move house to one far larger than your present one - you would feel rather strange in your new unfamiliar surroundings - well, that is how your ivy is feeling.  It is a small plant which needs a small pot so that its roots can feel the side of the pot - that makes it feel safe and secure.  Take it out of that environment and put it into a pot which is too big - widthways - and far too shallow and it is floundering around wondering what on earth has happened to it!

So put it back in its original pot and do not repot it until it has had time to grow.  Conventional wisdom says to repot every two years in Spring but you may find that your plant becomes pot bound well before that so, if it does then by all means repot it but use a pot that is just a little bit bigger so that once again the plant can send out its roots to touch the side of the pot.

Ivies do not like dry air so mist and sponge the leaves regularly - this will also help to keep insects at bay.  Ivies do not like direct sunlight but if you have a variegated ivy then it will need brightness to keep the colour in the leaves otherwise it will revert to all green.  Keep the soil moist and after watering make sure to tip out any excess water from the tray or saucer on which it stands.

If your plant doesn't look as if it is going to survive then I suggest you cut off any wilted, damaged or dead leaves, put it in a cool place and I am pretty sure you will soon see new growth.

Good luck,  Diana