Question
Hi Will,
I recently got a cutting from my grandmother's grape ivy & I have it in a glass of water. What is the best way to propagate this type of ivy? My grandmother says that if you have too many plants in your home that they deplete the oxygen...is this true? I have approximately 30 plants at this time so that does concern me....
As always, I appreciate your advice. Thank you,
Pam

Answer
Hi Pam,

A single grape ivy cutting will be rather lonely by itself. It will grow longer, but it will never produce additional stems or branches. It is best to try to root multiple cuttings together so that you end up with a more substantial plant.

Keep the cutting in water until it has roots about an inch long. Then move it to a very small pot with some damp potting mix. Keep the soil slightly damp at all times. It will take a long time before it is sufficiently potbound to need a larger pot.

I hate to contradict your grandmother - especially on Mothers' Day - but the notion that plants deplete oxygen is an old myth that is completely untrue. Although at night most plants do absorb slightly more oxygen than they give off, over the course of any 24-hour period they produce more oxygen than they use. In addition, plants absorb the carbon dioxide that we exhale. Plants and animals live symbiotically and that is why it is so important that we preserve the trees and forests and plant life if we want to preserve life as we know it.

So enjoy as many plants as you can manage and know that they will add oxygen to the air and will also help eliminate some of the air pollutants.

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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