Question
I have a hedera ivy plant and the leaves have become brittle and are falling off as well as getting really pale green in color.  The plant gets plenty of sunlight but I'm not sure if I am watering it sufficiently.  Could you tell me how to save my ivy?  

Answer
Hi Amy,
There are several things that could be causing the problems with your ivy.
Improper watering could be a problem. You should allow the top 1/3 of the soil to become dry then water the ivy enough for a small amount of water to drain from the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Water quality is also important. Chlorine, fluoride, lime and other impurities and deposits can harm plants. Using distilled water will solve any problems caused by water quality.
Insects could be causing the problem. Spider mites LOVE ivy and since they are so small they are often missed. Spider mites themselves can only be seen using a 8x magnifying glass but visible signs are webbing on the underside of leaves, the upper side of the leaves get a pale, speckled dusty appearance and you can also see spider mite eggs with a regular magnifying glass.
The first step in getting rid of spider mites is to spray the leaves, especially the undersides, with a strong spray of water. This will wash off as many of the insects as possible. You can try to get rid of the insects by doing this everyday for at least ten days. If this doesn't work or you want to get rid of the insects quicker to prevent further damage then you have a few options. You can use a commercial pesticide spray. I would recommend using an insecticidal soap or a product made with neem oil, these are the safest for plants and people. Garden safe makes a 3 in 1 spray made with neem oil that I like. If you don't want to use a commercial pesticide you can make your own. Here is a recipe for a spray I have used with good results;
Mix 1 TBS dishwashing liquid and 1 TBS vegetable oil with 2 quarts (8 cups) of lukewarm water. Be sure to cover all leaf surfaces completely. This can be used as a spray or a dip. Repeat treatment every 5-7 days until there is no sign of insect presence. You may want to use the homemade soap oil spray first instead of trying a commercial pesticide since the ivy is already heavily damaged and spider mites often are resistant to pesticides.
The other things that could be causing the problems with your ivy are cultural. I would recommend making sure your ivy is getting appropriate care.
Your ivy may be getting too much direct sunlight. Ivy like bright light with little direct sunlight or indirect sunlight. Putting a sheer curtain over the window the ivy gets it's sunlight from will solve that problem. Raising the humidity around the ivy not only helps the ivy but also helps prevent spider mite infestations since spider mites like warm dry environments. You can raise the humidity around the ivy by putting a tray of pebbles and water under the ivy. I have found that lightly misting ivy regularly makes a big difference.
If there are no insects and the ivy has been receiving appropriate care then you may want to lightly fertilize your ivy. That could also be the cause of the leaves becoming dry, pale green and dropping off. Use a well balanced fertilizer. If you use a powdered fertilizer mix up only 1/4 of the strength called for on the package. If you use a liquid fertilizer dilute it 1 part liquid fertilizer to 3 parts distilled water. If the plant improves after 1 application of fertilizer then go ahead and give the ivy more fertilizer. I would recommend using no more than 1/3 strength fertilizer for all fertilizing.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions or need additional information please don't hesitate to ask.
Thanks
Tracy