Question
I have an all green ivy house plant that was repotted in May.  It was doing very well with 2-3 waterings per week.  In the last week a large part of the plant just dried up and the leaves started to fall off.  I found some spider webs on part of the dead portion.  I'm not sure what to do.  I don't want the rest of the plant to die!  Help!

Answer
Hi Sara,

Hedera ivies have rather fussy root systems that react poorly to being repotted and to not being watered properly. They are not very forgiving of lapses in care. When they go, they tend to go quickly and with little warning.

I suspect that the problem began with the repotting in May. Although you didn't indicate the size of the pot it is now in, I also suspect that the soil was staying too moist and the roots have rotted.

Hedera ivies are very prone to spider mite infestations, especially when they are under stress from improper watering or light. Although the spider mites didn't cause the leaves to dry up and fall off, they are probably on all of the leaves and should be treated. It is best to fill the sink with soapy water (as if you were going to do dishes), then turn the ivy upside down and swirl all of the leaves and stems around in the soapy water for about a minute or so. This should suffocate all of the mites. Let the ivy drip dry and then return it to a bright location close to a window.

Treating the rotted roots is not so easy. All you can do is wait for the top half-inch of soil to dry out before watering. However, if the root damage is already extensive, then the plant will continue to decline and you will have to discard it. Otherwise, you should see some gradual improvement.

Long stems that have lost all of their leaves should be cut off completely. Stems that have lost many of their leaves should be pruned back. All dead leaves should be discarded.

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

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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