Ivy is a resilient plant known for its evergreen foliage and versatile growth. Its ability to maintain its green appearance throughout the colder months makes it a popular choice for adding year-round color to landscapes and indoor spaces. Understanding how to care for ivy during winter is important for ensuring its health and continued vibrancy.
How Ivy Survives Winter
Ivy, particularly English ivy (Hedera helix), possesses characteristics that allow it to endure cold. As an evergreen plant, it retains its leaves throughout the winter, unlike deciduous plants that shed their foliage. English ivy is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 11, indicating its broad tolerance for varying winter climates.
The plant adapts to cold by undergoing hardening off, increasing its cellular resilience to freezing. Its waxy leaves help to minimize moisture loss, important when the ground is frozen and water uptake is limited. This combination of evergreen foliage and physiological adaptations allows ivy to persist and maintain its appearance even when temperatures drop significantly.
Caring for Outdoor Ivy in Winter
Proper watering in late fall is important for outdoor ivy, providing moisture before the ground freezes. Thoroughly soak the soil in mid-to-late fall, avoiding wetting the foliage. Once temperatures consistently drop to 40°F (4.4°C) or lower at night, applying a two to three-inch layer of mulch, such as chopped leaves or wood chips, around the plant’s roots can provide insulation.
Protecting ivy from harsh winter winds and heavy snow can prevent desiccation and physical damage. Burlap coverings can be used to shield plants in exposed locations. Pruning is best done in late winter to early spring, before new growth begins, to remove cold-damaged or unruly vines. Fertilization should be avoided during winter, as the plant enters a period of dormancy, and applying nutrients can stress it.
Caring for Indoor Ivy in Winter
Indoor ivy requires adjusted care during winter due to changes in indoor environments. Light levels naturally diminish in winter, so placing ivy near a bright, indirect light source, such as a north-facing window, is beneficial. If natural light is insufficient, supplemental LED grow lights can support healthy growth.
Watering frequency should be reduced as the plant’s growth slows during its dormant period; allow the top one to two inches of soil to dry out before watering again. Indoor heating systems often lead to dry air, so increasing humidity around indoor ivy is important. Misting the leaves daily with room-temperature water or placing the pot on a pebble tray filled with water can help. Ivy prefers cooler indoor temperatures, ideally between 50°F and 70°F (10°C to 21°C), so avoid placing it near heat sources or drafty windows. Monitoring for pests like spider mites is also important, as they thrive in dry, warm conditions.
Addressing Winter-Related Ivy Problems
Winter conditions can lead to specific issues for ivy. If leaves turn brown or crispy, it can indicate either overwatering, underwatering, or extremely dry air. Overwatering causes root rot, while underwatering leads to brittle, dry leaves. Ensuring proper soil moisture and increasing humidity can help resolve these browning issues.
Pest infestations, particularly spider mites, are more common indoors during winter due to dry air. Regular misting helps deter these pests, and if an infestation occurs, spraying them off with water or using neem oil can be effective. Frost damage, characterized by brown or black, wilted, or crispy leaves, can occur in outdoor ivy after severe cold. While immediate pruning is not recommended, allowing the plant time to recover and then removing truly dead or severely damaged sections in spring can encourage new growth.