Ivy cannot tolerate complete dryness or waterlogging. This applies to plants that grow in the garden as well as houseplants. This is how you properly water ivy outdoors or in a pot.
How should you water ivy correctly?
Ivy needs regular watering, both in the garden and in the pot. Outdoors, ivy should be watered when the soil layer is dry, while indoor plants need to be watered as soon as the top layer is dry. Avoid waterlogging and water even in winter when the weather is frost-free.
Watering ivy in the garden
After planting and in the first few years, you will need to water ivy more frequently, especially if it is very dry. Whenever the top layer of soil has dried, grab a watering can.
In later years the plant has formed enough roots so that it can support itself. If it hasn't rained for a long time, you should also water older ivy occasionally.
Watering ivy as a houseplant
Regular watering is also important when caring for ivy as a houseplant or in a balcony box. As soon as the top layer of soil is dry, watering is required.
To prevent waterlogging from developing, pots and flower boxes must have sufficiently large drainage holes (€12.00 on Amazon). Excess irrigation water or rainwater should always be poured off immediately.
If ivy has accidentally dried out, you can try to save it by dipping it.
Water ivy in the garden even in winter
The most common reason ivy dies in winter is not the cold. The plant is absolutely winter hardy. However, it often doesn't survive the cold season because there wasn't enough rain or snow.
Water ivy outdoors or in balcony boxes regularly, even in winter. Watering is always done on frost-free days.
Tip
If you plant ivy in the garden, loosen the soil thoroughly beforehand and remove any thickenings and stones. If the soil is very dense, you should create drainage to prevent waterlogging from forming.
