Indoor ivy plants are a beautiful addition to any home, and they’re a popular indoor plant choice, especially English ivy. But, with indoor ivy plants, it’s essential to know how to care for them. So, how much water does an indoor ivy plant need?
Indoor ivy plants need water every five to seven days. The amount of water needed depends on the size of the pot, the location of the plant, and the temperature and light it receives, but the soil must be kept moist.
The rest of this article will discuss how much water an indoor ivy plant needs, how to know when to water it, and how to avoid overwatering. I’ll also go over the best ways to water an indoor ivy and the factors determining how often to water the plant.
Amount of Water Required For Indoor Ivy Plants
Whether you’re new to plant life or just new to indoor ivy plant care, you must know that watering is essential. So, if you’re looking for a plant that won’t need a lot of water, an indoor ivy might be for you.
Indoor ivy plants don’t need a lot of water. The indoor ivy likes moist soil, but they don’t do well in soil that’s too wet. So it’s best to wait to water an indoor ivy until the top inch (2.5 cm) of the soil is dry.
Ivy plants are relatively easy to care for, especially when it comes to watering. However, there are some essential aspects to remember when watering your ivy plant, including how to know if the ivy needs water and possible signs of overwatering.
I’ll go over both of these aspects in the following sections.
Identifying if Your Ivy Needs Water
Even though you generally need to water your ivy every five to seven days, that’s not always the case. Depending on other environmental factors, ivy plants could need more or less water every week. But how do you know if it needs water?
You’ll know your ivy needs water when the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil is dry. Ivy plants should be kept moist but not too wet, as it’s best to have an ivy plant that’s a little bit dry than overwatered. Ensure that you water the ivy until the water runs through the drainage holes.
Along with dry soil, there are several signs to look out for when it comes to an underwatered ivy plant.
Signs Your Plant Needs Water
- The plant is wilting: If you notice your ivy is beginning to wilt, it’s a sign that the roots are weakening due to drought.
- The leaves are changing color: Green leaves becoming yellow or brown are obvious signs of underwatering.
- The leaves are dry: Crispy-textured leaves are a serious sign of a plant dying. This is due to the lack of water or even too much sunlight. In this case, it’s best to move it away from direct sunlight and give it some water.
Signs of Overwatered Ivy
While underwatering an ivy plant isn’t good, overwatering it is just as bad, if not worse. Overwatering plants kill the roots due to a lack of oxygen.
Overwatered ivy looks like a plant with brown, dried leaves. When you overwater an ivy, you’re drowning the roots. When the roots are too wet, it doesn’t allow the plant to receive the necessary nutrients. The leaves then begin to crisp and turn brown.
Other than brown, dried-up leaves, several other signs indicate an overwatered indoor ivy plant.
Signs an Ivy Plant Is Overwatered
- The plant is wilting: Wilting of the entire plant, or even just the lower leaves, is often a sign of overwatering.
- The plant’s growth is stunted: Stunted growth, along with yellowing leaves, indicates overwatering.
- The soil is wet for very long periods: If the soil doesn’t seem to be soaking up the water as quickly as it should, it’s a good sign that you’re giving it too much water.
- The plant is experiencing edema: This disorder happens when the plant’s roots receive too much water, resulting in fluid-filled blisters covering the leaves.
How to Water an Ivy Plant Kept Indoors
It’s easy to care for an ivy, as long as you follow the watering instructions. When it comes to ivy, there are two different ways to water: top watering and bottom watering. Although top watering is ideal most of the time, bottom watering is still an option.
In the sections below, I’ll go over the two types of watering and which is best for indoor ivy plants.
Top Watering
Top watering includes pouring water over the soil, which is what most people lean toward doing with their plants.
This type of watering is ideal for many reasons, including the following:
Washes Away Excess Salts in the Soil
English ivies benefit from regular fertilizer applications (every 2 weeks) during the growing season. However, you must drain the excess fertilizer salts from the soil. This is why top watering is essential, at least now and then, for every fertilized plant.
Convenience
With top watering, all you have to do is pour water over the soil, which is a lot less work than bottom watering. It’s also less time-consuming as bottom watering requires you to wait until the soil is adequately saturated.
Ensures the Plant Is Thoroughly Watered
Pouring water above the soil until it drains through the drainage holes tells you that the plant’s soil has received enough water.
When it comes to indoor ivy plants, it’s best to top water about once a week or when the top inch (2.5 cm) of the soil is dry. Ivy plants also prefer humid conditions, so misting the plants once a week increases the humidity and keeps the soil moist.
Bottom Watering
Bottom watering includes placing the potted plant into a container filled with water.
Even though this method isn’t as popular as top watering, plant enthusiasts everywhere enjoy this strategy due to its many benefits, including the following:
Reduces the Excess Water Left in the Bottom of the Pot
When bottom watering, you’re supposed to only leave the plant soaking in water for about 10-30 minutes, after which you remove it from the water and allow it to drip. So there’s less water buildup after draining.
Keeps Pests Away
With bottom watering, the top of the soil isn’t as wet. Therefore, it won’t be as inviting for insects or fungi that would usually be attracted to the moisture on top of the pot.
If you choose to water your indoor ivy plant from the bottom, it’s best to still water from the top once every 4-5 times of bottom watering. Doing so will help prevent excessive salt buildup on the surface of the soil, especially during months when you apply fertilizer.
Factors That Determine How Often Your Ivy Needs Water
Keeping an eye on your indoor ivy plant is the best way to determine how often it needs water, as the top of the soil is very telling. While watering about once a week is the typical amount, several environmental factors also contribute to the watering schedule.
I’ll go over these factors below.
The Soil’s Condition
The indoor ivy plant’s soil is essential to its health. Avoid adding more water when the soil appears to still be wet a week after your last watering schedule. Plants in poorly draining, compact soil may not need to be watered as often. If this is the case, it may help to replace the soil with something more suitable for the plant.
How Often the Ivy Is Fertilized
Ivy should be fertilized every 14 days to monthly, depending on the ivy plant. English ivy plants grow quickly when fertilized every 14 days.
When fertilizing, it’s essential to thoroughly water before and after fertilizing the plant. Or, even easier, mix water with a liquid fertilizer, such as the Miracle-Gro Liquid All Purpose Plant Food Concentrate from Amazon.com. This fertilizer is excellent for all types of plants and is designed to be used every 14 days, making it perfect for ivy!
The Amount of Sun Exposure
If your indoor ivy plant receives a lot of direct sunlight daily, it might need to be watered more often than usual. Conversely, if your plant doesn’t receive much sunlight, it may not need to be watered as often.
It’s important to note that ivy plants prefer bright to medium light. While they can still live in low-light conditions, they likely won’t live as long.
Since it can be challenging for beginners to tell if the plant is receiving too much sunlight, it’s best to just go by what the soil looks like. Make it a habit to check the soil five days after watering your plant. Dig your index finger into the soil.
If it’s dry up to your first knuckle, it’s time to water your English ivy. Otherwise, give it 1-2 more days and check again.
Final Thoughts
Indoor ivy plants don’t typically need a lot of water, as watering every five to seven days is preferred. However, it’s essential to keep the soil moist and not too wet. Top watering with occasional misting is ideal, as ivy thrives in humid conditions, but bottom watering is still an option for those who prefer it.
Additionally, several factors determine how often ivy plants need to be watered, including the condition of the soil, how often it’s fertilized, and the amount of sun it receives.
