Can I Use MiracleGro on Ivy?

Ivy

• The dark green leaves of ivy plants have been used to cover buildings for centuries. These hardy plants grow quickly in full sun or shade. Ivy plants require slightly acidic, well-drained soil. If grown in a pot, you can use any standard potting mix. Ivy plants grown outside may need less fertilizer than plants grown in pots.

MiracleGro

• Plants require the macro nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These nutrients must be present in sufficient amounts for any plant to grow well. MiracleGro is a well-known brand of fertilizer used by home gardeners. MiracleGro has different types of fertilizers, depending on what type of plant you are growing. MiracleGro does not have a specific type of fertilizer for ivy but any fertilizer with a 15-5-15 or 12-4-8 rate will work.

Fertilizer Application Types

• Fertilizers come in different delivery types. There are dissolvable fertilizers that are mixed with water and then sprayed on the plant or poured on the soil. There are also slow-release capsules for fertilizers. These are pellets with an outer shell that gradually dissolves when exposed to water. Dissolvable fertilizers are quick acting and usually less expensive than slow-release types. Slow-release fertilizers are used when you want to provide consistent plant nutrients throughout the growing season. When deciding what type of fertilizer to use, it depends on what type of plant you are growing and how much nutrients are present in the soil.

Fertilizing Ivy

• Fertilize your ivy plant when new growth begins to show. How large your ivy plant is and how many plants you have in an area will help you determine how much fertilizer you need to apply. Add more fertilizer in the middle of the summer and another application in the fall. For a sickly plant, you can put a small amount of undissolved MiracleGro fertilizer crystals on the surface of the soil around your ivy plant. These will be gradually absorbed by the plant with each subsequent watering.