How to Care for Hedera Vines

Grow the ivy in a location that receives 4 hours of sunlight a day, or choose an area that has bright indirect light. When growing the hedera vines indoors, keep them away from direct sunlight, but place the pot in a bright window.

Insert your finger into the soil up to the first knuckle and feel for moisture. The soil for indoor and outdoor ivy plants should be kept evenly moist through the spring and summer months. When the fall and winter months arrive, allow the soil to become slightly dry before watering again. If the soil is too wet, the roots will rot.

Repot the indoor ivy in potting soil when it becomes root bound. If the roots are growing out of the bottom drainage holes, it is time to transplant the vine into a pot that is one size bigger.

Prune the ivy to keep it bushy. Pinch out the growing tips on indoor ivy. Remove the dead or diseased sections and toss them into the trash.

Inspect the ivy plants for spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, and scale. The insects usually hide on the bottom sides of the leaves. Spray or wash the plant with insecticidal soap to control spider mites and aphids. Scale has a hard outer coating, and mealybugs resemble small pieces of cotton. To remove these pests, use an insecticide, but check the label for the variety that can be used on ivy plants. Mix and apply according to label directions. If there are only a few leaves with bugs, or the plant is small, dip a cotton ball into rubbing alcohol and wipe the bugs away. Repeat as often as needed.

Feed the ivy with 10-10-10 fertilizer during the active growing months. Do not fertilize in fall or winter, when the ivy enters its dormant period. Mix and apply according to label directions.