How Long Does it Take an Ivy Cutting to Root?

Rooting Time

• The use of cuttings is referred to as vegetative reproduction and results in plants that are replicas of the mother plant. The cuttings of ivies have cells just beneath each node, or the point where the new leaves emerge. This gives the plants the ability to rapidly generate new plant tissues in the form of roots from these points. Provided optimal growth conditions, the cuttings taken from ivies produce roots in three to six weeks, according to the American Ivy Society.

Method

• Prepare rooting medium by filling a small pot with a soilless potting mix. Take 3- to 6-inch-long sections from softwood stems, or the succulent, current year's growth, measuring from stem tips. Make sure each cutting has three to four nodes. Remove all leaves from the lower half of cuttings. Dip the base of cutting in a rooting hormone and plant immediately in the pot, inserting to a depth of about 2 inches. Water well, place pot in a clear plastic bag and close top. Place in a bright warm area out of direct sun. Open bag every two to three days and water enough to keep rooting medium moist.

Planting

• Once cuttings have rooted, let the plant grow stronger before transplanting into a medium sized pot or a permanent spot in the garden. Plant in a well-drained, loose soil and an area of full to partial sun for best growth. Avoid planting in a poorly drained, wet soil as this makes plants prone to fungal disorders like root rot. Ivies require regular irrigation and are not drought tolerant. Apply a 12-4-8 or 15-5-15 fertilizer in spring and summer for best growth.

Growing Indoors

• If using ivies as indoor plants, grow in medium to bright, filtered light as full-sun exposure affects leaf color and variegation. Plant in well-draining, moist, peat-based medium. Apply 1 tsp. of 20-10-20 or 20-20-20 fertilizer six to eight times per year. Avoid fertilizing excessively as high levels of soil salinity affects growth. Do not over water plants. Water when the top surface of growing medium is dry.