How to Measure the Health of Devil's Ivy

Examine the foliage of your devil's ivy. New growth at the tip of the vines should be healthy and green and should grow to maturity within a few weeks. Lack of new growth, except from late fall to early spring, indicates the ivy needs attention.

Watch for dead or dying foliage. Occasional leaf drop of older leaves occurs on nearly any plant and is not a cause for concern. Look for brown edges, yellowed leaves or leaves that turn brown and shrivel. This typically indicates too little or too much water, but may indicate improper fertilizing.

Look at the size of the leaves. Healthy devil's ivy produces leaves 3 to 4 inches in length. If the leaves on your devil's ivy are small, this indicates that the plant needs either more light or nutrients, or adjustments to its watering schedule.

Evaluate the color of the leaves. Devil's ivy should have variegated green and gold or green and white leaves. If variegation fades and leaves revert to predominately green, move it to an area with more light, as this is an indication the plant needs more light.

Check the distance between leaves on the vine. Healthy plants produce leaves every 2 to 3 inches. Long distances between leaves are a signal that your devil's ivy needs more light or more nutrients.

Lift the devil's ivy from the pot to evaluate the roots. Healthy roots are white or cream colored. Dark or mushy roots typically indicate root rot, while overgrown roots that circle the inside of the pot indicate the plant is root bound. Both require repotting. Cut away any diseased roots, or loosen the overgrown roots with your fingers, and repot the plant in a larger pot. Use fresh soil to insure a healthy plant.

Look for signs of insects by examining the leaves and stems of the plant. Tiny white webs indicate spider mites, while tiny sucking insects called scales cling to the stems and look like a miniature clam shell. Use an insecticide to treat plants infested with insects.