As many interiors, as many ways to get ivy in the home

Ivy in the home is pretty much a classic these days. We love it for its lush vines that stand out in any interior, adding a touch of tame wildness.

Ivy in a pot is one of those houseplants that won't disappear from our four corners for a long time. It "succeeds" even for beginner gardeners, although it is just as often invited into their compositions by those who have long since flooded their homes with greenery. It is hardly surprising - ivy in the home is even recommended by NASA, mentioning it in its list of the most effective air-purifying plants.

It is worth knowing that it is a perennial plant. It usually lives to be 200-300 years old, but specimens have been known to reach an age up to twice as long. Young ivy grows quickly and has small leaves that become larger and more curled over time. Once the plant matures, it grows much slower - each year it grows a maximum of one metre in vine length. Although ivy is primarily associated with evergreen leaves, it is important to remember that it is also a flowering plant. However, it does not put out its first flowers until it is 7-8 years old, and flowering time is in autumn (September-October).

We can spread wild ivy braids at our home in many ways. They will climb everywhere, encouraging a slightly different look to our furniture. What do you need to know before deciding on this plant?

Ivy varieties

It is impossible to count all the species and varieties of ivy. Some do better in the garden - they are recommended, for example, for creating a green hedge, while others will do well as ground cover plants. Among potted ivies, the following are worth inviting to our home:

Hedera Helix 'Chicago' - this is one of the most popular varieties of potted ivy. It has small, light green leaves and is extremely resistant to changing conditions.
Hedera Helix 'Midas Touch' - a potted ivy with very decorative foliage, green-yellow with irregular cream spots. Ideal for placing in hanging pots.
Hedera Helix 'Goldheart' - one of the most beautiful ivy varieties: dark green leaves decorated with cream spots will add charm to any interior. This ivy, unlike its peers, likes a sunny location.

How do you look after ivy at home?

Ivy is a plant that will easily take on almost any home and will not require specialist skills. It does, however, need a suitable site. Varieties with monochrome green foliage feel best in lightly shaded areas, while more motley varieties with white, cream or yellow borders will need a little more light.

Regular watering will also be important. Ensure that the ivy always has a slightly moist substrate. The plant also likes to be sprinkled with distilled water at room temperature, especially during the hottest days of summer and in winter, when the air is dried out by the radiator on.

When choosing ivy in the shop, look at it carefully. Check for pests on the plant. Sometimes you can even see them with the naked eye, but more often you will notice traces of their activity: spots or discolourations, cobwebs or limp, dried and deformed leaves.

Green furniture element

Ivy in the home fuels creativity. It doesn't like too warm and bright places, so let's come up with a different position for it than the classic windowsill. With the Vigo decorative shelf, we can make a comfortable home for it on the wall, thus providing it with a bit of coolness and protection from cat's claws and dog's tongue. This is a safe solution not only for the plant itself, but especially for our pets - poisonous leaves can harm them. For the same reason, do not put the ivy pot within the reach of children.

Our home office should also not be without a plant accent. Openwork bookcases or a desk with a ladder work well there, with the help of which we can arrange a green curtain in the interior. After all, ivy is known for its ability to quickly wrap itself around adjacent surfaces - which is why it has become part of wedding ceremonies in Greece, where it is presented to the bride and groom as a symbol of fidelity. It doesn't need any special help to do so: all you have to do is gently direct the vines towards the frame or tiers. It is particularly easy to turn a Worknest desk into a dense screen by hanging ivy on it in a metal container.

Green ivy braids also look beautiful in pots hanging directly from the ceiling. This solution will make clever use of the limited space of small flats in particular. We can hang the plant in a stoneware casing and, with proper care, give it the shape we like best. If you prune the ivy once in a while, you will keep its compact, bushy habit. When the bush grows a little, transplant it to a larger pot and it will also look great in a triple metal casing.

Ivy in interiors, or tame wildness

It is hard to find another plant that allows us to paint interiors with natural greenery so easily. Ivy shoots develop our thinking about space, because it doesn't usually stop at one pot. Once we tame them, new places and furniture to embrace will come to mind later.

We can start our experiments even today, because we can get ivy in almost every plant shop.