Common ivy is completely hardy
Common ivy in the garden is hardy and does not require any winter protection. Only with young plants is it advisable to protect them from frost in the first year outdoors. The following are suitable as winter protection:
- brushwood
- Fir branches
- leaves
- Mulch cover
also read
- Tips for watering ivy
- When is the best time of year to plant ivy?
- Hibernating ivy is not necessary
If ivy is grown on fences as a climbing plant, frost damage occasionally occurs, but this may endanger the privacy. To make these plants winterproof, simply place a few fir branches between the ivy tendrils.
Avoid fertilizing ivy outdoors after July. The additional nutrients create new shoots that don't harden until winter. These freeze off in severe frosts.
Varieties with variegated leaves are not always winterproof
Varieties of variegated ivy are not as hardy as common ivy. They usually only tolerate minus temperatures between -5 and -10 degrees. Some species do not survive frosts at all. If you are not sure, seek advice from a gardening professional.
You should always grow ivy varieties that are not absolutely hardy in a tub or pot on the balcony or terrace. Then you can better protect them from frost by covering them. You can also place the planter on an insulating surface such as wood or styrofoam.
Hibernate ivy as a houseplant
Ivy that you keep as a houseplant can be grown in the same place all year round. It is not necessary to lower the temperature as long as you water sufficiently. Do not place the plants too close to heaters in winter.
Plants that have always been indoors should not be put outside in winter. You need a longer acclimatization phase to harden down in order to survive sub-zero temperatures unscathed.
Don't forget to water in winter
More than frost, drought is a problem for ivy in winter. If there is little rainfall, the soil dries out too much and the plant dries up. You should therefore water ivy regularly even in winter. This applies to outdoor plants as well as to ivy in pots.
Water is poured on frost-free days, and as thoroughly as possible. But make sure that there is no waterlogging.
The older the ivy, the deeper the roots reach into the ground. Watering is usually not necessary for very old plants.
Tips
If you keep ivy in the box on the balcony, some winter protection can be useful. You make the climber winterproof by wrapping the planter with burlap or bubble wrap. More important than winter protection, however, is regular watering on frost-free days.
