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Dying ivy

bhere1399qj0y5MG4bhere1399qj0y5MG4 Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hello! I am completely new here so I’m not sure if this is the right category but my ivy plant is crispy!! It’s not so crispy that if I tough it I think it will immediately break the leaf, but it’s crispy enough to make me upset (it still has some very vague “healthy” feel to it). It’s in bright but indirect sunlight, no spider mites, I water maybe once a week or so. It was THRIVING in its smaller pot for a long time and I’m sure I waited too long to repot it. It was like this before repotting and hasn’t gotten any WORSE but I love it so much, if I can help it I can’t see it go. 


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  • bhere1399qj0y5MG4bhere1399qj0y5MG4 Posts: 2
    edited March 2021
    I actually just looked super closely and it might have spider mites? If so how do I get rid of them or is it too far gone. This is the worst leaf I can see so far if they are mites. 
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    edited March 2021
    It is very hard to kill ivy, many people have tried without success,  but you may just have managed it!
    It looks as if it is planted in a pot without drainage holes. Ivy likes cool, damp places best. It can take sun if it has enough moisture, but it is not aquatic. 
    One plant of Hedera 'Goldheart' covers the entire North facing front of my house. Small leaved varieties are less vigourous.
    Your plant is indoors in a dry atmosphere.
    The leaves are crispy, so it wasn't getting enough water, and stressed plants are more likely to suffer from insect attack.
    If it was overdue for a re-pot, the soil may have become full of roots and very dry and often then, when you water it runs straight through instead of being absorbed.
    If the roots at the bottom rotted, the plant would be unable to access any more water.
    Here's what I would do. Cut off those long, trailing stems, back to near the base where the leaves look marginally better. Take it out of the pot and look at the roots. Cut away any that look black and rotten. If you have any healthy looking roots remaining then make sure they are not congested and going in circles and re-pot in a pot with drainage holes, using John Innes No 2. Stand the pot on a saucer containng a layer of grit or gravel, and find it a cool, shaded spot to stress it as little as possible.
    Water when soil near the surface dries out, by plunging the pot in water until no more air bubbles show, then allow it to drain before replacing it. Don't let water rise above the gravel layer; this will help give a damp atmosphere without risk of rotting the roots.
    Cross your fingers and wait! If you are lucky you should start to to see signs of improvement and then the first new shoots. It will have a way to go, but should get there in time. :)
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