Here’s something you didn’t know about me; I’m a plant killer. I seriously can’t keep any plant alive. Not.even.an.ivy. If it wasn’t for my husband, we’d never have any living plants or flowers in our home. Spring brings organization, cleaning, and sprucing up your home so why can’t that apply to your plants? Many of them will grow so much through the year that they need a new pot and some of them will look poor like my ivy and will need to be revived.
We can all buy plants at the store but let me tell you the number one reason why I try so hard to take care of these….I have plants that came from both my grandmother and mil’s funeral. I have plants that my mom and fil gave me and frankly, they mean a lot to me. This is a great way to keep them going.
Here’s a quick way to spruce up your dying ivy. Click on photo thumbnails to enlarge them if needed.
First, you’ll need a few things:
- Planter pot (I got mine at Walmart for just under $12 bucks and it’s HEAVY! I believe it’s a 9.5 size).
- A bag of soil (I used Miracle Gro Potting Mix)
- Shears
- Clear Vase
- Water
Instructions:
- First, gently pull off any completely dead leaves.
- Trip stem stragglers that have grown too long. If they are healthy, set them aside.
- Pour soil just over half of the planter pot.
- Gently turn your plant upside down in current pot to allow it to slowly fall out, using your hand to hold it. Shake off excess dirt. You’ll see lots of roots here!
- Put your plant into the new planter pot with clean, fresh soil and cover with more soil to the top. You can arrange your stems to go specific directions during this step too.
- Hydrate your replanted ivy! The first watering, you’ll want to saturate it very well with water. You may want to do this in the sink so that it can overflow without getting everywhere. After that, you’ll just need to maintain.
- Finally, take a damp cloth and wipe your ivy leaves down, cleaning them of any dust build up.
Take your stems that you trimmed earlier and place them in a vase of water. They will regrow so that you can replant them as well, or even give to someone to start their own plant.
That’s it! You have now revived and replanted your dying ivy and even have some stems that will grown into new ivy plants, saving you even more money in the long run!
Disclosure: I am an official Walmart Mom. Walmart has provided me with compensation and gift card in return for my time & efforts to create this post. Opinions are my own, always.
I think I have you beat on killing planys. Not only have I killed an ivy, I have killed a cactus too!
Oh man, so have I!!! LOL Surely there is something out there hardy enough to survive my home? ;)
Lori, in my neck of the woods that’s not called Ivy . . . its called a Philodendron plant; interesting! You did a great job of showing how to revive it! Since its near & dear to your heart I hope you have as good of luck as I did. I kept one alive for 25 years by doing the same method of replanting over the years. Right now I’m SO excited for our weather to finally get warm enough to start planing flowers and to move some of my houseplants outdoors for the summer! : )
How funny!! We call all these ivy plants. I guess we’re lazy. I don’t think I’ve ever heard that name…but then again, we also call every brand of soda, coke. HAHA!!
You’re obviously not a plant person because that in fact is a philodendron, lol! *snort*
My mom has a houseful of plants. A few came from funerals as well, so she makes sure to keep them healthy.
Like I told Elizabeth, we also call every type of soda ‘coke’….I guess I’ve always grown up being told these types are all ivy plants. I guess we’re lazy ’round here. lol
Lori – That “Coke thing” was real confusing for me as a kid when I would visit my Mississippi cousins. I didn’t like Coke (the brand) so I’d say no thanks when offered and then they’d all be drinking something other than Coke!?! What’s up with that?? And I’d missed out on my chance for a “grape pop”. (Us northern folk call it “pop” not “soda”.) LOL I quickly learned a Coke is not a Coke in the South! : )