Hedera

Family. Araliaceae.

Homeland. Europe, Asia, Africa.

What it looks like. Hedera is a perennial evergreen liana with long creeping or climbing shoots. The leaves are glossy, leathery, and arranged alternately. The color, shape, and size of the leaves depend on the specific species. The most common are variegated forms with beautifully dissected leaves that have white, light green, or yellowish markings. The plant has aerial roots located in the leaf nodes, with which it clings to the support. In autumn, it can bloom with small greenish or yellow buds collected in inflorescences - umbrellas.

Height. Shoots reach a length of 20 m.

Care at home

Light 

Hedera tolerates both direct sunlight in the morning and evening hours and cultivation in partial shade. If there is insufficient natural light, additional lighting can be provided using fluorescent lamps. Variegated varieties in partial shade may lose their attractive foliage color. Green-leaved species contain a large amount of chlorophyll in their leaves, so growing them in partial shade is preferable.

Propagation 

Easily propagated by semi-mature cuttings 15-20 cm long. Lower leaves are removed and the bases of the cuttings are sprinkled with rooting agent. Cover young seedlings with glass or a transparent plastic cap to maintain uniform humidity. Hedera seeds can be sown in spring.

When it blooms 

Autumn, but blooms very rarely in indoor conditions. 

How to grow 

Keep the ornamental hedera away from heat sources and drafts. If desired, you can trim long shoots at any time of the year. Take the pots outside in the warm season - to a loggia, balcony or terrace. Place the flower under cover from strong gusts of wind, rain and direct sunlight.

How to replant

As the hedera grows, it can be transplanted into larger pots annually.

Diseases and pests 

Bacterial spot, stem rot and fungal spots.

Among the pests for the plant, spider mites with insufficient air humidity, aphids, mealybugs, scale insects and thrips pose a certain danger. 

Soil 

Adapts well to most soil types with good drainage.

Watering

Hedera prefers evenly moist soil in spring and summer. In autumn, if the temperature drops, the frequency of watering should be reduced. 

Containment temperature

When grown indoors, the vine prefers moderately warm conditions at temperatures between 10 and 22° C. At higher temperatures, the frequency of watering and air humidity should be increased. Representatives of the genus do not like sudden changes in temperature. During the winter months, a cool rest period at temperatures around 10 - 12° C may be required.

Fertilizer

Since hedera grows quite quickly, it needs regular feeding in spring and summer - for example, 2 times a month. If the temperature during the winter months is 18 - 20 ° C, then fertilizing can be carried out at this time, but monthly. Fertilizers with a high nitrogen content are diluted to half the recommended dose. 

Spraying 

At temperatures above 22° C, air humidity is increased using a tray with pebbles or a room humidifier. Spraying can be done with water at room temperature. Protect the plant from drafts.

Purpose

An excellent groundcover or climbing species that quickly twines around any support. Can be grown as an ampelous plant in hanging baskets.

Note

The leaves are poisonous and can cause contact dermatitis. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the plant. The bush has phytoncidal properties and is able to kill pathogens in the air, and also effectively cleans the air in the room from harmful impurities such as benzene.

Hydroponics

Some varieties grow well in hydroponics. 

Varieties:

Hedera helix

An evergreen herbaceous perennial, the flexible, climbing stems of which reach a length of 20 - 30 m. In its natural habitat it can grow as a ground cover plant, or entwine any available supports. Hedera forms aerial roots at leaf nodes. The leaves are glossy, dark green, 3-5 palmate, up to 5 cm long, on long, thin petioles, arranged alternately. During the flowering period, the plants form small rounded umbrellas with greenish flowers. Over time, the flowers turn into round, bluish-black berries. Flowering rarely occurs when grown at home. 

Hedera colchica

An evergreen vine with thin, flexible stems up to 30 m long. The leaves are dark green, glossy, arranged alternately on thin petioles. The leaf blades are soft, as if withered, heart-shaped. In the summer months, the plant adorns itself with small umbrella-shaped inflorescences with small yellowish flowers. After flowering, round berries are formed.

Hedera canariensis

A large evergreen vine with thin stems up to 20 - 30 m long. At the base, the stems can become woody and covered with brown bark. The leaves are glossy, green, heart-shaped or 3-5 palmate, reach a length of 10-12 cm, arranged alternately on long, thin petioles. The flowers are small, greenish-yellow, collected in small inflorescences. After flowering, clusters of round berries are formed. Young plant leaves are often a lighter shade of green. 

Hedera hibernica

Evergreen herbaceous plants with stems 20 to 30 cm long. Young stems have a green tint, but with age they become woody and covered with gray bark. The leaves are glossy, green, heart-shaped or 5-lobed. The underside of the leaf blades is often painted in a lighter shade, and on the upper surface the leaf veins are highlighted in a light tone. Flowering occurs in the second half of summer - autumn. The flowers are small, greenish-yellow, collected in small, branched inflorescences. As the flowers fade, round, bluish-black berries appear. Flowering rarely occurs when grown indoors.