Swedish Ivy plants are not ivy plants; they are not native to Sweden. Other than being first introduced to Sweden as a houseplant, Swedish ivy is similar to other ivy plants in that it has long, cascading stems. This is a thick, glossy, brilliant green trailing vine with scalloped leaves that resemble succulents.
Swedish ivy will produce stunning tubular white or purple blossoms if it receives enough bright light. Swedish ivy looks great both indoors and outdoors, trailing over planters or hanging in baskets. In this post, we discuss cultivating this lovely plant!
Swedish Ivy Plant Overview
| Plant Name | Plectranthus verticillatus |
| Other Name | Swedish begonia |
| Plant Type | Evergreen perennial |
| Sun Exposure | Partial Sun |
| Fertilizer | Low-nitrogen fertilizer |
| Temperature | 70°F to 75°F |
| Growth | 2 to 3 feet tall |
| Soil Type | Acidic soil |
| Hardiness Zone | 10 – 11 |
How to Grow Swedish Ivy
It is not at all difficult to learn how to grow a Swedish ivy houseplant. In actuality, indoor Swedish ivy gardening is a great undertaking for novice gardeners. A small amount of perlite can help with drainage, and a light, loamy potting mix is preferred by Swedish ivy.
All year long, bright, indirect light is ideal for the plant’s growth. Under these circumstances, Swedish ivy requires very little care or upkeep and will grow quite quickly.
How to Care for Swedish Ivy
Though it’s not our favourite notion, houseplants may be low-maintenance, and the Swedish ivy is a fantastic example. However, to replicate the same growing conditions and help your plant flourish, you must understand how any particular plant grows.
Soil
Swedish ivy plants prefer well-draining, wet potting soil. As this plant struggles in wet soil, you could try to improve drainage by adding some vermiculite or perlite to a peat moss mixture. To improve drainage as the soil ages, you may also add more organic matter to your peat-based soil once a year.
Another benefit of adding peat moss to your potting mix is that Swedish ivy plants need slightly acidic soil (pH between 5.5 and 6.5). This is the recommended soil type for this plant, but it can thrive in a wide range of well-draining soil types.
Sun and Temperature
Bright indirect light is ideal for Swedish ivy, a tropical understory plant. When there is too much light, the leaves will droop and turn a dull tint. To shield it from the afternoon sun, morning sun protection is necessary in the spring and summer.
In terms of sunshine, the variegated Swedish ivy plant is no different. Hence, six hours of indirect sunshine each day is the ideal amount of light for a plant to grow. It can grow year-round in rooms with typical temperatures between 65°F and 75°F.
During the growing season, 70°F to 75°F is the optimal temperature, yet it can withstand temperatures as low as 60°F. Because it is frost-tender, Swedish ivy cannot withstand lower temperatures. Furthermore, unlike most ivy plants, this one is not a real ivy plant.
Water and Humidity
Swedish ivy grows naturally in tropical regions with constant humidity and water. You should try to replicate these circumstances to ensure that your Swedish ivy plants are happy.
Water your ivy plant once a week, making sure the soil dries completely in between applications. Make sure not to let the soil get too moist, since overwatering might lead to problems. It is better to submerge this plant than to overwater it. Plants that receive excessive watering may develop root rot.
Verify that your pot’s drainage holes are the proper size. Make sure the humidity in your Swedish ivy plants is at least 60%. When watering your ivy plant, make sure not to splatter the leaves. To get to the plant’s base, you might need to pull up the vines.
Fertilizer
Your Swedish ivy can grow just fine without fertilizer, while it will benefit from the addition of compost or other organic matter once a year, as described above. However, spring and midsummer treatments with a low-nitrogen fertilizer will aid in bloom output if you want your Swedish ivy to bloom.
Higher nitrogen fertilizer, on the other hand, will promote more foliage and fewer blossoms. The main purpose of planting this plant is not for its flowers. Still, they are an amazing bonus to the gorgeous, long vines. Don’t fertilize during the autumn and winter dormant seasons; save that for spring and summer.
Pruning
You can prune your Swedish ivy plant if you notice any dead, damaged, or fading leaves. Pruning aggressively is best done during the blooming season. The tips of the stems can be pinched back to promote new growth.
When it becomes bushier, trim the lanky growth back to a leaf node. By pruning your plant to produce the healthiest stems possible, you can obtain stem tip cuttings to help you reproduce your plant. You therefore get new plants.
Propagation
To facilitate the Swedish ivy’s spread, trim off the tops of the stems. As mentioned previously, when you prune your plant, you will have stem cuttings that you can use to start new plants. Remove any incisions that fall directly below a leaf node. Sort through your cuttings and select the healthiest stems to propagate.
In around a month, after removing the lower foliage and putting the cuttings in the water, they should begin to root. You can immediately transplant stem tips into the potting mix in an appropriate pot after they have shown detectable root growth.
Repotting Swedish Ivy
Swedish ivy can become root-bound if it is not properly repotted. When your plant grows, you might wish to transfer it to a larger hanging basket or container. Step by step, increase the size of the pot; try to make it an inch or two larger than the one you are using now.
In the spring, repot the plant if it has outgrown its container. Make sure the pot is 1-2 inches bigger than it is now when you progressively increase its size. By not having extra soil to water to keep the entire pot moist, you can avoid the growing difficulties brought on by overwatering.
Troubleshooting
Houseplant maintenance for Swedish ivy is rather easy. A few problems could, nevertheless, come up. Overly moist potting soil or too much direct sunlight are the main causes of these problems. To find out how to fix them, continue reading.
Growing Problems
As was previously said, Swedish ivy grows best in bright, indirect light. Intense sunlight can scorch the foliage. This is particularly true for variegated Swedish ivy, as excessive light might cause it to lose its variegation.
Move your Swedish ivy to an area with bright light, but not direct sunlight, if you see the dark green leaves becoming less vibrant. For the healthiest foliage, find the ideal balance to fulfill this plant’s light requirements.
Pests
Mealybugs can harm Swedish ivy, despite its unique floral scent, making it very pest-resistant. Pale leaves with a cottony or webby substance on their undersides could indicate a mealybug infestation.
The most common problem with most indoor houseplants is spider mites. They want a warm, dry environment with low humidity. It’s a smart precaution to raise the humidity in the area surrounding your houseplants.
Tiny, yellowish-coloured patches or small holes in leaves are the earliest signs of a mite infestation. You may even be able to see enormous web clusters in the vegetation.
Diseases
Swedish ivy is mostly susceptible to root rot. Falling leaves, limp, mushy stems, and rotted roots are all indications of root rot.
If the plant still has white, young roots that haven’t softened, it may be possible to treat this kind of rot, which is more difficult to cure. Move the decaying roots into a dry pot after trimming them back.
FAQ
Where is the greatest place to cultivate Swedish ivy?
During the growing season, Swedish ivies thrive best in bright indirect light and at room temperature with some humidity. If there is sufficient bright light, it won’t grow pale leaves or elongate itself with tall stalks to reach the light.
Does air purified by Swedish ivy exist?
Swedish ivy is a plant that purifies the air and is safe to have indoors, unlike the lethal English kind.
Do Swedish ivies require a lot of sun exposure?
Every day, your plant requires four to six hours of intense light with protection from the afternoon sun.