Q&A for How to Grow Ivy in a Pot

Old English ivy plants become an adult shrub after many years as a vining juvenile. The adult shrub will produce bunches of flowers and eventually berry-like fruit. English ivy has become an invasive species in many cities and forests.

It depends on how cold the winter months are and if the planters are well insulated. Root systems of woody plants often freeze before the leaves and branches. Ivy plants may be hardy in containers in zone 7 most years.

It's possible that your repotted ivy was overwatered and the root system was damaged. It's easy to overwater a newly transplanted plant. Keep the plant on the dry side until you see new growth.

Yes, older ivy plants can be pruned to whatever size you wish. Just remember that you remove a significant amount of stored nutrients when you remove a large portion of a plant. So add fertilizer shortly after the plant is pruned to support new growth.

The article has been edited recently to use the words potting soil instead of dirt or soil. Thanks for the comment.

All fertilizer sold at stores has recommendations for use on the label. If the label is misplaced, it is very difficult to suggest rates for use. It could be placed in a compost pile or discarded.

Any and all house plants placed in pots should be transplanted into potting soil or potting mix. Top soil and dirt only work for large containers.

There is no simple way to determine if a plant is dead. If it looks dead, it may be. However, if you are not sure, place the plant in a bright location out of direct sun, water judiciously until new growth appears. If new leaves do not appear after 3-4 weeks, then it was dead!