The ivy belongs to the aroid family and is a very popular houseplant. Basically, the genus, also known as Epipremnum aureum, is very robust and easy to care for. The climbing plant grows several meters in height by means of aerial roots on moss sticks, trees and other climbing aids. The humble green plant fascinates with strikingly colored leaves and long tendrils and is one of the most productive air filters of all. According to a NASA study, the classic is one of the plants that remove many pollutants from the air. Therefore, a place in the office, in public buildings, restaurants or even in living rooms is recommended. In addition to the filter function, theHumidity in the room increased by the ivy.

Worth knowing Location Care Watering Fertilizing Pruning Repotting Pests & Diseases FAQ

Matching products – buy Efeutute

Worth knowing about the ivy

Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum (synonym: Epipremnum pinnatum or Scindapsus aureus)
Other names: ivy, golden ivy, gold tendril, Tonga plant, Scindapsus
Use: houseplant, indoor greening, room climate plant, climbing plant, conservatory plant, traffic light plant, hanging basket, aquarium plant
Origin: South Pacific
Leaf: heart-shaped, green, variegated white, yellow, spotted, spotted; trailing
flower: very rare, subordinate role, in the tropics consisting of spadix and petal
Special features:Serves as a natural air filter. Location should have no direct sun and never be cold. Extremely hardy houseplant. Can grow up to 3 meters long. Easy to propagate. Classified as a poisonous houseplant, keep it out of the reach of small children. Can grow horizontally or vertically.

In which location does the ivy feel comfortable?

The Efeutute Epipremnum prefers a partially shaded to light location without direct sun. The more the leaves are patterned, the more light they need. If the location is darker, the foliage will turn green and the marbling will fade. A place by a flower window that faces east or west is ideal. Dark locations are tolerated, but the growth is lower here, the coloring is weaker and the susceptibility to diseases and pests is higher. Traffic lights or hanging baskets are well suited and enable hanging room decoration. Direct sunlight on the south-facing window can cause unsightly burns, especially in summerto lead. Shading with a roller blind in the midday hours helps to avoid direct sunlight.

Our gardening tip: From May to August, the evergreen houseplant can be in shady locations in the garden or on the balcony. At temperatures below 15 °C, they should be put inside.

How do I properly care for my ivy?

Epipremnum are robust and easy-care plants that quickly create a mood in almost any place with little care. Depending on your preference, the arum plant can stand as a hanging plant or be pulled upright with a suitable climbing aid. The care is always the same, no matter how you cultivate the ivy. Sufficient light and need-based watering and fertilizing are important. Always allow the top layer to dry a little before watering again. As a climbing plant is a moss stickhelpful for support. With clinging roots, the epipremnum holds on to it itself. If the houseplant is to grow hanging, the adhesive roots dry and the shoots tend downwards. Every 2 to 3 years we recommend repotting in a larger planter and fresh potting soil. Spring is the right time for this. Make sure that the new pot is first provided with a drainage layer at the bottom. Use good quality green plant soil for transplanting.

How do I water my ivy correctly?

Even soil moisture is important for growth and vitality. How often you have to water depends mainly on the temperature, the size of the plant, the radiation and the substrate. The basic rule is that ivy should only be watered moderately and the top layer of soil should dry slightly before the next watering. Avoid waterlogging and pour off excess water from the planter or saucer 15 minutes after watering. You can also dive small specimens weekly. Here you place the houseplant in a bucket filled with water and immerse the plant until no more air bubbles rise. The advantage of the immersion method is that the root ballis completely soaked. To increase the humidity, you can regularly spray the indoor plants with lime-free water.

Our care tip: Small plants can be sprayed with lukewarm water once or twice a year in the shower or outdoors. If the green plants are too large and unwieldy for this, wiping the leaves with a damp cloth will help. This removes the dust and supports a good development of the plant.

How do I fertilize my ivy?

With good care, Epipremnum develop long tendrils with a multitude of leaves. Regular application of fertilizer is necessary for this growth. A special green plant fertilizer that contains important growth and vital substances and thus helps the plant to look healthy and fresh is ideal. From April to October, the liquid fertilizer is added to the irrigation water every 2 weeks. In winter, fertilizing every 4 to 6 weeks is sufficient. Alternatively, you can use fertilizer sticks to supply the potted plant with the necessary nutrients for a period of 3 months. The fertilizer sticks for green plants give the nutrientsas required and are therefore easy to handle. In green varieties, yellow leaves are a sign of too much moisture or lack of fertilizer.

How do I prune my ivy?

Ivy vines do not need to be pruned, but the tendrils are often too long and a pruning is necessary. Due to the toxicity, it is advisable to wear gardening gloves when cutting. It is best if you shorten the houseplant in spring. Use sharp scissors to cut the shoots to the desired length. The parts obtained during the cut can serve as cuttings. The green plants can easily be propagated by plant parts. It is important that you wear gloves when cutting, since ivy is poisonous in all parts of the plant and the sap can irritate the skin. Diseased or damaged foliage is regularly removed as with ficus, ivy, philodendron or other foliage plants.

How do I repot my ivy?

Every 2 to 3 years it is recommended that you repot Epipremnum into a larger vessel. The existing soil is rooted and a larger pot is necessary. Make sure you use good quality green plant and palm soil for transplanting. This is structurally stable and contains the nutrients necessary for the species. A pH value of 5 to 6.5 is optimal. Choose a pot that is 5 to 7 cm larger than the previous one. Put a layer of expanded clay on the bottom of the pot for drainage and place the root ball in the new container at ground level. Fill the space between the edge of the pot and the root ball with fresh soil. It is important that the houseplant is kept evenly moist after repotting and that the potting soil never dries out completely.

What pests and diseases can ivy get?

In the optimal location, the robust green plant is an easy-care houseplant that is rarely attacked by diseases and pests. Little light and dry heating air are often the cause of weakened plants. The following problems can occur.

spider mites

The affected leaves have silvery dots on the upper side and webs are visible on the underside of the leaves. It is usually sufficient to spray the plants with water and treat them with plant strengtheners. These bio-active agents contain natural plant extracts that contribute to the vitalization of the plant. Make sure that the spider mites do not multiply, as combating them becomes more difficult if the infestation is severe.

FAQ — Frequently asked questions about Efeutute

What is the difference between Efeutute and Scindapsus?

Efeutute (Epipremnum aureum) and Scindapsus are visually very similar. The genetically closely related green plants differ in that Scindapsus species have only one ovary in the ovule and the Epipremnum species have several of them. The names Epipremnum or Scindapsus are often used interchangeably.

How can the green plants be propagated?

The easiest way is to propagate by cuttings. So-called top cuttings can be obtained directly when pruning large plants. Plant the cuttings directly in potting soil and ensure even soil moisture and temperatures above 20 °C. Placing the cuttings in a glass of water is another way of rooting. The cuttings are then potted in green plant soil.

Are there different types of Epipremnum?

Epipremnum aureum is the common species that grows with yellow-green colored shoots and depending on the hybrid has light green colored leaves. Breeding and selection have resulted in a large number of variants. There are varieties with yellow foliage that are striped or spotted, or white with green markings. The growth form, the demands on the location and the care are identical for all variants. Basically, a variety with green leaves can be darker than one with white-green or light yellow leaves. Well-known varieties are «Golden Queen» or «Marbel Queen».

What does the botanical name Epipremnum aureum mean?

In its homeland, the climbing plant grows on trees, which is why the scientific name «Epipremnum» is justified. In Greek, «epi» means «on» or «on» and «premnon» means «trunk». «Aureum» is derived from the Latin «aureus», which means «golden», and describes the coloring of the leaf. Pinnatum is also sometimes used as a synonym for Aureum. However, this is the same species.

Can Epipremnum aureum be used for aquariums?

In freshwater aquaristics, green plants are used to improve water quality. Although the plants are poisonous, they can be used on fish. The plants in the aquarium remove large amounts of harmful phosphates and nitrates from the water. The indoor plants are also used in terrariums with tropical conditions.