Ivy Bonsai Care Guide

Hedera helix

Ivy Bonsai

A common evergreen climber native to western Asia and Europe has found a home across subtropical and temperate countries worldwide. Notoriously vigorous, Ivy make for interesting bonsai for their gnarled trunks and ferocious growth. A hobbyist choice, this specimen grows easily from cuttings but can be a challenge to train.

Ivy Bonsai Care Tips

Ivy bonsai grow best in partial shade. They are hardy species for more temperate countries and cope with most situations, though they may require some winter protection.

Watering your Ivy bonsai should take place regularly during the summer. It is important to not let the compost dry out. 

Avoid overfeeding, the result will be overgrown leaves. Across the growing season feed every two weeks. During the summer consider using a half strength fetiliser. 

Pinch out new shoots continually across the growing season. Trim out the old foliage and prune back hard consistently across the growing season.

Ivy can wired anytime during the year. Its characteristic floppy shoots and branches need wiring to create the desired shape. Ivy can be styled in all different cascade and informal upright forms. We recommend using wires with a thickness that matches the thickness of the branch: if the wire you choose is too thick you will damage the bark. If it is too thin, it won’t be effective.

A pot-bound Ivy bonsai will not grow sizable leaves and do not require specific soil. This is a resilient plant and only requires repotting when necessary, spring is the ideal time.  

Trees that are ready for repotting will require root pruning, a suitable new pot and appropriate soil mix.

When repotting, do not cut back the root mass by a large amount, and choose a well-draining soil mix that has a neutral or slightly higher PH value of 5-6 but not over 7. We tend to use a mixture of different speciality bonsai soils on our trees. Every species is different so please contact us for free soil-mix advice or to take advantage of our repotting service.

Bonsai trees aren’t only magnificent additions to an indoor oasis, they are more than capable of standing out in any garden. Many Bonsai species are incredibly hardy and withstand nature’s colder and damper turns with aplomb making them worthwhile outdoor plants. We have an extensive library of care guides for outdoor bonsai trees. It’s not about selecting the perfect bonsai, it’s about selecting the perfect bonsai for you. 

Ivy Bonsai - Typical Queries

Ivy bonsai can be propagated with cuttings. The best time is summer. Semi-ripe cuttings should be taken from a younger plant to grow a trailing species. Cuttings taken from a full-grown plant will produce a more upright tree like foliage and growth. 

Ivy bonsai are susceptible to aphids, scale, red spider mites and leaf spot can occur. 

It is not recommended to keep an Ivy bonsai indoors, as it is a fast growing climber that is far from easy to train and tends to grow vigorously of its own accord. Ivy are capable of growing in just about any conditions but an outdoor environment to account for its wild growth is best.