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The ivy is a welcome and easy-care houseplant in this country. The varieties with the variegated leaves are particularly beautiful. But even her ivy is not immune to brown leaves.
In a nutshell
- Efeutute is generally a robust and undemanding plant
- may occasionally develop brown leaves or leaf tips
- Causes can be gross mistakes in care, diseases or a pest infestation
- an occasional yellow or brown leaf is perfectly normal
- In most cases, damage can be easily repaired
maintenance errors as a cause
Brown leaves or leaf tips on your ivy are mainly due to care errors.
waterlogging/overwatering
As with many other plants, too much moisture is the most common cause of brown leaves or leaf spots in ivy. Most of the time, these areas also feel muddy. If this is the case, you should not water the plant for a while and wait. It is not uncommon for too much moisture to lead to root and/or stem rot, which should be combated as soon as possible.
- If symptoms worsen, repot immediately
- in fresh and dry substrate
- Lift the plant out of the pot and thoroughly remove old soil
- also rotting and damaged parts of the root
- equip new pot with drainage material
- made of gravel, potsherds, expanded clay or similar materials
- put part of the substrate on top of the gravel
- Plant in the middle and as deep as in the old pot
- Press down the soil well and do not water
- only supply water again after a few days
Prevent
- to avoid waterlogging the soil, water as needed
- Test soil moisture with a finger test before watering
- Allow the substrate to dry to a depth of two centimetres
- In this way, slight moisture is retained inside the bale
- always water so much that bales are well saturated with water
- stop as soon as water drips out of the bottom of the pot
- or use the immersion method
- To do this, place the entire pot in a container with water
- until no more air bubbles rise
- then remove and drain well
- Remove residual water in coasters after about five minutes
Tip: If you want to use the old pot again for repotting, it should be thoroughly cleaned and ideally disinfected.
lack of water
Brown tips on the leaves of your ivy tend to indicate a lack of water or drought. Causes can be insufficient watering and dry heating air in winter. Later the leaves curl up, dry up and partially fall off. To combat a lack of water, you should first check the bale to see if there is actually a lack of water. If the substrate has dried out, you should water the plant and pot for a few minutes. Then let the water drain well and remove excess. In the future, you should pay attention to needs-based watering and thus prevent a shortage.
Tip: Even if the plant suffers from a lack of water, you should not overwater it, but water it in sufficient quantities as normal. She usually recovers quickly.
nutrient deficiency
If a lack of water can be ruled out, a lack of nutrients may be the cause of brown leaves, spots or brown tips on the ivy. There is usually an iron deficiency. Reasons for this can be that the substrate is generally very poor in nutrients or too calcareous.
- Lime inhibits the absorption of iron
- If the cause is not remedied, Efeutute can develop chlorosis
- if there is a lack of nutrients, supply the plant with fertilizer immediately
- alternatively replace the floor completely
- or only part of the substrate
- is repotted every year, usually no additional fertilizer required
- even in winter there is no fertilization
Tip: When attaching the tendrils with staples or twine, care should be taken not to pinch the tendrils, as this can also interrupt the upward flow of nutrients. Incidentally, an oversupply of fertilizer can also lead to brown tips.
Humidity too low
In accordance with its natural origin, the ivy loves high humidity between 50 and 65%. If it is too low, dried up, brown leaves or brown tips can result. This is especially the case in winter, when the air is particularly dry due to heating. To increase the humidity accordingly, you can regularly spray the plant with lukewarm, lime-free water. Or one places bowls filled with water in the room. If nothing is done, it will make the plants more susceptible to pest infestation.
Unfavorable site conditions
Wilted, brown tips can also develop if the ivy is too dark. When choosing the location, it depends above all on the respective variety.
- pure green varieties can also be a little darker
- variegated ones want to be lighter because of the coloring
- the more pronounced the variegation, the lighter the location
- full sun is tolerated just as little as shade
- most varieties do well in light partial shade
- Cold and drafts are problematic
- damage from frost cannot be ruled out
- cold drafts at the open window for just ten minutes
To avoid brown leaves due to cold or frost damage, care should be taken not to expose the plant to cold air currents when airing it, especially in winter. In general, the Efeutute feels comfortable at year-round temperatures of around 20 degrees. It should not be colder than 15 degrees, not even during the winter months.
Notice: A change of location in winter can also be responsible for brown tips on the leaves.
frequently asked Questions
Can a hydroponic attitude promote root rot?Hydroponics tend to have less risk of root rot than soil culture if done properly. A so-called water level indicator is important, which shows when and how much has to be poured. It prevents the plant from being too wet or too dry. So it is usually sufficient to water once a week and in winter once every two weeks.
How often and with what should you fertilize?In terms of nutrient requirements, the ivy is a very frugal plant. Dosage and frequency depend on the condition of the substrate. Normally you fertilize about every two weeks from April to September. Liquid houseplant fertilizer or fertilizer sticks are suitable as fertilizer. The trade offers special fertilizers for hydroponics.
Is ivy poisonous?Yes, it is poisonous to humans and animals in all its parts. Contact with sensitive people, for example when repotting or cutting, can cause skin irritation. When eating individual parts of the plant, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps as well as swelling of the mucous membranes can occur. Small children and pets are particularly at risk. To protect them, it is better to avoid this plant.