My first time ever propagating was also my first successful propagation. I saw pictures of beautiful, overflowing vines of ivy over bookcases everywhere online, but didn't have the money to buy a new plant. Lo-and-behold I look in our backyard and along our fence is a whole string of English Ivy! I googled "how to propagate ivy" online and within ten minutes I had six cuttings prepped and ready to grow!
If you've ever wanted to try propagating or have tried to propagate and it only ended in dead cuttings, you should try English Ivy! You can find it almost anywhere as it grows like crazy. Take some cuttings, with permission of course, from neighboring fences or parks. You may even have some growing in your own backyard. Locate the ivy, grab some scissors and let's get propagating!
Step 1: Wash Scissors with Soap and Water
Use sharpened scissors and wash thoroughly to prevent bacteria or any unwanted dust or dirt to mess with your cuttings. It doesn't matter if you use gardening sheers or paper cutting scissors. Either will work as long as they can cut!
Step 2: Locate the Ends of an Ivy Vine
You want to try to cut near the end of a vine so as not to disturb the whole plant. Look for buds or any new growth (smaller, lighter green leaves). Try to find multiple vines to choose from to give yourself options. :)
Step 3: Cut the Vine
Cut below the 3rd or 5th leaf towards the end of the vine. Leave some stem so the cutting can sit in water without touching any leaves.
Step 4: Place cutting in Water
Fill a small glass jar with water and place cutting in it, making sure that leaves are not touching the water (If they do, they will begin to rot and destroy the plant).
Optional:
Some have recommended to leave water out overnight if using tap water so as to let chlorine evaporate. Some say this chemical can interfere with root growth. I didn't, and mine grew perfectly.
Some people also recommend to apply a rooting hormone. This encourages root growth, but I use cinnamon instead. Cinnamon is not a rooting hormone, but has been known to posses anti-bacterial qualities. I have yet to find any published articles on it, but some say cinnamon kills any bad bacteria that could stop root growth. I've tried cinnamon, I haven't noticed any difference in using it or not using it, but it doesn't hurt to experiment! Just the stem in some cinnamon powder, lightly dust off any excess powder, and then place in water.
Step 5: Wait and Replace Water Twice a Week
Within three to four days, you should notice the shoots toward the tip to start growing. In two weeks, roots should have started to form. To clean the water and re-oxygenate it, replace the water when it starts getting murky, so about twice a week.
Heads Up: Not all propagations will turn out. About half of mine succeeded. Once you take the cuttings, it's almost all left to nature. I suggest taking multiple cuttings rather than just one to increase your chances of successful root growth. 50% of mine turned out and the other 50% rotted. But that's okay! I had 3 out of 6 cuttings that worked and now have three new baby English Ivy Plants growing in my room! It'll take a while until the trail along my bookcase, but it didn't cost me a dime! Well worth the wait and experience!
Have you ever tried to propagate? Did you succeed or did it end in disaster? Tell me your propagation stories in the comments below!
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