English ivy IS a magnet for spider mites, especially when we bring them inside. If you are going to try to keep this plant, I strongly recommend that you forget about 'soapy water' and think in terms of commercial insecticidal soap. Much more effective!!! And be sure to spray the underside of the leaves as that is where the mites hang out.

I won't have English Ivy in my home for this very reason....but I sure do wish you well. It won't fare well in the ladies' room, by the way. The light situation is not acceptible for long term health and vigor. I suggest that you try to find a somewhat shady area for it outside. This is a plant that is VERY cold hardy, you know. It will thrive outside in zone 4 winter temperatures. 40 degrees is nothing for this plant. It can handle the full brunt of a zone 4 winter.

Thanks Rhizo.

Maybe I can work something out with the maintenance mangager that will allow me to keep it in a good spot outdoors over the winter. Just about everyone at work has fallen in love with it.

I had no idea it could survive winters that cold. I live in Zone 5, so it should be ok.

Amany, yes your EI is beautiful. I can see why you want to keep it alive.
Is there a cool spot anywhere in your house or work? If so, it should do fine there..Or even up against a window.
Ivy's can live in homes for yrs w/the correct temps..cool and air circulation. I've tried growing English Ivy outside but it's died over winter..well, I should say, I had one that made it two yrs, but died the third..this was probably my fault though cause I didn't cover in fall.
I also don't blame you for not want it neighboring other plants, in case it attracts mites again. In fact, those plants it's been adjacent to, should be inspected now.
If it was my plant, I'd keep outside until Oct, then bring in during winter away from a heating vent. Mist daily, and don't keep soil muddy..Toni

My goodness, I couldn't agree more with Rhizo about the Ivy being a spider mite magnet. I don't have English Ivy - or any type of Ivy - in my home either for that reason. And like Rhizo, I will also suggest commercial insecticidal soap, which will be much more effective. You can repeat the application over a period of time and check your plant to make sure that there is no more mite presence. You will appreciate having used the insecticidal soap; it really works well with spider mites.

I have made a conscious choice not to have Ivy in my home anymore because I'm not in the mood to deal with mites but theyÂre such beautiful little plants that you canÂt blame one for wanting to own them. And it doesnÂt have to be a constant battle with mites. A friend of mine who loves those little plants has a whole collection of them and she hasnÂt had to deal with spider mites for ages. But she is very persistent about keeping the mites at bay...misting, rinsing the plants under her sink, maintaining humidity levels at healthy levels, etc, etc... She wants to have those plants in her home and will do whatever is necessary to keep them healthy and pest-free. I guess IÂm just not in the mood to put all that required effort or maybe I donÂt like Ivy enough to want to :) Maybe that's why mine in the past would get infested often...not enough effort!

For years I wouldn't have ivies because of the spider mite battles. I am a horror at remembering to mist.

Then, a year or so ago, I found little misting bottles in Big Lots! that were 6" high. They are opaque and come in blue, pink, green, yellow and clear.

I thought "Aha! These are small enough to plant (pun intended) all around my shelves!"

Anyhow, I bought several nice ivies, filled a bottle and placed it on the kitchen window shelf. Every time I use the sink I pick up the bottle and mist the ivies. Knock wood, no spider mites, lush, happy ivies. . . even during the winter when we heat with a very drying wood stove.

This method requires very little work on my part as it's become a habit to pick up that bottle and spray away.

I would suggest this to anyone who wants lovely ivies but doesn't want to go to a ton of trouble to keep them that way.

Good luck,
Linda

BTW, placing these unobtrusive little bottles around your plants takes the chore out of misting. I just pick up a bottle and mist when I walk by my palms, philos, ficus, etc.

Linda, your mind obviously works like mine. I have brooms and feather dusters for each level of the house.

Great tip! Thanks.

Janet's Garden

Linda, I do the same as you..LOL..I have a mister in any room plants are kept..this way after I straigten that room, I pick up the mister and spray away..another idea I came up w/it placing plants on the shelf above my sink. I've got 4 plants there now, including 2 bonsais. One azalia and a begonia..this way when they dry out I lift and hose. Don't even need to mist..So if anyone has room near their kitchen sink, place it above on the ledge..the problem is most ledges are too small to hold a bigger plant. In that case, If one can use that area and hang the ivy that would work too..Toni