Gold child ivy, also known by its scientific name Hedera helix ‘Gold Child’, is quickly becoming a popular houseplant for its graceful, trailing vines and stunning golden variegated leaves. With the right care, gold child ivy can add a touch of elegance and sparkle to any indoor space. This easy-going ivy is well-suited for beginner gardeners looking to bring some natural beauty into their homes.
In this comprehensive guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about successfully growing healthy, happy gold child ivy indoors.
Providing the Optimal Light Conditions
When caring for gold child ivy indoors, proper lighting is key to keeping the foliage vibrant This variegated ivy needs bright, indirect light to thrive. Direct hot sunlight will scorch the leaves
Some good spots to place your gold child ivy include:
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Near an east or west facing window where light is gentle in the morning/evening
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A few feet back from a south or west window where sunlight is filtered.
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In a well-lit room away from direct window light.
Rotate your ivy plant periodically so all sides get even light exposure. If you notice the leaves fading or becoming pale, move it closer to a light source.
Maintaining Ideal Temperatures
Gold child ivy does best in average room temperatures between 60-80°F. Avoid placing it near heating/cooling vents, fireplaces, or drafty windows where temperatures fluctuate.
The ideal humidity level for gold child ivy is 40-60%. Luckily, this makes it suited for most everyday indoor environments.
Monitor your plant for any leaf browning or drying which can indicate too little moisture in the air. Group plants together or use a humidifier to boost humidity if needed.
Providing Proper Watering
Gold child ivy prefers consistently moist but not soggy soil. Water thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil become dry. Always water until it flows from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
Tip: Allow extra time for moisture to penetrate the soil for larger pots. Stick your finger in the soil to check if the moisture has soaked down deeply enough after watering.
In winter when growth slows, cut back on watering frequency. Take care not to overwater, as soggy soil can lead to root rot.
Choosing the Right Potting Mix
Use a well-aerated potting mix for indoor plants rather than standard potting soil. The mix should retain some moisture but also drain well. Popular options include:
- Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix
- Espoma Organic Indoor Potting Mix
- FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil
Re-pot in fresh potting mix every 2 years as the old mix depletes in nutrients. Choose a pot 1-2 sizes larger than the previous when repotting.
Fertilizing for Healthy Growth
During spring and summer when actively growing, feed gold child ivy every 2-4 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Reduce to monthly in fall and winter.
Good fertilizer choices include:
- Schultz Indoor Plant Food
- Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food Spikes
- Jobe’s Organics Indoor Houseplant Fertilizer
Always follow label directions carefully. Fertilizing improperly can harm the plant. Flush the soil occasionally to prevent buildup.
Supporting the Delicate Stems & Vines
As a natural climber, gold child ivy will crawl up supports. Provide a moss pole, coconut coir totem, or trellis for the tendrils to cling to. Gently tie stray vines to supports with soft ties or twine until they attach on their own.
For trailing ivy in hanging baskets, use plant velcro strips to affix vines to the basket rim if needed to train their direction of growth.
Pinch back or trim any excessively long vines to encourage fullness. Always prune just above leaf nodes.
Typical Growth Rate and Mature Size
Given proper care, gold child ivy is a relatively fast grower. It can grow up to 10 feet long and reach 3 feet wide at maturity. However, growth can be restricted by pruning and container size when kept indoors. Expect trailing varieties to grow 12-18 inches annually.
Propagating Gold Child Ivy From Cuttings
Propagating gold child ivy from stem tip cuttings is quite easy. Just follow these steps:
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Take 4-6 inch cuttings from healthy vines just below a leaf node.
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Remove lower leaves and place the cut end in water/potting mix.
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Keep in bright, indirect light and change water daily.
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Roots emerge in 2-3 weeks. Plant in soil and cared for like mature plants.
This propagation method allows you to easily multiply your ivy collection!
Troubleshooting Common Gold Child Ivy Problems
While generally hardy, gold child ivy can encounter a few issues to watch out for:
Yellow leaves – Usually signaling insufficient light or inconsistent watering. Increase light exposure or adjust watering habits.
Dry leaf edges/tips – Typically caused by low humidity levels. Boost moisture in the air.
Leaf drop – Can indicate too much or too little water. Modify watering practices.
Sparse growth – May need more fertilizer during the growing season.
Brown spots – Tap water chemicals like fluoride can sometimes burn leaf tips. Use filtered water if possible.
White crusty deposits – Result of hard water or fertilizer buildup. Wipe leaves and flush soil regularly.
Shriveled leaves – Often a sign of underwatering. Increase watering frequency but don’t oversaturate soil.
Keep Your Gold Child Ivy Thriving with Proper Care
With its gorgeous gold-splashed foliage, gold child ivy makes a sensational addition to any indoor plant display. Follow this guide for the ideal growing conditions and you’ll have happy, healthy ivy for years to come. Be sure to provide bright indirect light, ample moisture, indoor temperatures, and moderate humidity. Allow the graceful vines to trail or train them up supports. Your gold child ivy will reward you with its dazzling golden leaves!
Gold Child English Ivy Sunlight Requirements
Sunlight is key to growing healthy ivy. This plant needs bright, indirect light and can grow relatively fast when it receives plenty of sunlight. Plants grown indoors cannot handle direct light, so place it near, but not directly in a south-facing window.
Watering Gold Child English Ivy
Gold Child English Ivy requires consistently moist soil. Feel the soil, and water when it is slightly damp but mostly dry. While Ivy likes moist conditions, it does not like to be soggy, so feeling the soil allows you to gauge the dryness and water at the right time.
BEST TIPS | HOW TO CARE FOR ENGLISH IVY | HEDERA HELIX PLANT CARE GUIDE
FAQ
How to care for gold baby ivy indoors?
Your ivy likes moist soil but hates being soggy. So we recommend checking the soil regularly, and watering when the top two inches feel dry. It loves humidity too, so give it a spritz with your mister every other day. Ivies also enjoy an occasional shower, to wash dirt and debris off their leaves.
Does golden ivy like sun or shade?
It does best in bright, indirect light, out of direct sun, but will also be fine in light or even deeper shade.
How fast does gold child ivy grow?
When grown indoors, Gold Child Ivy can be expected to grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.
How do you care for gold child Ivy?
Place the plant in a naturally humid area or use a pebble tray to boost the air’s dampness. Gold Child English Ivy can live in dryer conditions during the winter, but monitor the leaves and increase the humidity if the foliage starts to dry out and turn brown along the edges. Sunlight is key to growing healthy ivy.
How do you build immunity to poison ivy?
There is an allergen a chemical in poison ivy which cause allergy and rashes. Everyone has different immunity or body reacts differently to each allergen. There is no way to build immunity for this allergen.
Can gold child Ivy grow in the winter?
Gold Child English Ivy can live in dryer conditions during the winter, but monitor the leaves and increase the humidity if the foliage starts to dry out and turn brown along the edges. Sunlight is key to growing healthy ivy. This plant needs bright, indirect light and can grow relatively fast when it receives plenty of sunlight.
How do you fertilize gold child English ivy?
Use a water-soluble fertilizer high in nitrogen for Gold Child English Ivy. Nitrogen helps plants push out foliage, and nitrogen-rich fertilizers are a good fit for the ornamental leaves of Gold Child. Feed this plant monthly during the spring and summer, but take a break from fertilizing it during the fall and winter when growth slows.
What is a gold child Ivy?
Other names: Gold Baby Ivy, Gold Child English Ivy A beautiful gold variegated ivy, Hedera helix ‘Goldchild’ (English Ivy) is an evergreen climber with medium-sized, lustrous, three to five-lobed, gray-green leaves, 2-3 in. across (5-7 cm), adorned with broad, bright gold margins. In hot weather, the variegation can fade to butter yellow.
How do you care for an ivy tree?
Keep soil moist, watering freely in dry weather. Trim back as needed to keep neat and compact. Fertilize your ivy about once a month in the spring, summer and fall with a water soluble, nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Do not fertilize in the winter, as this is the ivy’s dormant period and the fertilizer may do more harm than good at this time.