skip to main content

New to hanging house plants

6 years ago

Ok, I'm brand new to hanging ivys and such. So, I have an English Ivy (Hedera Helix?), a wandering jew, and this monster. The pots they are in either have no drainage holes or, if they do, they are either clogged up or I'm not adding enough water (I'm adding about a quart and a half of water once a week and spritzing the leaves several times a week.)

How do I know how much water is enough (I don't want the roots to rot.) And is once a week enough (they plants are indoors in my sunroom.)

Any advice would be appreciated.

Featured Answer

fawnridge (Ricky)

6 years ago

I've had hundreds of hanging plants over the years and found the best way to deal with them is to make certain they have drainage holes in the bottom of the inner pot. I took mine down once a week and took them into the shower with me. Water them from the shower head until they are overflowing. Tip them so that the extra water flows out of the dish and then leave them hanging in the shower for a few hours. Once a month or so they got some fertilizer.

This is a shot of a couple of spider plants grown that way. In the photo they are around 12 years old. I gave them away when I moved to Florida in '98.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
6 years ago
I was going to say the same thing, attached drain saucers helped me kill a lot of plants until I started snapping them off.
Related Discussions
New plant gift - hanging basket (ID??)
Q
Comments (17)
Hi again... I'm confused! The link above from gusolie indicates my purslane wants moist, well drained soil, but another response I got on the Name that Plant forum said it was a succulent and hated a lot of water. Should I infer from the two pieces of info that the plant needs to be well drained and soil kept slightly damp, or well drained and allowed to dry out between waterings? For now, I plan to keep it in the container, but may move it later to the sunnier side of my garden ("sunnier" being a relative term in my yard!). I have two more questions: 1 - Will this plant grow well in my sandy, acidic soil? 2 - Will it over-winter in my mild climate? (Here, winter nighttime temps seldom drop below 20 degrees, and that doesn't happen often.) Thanks for all the help, guys! BTW - let me say now that GW, and particularly this forum, has helped me turn my "sand pit" into a lovely green space. Couldn't have done it without you! ;-))
...See More
New to plant care. Need advice for first house plant. Pachira Aquatica
Q
Comments (2)
This link will be helpful: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/2842847/container-soils-water-movement-and-retention-xxii?n=419 give it as much light as you can. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, a south facing window would be best. Place it right up in front, not a few feet away. Water from the top only. Water until it runs out the drain hole, but discard the collected water and never let it sit in that. Water as the plant needs it. Stick your finger a couple inches into the soil, or feel the soil at the drain hole. Water when it feels dry.
...See More
New home, new to us plants
Q
Comments (7)
I agree with all the IDs above. The tomatillo may worth harvesting when ripe, and may reseed if left alone, but the others might not be worth trying to save. (The brussels sprouts may produce and are quite frost-hardy, but you'd have to like Brussels sprouts . . .) None will be reliably hardy in 5b except perhaps the Brussels sprouts, but they would be going to seed next year and not producing. So if you are interested in a veggie garden next year, you may want to remove as much of the weedy stuff this fall as you have time (a bagging mower may remove some of the weed seeds along with the plants), mulch well wherever possible next spring to reduce the weeds getting started, and invest in a stirrup hoe for any areas you won't be mulching since that's the easiest way to remove young weeds quickly. If you won't be using it as a veggie garden next year, I'd again mow weeds with a bagging mower to remove what's there and then in mid-September plant grass since that's the best time to start grass in zone 5.
...See More
New house new plants
Q
Comments (16)
When I zoom way in I actually do see three iris sprouts over towards the right side, 2 against the wall and one a few inches farther out; as well as one in the middle and one over to the left that are both against the wall. I think that these will need to get moved as they have been taken over by weeds and lawn. Be sure to replant them at the surface so the the wide part of the roots aren’t covered with soil. I wouldn’t expect bloom this year from these ones as they may need to bulk up.
...See More
Debra (6a) West Ma.
6 years ago
That's exactly how I do it! in the shower, then leave them there as a treat of humidity.
PRO
Natures Buggy
6 years ago
English ivy needs regular watering until the plant is established, which
usually takes one growing season. The plant benefits from about 1 inch of water every week,
either through supplemental watering or natural rainfall. Keep the foliage as
dry as possible when watering.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
Keeping the foliage dry isn't necessary. In fact it is beneficial for this leathery leaved species. Indoors ivy gets dusty and can be plagued by various bugs which can be deterred by regular rinsing. Outside obviously it gets rained on.
Laurie (8A)
6 years ago
I have a tough time as a height challenged person, getting plants down and back up from my slightly high ceilings. So, I water them without moving. I have a garbage can with a wide mouth and maybe 2.5 feet tall. I throw down a plastic tablecloth to protect the flooring, put the can under the plant and water that way.

Taking a plant to the shower has clear advantages, and I will recruit my husband, aka "Your Highness" for these occasions, to get the plant to the shower a few times a year.
Debra (6a) West Ma.
6 years ago
Me too Laurie!! I'm 5'4" if I stretch, but I have a 6' husband!!

Related Stories

Bring the Outside In With House Plants

By Scheer & Co. Interior Design

A Little Green Looks Good and Helps Clear the Air

PORCHES Get the Hang of Hanging Flower Baskets

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Learn all about container materials, soil and designing a hanging flower arrangement for a bountiful look on your porch or deck

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Please Bumblebees by Planting Baptisia Lactea

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant wild white indigo in central and southeastern U.S. gardens for its large white flower heads and early-spring interest

LIFE The Polite House: On Dogs at House Parties and Working With Relatives

Emily Post’s great-great-granddaughter gives advice on having dogs at parties and handling a family member’s offer to help with projects

ARCHITECTURE Stilt Houses: 10 Reasons to Get Your House Off the Ground

By Rebecca Gross

Here are 10 homes that raise the stakes, plus advice on when you might want to do the same

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Paddle Plant

By Annie Thornton

If you're looking for awesomely strange foliage and low care requirements, this succulent is right up your alley

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Slipper Plant

By Annie Thornton

Unthirsty succulent looks great all year and offers an unexpected surprise in fall

GARDENING GUIDES Invite Mining Bees to Your Garden by Planting Their Favorite Plants

By Pollination Press LLC

Look for mining bees (Andrena) pollinating woodland wildflowers in U.S. gardens this spring

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Charm Up Your House With Windowboxes

By Becky Harris

Plant Some Living Color Right Outside Your Window

CONTAINER GARDENS Indoor Plants Add Style and Cheer in Winter

By Jess McBride

Bring more life and color to your interiors with container plants in every room of the house

Sponsored

Rodriguez Construction Company

1 Review

Industry Leading Home Builders in Franklin County, OH

More Discussions

Orchid ID (Brassia Summer Dream?) and care in kokedama

6

Anyone have a true Christmas cactus?

9

Is this a clarinervium?

1

Indoor Gardenia

1

Prune my Fiddle Leaf Fig

4