How To: Grow ivy plants

Every one knows what ivy is, but most think of it as the poisonous ivy that gives a horrible itchy rash, but poison ivy isn't the only kind out there. There's beautiful ivy that can make your home more elegant than ever. Growing the prolific ivy plant will convince you that you have a green thumb while adding fresh beauty around your house, indoors and outdoors.

You Will Need
* Ivy plants
* Gravel
* Garden or potting soil
* Cool, sunny location
* Trellis, fence or brick wall
* Adequate drainage
* Water

Step 1: elect ivy plants
Select ivy plants, choosing small-leaf varieties to grow ivy indoors and the English or Boston ivy for ground covers or to grow outdoors on a brick wall or trellis.

Ivy may be propagated from cuttings by placing tip cuttings in a jar of water until roots appear, then planting.

Step 2: Fill container
Fill a container with a little gravel, then add a rich potting soil to grow ivy indoors, placing your plant in a cool, sunny place and watering it regularly.

Step 3: Pick an outdoor location
Pick an outdoor location to grow ivy where your plant will receive at least four hours of sun daily, and where it will have a trellis, fence or brick wall to climb.

Ivy clings to surfaces with suckers that attach to objects which allow them to climb.

Step 4: Prepare soil
Prepare the soil, making sure it is rich and that it will provide your ivy adequate drainage.

Step 5: Plant
Plant your ivy in the ground, covering the root ball with soil, and then pack down the soil around the plant.

Pinch back the ivy tips to grow bushier plants.

Step 6: Keep soil moist
Keep the soil around your ivy moist for the first few weeks. Then wait and watch your plants take over, providing a green cover for walls, the ground or even ugly old pipes.

Boston Ivy is also known as Japanese Ivy and is native to Eastern Asia.