My mom gave me a Swedish Ivy years ago and it
took me a long time to figure out what the name of
it was, even though it was one of my favorite plants.
I also had to go through much trial and error when I
first started growing it. She didn't know why hers did
so well, while mine look spindly and dull. At last I
figured out it needed more light than I was giving it
and a little extra care! Plectranthus australis is a member of
the mint family, and it's not an ivy, which is rather odd,
since it's called Swedish Ivy. It's actually related to coleus.
It needs direct, but filtered light, or indirect bright light.
One of the major things I
learned in growing a nice plant, is to pinch it back on a
regular basis so that it becomes nice and full. It also
needs to be turned daily so that all sides receive equal
sunlight. I hung mine on the porch in the warm weather
where it really did well in the fresh air and sunlight. Be
sure you give it good light and air circulation.
Swedish Ivy do tend to get woody as they get older and
eventually need to be replaced. Take a nice section
of cutting and root it in water, and you will have a young
plant to start over with. They need to be kept evenly moist,
but not too dry or wet. If they start looking spindly you need
to move it to a sunnier spot, and keep pinching it back to help
promote new growth. Again, the pinching is a crucial thing in
keeping your Swedish Ivy looking nice.
About the author:
Brenda Hyde is editor of Old Fashioned Living and a
freelance writer living in the Midwest with her husband
and three children.
