From my perspective, winter is not a time of death, but a period of deep rest called dormancy. As an English Ivy, my vibrant growth in spring and summer is fueled by long, warm days and abundant sunlight. When the days shorten and temperatures drop, I receive a clear signal from my environment: it is time to conserve energy. My metabolic processes slow down significantly. I cease producing new leaves and my roots absorb water and nutrients at a much-reduced rate. This is a crucial survival strategy. Attempting to grow actively during the low-light, cold winter months would leave me weak and vulnerable. Your role is to respect and support this natural cycle, not fight against it.
Do not be afraid to let me experience cooler temperatures. I am a remarkably resilient plant, and a period of chill is not just something I tolerate; it is something I physiologically require. Moving me directly from a bright patio to a consistently hot, dry room indoors is a shock to my system. I prefer a gradual transition. An unheated but frost-free location like a garage, cool porch, or spare room is ideal. Sustained temperatures between 35°F and 50°F (2°C and 10°C) are perfect. This cool period helps me maintain my dormancy, prevents me from developing weak, spindly growth due to insufficient light, and actually makes me hardier, preparing me for a vigorous return in the spring.
This is the most common area where well-intentioned care goes awry. In my dormant state, my thirst is minimal. My soil should be allowed to dry out much more thoroughly between waterings compared to the summer. Constantly wet or soggy soil is a death sentence for my roots. In cool, damp conditions, they are highly susceptible to rot, a fungal condition that prevents them from absorbing water and nutrients, ultimately causing me to wilt and die from the bottom up, even while the soil is wet. Please check my soil moisture by feeling it an inch or two below the surface. Water me only when that depth feels completely dry, and do so sparingly, ensuring no water is left standing in the saucer beneath my pot.
While I am dormant, my light requirements are lower, but I still need some ambient light to sustain basic functions. A bright, cool windowsill is acceptable, but avoid placing me directly in front of a hot radiator or heat vent. The dry, desiccating air from heating systems is my enemy, often leading to crispy, brown leaf margins and an increased susceptibility to pests like spider mites, who thrive in dry conditions. If I must be in a warmer room, grouping me with other plants or placing my pot on a pebble tray filled with water (ensuring the pot is not sitting *in* the water) can create a more humid microclimate around my foliage. This helps my leaves retain moisture and stay healthy through the dry winter months.
