Chris Buckland
If you are new to the whole growing houseplants thing, then the stunning and tiny Swedish Ivy plant is the perfect option for you!
Also known as Creeping Charlie, this plant is one of the most beginner-friendly and low-maintenance houseplants to work with.
It has thick stems and super tiny leaves with scalloped edges that are an absolute delight to the eyes! Also, it has a bushy form of shape that will give a whole garden vibe to your space.
Swedish Ivy is commonly found in Australia and Africa and thrives more in warm temperatures. Moreover, the stems of this tiny plant can grow from anywhere between 18” to 24” inches, and its leaves are hardly 1’ inch wide.
See, now you know how tiny it is? Also, its leaves have a glossy look that makes the plant shine even more.
Here is the best best part; the Swedish Ivy plant can bloom tiny lavenders and white flowers during spring and summer, only if you treat them right! Also, its maximum life expectancy is 4 to 5 years, so you will have plenty of time to spend with it.
Want to know more about this beautiful, low-maintenance plant? Keep Reading!
Characteristics of the Swedish Ivy
| Origin | It is native to Australia and Africa. |
| Botanical Name | Plectranthus australis. |
| Maintenance | Requires low maintenance. |
| Light | Requires bright indirect light. |
| Temperature | 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to both humans and pets. |
| Maximum Size | 24” inches stems and 1” inches leaves. Height: 3 feet. |
| Propagation | It is propagated through stem cuttings. |
| Flowering | It can bloom flowers in spring and summer. |
| Other Names | Creeping Charlie, Swedish Begonia, and Whorled Plectranthus. |
How to Care for the Swedish Ivy Plant?
As we have mentioned above, the Swedish Ivy is a very beginner-friendly houseplant and will require a minimum effort from your side to flourish and thrive. Still, it is a living thing, and it deserves a little attention and care as well.
For your convenience, we are sharing a teeny tiny maintenance routine and a few factors to consider while caring for your Creeping Charlie plant. Here are those factors:
Sunlight
Swedish Ivy requires bright, indirect sunlight all year long to stay fresh and healthy. Direct sun will make its leaves bend and troop. Similarly, lack of enough indirect sunlight will also make the plant look leggy and gapped. For your plant’s best care, you must know how much light does your plant needs?
Note: NO DIRECT SUNLIGHT.
Water
The Swedish Ivy plant loves and needs moist soil, especially during summer and spring when it is growing. So, make sure to water it enough during the warm season to keep the plant moist, but not too soggy or watery. However, you can minimize the watering cycle in autumn and winter.
Fertilizer
For fertilizer, you need a balanced, houseplant liquid food to feed your Swedish Ivy plant. Also, as the plant tends to grow during summer and spring, you need to feed it once every month during these months.
Moreover, make sure to dilute the fertilizer in half with water. In winter, you can fertilize it every 3 months or so, but if you notice the plant becoming dull, you can increase the feeding time.
The most important thing, make sure that the fertilizer you are opting for has a minimum amount of nitrogen. Because too much nitrogen won’t allow your Swedish Ivy plant to bloom flowers.
Temperature
The Swedish Ivy plant is not too demanding in terms of temperature. An average room temperature of 70 to 75 degrees would be enough for your plant to stay fresh and happy!
Also, you won’t need to worry much in winters as well; a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees would be best for your Swedish Ivy plant!
Humidity
Just like the temperature, the Creeping Charlie plant is also very easy to go in terms of humidity. Though it prefers higher levels of humidity, it can still survive on the normal room and house humidity – just make sure to mist it with water every now and then.
Still, if you are living in an extremely dry environment, you will have to take a few measures to provide it with enough humidity. And the easiest solution to do that is to buy a small-sized humidifier for your beloved and beautiful plant.
If you want to know more about Humidity, here is a complete guide on What is High Humidity and How to Increase Humidity for Your Houseplants
Soil
If you want to provide your Swedish Ivy plant with the best of the best, then you can opt for an organic peat moss-based potting mix. Still, any good and high-quality potting would also work. Just make sure to keep the soil slightly moist, at all times.
Propagation
As we have briefly mentioned in the characteristics, you can propagate your Swedish Ivy plant with the help of stem cuttings. Also, make sure to go through the propagating procedure in summer after it blooms flowers. Its stems can conveniently root in a moist and damp potting mix or simply in water.
Another method to propagate Swedish Ivy is through division. But still, we would recommend you to always go with the stems cutting method – it is both effective and convenient.
Swedish Ivy Decoration Ideas
Now that we have gone through the boring maintenance details, let us move to the exciting part. Here are a few ideas for you on how to decorate your Swedish Ivy plant:
Hanging Baskets
Swedish Ivys are known to be the perfect plants to place in hanging baskets. They are tiny, and they look absolutely lovely in baskets.
Cane Baskets
Put your Swedish Ivy plant in a cane basket and place it on a tabletop. It will give a beautiful, garden vibe to your space.
Metallic Jars
The Swedish Ivy plant will look lovely in those gold, metallic jars. You will be able to place it anywhere you like.
Glass Jars
Glass jars always look elegant and classy; trust me. Place your Creeping Charlie in one of those and make your place look exquisite.
Pin on Living Room
Pin the stems of the plant in a zig-zag order on the walls of your living room.
Common Issues of the Swedish Ivy Plant
Like all the other plants, and especially living things, the Swedish Ivy also faces some minor issues like pests and diseases. However, none of these issues are unresolvable.
In fact, you can conveniently treat them without any hassle. Want to know about the conditions and how to treat them? Here you go.
Plant Turning Droop and Yellow
This is the most common disease of Swedish Ivy – it turns droop, pale, and yellow. This happens when the plant is not getting enough water or its potting mix is too dry. To get rid of this, try to water your plant more often.
Spider mites
Spider mites are the kind of pests that love to stick to houseplants, especially in warm weather when the plant isn’t getting enough water. However, they are easy to tackle.
All you need to do is spray your plant with Neem Oil or any insecticide to kill the spider mites. After that, remove the pests with the help of q-tips.
Mealybugs
The relationship between mealybugs and houseplants goes way back. They are small, cotton-like pests that stick to the leaves and stems of your plant and make them pale, yellow, and rusty.
To get rid of mealybugs, all you need is some alcohol or a good quality insecticide. Spray the liquid on the bugs to kill them, and then remove their little bodies with the help of q-tips or a clean cloth.
Why do Swedish Ivys Make Good Houseplants?
Though we have already told you enough about how great of a houseplant Swedish Ivy is, here are a few more points to help you make up your mind:
- The Swedish Ivy plant has detoxifying properties and it provides you with cleaner and fresh air and an environment to breathe in.
- They are very low-maintenance, so if you are someone who is new to gardening and stay busy all the time, Swedish Ivy would become the perfect houseplant for you.
- Swedish Ivy is a very tiny plant, and it won’t take much of your space – which is a plus point. You can decorate it anywhere you want without any inconvenience and hassle.
Risks Associated with the Swedish Ivy Plant
Luckily, there are no health risks associated with this stunning beauty. The Swedish Ivy plant is completely non-toxic and safe for both humans and pets even if ingested.
We cannot confirm this statement if you have bird pets at home, so you might ask your vet about that. But for animals and humans, the plant is completely safe and not dangerous at all.
Again, the Swedish Ivy plant is a perfect option for beginners and new gardeners. Also, they are stunning and will make your space look like heaven – whether it’s your home or office. Just make sure to provide it with the right love and care.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much sun does a Swedish ivy plant need?
Swedish ivy plants are small, bushy plants that are easy to care for. They require little light and water and can tolerate temperatures between 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
They prefer bright, filtered light but can tolerate low light conditions. Keep the plant on a sunny windowsill or in a bright indoor plant fixture and water only when the soil is dry. If the leaves turn yellow, the plant may need more sunlight or water.
Does Swedish ivy purify the air?
They are capable of removing toxins from the air through a process known as ‘photo-synthesis’. This means that they produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the air. By keeping indoor air clean and healthy, Swedish Ivy can help you to relax and enjoy yourself in your home or office.
How big can Swedish ivy plant get?
Swedish ivy is a gorgeous, low-maintenance plant. It can reach up to 2.7 meters tall and 1.5 meters wide. It prefers bright, indirect light and temperatures between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius.
