Ivy brings back fond memories for me of when I first started studying floristry over ten years ago. As part of the course, we were taught the skill of wiring and we used ivy leaves as the foliage element for buttonhole designs. We stitched the leaves with fine silver wire and then bound them with tape. I loved (and still do!) this intricate process.
This well-known plant is this month’s Houseplant of the Month. Common ivy is known as Hedera helix and it’s very easy to grow. With its trailing vines, it looks lovely on a shelf or hanging in a bathroom, bedroom, living room, home office or hallway.
As well as adding a pop of green to your home, it’s one of the most air purifying houseplants! It absorbs harmful substances out of the air and exchanges them for pure oxygen, thereby improving your environment.
Keep your ivy in the semi-shade or shade in a cool room. However, if you have a variegated variety, they benefit from bright light, as their leaves will change to mostly green, if they’re not getting enough light. With regards to looking after your ivy plant, keep the compost moist, but give the roots time to dry out between waterings.
In floristry, as well as being used for buttonholes, ivy is perfect to use in pedestal designs, table designs, tablecentres, hand-tied bouquets and trailing bouquets. And ivy trails look beautiful simply placed down the centre of tables, plus in hanging designs.
P.S. If you love ivy, you may like to visit The Joy of Plants website.
P.P.S. If you’re a florist and would like more information, simply visit The Flower Council of Holland website.
(Just to let you know…I’m going to be taking some time off from today and will be back next week. I hope you have a fabulous Easter!)
* This post is brought to you in collaboration with The Flower Council of Holland. All the words are my own.
(Images : The Flower Council of Holland)
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