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Basic Care
Ivy topiaries do not need much water. Over watering could cause root rot and it will then die very quickly. Learn how much the topiary weighs when full of water as this is important. When it seems lighter in weight, it needs to be watered. Do this by submerging the whole plant in water, leaves and all. Leave it for about one or two minutes, but no longer. This works especially well with forms that are made with moss.
- To keep its shape, wind the new growth around the form and pinch-off dried dead leaves.
- Ivy topiaries flourish in either bright or partially shady locations. Most varieties do not tolerate full sun.
Make a Wire Topiary Form
- Topiary forms like these can be purchased at garden or crafts stores
Materials:
- plastic coated 19-gauge electrical wire or wire coat hanger
green sphagnum moss (optional for homemade forms)
pliers
narrow-gauge spool wire
Steps:
- Make a simple shape (fish, heart, star, etc.) using the plastic coated wire. Give the frame a wire stem with a forked base so that it easily sticks into the ivy plant .
- If desired, wrap green sphagnum moss around the wire form. Wind spool wire around the moss and attach it to the frame.
- To shape topiary out of a wire coat hanger, pull the hook straight. Bend the hanger into a simple form. Try a tulip by bending the ends of the hanger up
and pulling the center up as well. Round out the sides.
- Cover with moss as described above.
Make an Ivy Topiary
Materials:
4" topiary plant (small leaf varieties work well with smaller topiary shapes)
decorative container to fit the plant
topiary form (homemade or from a store)
Steps:
- Insert the ivy into the decorative container. Put topiary form into plant.
- To wind the strands of ivy around the form, strip the leaves from the part of the ivy strand that will wrap around the stem of the form. Wind in only one
direction. Leave the ivy leaves on the part of the strand where the shape begins.
Sensational Succulent Topiaries
Materials (this topiary stands approximately 12 inches tall):
4" ivy plant
decorative container to fit ivy
ivy topiary form (ball or tree works best)
about 15 Sempervivum succulent rosettes (for a ball form that is 6" in diameter )
floral greening pins
green sphagnum moss
decorative ribbon (optional)
Steps:
- Place ivy plant in decorative container.
- Insert roots of sempervivums between the wires of the topiary form. It is okay to push quite hard, as these are resilient. Insert/plant them next to
each other to fill the entire form. When using small frames, no extra soil is required.
- Use floral greening pins where necessary to keep the sempervivums in place.
- Fill small gaps with moss.
- After filling the entire form, insert it into the ivy plant.
- Finish with decorative ribbon tied around the stem, if desired.
- Place succulent topiary in bright light and water only about every two weeks, when topiary is dried out and lighter in weight.
- To water, submerge the entire topiary for five seconds only in a bucket of water or mist them with a spray bottle.
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