QUESTION:
I need some help with plant identification. Got this houseplant and don’t know what it is. I have a picture of it. Can you tell me what it is? How big does it get? Is it a vine? Does it possibly bloom?
ANSWER:
Hi Lee,
Plant identification, your plant is a Swedish Ivy plant also called a Creeping Charlie plant. A Swedish Ivy is a wonderful hanging plant that may, if conditions are right, produce very pretty small flowers. These plants require bright indirect light, but no direct sun. When there is not enough light, a Swedish Ivy starts to “reach’ for the light and stems become leggy and bare. Always allow the top 30% of the soil to dry out before you water. Over watering causes root rot and is the main reason a Swedish Ivy plant dies. If leaves turn yellow, you are over watering. The leaves become soft and dull green when a Swedish Ivy needs water. You can save a plant that has been under-watered, but it is hard to save an over-watered plant. Fertilize every two weeks in the spring and summer when a Swedish Ivy is actively producing new leaves. Use a plant food high in nitrogen diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength.
You can read all my care tips on how to grow a Swedish Ivy in the Popular Houseplant section of the website.