Care of the new plant

• Take at least 3cm (1") off all stems, making a slanted cut with a sharp knife, or secateurs if stems are woody. Don't hammer the stems.
• Make sure vases are very clean, and use fresh lukewarm water.
• Strip all leaves below water level to avoid polluting the water.
• Always use proprietary flower food to feed flowers and leaves, and prevent bacteria forming in the stems causing wilting.
• Avoid direct sunlight, heat, or draughts.
• Keep foliage & fillers away from fruit, and remove faded flowers and leaves as they occur.
• Top up the water regularly and add flower food as necessary.

Care after flowering
Assorted Foliage Plants: Pothos Marble Queen

Care of the new plant

• Most cultivars of ivy grow best in bright light, but not direct sun. They tolerate low to medium light, but growth is reduced and variegated forms may turn all green. To maintain the bright color of a variegated ivy, give it plenty of light. Ivies can be grown with artificial light, or near a north, east or west window.
• Water ivies thoroughly, then let the soil dry to the touch to a depth of ½ inch before watering again. Although ivies prefer moderate humidity, they will tolerate normal low home levels. Raise the humidity by setting the plants on a tray of wet pebbles or perlite. Do not allow ivies to stand in water. Ivies benefit from good air circulation, and they should not be crowded.
• Ivies do well at cool to moderate room temperatures of 50 to 70 ° F during the day and about 5 to 10 ° F lower at night. A good, rich commercial houseplant potting mix will be fine for ivy. They should be planted in a container with good drainage.
• Fertilize ivies monthly while they are actively growing with a foliage houseplant fertilizer, according to the label directions. Do not use fertilizer when plants stop growing either in the heat of summer, or when temperatures are cool.
• Propagation is by rooting stem or tip cuttings. Most types of ivy will root easily in water. Repot ivies when the plants become top-heavy or root bound or dry out too rapidly. The new pot should be no more than 1 inch larger in diameter than the pot it was originally grown in. Using too large a pot can cause the soil to stay wet too long and lead to root rot.
• Ivy topiaries are made by planting a small-leafed ivy cultivar at the base of a sphagnum moss- stuffed wire frame. The plants are kept trained and pinned to the frame. They need to be pruned frequently to keep the shape clear. Sometimes two types of ivy will be grown on a frame to show details, such as eyes, on an animal topiary. Be especially careful to keep the upper portions of a topiary moist.

Care after flowering
Indoors
In the home, plant diseases are very rarely a problem. Too much or too little water plus insects and mites are the main problems. Root rot usually results from a soil mix that does not drain quickly or overly frequent watering. Mealybugs, mites, aphids, whiteflies and scales are the most common insect pests of ivies grown as houseplants. If the area infested is limited you can prune out those parts of the plant. Periodic washing can help prevent many pest problems. Wash plants by dunking the foliage upside down in a gallon of water to which insecticidal soap has been added. Hold the soil in the pot with a cover of foil or plastic. Maintaining cooler temperatures and high humidity will help prevent some of the most common insect pests, but the plant will grow more slowly. Some people develop a skin rash as a result of contact with the plant sap. Wear gloves when pruning ivies if you know that you have this reaction.

Care of the new plant

• LIGHT: Like their relatives, the Philodendron, these plants enjoy medium to low light conditions. They maintain their best appearance, however, in medium light intensities. Too much light will cause burn spots of the leaves.
• TEMPERATURE: Provide optimun temperaturwes between 60-90°. These plants will, however, survive temperatures as low as 40° without damage.
• WATER: Homalomenas do not like to be dry. When watering, saturate the soil. Good drainage is important so make sure the plant is not sitting in water. Fertilize regularly with a liquid plant food at the recommended strength.

Care after flowering
Assorted Foliage Plants: Homalomena 'Emerald Gem'