“Our outdoor potted ivy plant has holes in the leaves. How do we solve this problem?” -Julie
If you don’t have any other visible evidence of disease or infestation (such as discoloration of leaves, curled leaves, spots, or the like), it sounds like something is simply eating the leaves.
Likely culprits are caterpillars, slugs, or beetles. All three should be visible to the naked eye by inspecting your plant at various times of the day (including after dark to catch slugs on the move).
Control measures include hand-picking, baiting/trapping, natural repellents, bacterial poisons, insect predators, or application of pesticide sprays, pellets, or powders. Once you’ve identified your culprit, you can choose a product or control method to target it.
Thirty years ago my husband helped an elderly couple that was stranded in our town. We took them 85 miles from our little town of Dilley to San Antonio, Tx. The elderly lady was so grateful she gave me an ivy plant. The ivy had oval shaped holes in all the leaves. The holes were parallel to the veins on the leaves. I asked her if it was some sort of bug that might be eating the leaves and she said that all the leaves came out that way. I have had cuttings of the same plant for 30 years and each leaf uncurls with the tiny oval holes in it. It is very delicate..not too much sun or water. I have not been able to find another like it. I keep it on my kitchen windowsill and talk to it while I cook and wash dishes. Please help me find the name of it.
I have aquifer an Ivy with perfect holes in each leaf. I’m trying to find the name of plant.
My mother passed away in 1982 and we got one of the plants from her funeral. The ivy plant had holes in the leaves. This plant was so different. We had It until about two years ago. I
I ALSO HAVE AN IVY PLANT THAT HAS NATURALLY OCCURRING HOLES IN LEAVES. THIS IS NOT CAUSED BY INSECT OR DISEASE. LADY WHO GAVE IT TO ME CALLED IT “HOLEY IVY”. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND OTHER INFO ABOUT THIS PLANT, BUT WOULD LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT . ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
It is a Devils Ivy! The leaves are poisonous to Dogs. It is toxic.
I would also like to know the name of the ivy with natural holes in the leaves. My aunt gave me one several years ago; unfortunately it didn’t survive this winter and neither did my aunt or her remaining ivy.