Complete Guide To Kangaroo Ivy Care and Growth

Best Light for Kangaroo Ivy (Medium to Bright Indirect)

Ideal Lighting: Kangaroo Ivy thrives in medium to bright indirect light. An east-facing window is perfect, offering gentle morning sun without the harsh afternoon rays. A few feet back from a south or west window also works well.

North-Facing Windows Work Too: Unlike many houseplants that would sulk in northern exposure, Kangaroo Ivy can actually do well in a north-facing window. It evolved as an understory plant in Australian rainforests, so it’s adapted to filtered, dappled light. Growth might be slower, but the plant will stay healthy.

Avoid Direct Sunlight: Those glossy leaves will scorch if hit by direct sun, especially harsh afternoon rays. You’ll see bleached patches, brown spots, or crispy edges if it’s getting too much direct exposure. A sheer curtain can make all the difference if your only option is a sunny window.

Low Light Tolerance for Kangaroo Ivy

Kangaroo Ivy is genuinely more tolerant of lower light than most trailing plants. This made it a staple in offices, shopping malls, and hotel lobbies during the 1970s and 80s. However, in truly dim conditions, you’ll notice:

• Slower growth overall
• Longer gaps between leaves (leggy appearance)
• Smaller new leaves
• Fewer tendrils

If low light is your only option, consider supplementing with a grow light for a few hours daily. Even a basic LED grow bulb in a desk lamp can make a noticeable difference.

Signs of Incorrect Lighting on Your Kangaroo Ivy

• Too Little Light: Leggy growth with sparse, widely-spaced leaves, pale foliage, slow or no growth
• Too Much Light: Bleached or faded leaves, brown scorched patches especially on exposed surfaces, leaves curling or crisping at the edges

When to Water Your Kangaroo Ivy

The Finger Test: Stick your finger about 1-2 inches into the soil. If it’s dry, water. If it still feels moist, wait a day or two. The soil should be allowed to dry partially between waterings, but not completely bone dry.

Typical Frequency: During spring and summer when the plant is actively growing, you’ll probably water about once a week. In fall and winter, stretch that to every 10-14 days as growth slows. But always go by what the soil tells you, not a rigid calendar.

Consistency Matters: Kangaroo Ivy doesn’t like wild swings between drought and soggy. Fluctuating moisture levels stress the plant and can cause leaf drop or brown edges. Aim for consistent, moderate moisture.

How to Water Your Kangaroo Ivy Properly

Thorough Watering: When you water, do it properly. Pour water slowly over the entire soil surface until it flows out the drainage holes. This ensures the whole root system gets hydrated, not just the top layer.

Empty the Saucer: After watering, let the pot drain completely. Never let your Kangaroo Ivy sit in standing water; that’s a fast track to root rot.

Water Temperature: Use room temperature water. Cold water straight from the tap can shock the roots.

Signs of Watering Problems in Kangaroo Ivy

• Overwatering: Yellowing leaves (especially older leaves dropping first), soft or mushy stems at the base, fungus gnats hovering around the soil, musty smell
• Underwatering: Wilting or drooping, dry and crispy leaf edges, leaf drop, soil pulling away from pot edges

Ideal Soil Mix for Kangaroo Ivy

What Kangaroo Ivy Wants: A well-draining potting mix that holds some moisture but doesn’t stay soggy. Unlike aroids that need super chunky mixes, Kangaroo Ivy is fine with a more standard approach.

Simple Recipe: Mix together:

• 2 parts quality potting soil
• 1 part perlite (for drainage and aeration)
• A small handful of orchid bark or coconut coir (optional, for extra structure)

Pre-Made Options: A standard houseplant potting mix with some added perlite works perfectly. Nothing fancy required here. If you’re seeing water take a long time to absorb or drain, add more perlite.

Drainage is Essential for Kangaroo Ivy

Always Use Drainage Holes: Your pot absolutely must have holes at the bottom. Kangaroo Ivy’s roots will rot relatively quickly if sitting in waterlogged soil, even though it’s forgiving in other ways. If you love a decorative cachepot without holes, keep the plant in an inner nursery pot that does drain.

Skip the Gravel Layer: Contrary to old advice, gravel at the bottom doesn’t actually improve drainage. It creates a perched water table that holds moisture higher in the pot. Just use good soil and drainage holes.

Best Fertilizer for Kangaroo Ivy

Type: A balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer works great. Look for something with equal or near-equal N-P-K numbers like 10-10-10 or 20-20-20.

Organic Options: Fish emulsion diluted to half strength or worm castings worked into the top of the soil are gentle, effective organic alternatives. They also improve soil structure over time.

How Often to Fertilize Kangaroo Ivy

Growing Season (Spring/Summer): Feed once a month during active growth. Always dilute to half the recommended strength on the package. More fertilizer is definitely not better.

Dormant Season (Fall/Winter): Stop fertilizing entirely from November through February. The plant isn’t actively growing and can’t use the extra nutrients, which just accumulate in the soil and can burn roots.

Signs of Fertilizer Issues

• Over-fertilizing: White crusty buildup on soil surface, brown leaf tips and edges, wilting despite moist soil
• Under-fertilizing: Pale leaves, slow growth, smaller new leaves than usual

If you’ve over-fertilized, flush the soil by running water through it several times. Hold off on feeding for a month or two after that.

Ideal Temperature for Kangaroo Ivy

Optimal Range: Keep your Kangaroo Ivy between 60-80°F (15-27°C). This covers typical room temperatures in most homes, so you shouldn’t need to do anything special.

Cooler Tolerance: Kangaroo Ivy comes from subtropical forests where temperatures can dip, so it handles cooler temps better than many tropical houseplants. It can tolerate temperatures down to 50°F (10°C) without major drama, though growth will slow significantly.

Minimum Temperature: Avoid temperatures below 50°F (10°C). Cold damage shows up as blackened, mushy leaves and stunted or halted growth.

Protecting Your Kangaroo Ivy from Temperature Stress

Avoid Drafts: Keep your plant away from cold drafts near windows in winter, exterior doors, and air conditioning vents in summer.

Watch Heat Sources: Don’t place it directly next to heating vents, radiators, or fireplaces. The dry hot air will stress the plant and cause brown leaf edges.

Outdoor Summer Vacation: Kangaroo Ivy can go outdoors in summer in a shaded spot. Just bring it back inside before night temps drop below 55°F (13°C) in autumn.

Ideal Humidity for Kangaroo Ivy (40-60%)

Sweet Spot: Kangaroo Ivy is happy in the 40-60% humidity range, which is achievable in most homes without special equipment. It won’t throw a tantrum in average household humidity the way calatheas or ferns would, but you’ll see the best growth and glossiest leaves in that moderate range.

Signs of Low Humidity:

• Brown, crispy leaf edges
• Leaf drop
• Slower growth
• Leaves losing their glossy sheen and looking dull

How to Increase Humidity for Your Kangaroo Ivy

Humidifier: The most effective method if your home is very dry, especially during winter heating season. Check out our guide on boosting humidity for indoor plants.

Pebble Tray: Place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. As the water evaporates, it creates a humid microclimate around the plant. Just make sure the pot sits on the pebbles, not in the water.

Group Plants Together: Clustering humidity-loving plants together creates a little jungle effect as they all transpire and add moisture to the air.

Bathroom or Kitchen: These naturally humid rooms can be great spots for Kangaroo Ivy, as long as they also have adequate light.

Misting: Honestly, misting doesn’t do much for sustained humidity improvement since the moisture evaporates within minutes. If you enjoy the ritual, go ahead, but don’t rely on it as your primary humidity strategy.

What Kangaroo Ivy Flowers Look Like

Why Indoor Kangaroo Ivy Rarely Blooms

Kangaroo Ivy (Cissus antarctica)

The species itself doesn’t have widely-sold named cultivars like some houseplants do. When you buy Kangaroo Ivy, you’re getting the standard species. However, you may notice natural variation in leaf size and growth habit between individual plants.

Standard Form: Large, glossy, heart-to-oval-shaped leaves with prominent serrated (toothed) edges. Simple leaves, not compound. Vigorous grower that can trail 10-15 feet indoors.

Related Cissus Species

The Cissus genus includes several other houseplants you might encounter:

• Grape Ivy (Cissus rhombifolia): The most commonly confused relative. Has distinctive THREE-lobed leaves (like tiny oak leaves) rather than simple leaves. Care is almost identical. Also non-toxic and easy.
• Oak Leaf Ivy (Cissus rhombifolia ‘Ellen Danica’): A cultivar of Grape Ivy with more deeply-lobed, lacy foliage. Same care requirements.
• Cissus discolor (Rex Begonia Vine): A stunning species with velvety dark leaves marked with silver patterns and purple undersides. Much more finicky than Kangaroo Ivy, requiring higher humidity and consistent warmth.
• Cissus quadrangularis (Veldt Grape): A succulent-stemmed species grown more for its unusual square stems than its foliage. Very different care needs.

Kangaroo Ivy vs Grape Ivy (Know the Difference)

These two Cissus species are often confused or mislabeled in stores. Here’s how to tell them apart:

Both are great choices! Kangaroo Ivy has bigger, bolder leaves while Grape Ivy has a more delicate, lacy appearance.

Kangaroo Ivy vs English Ivy (Important Distinction)

Despite both being called “ivy,” these plants are very different:

If you have pets, Kangaroo Ivy is absolutely the safer choice!

Choosing a Pot for Kangaroo Ivy

Pot Material: Terra cotta is excellent because it’s porous and helps the soil dry out evenly between waterings. Plastic and ceramic work too; just adjust your watering frequency since they retain moisture longer than clay.

Size Matters: Go only 1-2 inches larger in diameter when sizing up. A pot that’s too big holds too much moisture relative to the root mass, increasing the risk of root rot.

Drainage Holes: Non-negotiable. Your pot must drain well.

When to Repot Your Kangaroo Ivy

Timing: Repot every 1-2 years, or when you notice:

• Roots circling the bottom of the pot or growing out the drainage holes
• Water running straight through without being absorbed by the soil
• Soil drying out much faster than usual
• Stunted growth despite proper care

Best Season: Spring is ideal, when the plant is entering its active growth phase and can recover quickly from root disturbance.

How to Repot Kangaroo Ivy Step by Step

1. Water your plant a day before repotting to reduce transplant stress
2. Prepare your new pot with fresh potting mix
3. Gently remove the plant from its current pot (you may need to squeeze the sides)
4. Loosen the root ball and shake off old soil
5. Inspect roots and trim any that are brown, mushy, or dead with clean scissors
6. Place in the new pot at the same depth it was previously growing
7. Fill around with fresh soil, pressing gently to eliminate air pockets
8. Water thoroughly and let drain completely
9. Skip fertilizing for 2-3 weeks while roots settle into their new home

Why Prune Your Kangaroo Ivy

Encourage Branching: When you cut a vine, the plant responds by sending out new growth from the nodes below the cut. One vine becomes two (or more). This is how you get a bushy, full plant instead of a few long, scraggly stems.

Control Size and Shape: Kangaroo Ivy is a vigorous grower, and those vines can get impressively long. Pruning keeps things manageable and looking intentional rather than wild.

Remove Damage: Yellow, brown, or damaged leaves and vines should be removed to direct the plant’s energy toward healthy growth.

How to Prune Kangaroo Ivy

When to Prune: Light tidying can be done anytime. Major shape-up pruning is best done in spring or early summer when the plant can recover quickly with fresh new growth.

Where to Cut: Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears. Cut just above a node (the bump on the stem where leaves and tendrils emerge). New growth will sprout from this point.

Save Those Cuttings: Every cutting with at least one node can be rooted into a new plant. Check the propagation section below!

Water Propagation for Kangaroo Ivy

This is the most popular method because you can watch the roots develop.

Step 1: Take a cutting 5-7 inches long with 2-4 leaves and at least 2-3 nodes. Cut just below a node with clean, sharp scissors.

Step 2: Remove the leaf closest to the bottom, exposing the node. This is where roots will emerge first.

Step 3: Place the cutting in a jar of room-temperature water, making sure at least one or two nodes are submerged but leaves stay above water.

Step 4: Set in bright, indirect light. Change the water every few days to keep it fresh and oxygenated.

Step 5: Roots should appear within 2-4 weeks. Once they’re about 2 inches long with some branching, pot up in soil.

For the full walkthrough, see our water propagation guide.

Soil Propagation for Kangaroo Ivy

If you’d rather skip the transition from water to soil, you can root directly in soil.

Step 1: Take cuttings the same way as for water propagation.

Step 2: (Optional) Dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder. This speeds things up but isn’t strictly necessary for Cissus.

Step 3: Plant the cutting in moist, well-draining soil with at least one or two nodes buried.

Step 4: Create a humid environment by covering loosely with a clear plastic bag or placing in a propagation box.

Step 5: Keep soil lightly moist (not soggy) and in bright indirect light.

Step 6: After 3-4 weeks, gently tug the cutting. Resistance means roots have formed and you can remove the humidity dome.

For more details, visit our soil propagation guide.

Tips for Successful Kangaroo Ivy Propagation

• Take cuttings in spring or summer for fastest rooting
• Warmer temperatures (70-80°F) speed up root development significantly
• You can root multiple cuttings together for an instantly fuller pot
• The tendrils won’t root; only stem nodes will develop roots
• Be patient. Some cuttings root faster than others

Common Pests on Kangaroo Ivy

Spider Mites: The most common pest for Kangaroo Ivy, especially when the air is dry. Look for fine webbing on leaf undersides and tiny stippling damage on leaves (small yellow dots where mites have fed). Increase humidity and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Mealybugs: White, cottony clusters in leaf axils and along stems. Dab with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab for small infestations, or spray with insecticidal soap for larger ones.

Scale Insects: Brown or tan bumps on stems and leaves that can look like they’re part of the plant. Treat with horticultural oil or neem oil.

Fungus Gnats: Tiny flying insects whose larvae live in moist soil. Let soil dry out more between waterings and use yellow sticky traps. For heavy infestations, drench with Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis).

Aphids: Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth. Wash off with a strong spray of water and follow up with insecticidal soap if they persist.

Pest Prevention and Treatment

Prevention:

• Inspect new plants carefully before bringing them home
• Quarantine new additions for 2-3 weeks before placing with other plants
• Keep humidity adequate (spider mites hate moisture)
• Don’t overwater (fungus gnats love wet soil)
• Wipe leaves occasionally to check for hitchhikers and remove dust

Treatment:

• Isolate infested plants immediately
• Physically remove pests when possible (handpick scale, wipe off mealybugs)
• Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil, covering all leaf surfaces including undersides
• Repeat treatment every 7-10 days for 3-4 rounds to break the pest life cycle

Common Kangaroo Ivy Problems

Yellowing Leaves: Usually an overwatering symptom. Check the soil. If it’s soggy, let it dry out more between waterings. A few older leaves yellowing and dropping occasionally is normal as the plant directs energy to new growth.

Brown Crispy Edges: Usually caused by low humidity, underwatering, or both. Can also be fertilizer burn (salt buildup). Increase humidity and ensure thorough watering. If you see crusty residue on the soil, flush it well.

Leggy Growth: Long stems with sparse, widely-spaced leaves means your plant needs more light. Move to a brighter location and prune the leggy growth to encourage bushier, more compact regrowth.

Leaf Drop: Sudden leaf drop is usually a stress response from overwatering, cold drafts, or being moved suddenly. Kangaroo Ivy doesn’t love frequent change, so find a good spot and leave it there.

Wilting or Drooping: Could be underwatering or overwatering. Feel the soil to diagnose. If bone dry, water thoroughly. If wet, check for root rot.

Loss of Gloss: If leaves look dull and matte instead of glossy, it could be low humidity, dust buildup, or overexposure to direct light. Gently wipe leaves with a damp cloth and increase humidity.

Kangaroo Ivy Diseases

Root Rot: The number one killer. Caused by overwatering or poor drainage. Symptoms include yellowing leaves, mushy stems at the base, and a musty or unpleasant smell from the soil. If caught early, unpot the plant, trim all affected roots (they’ll be brown and mushy rather than white/tan and firm), let roots air dry briefly, and repot in fresh, dry soil.

Powdery Mildew: White, powdery coating on leaves. Caused by poor air circulation combined with humidity. Improve ventilation around the plant, remove affected leaves, and treat with a fungicide or baking soda spray if needed.

Leaf Spot: Brown or black spots with yellow halos. Usually fungal or bacterial. Remove affected leaves promptly, improve air circulation, and avoid getting water on foliage when watering.

Hanging and Trailing Display Options

High Shelf Drama: Place on top of a bookcase or tall cabinet and let the vines cascade down. With vines that can reach 10-15 feet, you can create a serious green curtain effect.

Macrame Hanger: A macrame plant hanger is a classic that never goes out of style. Perfect for showing off those trailing vines in a retro-70s way.

Mantelpiece or Windowsill: Let it drape elegantly along a mantel, shelf edge, or window frame. Just watch that it doesn’t get direct sun.

Climbing Display Options

Trellis Training: Add a small decorative trellis to the pot and train the vines to climb. The tendrils will grab on and create a sculptural, vertical display.

Moss Pole: You can train Kangaroo Ivy up a moss pole for a more dramatic, upright look. Keep the pole moist to encourage the tendrils to grab on.

Wall Climbing: Use small clear hooks or wire guides to lead vines along a wall or around a window frame. It creates a living art installation effect.

Container and Styling Ideas

Pot Pairings: The large, glossy deep green leaves look stunning in natural materials: terracotta, woven seagrass baskets, cream ceramics, or matte black containers.

Grouping: Cluster with other trailing plants like Grape Ivy, Pothos varieties, or Philodendron Brasil for a lush jungle corner.

Terrariums: Young Kangaroo Ivy plants can work in large terrariums for a while, though they’ll eventually outgrow the space. Enjoy them while they fit!

Expert Advice for Growing Kangaroo Ivy

🌱 Watch those tendrils. Healthy Kangaroo Ivy produces lots of curly tendrils as it grows. If you’re not seeing many, the plant might need more light or nutrients.

💡 Low light really works. Unlike many houseplants that “tolerate” low light (while slowly dying), Kangaroo Ivy genuinely lives well in medium to lower light conditions. It was a mall plant for a reason.

🌿 Bigger is bolder. The leaves on Kangaroo Ivy are noticeably larger than those on Grape Ivy. If you want more visual impact from a single plant, this is your pick.

💦 Humidity helps but isn’t essential. This is forgiving compared to fussier tropicals. 40-60% humidity is ideal, but it won’t die dramatic deaths in drier conditions.

✂️ Prune for fullness. Don’t let vines get long and scraggly. Regular pinching and pruning encourages branching and keeps the plant looking lush.

🔄 Rotate regularly. Give the pot a quarter turn each time you water to ensure even growth on all sides and prevent lopsided development.

🐾 Pet owners can relax. This is one of the larger trailing plants that’s genuinely pet-safe. Great option if you have cats who like to nibble.

❄️ Cooler temps are fine. Unlike most tropicals, Kangaroo Ivy handles cooler indoor temperatures (down to 50°F) without complaining.

🌱 Propagate generously. Cuttings root so easily, there’s no reason not to fill in a sparse pot, share with friends, or start new plants throughout your home.

Is Kangaroo Ivy the same as Grape Ivy?

Is Kangaroo Ivy safe for cats and dogs?

Why are the leaves on my Kangaroo Ivy turning brown and crispy?

Why is my Kangaroo Ivy dropping leaves?

How do I make my Kangaroo Ivy fuller and less leggy?

Can Kangaroo Ivy climb or does it only trail?

How fast does Kangaroo Ivy grow?

What's the difference between Kangaroo Ivy and English Ivy?