Question
I have two varieties of ivy in my home.  I m not sure what varieties, auch as English and so forth.  I am having problems maitaining their color and life.  I tend to do really well with ivy and then it or I go south.  Right now they are displaying golden spots and look as though they are being burned.  All this but they are not dry and are well drained.    HELP!

Answer
Yolanda,

It sounds like you may be overwatering them. When they are overwatered the roots rot and then the plants can't absorb water and they look as if they are too dry. Carefully try removing the plant from the pot and remove a bit of soil and carefully examine the roots. If they are black and mushy or non existant it has been overwatered.  

If the roots are wiry and plentiful then overwatering is not the problem. In that case you could have either spider mites or a fungal infection.  If you hold the plant up to the light and look at it and see fine webs over the whole plant you have spider mites.  Take it to the kitchen sink or outside to the hose and spray it with a sharp stream of water to literally wash off the insects. Do this everyother day for 4 times and it should be fine.

If you have good roots and no webs the gold spots may indicate a fungal attack. Take lysol spray and spray the plant thoroughly, fronts and backs of all leaves, daily for 2 weeks and hopefully it will kill the fungus.

Good luck, Darlene