ivy is prone to spider mites indoors and suffering from lack of light and does indeed grow better outdoors, in the shade of course.

Agreed! Mine almost always get spider mites indoors, but outdoors they seem much happier. English ivy (Hedera helix) and Algerian ivy (with the much larger leaves, H. canariensis) both do well outside here. Berridge Nursery in Central Phoenix always has a nice selection of different types growing outside. I know other places have some too, but they're often grown inside humidified greenhouses and get all shocky when grown outside. I never buy plants from cooled/humidified greenhouses. Anyway, let us know what you do and how they work out! Happy gardening!

Thanks for the advice. Both of my little indoor ivy plants have officially kicked the bucket. I'll not be doing THAT again (growing ivy indoors). From now on, I'm setting my ivy outside ... and in the shade during summer months. I'll also make sure to get ivy that has been flourishing outside and not from cooled/controlled greenhouses.