How to Grow and Care for Epipremnum pinnatum 'Baltic Blue' Indoors

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Baltic Blue Pothos, Epipremnum pinnatum 'Baltic Blue'

Botanical name: Epipremnum pinnatum 'Baltic Blue'
Family: Araceae
Common names: Baltic Blue Pothos, Epipremnum Baltic Blue, Baltic Blue Epipremnum

Description

Baltic Blue Pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum 'Baltic Blue') is an easy-care climbing plant that is popular for its bluish-green, fenestrated leaves and fast growth.

The leaves in Baltic Blue Pothos fenestrate very early. Fenestrations will even be found on the young leaves.

The elongated, dark-green leaves in Baltic Blue Pothos have a bluish tint which is more prominent during the colder season. They are more smooth, have no silver sheen and curve towards one side unlike the leaves in Cebu Blue Pothos.

Epipremnum Baltic Blue is often mistaken for Rhapidophora tetrasperma due to the leaf fenestrations and pinnations.

The plant can grow as a climber by means of aerial roots or as a creeper along the soil surface. To achieve more fenestrations and larger leaves, the plant should be grown vertically.

Baltic Blue Pothos can be grown in a hanging basket where the stems and leaves can cascade downwards beautifully or it can be provided with a climbing structure like a moss pole or a trellis.

Origin

Epipremnum pinnatum 'Baltic Blue' is a clone of Epipremnum pinnatum (Dragon Tail Plant) that was developed by Costa Farms in 2021.

Size

Baltic Blue Pothos is a fast-growing plant which can grow to a height of 6 ft in about 3 years.

Toxicity

Baltic Blue Pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum 'Baltic Blue') like other species of the Araceae family is toxic to both humans and pets. Wikipedia indicates that the plants contain crystals of Calcium oxalate.

If ingested these crystals can cause burning and swelling in the mouth and throat, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pains. Keep Baltic Blue Pothos away from the reach of children and pets.

Where to Buy

Epipremnum Baltic Blue is an elegant plant for your collection. Buy Baltic Blue Pothos online from Etsy.

Epipremnum pinnatum 'Baltic Blue' Care Indoors

Baltic Blue Pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum 'Baltic Blue') care indoors requires medium to bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Read on for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Light Requirements

Baltic Blue Pothos grows best in medium to bright indirect light away from direct sunlight as it can dull the leaf color and scorch the leaves.

Epipremnum Baltic Blue can tolerate lower light but the growth will be much slower than in brighter conditions.

Too little light will result in yellowish leaves and lack of fenestrations.

Baltic Blue Pothos can also grow under a grow light where natural light is not sufficient.

Watering

Water Baltic Blue Pothos liberally until water comes out through the drainage holes during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings.

Cut down on watering during the cold season to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time.

Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy soil which can result to root-rot disease and eventual death of the plant.

Temperature and Humidity

Baltic Blue Pothos thrives in an average warmth within the range of 18-29⁰C. A room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for this plant.

Keep Epipremnum Baltic Blue away from cold draughts like air conditioners, drafty windows and doors, as too cold temperatures can cause leaf drop.

Baltic Blue Pothos can grow in average room humidity but it thrives in humid conditions. Where the humidity is too low the plant will develop brown and shrivelled leaf tips and edges.

To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

Regularly clean the leaves with a damp soft cloth to get rid of dust and discourage pest infestation.

Fertilizer

Feed Baltic Blue Pothos every 4 weeks during the growing period with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to promote a lush growth.

Do not feed Epipremnum Baltic Blue during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time and feeding at this time can result to fertilizer burn.

Potting Mix

The best potting mix for Baltic Blue Pothos should be rich in organic matter and well-drained to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients.

Most potting mixes designed for aroids are ideal for the plant. Buy quality Aroids potting mix online on Etsy.

Repotting

Repot Baltic Blue Pothos during the growing season only when the plant has become pot-bound. Use a rich, free-draining soil and a pot one size larger than the current one.

Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot disease and death of the plant.

Pruning

Pruning Baltic Blue Pothos involves frequent removal of any dead foliage to keep the plant neat and tidy and also minimize pest and disease infestations.

Cut back the stems of Epipremnum Baltic Blue at the beginning of the growing season when they become straggly to rejuvenate growth and also keep the plant compact.

You can use the foliage emanating from the pruning to propagate new plants which you can share with friends and family.

Propagation

Baltic Blue Pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum 'Baltic Blue') can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season from stem cuttings. The cuttings can be rooted in soil or in water but those rooted in water take longer to root.

How to root Baltic Blue Pothos stem cuttings in soil

Baltic Blue Pothos propagation in water: Take a 4-6 in. stem cutting from a healthy Baltic Blue Pothos. Ensure the cutting has at least 4-6 leaves and some aerial roots.

Strip off the lower leaves and insert the cutting in moist rooting soil, ensure at least one leaf node together with the aerial roots are covered under soil.

To hasten rooting, cover the set up with clear plastic to create a greenhouse effect that is warm and humid conditions.

Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil moist through out until the roots develop; new growth indicate rooting.

The cuttings should root in about 2-3 weeks and the new Epipremnum Baltic Blue will be ready to be transplanted into individual pots in about 2-3 months.

When ready to transplant, fill 6-8 in. pots halfway with free-draining soil and lightly moisten the soil.

Water the new plants deeply, carefully lift the plants with a ball of soil around the roots and place in the center of the pots.

Fill the pot while lightly firming the soil around the plant roots. Water the soil thoroughly until water comes out through the drainage hole.

Place the pots in a bright indirect light and begin normal routine care.

How to root Baltic Blue Pothos stem cuttings in water

Baltic Blue Pothos propagation in water: Take a 4-6 in. stem cutting from a healthy Baltic Blue Pothos. Ensure the cutting has at least 4-6 leaves and some aerial roots.

Strip off the lower leaf and place the cutting in a jar of plain water, ensure at least one leaf node is covered in water as well as the aerial roots.

Place the set up in a warm, well-lit spot and change the water every 5-7 days.

The Epipremnum Baltic Blue cutting should root in about 3-4 weeks. When the roots are about 2 in. long, start acclimating them to grow in soil.

Acclimating the roots to grow in soil entails adding a little soil daily into the rooting jar over a period of time until when there is more soil than water in the rooting jar.

The new Baltic Blue Pothos is ready for transplanting when the roots have grown to about 4 in. long.

When the plants are ready to be transplanted, fill 6-8 in. pots halfway with free-draining soil and lightly moisten the soil.

Carefully lift the new plants with a ball of soil around the roots and place in the center of the pots.

Lightly firm the soil around the plant roots as you fill the pot. Water thoroughly until water comes out through the drainage holes.

Place the pots in a spot with bright indirect light and begin regular Epipremnum Baltic Blue routine care.

Epipremnum pinnatum 'Baltic Blue' Problems

Some of the problems that you may encounter when growing Baltic Blue Pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum 'Baltic Blue') include drooping leaves, dropping leaves, yellow leaves, brown tips and edges, dull leaves, pests and diseases among others. Read on for more details on these problems and their remedies.

Pests

The common pests in Baltic Blue Pothos are spider mites, scale insects and mealy bugs. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other houseplants and treat it with Neem oil or Insecticidal soap.

Drooping leaves

Drooping leaves in Baltic Blue Pothos may be due to improper watering; either underwatering or overwatering.

Overwatering will result in soggy soil which will cause the roots to die due to lack of oxygen in the soil. As such, the plant cannot take up water to the leaves and therefore they droop.

Underwatering means there is not adequate water in the soil for the plant to take up, therefore the leaves lose their stiffness and begin to droop.

Inspect the state of the soil by feeling the soil between your fingers. If the soil is dry, water the plant immediately and it should recover.

If the soil feels wet, slide the plant out of the pot and inspect the roots. Brown or black roots indicate rotting.

Trim them off and treat the healthy roots with a fungicidal solution. Repot the plant in fresh soil and keep it dry for about 3 days to allow it time to recover.

Thereafter, water the Epipremnum Baltic Blue liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings to maintain the soil moderately moist.

Decrease watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist but do not allow the root ball to dry out completely.

In addition, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy.

Yellow leaves, leaf drop, rotting stems

Yellow leaves, leaf drop and rotting stems in Baltic Blue Pothos is an indication of root-rot disease which is promoted by soggy soil.

Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other houseplants and treat it appropriately for the root-rot disease.

Epipremnum Baltic Blue cannot tolerate soggy soil. Always, ensure that the soil is free-draining and that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.

Curled, limp leaves and rotting stems

Curled, limp leaves and rotting stems in Baltic Blue Pothos are caused by sudden changes in the air temperature due to drafts.

Epipremnum Baltic Blue is sensitive to sudden drops in temperature. Keep the plant away from cold drafts emanating from air conditioners, drafty windows and doors to maintain an average room warmth within the range of 15-28⁰C.

Leggy growth and small pale leaves

Too little light is the cause of leggy growth and small pale leaves as Baltic Blue Pothos will not thrive in shade.

Position the Epipremnum Baltic Blue in a more brighter spot where it will receive medium to bright indirect light or instal a grow light if the natural light is inadequate.

Brown-black, shrivelled leaf tips

Brown-black, shrivelled leaf tips in Baltic Blue Pothos are due to four possible reasons. One possible reason is too dry air (low air humidity) or too little moisture in the air.

To increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a humidifier.

The second possible reason for brown-black, shrivelled leaf tips in Epipremnum Baltic Blue is soggy soil.

Baltic Blue Pothos does not like to sit in soggy soil and it will respond with brown-black leaf tips.

Repot the Baltic Blue Pothos in fresh soil. Ensure the soil is draining properly and the pot has a drainage hole.

Also, do not leave water standing in the saucer after watering; discard any water that remains on the saucer after watering.

The third possible reason for brown-black, shrivelled leaf tips in Epipremnum Baltic Blue is underwatering.

If there isn't enough moisture in the soil for the plant to take up, the leaf tips are the first to suffer. They begin to dry up, turning brown and later black.

Water the plant when the top 2-3 in. of soil dry out; avoid delayed watering to keep the soil moderately moist during the growing season.

Water less in the cold period and keep the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time but do not let the soil dry out completely.

The fourth possible reason for brown-black, shrivelled leaf tips in Baltic Blue Pothos is overfeeding or accumulation of chemicals in the soil.

Too much fertilizer in the soil will cause damage to the roots which means that the plant cannot take up adequate water and nutrients from the soil.

Brown tips is the first sign that the roots of the plant are in distress. Regularly flush (leach) out any excess chemicals from the soil by running a steady stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes.

Allow the water to run for about 5 minutes and let the excess water drain out before replacing the plant to its position.