Dragon Tail Plant (Epipremnum pinnatum) Indoor Care and Propagation Guide
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Dragon Tail Plant (Epipremnum pinnatum) prefers medium to bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Epipremnum pinnatum also called Centipede Tongavine is a rare sought-after plant on account of its ease of care and the interesting leaves which resemble a dragon tail.
The young leaves in Dragon Tail Plant have an elongated shape with a pointed end and a smooth margin. As they mature, they become deeply lobed which gives them the appearance of a dragon tail and hence the common name.
Dragon Tail Pothos leaves are glossy, dark-green on top and a lighter color on the undersides. They can grow to 1 foot long when mature.
The plant is a climber with thick fleshy stems and climbs by means of aerial roots. It can also creep along the soil surface.
Centipede Tongavine 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. It is one of the popular Pothos plants for indoor growing.
Though it is sometimes called Dragon Tail Philodendron, Dragon Tail Plant is not a Philodendron. It belongs to the genus, Epipremnum. However, both genera; Philodendron and Epipremnum, belong to the same family, Araceae.
Botanical name: Epipremnum pinnatum
Synonmy: Epipremnum elegans
Family: Araceae
Common names: Dragon Tail Plant, Centipede Tongavine, Dragon Tail Pothos, Dragon Tail Philodendron
Origin
Epipremnum pinnatum also called Epipremnum elegans is native to Northern Australia through to Malaysia, tropical and southern China, Taiwan, Japan and Melanesia.
Size
Dragon Tail Plant can grow to a height of 30 feet in its natural habitat but indoors it will grow to about 3-5 feet. It is one of the best plants for a hanging basket.
Toxicity
As Wikipedia indicates, Epipremnum pinnatum like other species of the Araceae family is toxic to both humans and pets. The plants contains Calcium oxalate. If ingested it causes burning and swelling in the mouth and throat, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pains. Keep it from the reach of children and pets to avoid any mishap.
Related Plants
Epipremnum pinnatum is similar to;
1. Epipremnum pinnatum 'Cebu Blue' whose leaves are silvery-blue-green, glaucous and textured.
2. Epipremnum pinnatum 'Baltic Blue' whose leaves are elongated, smooth, bluish-green and have no sheen.
Where to Buy
Are you looking to add Dragon Tail Plant to your plant collection? You may obtain these plants online from Etsy (Link to Etsy or from Amazon (Link to Amazon).
Epipremnum pinnatum Care Indoors
Dragon Tail Plant (Epipremnum pinnatum) flourishes in medium to bright indirect light, average warmth of 15-280C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, aroids potting mix coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Epipremnum pinnatum requires repotting only when it becomes pot-bound. Regular pruning is necessary to keep the plant neat as well as rejuvenate growth. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to provide them.
Light Requirements
Dragon Tail Plant grow best in medium to bright indirect light away from direct sunlight as it can scorch the leaves. It can tolerate lower light but the growth will be much slower than in brighter conditions.
You may also grow Epipremnum pinnatum under grow lights where the natural lighting is not adequate. Take a look at these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth and to prevent leggy growth.
Watering
Water Dragon Tail Plant liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist. Reduce watering during the cold season to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time.
Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy soil as it can result in root-rot and eventual loss of the plant.
Temperature and Humidity
Dragon Tail Plant thrives in an average warmth of 15-280C. A room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for the plant. Keep it away from cold drafts like air conditioners, drafty windows and doors, as they can cause leaf drop.
Dragon Tail Plant can grow in average room humidity of 50-55%. However, if the air is too dry the plant will develop brown and shrivelled leaf tips. To up humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Read more on how to increase humidity for houseplants.
Occasionally damp-wipe the leaves with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and discourage pest infestation. Make sure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal infestations.
Potting Mix
The best potting mix for Dragon Tail Plant should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. Aroids potting mixes, Pothos potting mixes and all purpose potting mixes are ideal. Check out these 8 best potting soil mixes for Pothos.
Fertilizer
Feed Dragon Tail Plant every 3-4 weeks during the growing period with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to encourage a lush growth. Stop feeding in the cold season as growth at this time is minimal and feeding at this time may lead to fertilizer burn and death of the plant.
Repotting
Repot Dragon Tail Plant during the growing season only when the plant has become pot-bound. Use a rich, free-draining soil and a pot one size larger for the plant. Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot. Check out these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.
Pruning
Pruning Dragon Tail Plant involves frequent removal of any dead foliage to keep the plant neat and also reduce pest and disease infestations. Cutback the stems at the beginning of the growing season when they become straggly to rejuvenate growth. The foliage emanating from the pruning can be used to propagate new plants.
Propagation
Dragon Tail Plant (Epipremnum pinnatum) can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season from stem cuttings. The cuttings can be rooted in soil or in water.
How to root Dragon Tail Plant stem cuttings in soil
Take a 4-6 inches stem cutting from a healthy Dragon Tail Plant. Ensure the cutting has at least two leaf nodes and some aerial roots.
Strip off the lower leaf 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 polythene to create a greenhouse effect; warm and humid conditions.
Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil moist through out until roots develop.
The cuttings should root in about 2-3 weeks and the new Dragon Tail Plant will be ready to be transplanted in about 2-3 months.
How to root Dragon Tail Plant stem cuttings in water
Take a 4-6 inches stem cutting from a healthy Dragon Tail Plant. Ensure the cutting has at least 2-3 leaf nodes 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 well-lit spot and change the water every 5-7 days.
The Dragon Tail Plant cutting should root in about 3-4 weeks. When the roots are about 2 inches 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 Dragon Tail Pothos is ready for transplanting when the roots have grown to about 4 inches long after which you can begin routine care.
Epipremnum pinnatum Problems
Dragon Tail Plant (Epipremnum pinnatum) problems are brought about by improper care and include leaf drop, yellow leaves, rotting, leaf spots, brown leaf tips, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Pests
The common pests in Dragon Tail Plant are spider mites and mealy bugs. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the rest of the plants. Treat it with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
Yellow leaves, leaf drop, rotting stems
Yellow leaves, leaf drop and rotting stems in Dragon Tail Plant is an indication of root-rot which is promoted by soggy soil. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants and treat it for root-rot disease.
Brown leaf edges, brown leaf spots
Brown leaf edges and brown leaf spots in Dragon Tail Plant are caused by too dry soil due to underwatering (too little soil moisture). Water the plant liberally to maintain the soil moist while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Decrease watering in the cold season as growth is reduced but do not allow the root ball to dry out completely. Read more on how to water houseplants the right way.
Curled, limp leaves and rotting stems
Curled, limp leaves and rotting stems in Dragon Tail Plant are caused by sudden changes in the air temperature due to drafts. Keep the plant away from cold drafts emanating from air conditioners, drafty windows and doors to maintain an average room warmth of 15-280C. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Brown-black, shrivelled leaf tips
Brown-black, shrivelled leaf tips in Dragon Tail Plant 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 cool mist humidifier.
The second possible reason for brown-black, shrivelled leaf tips in Dragon Tail Pothos is soggy soil. Repot the plant in fresh soil. Ensure that the soil is draining properly and the pot has a drainage hole. In addition, 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 Dragon Tail Pothos 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 inches of soil dry out; avoid delayed watering.
The fourth possible reason for brown-black, shrivelled leaf tips in Dragon Tail Plant 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.
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.
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