Pothos (Scindapsus aureus) Indoor Care, Propagation, Growing Problems and Solutions

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Botanical name: Scindapsus aureus
Synonym: Epipremnum aureum
Family: Araceae
Common names: Pothos, Devil's Ivy, Devil's Vine, Money Plant

Description

Scindapsus aureus commonly called Pothos, Devil's Ivy, Devil's Vine or Money Plant are popular colourful plants with air purifying properties and are easy to grow even for the beginner.

Scindapsus aureus also called Epipremnum aureum are hard to kill plants that easily adapt to a wide range of growing conditions. Pothos are low maintenance and generally pest resistant.

If kept away from draughts, direct sunlight and with moderate watering, Pothos will thrive. They can be treated as a trailer or climber, reaching up to 6 ft or more under good conditions.

The aerial roots in Pothos need to be provided with support: a moss stick is ideal to provide support and feeding.

The Pothos stems can also be allowed to trail from a hanging basket ora wall display.

Origin

Scindapsus aureus are native to Mo'orea in the Society Islands of French Polynesia but has also become naturalised in tropical and sub-tropical forests worldwide.

Air Cleaning

According to the NASA Clean Air Study, Scindapsus aureus was found to be a good indoor air cleaner and gets rid of xylene, toulene, benzene, formaldehyde and ammonia from indoor air.

Toxicity

Devil's Ivy (Scindapsus aureus) are toxic to both humans and pets according to ASPCA. The plants contain Calcium oxalate.

If ingested it causes burning and swelling in the mouth and throat, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pains. Keep the Pothos from the reach of children and pets to avoid any mishap.

Where to Buy

Pothos are a great addition to your collection. Buy Pothos online from Etsy.

Scindapsus aureus Care Indoors

Scindapsus aureus (Pothos) grow best in medium to bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, moderately warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Devil's Ivy requires regular pruning to keep neat, to promote a bushy growth and to rejuvenate growth. Repotting is needed only when the plant becomes pot-bound. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Watering

Water Pothos liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist.

Cut down on watering during the cold season to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot disease.

Temperature and Humidity

Scindapsus aureus thrives in an average warmth within the range of 18-29⁰C and a minimum of 12⁰C. A room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for Pothos.

Keep your Devil's Ivy away from cold draughts as they can cause sudden changes in the temperature which lead to leaf drop.

Scindapsus aureus have no need for high humidity. Average room humidity is ideal for these plants. However, if the air is too dry Pothos will respond with brown-black and shrivelled leaf tips.

Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity. Regularly damp-wipe the leaves with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and discourage pest infestation.

Light Requirements

Pothos grow best in medium to bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight. They can tolerate lower light but the variegation will fade in poor light.

The more variegated types require more light than the all-green varieties. They can also grow under a grow light where the natural lighting is not adequate.

Potting Mix

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

Most potting mixes designed for aroids are ideal for Money Plant. Buy quality Aroids Potting Soil online from Etsy.

Fertilizer (Feeding)

Feed Scindapsus aureus every 4 weeks during the growing period with a balanced, liquid fertilizer for lush growth.

Stop feeding during the cold season as growth at this time is minimal and feeding at this time may lead to fertilizer burn.

Repotting

Repot Devil's Ivy 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.

Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot disease.

Pruning

Pruning Scindapsus aureus involves frequent removal of any dead foliage. Pinch off the growing tips to encourage bushyness and prevent the plant from becoming leggy.

Cut back the Pothos 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

Pothos (Scindapsus aureus) 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 Pothos stem cuttings in soil

Take a 4-6 in. stem cutting from a healthy Devil's Ivy. Ensure the cutting has at least two leaf nodes 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 polythene to create a greenhouse effect.

Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil moist through out until roots have developed.

Rooting should take about 2-3 weeks and the new Pothos will be ready to be transplanted in about 2-3 months.

How to root Pothos stem cuttings in water

Take a 4-6 in. stem cutting from a healthy Pothos plant. Ensure the cutting has at least 2-3 leaf nodes and some aerial roots.

Strip off the lower leaves and place it 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 once 5-7 days. Rooting Pothos in water should take about 3-4 weeks. When the roots are about 2 in. long, start acclimatizing them to grow in soil.

Acclimatizing 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 Devil's Ivy is ready for transplanting when the roots have grown to about 4 in. long after which you can begin routine care.

Scindapsus aureus Growing Problems

Scindapsus aureus (Pothos) growing problems include yellow leaves, leaf drop, rotting, brown leaf edges and spots, curled leaves, shrivelled and pests among others. Continue reading for more details on these problems and how to fix them.

Yellow leaves, leaf drop, rotting stems

Yellow leaves, leaf drop and rotting stems in Pothos are 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 disease.

Scindapsus aureus 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. Read on how to treat root-rot disease in houseplants.

Brown leaf edges, brown leaf spots

Brown leaf edges and brown leaf spots in Pothos 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 in. of soil to dry out between waterings. Never allow the root ball to dry out completely.

Curled, limp leaves and rotting stems

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

Scindapsus aureus are extremely sensitive to sudden drops in temperature. Keep the plants away from cold draughts to maintain an average room warmth.

Brown-black, shrivelled leaf tips

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

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

The second possible reason for brown-black, shrivelled leaf tips in Pothos is soggy soil as they do not like to sit in soggy soil and they respond with brown-black leaf tips.

Repot the plant 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 Scindapsus aureus 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.

The fourth possible reason for brown-black, shrivelled leaf tips in 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 from the soil.

Brown tips is the first sign that the roots are in distress. Regularly flush out any excess chemicals from the soil.

Pests

Common pests in Pothos pests are spider mites and mealy bugs. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other houseplants and treat it with Neem oil or Insecticidal soap to get rid of the pests.