Epipremnum | Scindapsus | Pothos
These stunning ivy’s are a houseplant favourite amongst all plant lovers. Also called Satin Pothos, Scindapsus is well known for their velvety leaves, stunning colours, quick trailing growth and the fact that they are so easy to care for, makes them the ideal houseplant. They are related to Epipremnum, Devil’s Ivy/Pothos, with waxy leaves and similar trailing, they belong to the Araceae family and are native to the forests of Southeast Asia.
These plants can grow leaves 1m large in their natural habitat, but this seldom occurs with indoor plants. In the wild these plants can become invasive and create large ecological disruption. A full grown plant can create its own canopy and screen the light out of the forest floor.
Care
With elegant trailing habits, these plants can be trained to trail around moss poles, along a wall or simply hang down from shelves. These plants do need bright, indirect light to keep their variegation strong. However, being tropical plants, the deep green Epipremnum Aureum will tolerate darker corners of the house as well. As a general rule with these plants, the darker the leaf, the less light it desires. It also helps photosynthesis if you regularly wipe off the leaves.
Humidity is important to these plants. Keep them in normal room temperature, but once the weather starts getting colder we recommend you move them to slightly warmer sections of your home. The cold can shock the plant and create staggered growth and smaller leaves. Draught can increase the chance of pests getting to the plant and it is recommended you try to prevent this as much as possible.
Despite popular belief, the soil in these plants should never really dry out completely. Where they are hardy plants and bounce back quickly, regular watering will produce a much healthier and sturdier plant. Keep your plant slightly moist and water only once top two inches of the soil is dry. Avoid waterlogged soil and the best way to do this is water deeply, let water run out from the drainage holes and when it stops dripping completely you place your plant back in the decorative pot.
The best time to repot and rejuvenate the soil is during Spring and if they have outgrown their pot. Any damage caused to the roots or plants can easily recover over the warmer months. This is also the best time to feed your plant. You’ll be pleased to see how quickly they wake up from the dormancy period.
Problems
Brown tips - Low humidity or irregular watering. Don’t let the soil dry out to a crisp.
Yellowing leaves - Too much water
Brown spots with yellow halo - Bacterial leaf spot. Cut away the infected leaf and avoid getting leaves wet when watering.
