Last Updated on December 2, 2020 by Yuvika Iyer
The Ultimate Guide to Silver Pothos Plant Care and Propagation (perfect for beginners!)
If you are a newbie houseplant enthusiast but afraid of the daily commitment of caring for your plants, this beautiful tropical evergreen is ideal for you. Its lovely heart-shaped leaves will surely entice you and make you fall in love with it. The best part is that Silver Pothos is an easy-to-care and powerful air-purifying plant.
Silver Pothos – Plant Profile and Houseplant Identification Guide
Family: Araceae
Common Name: Silver Pothos, Silver Vine, Devil’s Vine
Botanical Name: Scindapsus Pictus
Few different species are considered Pothos. Popular ones are Epipremnum and Scindapsus.
Scindapsus Pictus belongs to the same family as Epipremnum Aureum or Pothos.
You have to follow similar care tips for Silver Pothos as you do with other Pothos. These indoor plants can tolerate varying light conditions and grow even in the dark corners of your office or home. It has powerful resistance to adverse conditions and can even grow in harsh climates.
They look beautiful when trained to climb up the moss pole and trellises. You can also grow Silver Pothos in hanging containers and allow it to cascade over the edges of work desks, countertops, coffee tables. Its glistening silvery leaves will instantly jazz up the decor of your living room or cubicle.
Silver Pothos – Houseplant Easy Care Guide
Let’s explore the key elements required to grow Silver Pothos successfully.
Light
Silver Pothos can tolerate low light conditions but thrive in bright indirect sunlight. The absence of adequate light will make your Pothos leggy, and your plant will produce smaller leaves.
Water
Silver Pothos doesn’t like to sit on soggy soil. Check its soil thoroughly and water only if it feels completely dry. Check for wilting leaves as it’s the obvious sign that your plant is thirsty. As a practice, you should water more in Spring and Summer, as these two are the growing seasons. Water sparingly in Winter as your Pothos will grow slowly during this time.
Temperature
Silver pothos will be fine in average household temperatures but remember that they are not cold-hardy. If the temperature falls below 55℉, your plant’s growth will be stunted. Prolonged exposure to freezing or cold temperatures can be life-threatening for this tropical perennial.
Humidity
Pothos grows well in high humid conditions. If you live in a dry climate, regularly mist your Pothos to induce excess moisture. You can even try the pebble-tray method or occasionally place your Pothos under the shower. Mist 2-3 times a week to revitalize your plant and keep it healthy.
Fertilizer
Regular fertilization in growing seasons will speed up your Pothos’ growth. You can either use organic or liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks in Spring and Summer. Use ½ of the manufacturer’s recommended ratio to fertilize your pothos. Any overdose may burn your Pothos roots.
I recommend using a balanced mix of organic fertilizer like vermicompost, bone meal, and need compost. If you want to apply liquid fertilizer throughout the year, use ¼ the strength of the manufacturer’s recommended dilution ratio. Alternatively, you can cover the topsoil of your plant with organic compost or worm castings.
Silver Pothos – Different Types of Satin Pothos (Scindapsus Pictus) Plants
You will find quite a few Scindapsus varieties in the market, with all of them having noticeable silver markings or splashes all over their leaves. These plants will have vivid coloration under bright and indirect light. Place them near the east-facing window after covering it with a light color curtain to give your plant filtered light.
The three most popular Silver Pothos are Scindapsus Pictus Exotica with heavy silver variegation that looks more like silver splashes all over its green leaf, Scindapsus Pictus ‘Argyraeus” with silver patches all over its leaf blade. The Argyraeus is commonly known as Satin Pothos due to its distinct color combination. The third one is Scindapsus Pictus ‘Silver Ann’ that has gorgeous silver colored leaves. All of them are strikingly beautiful for their vivid and enticing color contrast.
Satin Pothos vs. Philodendron Silver
Plant growers and enthusiasts often confuse between the Philodendron Silver plant and Satin Pothos. Both of them are training aroids and have heart-shaped leaves with silver variegation. Even seasoned growers sometimes wrongfully mix up between these two and interchangeably use the common names.
Do keep in mind that Satin Pothos are neither Epipremnum (common Pothos) nor Philodendron. Initially, Satin Pothos was categorized under the Epipremnum genus and confused with the common Pothos. Later on, scientists have cleared the air by classifying Satin Pothos under the Scindapsus genus.
Is Silver Pothos Toxic?
Silver Pothos are toxic to dogs, cats, and domestic pets like other aroids. ASPCA or The American Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals revealed that Scindapsus Pictus or Satin Pothos has calcium oxalates. If accidentally ingested, the toxins can quickly course through your pet’s immune system and trigger several symptoms like nausea, oral swelling, breathing difficulty, chewing, and swallowing problems. If you notice unusual discomfort in your pet, immediately consult your vet.
Silver Pothos – Pruning Tips
Silver Pothos doesn’t require regular pruning. However, if you want to give your plant a bushier look, occasionally snip off the stems’ end. You can also pinch the trailing stem to stop your plant from looking leggy and becoming unusually long. The common reason for trimming Silver Pothos is to propagate the plant.
Spring is the ideal time to prune your Silver Pothos and speed up its growth. While pruning, you can check for any damaged stems and dead leaves. Use a sharp garden scissor or pruning shear to get a clean cut of the branch.
If you want to propagate your silver pothos, carefully snip off at-least 4 inches of a healthy stem. Make sure that the stem has 2-3 healthy leaves along 3-4 aerial roots. Stems with aerial roots will turn into a healthy plant faster than a rootless stem.
Use a clean knife or pruning shear to slice through the stem just an inch below the node. Your Pothos will sprout new shoots right below the cutting point and turn into fuller and bushier. You should pinch back the stems to give your plant a more compact look.
Silver Pothos – Easy Satin Pothos Propagation Tips
Water propagation works best for Silver Pothos as long the cutting has healthy aerial roots. Pinch the stem an inch below the node and dip the cutting in the water-filled container.
New root formation will take around 2-3 weeks. Let the newly formed roots settle down and become at least 1” or 2.5 cm long. Once your propagated cutting looks healthy, transfer it to a bigger container with a well-draining potting mix.
You can choose to grow Silver Pothos in water but only for a few months. Eventually, you need to shift it to a porous potting mix.
Silver Pothos – How to Repot Satin Pothos
Spring is the perfect season to repot your Pothos with fresh potting mix and organic fertilizer. Your Pothos will thrive in a fertile and porous potting mix. Shift your Scindapsus to a bigger pot and give its roots more room to grow faster. A fresh burst of fertilizer and potting mix will keep your plant in the best shape.
Silver Pothos – Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Silver Pothos sprouting curly leaves?
Curly leaves are a sign of soil-level water deficiency. The new leaves of your Pothos will start curling to retain adequate moisture. Slowly the curly leaves will wilt, become limp, and eventually fall off. Your Pothos will sprout brightly colored and healthy leaves if its potting mix has adequate moisture. Regular misting is key to keep your plant in the best shape.
How frequently should I water my Silver Pothos?
You should ideally water your Pothos every week in summer and 1.5 weeks in winter. However, let the soil dry out between watering. Damp soil can make your plants’ roots vulnerable and prone to rotting. Water frequency may vary due to light exposure. If your plant is placed in a brightly lit spot, its water requirement will be more.
Do pothos like to be misted?
Pothos can reach a humongous height of around 70-80 feet in the wild. These vining beauties can climb up to 6-7 feet indoors if trained to climb up a trellis or moss pole. Regular misting on your Pothos leaves, its stems, and the moss pole will help your Pothos grow aerial roots faster with the increased moisture level. The increased humidity will make the foliage lush and beautiful.
Why is my Pothos looking droopy?
Your Pothos prefers to grow in moist soil. If you forget to mist your plants for a few days, its soil may become dry entirely. Dry soil may cause limp, droopy, and browning leaves. If there is no trace of moisture in the soil, thoroughly soak your Pothos soil to bring back the lost moisture level.
Do I rarely get Silver or Satin Pothos?
Scindapsus Picture is commonly available in most garden centers and online nurseries. It’s an easy-going tropical epiphyte with beautiful silver splashes all over its leaves and a simple care process similar to normal Pothos or Epipremnum Aureum.
How can my Pothos climb effortlessly?
Well, your Pothos need a bit of training to climb up a surface. You should ideally use a moss pole or trellis so that the aerial roots can cling to it. If you want it to climb on a ceiling or wall, a string, command hooks or metal picture hangers will work well.
Why are my Silver Pothos leaves turning yellow?
Too much water retention in the root-level will cause distressed and yellowing leaves. Overwatering is the primary reason for soggy soil and damaged root systems. Water your Pothos only when its topsoil (25% to 30%) is completely dry. Enhanced dampness in the soil can stress your Pothos and make its leaves yellow and lifeless.
Can silver pothos grow in water?
Though you can grow Silver Pothos in water, I recommend using a porous potting mix to drive your plant’s optimum growth. Keeping your Pothos in water will slow down its growth, make its leaves yellow, and eventually fall off. Once your propagated cuttings look healthy, transplant them into bigger pots with a well-draining potting mix to speed up its growth.
