Garden
Scindapsus Pictus (Satin Pothos): Types, Growth Tips & Propagation
Oct
Table of Contents
About Scindapsus Pictus:
Scindapsus pictus, or silver vine, is a species of flowering plant in the arum family Araceae, native to India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and the Philippines.
Growing to 3 m (10 ft) tall in open ground, it is an evergreen climber. They are matte green and covered in silver blotches. The insignificant flowers are rarely seen in cultivation.
The specific epithet pictus means “painted”, referring to the variegation on the leaves.
With a minimum temperature tolerance of 15 °C (59 °F), this plant is cultivated as a houseplant in temperate regions, where it typically grows to 90 cm (35 in). The cultivar ‘Argyraeus’ has gained the Royal Horticultural Society‘s Award of Garden Merit. (Scindapsus Pictus)
Vine plants are always our choice
Why?
Just like Peperomia, it is easy to grow and care for.
And it extends to a wider area than normal plants.
Scindapsus Pictus is one such climbing plant – just like Money Plant,
with much more attractive foliage and silvery coloring.
So, let’s find out how to grow this wonderful plant at home. (Scindapsus Pictus)
What is scindapsus pictus?
Scindapsus Pictus, Silver Vine, Satin Pothos or Silver Pothos is an evergreen vine with silver variegated heart-shaped velvety leaves. It is native to Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines.
Although called satin photographs, they are not pothos by botanical definition. It usually comes in two types, Exotica and Argyraeus. (Scindapsus Pictus)
Satin pothos varieties
There are two main varieties of Scindpaus pictus in existence. One is called Exotica and the other is called Argyraeeus. Both have other names as discussed below.
Let’s find out the difference between them. (Scindapsus Pictus)
Scindapsus Pictus Exotica vs. Scindapsus Pictus Argyraeus
Argyraeus has relatively shorter variegated leaves with a dark green color more prominent than silver markings.
On the other hand, the Exotica variegation has distinctive silver markings along with a light green color.
Did you know: Exotica is also called Silver Pothos or Scindapsus Pictus ‘Trebie’; Argyraeus also has names like Silvery Mother or Scindapsus Pictus ‘Silvery Lady’. (Scindapsus Pictus)
Scindapsus pictus neither Philodendron nor Pothos
Characteristics of Satin pothos
- Easily available, easy to grow, but slow growing.
- This is a hanging basket plant, you can even cage it.
- The leaves are hard and rubbery, which is a natural shield against intense light.
- It grows in areas with medium and high humidity and is intolerant to frost.
- It is native to South East Asia such as Bangladesh.
- It even climbs trees from aerial roots.
- It is grown indoors in terrariums in the USA because of its beautiful leaves.
- Its flowers grow less. They only grow in summer, when small flower spaths form, followed by small fruits.
Some people confuse it with Epipremnum aureum or simply call it Devil’s ivy or Money plant. The obvious difference is the silver variegation on the leaves, which is not on Devil’s ivy. (Scindapsus Pictus)
Satin Pothos Care: How to Grow Silver Pothos?
It likes bright indirect light, a mixture of perlite and soil, weekly watering, 18-29°C temperature and nitrogen fertilizer.
Before going into the details of the conditions required for this plant, it is important to note that using the latest tools saves time and does the job right. (Scindapsus Pictus)
1. Soil Type
A soil mix and perlite mix works best for this plant.
The reason for perlite is to make the mix more airy and well-draining.
Because it does not grow well in wet and poorly drained soil, otherwise the roots will rot.
If you have the habit of watering your plants more often, 50-50 perlite and soil is fine.
On the other hand, if you are an underwater, 60% earth and 40% perlite are fine.
When making the soil mix, it is better not to do it with bare hands, as your skin may be allergic to the soil or it may contain thorns. (Scindapsus Pictus)
Clawed garden gloves can protect you from such harm
2. Water Need
How often is this plant watered?
You should water a little more
But more depends on the light condition in which it is placed.
In full sun conditions, two to three times a week is fine.
Against this,
If you keep it indoors with ambient light, watering once a week is sufficient.
Another important point to be considered about irrigation is;
When the leaves of this plant are sometimes curled or completely wrapped, it means the plant is thirsty.
It’s good for such plants to communicate about their needs.
If you think you’re not taking care of yourself when watering this plant, use a self-watering 3 or 5 gallon bucket.
But even if you water it after the leaves curl, it will not harm the plant.
Although occasional watering results in a healthier appearance and rapid growth.
It should be noted that the yellow leaves of this plant are a sign of overwatering or insufficient drainage. (Scindapsus Pictus)
3. Temperature Required
Since it is a tropical plant, it grows well in warm regions.
Since it is mostly used as an indoor plant in the USA, the average temperature ranges between 18° and 29°C.
Do not place in places where the temperature is 15°C or lower, otherwise the leaves will start to die. (Scindapsus Pictus)
4. Humidity Required
In the wild, it is found in high humidity environment in tropical and subtropical forests.
But good stuff
You don’t need high humidity in your home.
Low to medium humidity is fine for this plant.
5. Light Need
Another good thing is that it can live in low light without compromising its growth rate.
Keeping them indoors for long is not good for their growth.
A sign of low light is the production of small leaves that would otherwise be much larger if the plant received more light.
6. Fertilizer Required Or Not
When it comes to fertilizers, a fertilizer with a high nitrogen content is sufficient for these plants.
Nitrogen is good because it will keep leaves nice and green, which is its demanding factor.
If you want to use any synthetic fertilizer, you can use a 20-10-10 fertilizer with half the recommended amount.
It is good to fertilize once a month in the spring and summer.
7. USDA Zone
The US hardiness zone for this plant is 11.
8. Pruning
Don’t let this plant get too big. Instead, cut back to a normal height at the beginning of each Spring.
Like Pothos, it doesn’t mind pruning.
Therefore, if it is in a hanging basket, it is better to prune it in a timely manner, as in spring or summer, to preserve its beautiful appearance.
A professional tree grafting kit can be of great help here because of its accuracy and easy-to-cut feature.
9. Things Not to Do with Satin Pothos
- Do not plant in the cold, as it cannot tolerate cold drafts.
- Do not let the soil get wet. You can prevent this by adding a perlite mixture to it.
- Do not put under direct sunlight. Instead, keep it in bright, indirect light for better growth.
- Do not use larger containers initially as they hold more water than necessary. When the plant grows, just transplant it to a larger one.
- Do not use a pot without a drainage hole. Even if you use a cache, put a nursery pot in it, placed on a single layer of gravel.
How to Propagate Satin Pothos?
Propagation of Scindapsus pictus is as simple as any other vine plant. A small cutting with knots can easily regrow when placed in water or soil.
1. Water propagation
For water propagation, cut any stem 4-5 inches from the tip just below the last leaf and make sure it has 1-2 knots.
It is better to cut at 45 degrees.
After separating the stem, remove the last leaf.
Always make at least two cuts and then place each in a water bottle.
Propagation of the cutting takes about 3-4 weeks.
2. Soil Propagation
So what’s the key to propagating Scindapsus in the soil?
Includes end cuts for at least three stems, each 3-4 inches long. It means cutting under a node and removing its lower leaves.
A mix of well-moistened peat moss and coarse perlite potting mix is the best thing to use.
Plant these three cuttings in the mix above and on the rim of a 3-inch pot so they can be easily moved and grown separately later.
Put the entire container in a plastic bag and place it in the filtered light area.
After 4-6 weeks, when rooting occurs, remove the plastic cover and water moderately.
Now you can think about when is the right time to move each plant.
The correct time is three months from the time of propagation.
Move each plant to a versatile pot or hanging basket filled with potting mix.
Important Tip: Water propagation is generally not recommended for satin pothos because it will not grow and adapt well to the soil when later transported..
Common Diseases or Pests
Scindapsus is normally hardy, but sometimes diseases or insects catch this beautiful plant.
- Root rots: Normally root rots occur due to overwatering.
- Brown leaf tips mean too much dry air, like a shot directly from an AC outdoor unit, while yellow leaves are a sign of overwatering.
When talking about pests, there are normally two types that can affect it.
Scales are sap-sucking insects that cling to a stem of Scidipss pictus.
- Others are spider mites. They are so small that they are often not noticed. They form webs between the leaves and the stem and cause brown spots on the leaves.
Sometimes they are noticed as a small cluster of dots or dirt on the underside of the leaf.
Are Satin Pothos toxic to cats and dogs?
There are many poisonous plants in our garden that are poisonous flowers, seeds, leaves and sometimes the whole plant itself.
When it comes to the toxicity of scindapsus, the answer is unfortunately yes. The crystals of calcium oxalate leaves tend to burn even your pet’s mouth.
It is better to keep this plant away from your pets.
Cats are more prone to its danger because they attract it more.
Therefore, if possible, put it out of your cat’s reach.
Conclusion
This herb can be a great addition to your home because of its beautiful silvery color on the leaves. Despite its slow growth, it is much easier to propagate and care for than other plants.
While it is not botanically a pothos, you will hear people call it that, perhaps because of its growth and appearance of a pothos.
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