The silvery grey splotches on the heart-shaped leaves give them a gleaming appearance, adding to the plant's visual attractiveness. The degree of variegation varies depending on the cultivar.
Satin pothos is a vine that clings to its surroundings, including a pole, a trellis, other plants, a wall, or furniture. The vine attaches itself to surfaces using its aerial roots.
Sometimes it can do this on its own, and other times it requires assistance, such as using invisible, micro hooks. You can also grow satin pothos in a hanging planter and let its greenery fall instead of trailing.
Care for Satin Pothos (Scindapsus Pictus)
Satin pothos is an easy-to-care-for houseplant. Snipping off any broken or dead leaves and trimming when the vines are becoming too long and sparse are two more steps you can do to improve its appearance in addition to the usual care of watering and fertilizing.
Cutting the plant back encourages fresh leaf growth and makes it more full. When the growing season begins in the spring, it is ideal for pruning. You can wash the leaves of your satin pothos if they become dusty. To make them shine, avoid using oil because it might clog the cells and impair the leaves' breathing capacity.
Light
Satin pothos (Scindapsus pictus) requires bright, indirect light. Its leaves lose their variegation and become burned when exposed to full direct sunlight. If you position the plant near a window to help them receive direct sunlight, you will need to cover it with a curtain to protect it from the sun.
Soil
Use a professional indoor potting mix that already contains nutrients and has a combination of peat moss, pine bark, and perlite or vermiculite to guarantee proper drainage. Wet, soggy soil does not suit Scindapsus pictus.
Water
The key to watering satin pothos is to prevent overwatering, which will result in yellow leaves and wilted vines. Only water when the top two inches of the soil feel dry to the touch, which you can confirm by poking your finger into the soil. Slowly and deeply wet the drain holes with room-temperature water until you see water seeping out.
Humidity and Temperature
Satin pothos is a tropical plant that requires warmth and humidity to thrive. The ideal growing temperature is between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It will succumb to cold damage and die at a lower temperature.
The leaf tips can turn brown in dry air. Relative humidity of 40 to 50 percent surrounding your plant is good. Place the pot on a tray covered with pebbles and water to enhance humidity, but make sure the roots are not exposed to the water.
It is not recommended to mist Scindapsus pictus to improve humidity since the aerial roots absorb moisture as well, resulting in overwatering.
Fertilizer
Fertilize the satin pothos once a month with a comprehensive, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer during the growing season, from spring to fall.
Satin Pothos Varieties
- Scindapsus pictus ‘Silvery Ann(e)' is a popular cultivar with light green, heavily variegated heart-shaped leaves.
- Scindapsus pictus ‘Argyraeus': the leaves are a smaller and darker green. The silvery marks are more distinct, less splotchy, and equally spread in the variegation. The edges of the leaves are similarly silvery. Argyraeus, which means "silvery," was given to the cultivar because of its silvery variegation. The contrast between the leaves and the variegation is particularly dramatic in this variety because the leaves are dark.
- Scindapsus pictus ‘Exotica' has darker, lance-shaped leaves with big silver splotches.
- Replanting and Potting
It's time to repot if roots are growing out of the drainage holes in the pot. This may be essential every year or two years, depending on how quickly your Scindapsus pictus grows.
When the growing season begins, repotting should be completed. Fill a pot with a fresh indoor potting soil mix one to two inches larger than the present pot. When feeding the plant, consider that commercial mixes usually contain enough fertilizer to last several months.
Satin Pothos Propagation (Scindapsus Pictus)
Take four-inch tip cuttings from a healthy plant in the spring or early summer. Fill a four-inch pot with fresh indoor potting soil mix and plenty of drainages.
Maintain an even moisture level in the soil and place it in the same indirect light as the mother plant. New growth should suggest that the plant has rooted after about a month, and you can move to a less frequent watering regimen.
Typical Pests and Diseases
Satin pothos is typically pest- and disease-free; however, it may be afflicted by scales or spider mites, which can be easily wiped away. Remember to rinse the undersides of the leaves as well. Apply insecticidal soap or horticultural oil labeled for use on indoor plants if there is a serious infestation. Satin pothos can get root rot if it gets too much water.
