If you’re in love with houseplants, then you might have seen Scindapsus and been captivated by it. Not only because it is easy to grow but also because they are evergreen.
If you are wondering how to grow yours, then this complete growing guide will show you how to. This will help you take care of your cold-tolerant tropical vines and get them to grow healthy and strong. So read on!
About Scindapsus
What is the common name for scindapsus? It is also called satin pothos, silk pothos, silver pothos, or silver philodendron. The plant from the araceae family is native to Southeast Asian regions., New Guinea, Australia, and the Pacific islands. They are flowering plants but don’t flower indoors.
Plant Features
This vine that has heart-shaped leaves is shiny. This is because of the silvery gray splotches on their leaves that give them visual appeal. It latches onto whatever is in its surroundings be it a piece of furniture, a trellis, a pole, or even another plant! Its roots can do it on their own or with some help like mini hooks. If it does not work for you, then growing it in a hanging basket for its leaves to overflow also works!
Scindapsus Plant Care (Growing Instructions)
So, how do you take good care of your scindapsus? Here’s how:
- Put them in bright indirect sunlight.
- Allow the plants to dry out before watering.
- Put them in warm and humid places.
- Put them in a well-draining pot.
- Use water-soluble fertilizer.
Light
Place your scindapsus under indirect bright sunlight. Protecting it from direct sunlight ensures that the leaves are not scorched and will not lose variegation.
As a tip for you – try using a curtain to protect it from direct sunlight! The plant must cast a shadow that is medium to strong for most of the day.
Water
Make sure not to overwater. Your basis? Feel the top two inches of the soil. If it is dry to touch, then it is time to water them. Stop when the water starts to sip down the holes.
Soil
A wet soggy soil is a big no for your scindapsus. You may opt to use an indoor mix. To ensure good drainage, combine pine bark, peat moss, and vermiculite or perlite.
Fertilizer
From spring to fall while the plant is growing, fertilize it once a month. Utilize a complete, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer. However, scindapsus are not really fussy about the kind of fertilizer used. Just follow the fertilizer packaging application.
Bonus! It is best if you fertilize them during summer and spring. This is because they have longer days and are actively growing.
Humidity
Misting to increase humidity is not advisable since the aerial roots also absorb moisture. This may lead to overwatering. Instead, improve the humidity by putting pebbles with water in a tray and placing the pot over them. However, make sure that the roots are not touching the water. This ensures that there is 40%-50% humidity around your plant.
Temperature
Ensure that the scindapsus is at a temperature of around 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Being exposed to a lower temperature can lead to cold damage and death. Being in dry air can also lead to brown-tip leaves.
Yellow Leaves
Surely you don’t want to have your scindapsus yellow and wilting. To ensure this, do not overwater.
Dormancy
The plant blooms in summer! However, some varieties like the scindapsus jade satin and treubii moonlight might seem like it takes forever to grow. It might only give you two new leaves for an entire growing season.
Toxicity
Scindapsus may be considered toxic to pets.
Pruning
Pruning is not really necessary! However, you may pinch off the top couple of inches from the stem if it grows out of bounds. This will give you new side shoots for a fuller plant.
How to Propagate
Check the drain holes for emerging roots. If there are, then it is time to repot. How often will this be? It depends on their growth rate. This can be done once a year or every two years.
Repot as the growing season begins. Use a pot that is one or two inches bigger than its current pot. Fill it up with fresh potting soil mix. You may use a commercial indoor mixture.
To propagate, just cut a 4-inch tip from a robust plant. Use a 4-inch pot with fresh soil and a nice number of draining holes. Make sure to keep the soil moist. Put the pot in indirect bright sunlight. New growth should be seen after a month. This means that the plant has taken root.
Common Problems
Scindapsus is most of the time pests and disease free. However, spider mites or scales might attack them. It is not a big deal though since they can be simply washed off. Consider also washing the leaves underside. If ever there is a notable infestation, use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap for indoor plants.
Be careful as well not to overwater to prevent root rot.
Scindapsus Varieties to Collect
This lovely variegated plant comes in the following varieties:
- Scindapsus pictus “silvery anne” is a stunner with its highly variegated heart-shaped light green leaves.
- Scindapsus pictus “argyraeus” has more defined variegation and is less splotchy. The dark green leaves are smaller. The silvery markings are evenly dispersed and have silver linings. This is where its name came from. Argyraeus means silvery. The contrast between the dark green leaves and the variegation is evident in this variety.
- Scindapsus pictus “exotica” has larger, dark green, lance-shaped leaves. The silver splotches are large. It has stems that are quite thick.
- Scindapsus pictus “silver splash” has a lot of silver in the leaves. A less clear transition between silver and green can be observed.
- Scindapsus pictus “silver lady” has leaves thinner than exotica. There is less contrast between green and silver. It looks like a silver splash.
- Scindapsus “treubii moonlight” has milky green leaves with a bold silver sheen covering.
- Scindapsus “treubii dark” looks like a moonlight that is very glossy and eye-catching. However, the leaves are dark greenish with no silver. The leaves tend to be longer and thinner.
- Scindapsus pictus “platinum/silver hero” have leaves that are fully silver.
- Scindapsus pictus “jade satin” has no silver variegation but has thicker leaves.
Conclusion
Scindapsus is easy to care for. They may grow as high as 6 feet or more with enough watering and sunlight. Its wide set variety will give you options of colors that fit your house style.
