Satin pothos

Satin pothos: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Trailing or climbing plant with stems about 2 m long and 50 cm wide.

Foliage

Heart-shaped to oval, matt and slightly velvety, dark green with silver patches and speckles.

Stems

Slender, creeping or climbing stems with aerial roots at the nodes.

Flower

Almost never flowers indoors; in the wild it bears a spadix with a spathe, typical of the arum family.

Origin

Rainforests of South-East Asia: warm, humid and filtered light.

Plants: March–May · Pruning: March–April

Why grow it?

• Striking, silver-splashed foliage: each plant has its own pattern.
• Trails or climbs: lovely in a hanging pot, on a cupboard, or up a trellis or moss pole.
• Tolerates half shade and forgives the odd forgotten watering.
• Evergreen and attractive all year.
• Easy to propagate from cuttings.

Satin pothos: where does it grow best?

• Half shade to light shade: a bright spot without direct sun. In too little light the silver pattern fades.
• Airy, humus-rich potting compost with perlite, slightly acid to neutral.
• Better a little too dry than too wet: the compost can almost dry out between waterings.
• Room temperature of 18–25 °C and never below 15 °C.
• Hang it up, put it on a cupboard or give it a trellis or moss pole.

Light

Bright, out of direct sun or low light

Potting soil

Multi-purpose compost or airy, humus-rich compost

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Watering

Sparingly or moderately

Size

2 m tall, 0.5 m wide

Temperature

Minimum 15 °C

Goes well with

• Pothos: A related trailing plant with green and yellow leaves as a contrast.
• Mini monstera: Same care, and together a lovely climbing display.
• Mistletoe cactus: A hanging cactus without spines in a bright corner.

Satin pothos: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May.

1. Repot in March–May, when it starts growing again.
2. Choose a pot with a drainage hole that is 2–3 cm wider than the old one.
3. Use an airy houseplant compost with a third perlite or bark.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as before and firm lightly.
5. Water until it runs out at the bottom and empty the saucer after a quarter of an hour.
6. Hang or stand it in a bright spot, and guide the stems towards a support if it is to climb.

Care

Water

Let the top half of the compost dry out between waterings, then water generously. Curling leaves point to thirst; yellow leaves and soft stems to too much water.

Feeding

From March to September, a foliage plant fertiliser every 4 weeks at half strength. Do not feed in winter.

Humidity

It tolerates ordinary room air, but a little extra humidity gives better foliage. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth.

Repotting

Every 2 years in spring, when the roots grow out of the pot.

Support

On a moss pole or trellis it climbs; trailing, it stays more compact. Both work.

Tip: Let the compost almost dry out between waterings, then water generously: as soon as the leaves curl a little, you know it is thirsty.

Satin pothos: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March–April.

When: In March–April, before the growing season starts. It can be trimmed throughout the growing season.

How:

• Cut long or bare stems back to just above a leaf or node.
• Pinch out the tips for a bushier plant: the side buds then grow out.
• Remove yellow or dead leaves and stems.
• Use the pieces with a node as cuttings.

Caution: Wear gloves: the sap can irritate the skin.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Stem cuttings

From March to August: cut a piece of stem of 10–15 cm with at least one node and one leaf. Put it in water or in moist perlite or potting compost; roots appear after 2–4 weeks.

Several cuttings

Put 3–4 cuttings together in one pot for a full plant.

Satin pothos: how does it get through the winter?

• Not hardy: keep it indoors at 15 °C or more; 18–22 °C is ideal.
• Give it a bright spot without draughts and not above the radiator: in low light it hardly grows.
• Water less (let the compost dry out further) and do not feed.
• Avoid cold windows: the leaf edges turn brown.

Diseases and pests

• Curling leaves: A sign of thirst. Water generously; the foliage usually recovers within a few days.
• Yellow leaves and soft stems: Too much water or poor drainage. Let the compost dry out, check the roots and repot if necessary.
• Fading pattern and long gaps between leaves: Too little light. Move it somewhere brighter, but out of direct sun.
• Brown leaf edges: Air that is too dry, cold or a draught. Raise the humidity and find a warmer spot.
• Spider mite, mealybug and thrips: Fine webs, white fluff or silvery flecks. Rinse the plant, wipe with soapy water and repeat weekly.

Through the year

• January: Rest. Bright spot, little water.
• February: Rest. Check for spider mite and mealybug.
• March: Prune. Repot. Start feeding again.
• April: Prune and take cuttings. Repot if needed.
• May: Take cuttings. Feed every 4 weeks.
• June: Feed. No fierce sun.
• July: Feed. Water when the top half is dry.
• August: Feed. Watch for spider mite and thrips.
• September: Last feed.
• October: Water less. Warm, bright spot.
• November: Rest. Do not feed.
• December: Rest. Little water; avoid cold windows.

Edible and useful

Not edible. All parts of these houseplants of the arum family are poisonous: the sap is full of needle-shaped crystals (calcium oxalate) which, when chewed, at once cause burning pain and swelling of the lips, mouth and throat, with drooling and sometimes vomiting. Most at risk are cats, which like to chew trailing stems and leaves, dogs, and young children playing on the floor. Hang climbers and trailing plants out of their reach, clear up cut stems and cuttings straight away, and do not put a glass of cuttings in water where a cat drinks from it. Wear gloves when pruning and repotting, do not rub your eyes, and wash your hands afterwards. If your cat or dog drools or its mouth swells, call your vet. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Did you know?

• The species name pictus means ‘painted’: the foliage looks as if splashed with silver paint.
• It is often confused with pothos (Epipremnum), but it is a different genus; both belong to the arum family.
• ‘Argyraeus’ means ‘silvery’ and is the best-known cultivar.