Silver Pothos plant is best described as a splendid climber with large blue-green heart-shaped leaves streaked with silvery gray marks that give it an overall satin feel. The plant will crown your pot with thick foliage when it is not allowed to climb. It will also flourish into a 3 feet (1m) intertwined vine bush when supported with a pole, dangling on shelves, or placed at the edge of a countertop.
If not for its beauty, you can invite this tropical evergreen marvel to your home or office to purify the air by removing toxins from carpets, insulation, plastics, and paint. Thus, it is not just a beautiful plant but a healthy one, indeed.
To grow and care for Silver Pothos, here are necessities you must provide.
- Water: water frequently but ensure that the soil dries up before watering again. Reduce watering during the cold winter season.
- Light: keep it under bright indirect light.
- Soil: Silver pothos does well in a vibrant soil mix with excellent drainage.
- Temperature: the average house temperature will do, but it must not fall below 55oF(13oC) or go above 85oF (29oC).
Silver Pothos is unique because it will tolerate the negligence of a beginner yet reward the hard work of a committed seasoned indoor plant owner.
In this article, we will look at the necessary conditions like watering, humidity, temperature, light, and soil so that the plant can produce the most magnificent bloom. These tips will help you to bring out the aura of this money plant and transform your indoor space.
Basic Growing and Care guidelines for Silver Pothos Plant
Watering
Silver Pothos originates from the wet Eastern Asia regions of Sumatra, Philippines, Borneo, and Bangladesh. It, therefore, loves thorough watering but must be complemented with well-draining soil. You should wait until the soil is dried before watering again.
The plant requires most of the water during the robust growing season. If the plant is not receiving enough water, the leaves will begin to wilt.
Reduce the amount of water and frequency of watering during the winter season to avoid soggy soil that makes the money plant susceptible to root rot and other fungal infections.
Humidity
The natural habitats where money plants or pothos grow are thick forests with high humidity. You must imitate such conditions for the Silver Pothos to thrive. However, it will still survive in ordinary indoor humidity as long as heating and cooling AC systems do not cause drastic fluctuations.
To maintain the recommended humidity of 40%, use a digital humidifier that sprays water regularly onto the leaves. Misting will also help but do not leave the leaves too wet for long to prevent fungal infections.
Grouping with other companion houseplants or using a water tray will also help to raise humidity levels around the plant. Keep money plants away from ventilation ducts because they alter humidity around the plant.
Soil
The best soil for Silver Pothos is a nutrient-rich mix that drains adequately and naturally. The plant has very robust growing leaves that prefer moist and aerated soil. Always allow the soil to drain thoroughly before watering so that the roots can breathe.
Use compost manure or light soil during potting to provide sufficient nutrients, adequate aeration, and proper drainage. Fertile soil will encourage your plant to produce plenty of glorious leaves. If the soil is weak, silver pothos will experience stunted growth, reduced foliage, and eventual wilting.
Lighting
Silver Pothos will be happy with bright indirect light throughout the year. Bright light will promote a bush of graceful leaves and strong climbing vines. It will also promote flowering, though the flowers are small in size and almost inconsequential.
Dim light is one of the worst injustices you can have on your Silver Pothos. It reduces their growth rate and cuts down on the number of shoots, vines, and leaves on the plant. Dim light will also affect the color of your leaves, causing it to lose the silvery variegation.
Place the money plant near the window as long as it does not get direct sunlight. You should also rotate Silver Pothos by 90o degrees once a week to maintain balance in foliage growth. Vines that receive adequate light will climb higher, grow more leaves, and become stronger.
Temperature
The best temperature for the money plant is anything between 65oF (18oC) and 85oF (29oC). However, it can still survive a few weeks in temperatures as low as 60oF (15oC). If the temperatures are on the higher side, you must enhance humidity and increase the frequency of watering.
Low temperatures result in stunted growth and will deny the leaves the silvery touch. The plant will hibernate during the cold season, but the conditions should not be prolonged. It may result in frozen leaves and leaves, causing your plant to wilt.
Cold drafts are also dangerous for the money plant. They burn the leaves, causing it to wilt. It gets worse when there are sudden temperature changes because the plant will be overwhelmed and eventually wither.
Advanced Care for Silver Pothos Plant
Silver Pothos plant has a unique way of upgrading its performance based on the care you provide. If you show special attention, the heart-shaped leaves will show individual brilliance that you could not have associated with the plant.
Here are advanced care procedures that will give you an attention-grabbing money plant:
Fertilization
Money plants love fertile soil and will, therefore, benefit from regular fertilization. Add compost manure in the original pot and when repotting. Compost allows the slow release of nitrogen-rich fertilizer as it decays, helping to produce a foliage rich plant.
If you are using fertilizer, dilute it to quarter strength and apply once every two weeks. Minimize fertilization during the winter season because the plant is dormant.
Worm casting and rich compost can be used for topdressing the soil to enhance its fertility.
Pruning
Use pruning to control the size and shape of your money plant to avoid you from having a big problem with the excess leaves. The exercise should target vines if you do not want a tall money plant. You can eliminate all vines and allow the leaves to grow at the base to create a bloom that looks like a crown over the pot.
Pruning will also help you to remove excess vines as you direct the growth of your money plant. It is best done over spring or summer when the silver pothos goes through its robust growth stage. Clip the leaves or vines at the base using your bare hands.
Repotting
Repotting is only necessary once after two years if the foliage has outgrown the current pot or you are experiencing problems with the soil. Remove the plant from its existing container and shed some of the soil. Place it in the middle of an empty vase and add a fresh mix of soil.
Repotting the money plant is best done between spring and summer at the beginning of the growing season. You could also use the opportunity for propagation, especially to relieve an overwhelmed pot. Add rich compost into the repotting soil to boost nitrogen availability, aeration, and drainage.
Propagation
Propagation may be done using vine cuttings or division. Cut mature vines at the node and dip it in fertilized water or fertile soil mix. In the water, you will witness the root appearance after which you transplant to the prepared vibrant soil mix.
Stem or vine cuttings require more care when used for propagation. The soil must be moist and warm to promote root growth. New shoots will appear at the base or the nodes to signal that the roots are firmly in the soil.
Pest Prevention
Watch out for spider mites and scales on the leaves. They appear if the air is too dry or the leaves are dusty. Such pesky pests will cause dry patches on the leaves and eventual wilting.
Look out for root rot that is caused by soggy soil. Treat such adverse conditions by enhancing aeration through minimized watering and improved drainage. If it gets severe, repotting is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Growing and Care for Silver Pothos Plant
Why are my silver pothos leaves curling?
You have denied the money plant the water it needs. The leaves will soon become limp and wilt. Increase watering but allow the soil to become dry before the next watering session.
Is silver pothos poisonous to cats?
The golden pothos is especially toxic to both cats and dogs. This popular indoor plant will be poisonous to your pet when ingested. Once the pets eat the leaves, they will experience oral irritation, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. Any citric mixture sprayed around the plant will keep the curious cats away from your plants.
How many types of pothos plants are there?
The list of pothos plants is endless. We will only look at the most popular pothos varieties, how to identify them, and why you should choose them for your house or office.
- Golden Pothos– it has tell-tale heart-shaped leaves with a splash of gold. It grows in a wide range of conditions and is easy to host.
- Marble Queen Pothos– It has beautiful variegation turning towards white and requires plenty of light to grow.
- Neon Pothos– true to its name, the leaves are light-green in color. It requires bright light to adopt the neon color on leaves.
- Pearl and Jade Pothos– the leaves have white edges with green and silver-gray shaded foliage. The leaves are smaller, and the plant grows slowly.
- Cebu Blue Pothos– it has striking blue-green arrow-shaped leaves. These leaves will enlarge and split at maturity and when you provide sufficient light.
Are Watermelon Peperomia and Silver Pothos good companion plants?
Yes, Watermelon Peperomia (or Argyreia) and Silver Pothos are good companion plants! They are both low-maintenance, easy-to-care-for plants that thrive in moist, humid conditions. Silver Pothos is an excellent plant for beginners, as it is very tolerant of neglect and can tolerate a wide range of light exposure conditions. Watermelon Peperomia is also a great choice for those new to indoor gardening, as it is relatively low-maintenance and can tolerate some shade. When grown together, these two plants create a lush, vibrant look that will add life to any room in your home.
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