By Christine March, Master Gardener, SCMG
Like many trends, the passion for houseplants has ebbed and flowed over the decades. Today, we are in the midst of a massive houseplant boom thanks, in no small part, to the millennials. This generation LOVES their houseplants, loves to learn about houseplants, and loves to share photos of their houseplants on their social media feeds. (This is mostly a good thing but I may never forgive them for introducing the word “plantfluencer” to the hort lexicon.)
With such high demand you can find houseplants everywhere: from your local convenience store to Ikea to the grocery store. You can even purchase plants online. I personally prefer to shop at nurseries and high-end florists. Not only will you find a nice variety of plants but the staff is usually well informed and can offer excellent advice. The number of houseplant varieties available is truly staggering and can prove overwhelming to the rookie. If you long to bring a bit of green into your home, but haven’t got a clue where to start, may I suggest my favourite houseplant: Pothos.
Why Pothos? Because they are beautiful, long lived, easy care plants that demand little of their owners. Frankly, the most complicated thing about Pothos is its name. In Europe the botanical name is typically Scindapsus aureus. In North America, they are more commonly called Epipremnum aureum. Even the common name “Pothos” can vary. Native to southeast Asia, Pothos have a climbing, vining growth habit that can be kept under control with regular pruning. This will encourage new growth from the roots and prevent the plant from becoming spindly.
Varieties
There are a number of Pothos varieties commonly available. The most popular being:
- Golden Pothos
- Neon
- Marble Queen
- Silver Vine (actually Scindapsus pictus argyraeus)
Let’s look at their care in detail.
Light
Pothos do best in bright, indirect light. Insufficient light will cause variegated varieties to fade, and bright west or south light could scorch the leaves.
Water
Water thoroughly when the top of the soil is dry. Like many houseplants, it is better to underwater than overwater. And I can’t state this firmly enough: please use pots with drainage. Letting excess water drain away will prevent fungal and bacterial disease that can lead to root rot.
This planter contains at least three varieties of Pothos, which I created from cuttings.
It sits on a coffee table about 9 feet from a south-facing glass door.
Fertilization
The nutritional benefits of the potting mixes we use for our houseplants leach away after about two months, therefore regularly fertilizing your plant is important for its overall health. I start fertilizing in mid-March – as the hours of daylight increase. I stop fertilizing in November, as the number of daylight hours diminishes. There are a number of fertilizers that will do the job. I prefer concentrated drops, diluted in water.
Pests
Pests? What pests? Pothos are generally not bothered by pests but they can be susceptible to mealybugs. Treat pests with an insecticidal soap or simply wipe the leaves (top and bottom) with a bit of cotton soaked with rubbing alcohol.
My Pothos “Neon” is 17 years old and brightens a dull spot in our dining room.
Regular pruning prevents it from getting too leggy.
Propagation
Creating new plants could not be easier. I have six Pothos plants throughout our home. All, with the exception of my “Neon” variety came from cuttings. Simply place cuttings in water and watch roots develop over a period of weeks. When you have a nice collection of rooted stems plant in fresh soil and enjoy. Easy peasy.
