Satin Pothos
Scindapsus pictus · Silver Pothos
It climbs tree trunks in the wet forests of Southeast Asia, a trailing aroid whose matte green leaves look hand-painted with silver. Sold everywhere as a pothos, it belongs to a different genus entirely.
Family
Araceae
Origin
Southeast Asia
In the wild
Climbs to 3 m
Indoors
0.9–1.5 m
Growth
Slow to moderate
With pets
Toxic
Where it's from
Tropical Southeast Asia
Climbs to 3 m
A root-climbing vine from southeast Bangladesh through Malesia, gripping bark with sticky roots.
Outdoors: zones 11–12
Frost-tender. A climbing landscape plant in warm climates, a houseplant everywhere colder.
Not at risk
Wide-ranging and easily propagated, with no notable wild harvesting threat.
The pothos that isn't one
True pothos is Epipremnum aureum. This is Scindapsus pictus, a different genus that just happens to be a look-alike climbing aroid. Its species name pictus means painted: the silver on every leaf looks flicked on with metallic paint.
Not a true pothos
It is a Scindapsus, a separate genus, but the marketing name stuck.
Painted by name
Pictus means painted, for the silvery markings on the leaf.
Silver is the point
More light and climbing give bigger leaves and more silver.
How to keep it
LightBright, indirect
It loses silver and grows leggy in shade. Direct sun scorches and bleaches the leaves.
WaterWhen top inch dry
Keep evenly moist, never soggy, and reduce in winter. Overwatering causes root rot.
HumidityModerate to highTolerates average rooms, but silver and growth improve with extra humidity.
Temperature18–29°CWarm rooms. It suffers below about 15°C, so keep it away from cold drafts.
SoilAiry aroid mixA rich, well-drained mix with bark or perlite. It tolerates a range of pH.
FeedingGrowing seasonA balanced feed roughly monthly in the growing season, little to none in winter.
DifficultyEasyForgiving and slow-growing. Just avoid overwatering and cold.
With petsToxicInsoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Oral burning, drooling and vomiting if chewed.
PropagationCutting at a nodeA node cutting roots readily in water or moist mix. The nodes carry its gripping roots.
RepottingEvery 2 yearsInfrequently. Slow growth means it rarely needs rushing.
What the data says
What it costs
A near-commodity in the trade. The common silver forms are cheap and widely sold.
$10–25
Heavily silvered or true variegated sports run $30–60 and up, entering collector pricing.
IUCN · Not assessed
In the wild
The usual collector-pressure tension is muted here.
It is a wide-ranging, easily propagated forest vine that thrives in homes worldwide and faces no notable wild harvesting threat. Pots come from cuttings, not from stripping forests.
When it sulks
Yellowing, mushy baseOverwatering and root rot. Dry it out, improve drainage, water less.
Brown crispy tipsLow humidity or underwatering. Raise humidity and water more evenly.
Fading silver, leggy stemsToo little light. Move it to brighter indirect light.
Scorched, bleached leavesToo much direct sun.
PestsSpider mites in dry air, plus scale and mealybugs.
Varieties & company
The varieties
ArgyraeusExoticaSilvery AnnVariegated (cream)
Pairs with · keep apart from
PothosPhilodendronPeace LilyCactiSucculentsSnake Plant
A new plant, every week.
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