Did you know that the Satin Pothos isn't actually a pothos at all? Although its commonly sold as a pothos or philodendron, the Satin Pothos is a Scindapsus pictus variety--a close cousin within the Araceae family. Meaning, they are all the same species but different subfamilies. Because of their similarity, many people confuse this plant with the Silver Philodendron or Silver Pothos. But, it actually has less silver variegation than the other two and smaller leaves. When you get the chance to see a Satin Pothos close up, you would find that the leaves tend to lay flat and have a velvety texture when you touch it.
Keep in mind, this plant tends to need more patience than other pothos varietals. Similar to the Silver Pothos, the Satin Pothos can be a bit difficult to grow and are slow to propagate in water. Nonetheless, its super rewarding to watch grow once you start to see rooting. After seeing roots, we recommend adding a few drops of liquid nutrients to help support in later plant growth.
Native to tropical and subtropical Asia (India, Philippines, Bangladesh, Malaysia)
Araceae
The botanical name for the Silver pothos is Scindapsus pictus 'Argyraeus'. It is also known as the Philodendron silver and Silk pothos.
Scindapsus pictus is a very common and easy houseplant. Common types include Scindapsus pictus ‘Argyraeus', Scindapsus pictus ‘Exotica’, Scindapsus hederaceus, Scindapsus pictus ‘Silver Satin’, Scindapsus treubii, Scindapsus pictus ‘Silver Lady’, and Scindapsus pictus ‘Silvery Ann’.
Of course, this doesn't cover vast range of varieties of Scindapus pictus, so we encourage you research more about the unique genus!
For healthy plants, we recommend that you add water to the glass every 1-2 weeks (or if you see that water levels have lowered) to replenish the water that evaporated or absorbed from the plants. Then, replace the water every 2-4 weeks.
Most tap water works great but distilled or filtered waters are recommended if available.
We recommend adding 1-2 of liquid nutrients to your pothos' water every month. To further encourage and support leaf growth, we recommend adding an additional drop of nutrients if you see a new leaf forming.
Silver pothos are known to tolerate dim conditions, but they ideally prefer a balanced environment with medium to bright indirect sunlight.
For pothos, and other tropical plants, Ideal temperatures are from 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit. A general rule of thumb for many houseplants is that if you are comfortable, then they will be comfortable too!
They prefer moderate to high humidity, but can do well in most home settings regardless of humidity level.
Satin Pothos can be a bit trickier to propagate in than other pothos varietals. Patience, good light, and warm temperature is required for propagating this one. To propagate, take a cutting with 4 to 6 leaves, then cut the bottom two leaves off to expose two nodes. Submerge those in water that you replace every week or two. You'll want to continue this until you see roots begin to develop, at which point you can either plant in soil or leave in water with added nutrients to grow.
Identification: Brown or mushy leaves
Cause: If the leaf is crispy, this is most likely a sign that the air is too dry. On the other hand, a lack of oxygen in the water can cause newer leaves to grow in brown and soft. It is also natural for older leaves (closer to the roots) to turn brown or die because it simply outgrown its natural cycle.
How to treat:First, remove any brown or dying leaves using sterile scissors or knife. If the cause for this issue is a dry environment, make sure your plant is not too close to any AC vents, heaters, or an open window. Also, mist regularly if the environment is usually very dry. If the cause is a lack of oxygen, simply replace the water for the plant. After, continue to replace the water every 2-4 weeks.
Identification: leaves are curling at the ends or dropping
Cause: There are multiple causes for this issue. One, the air in your environment is too dry. Two, your plant is not receiving enough oxygen from the water. And three, your plant is experiencing extremely cold temperatures.
How to treat:To fix this issue, move your plant away from any AC vents, heaters, or open windows. Also, mist regularly if your environment is usually very dry. If the cause is a lack of oxygen, simply replace the water for the plant and then continue on a 2-4 week water replacement schedule.
Identification: color patterns in the leaves are fading, leaves becoming a solid green color
Cause: When your pothos is creating solid green leaves, this means that it is reverting back to its parent plant (jade pothos). This is caused by not receiving enough bright indirect light.
How to treat: Move your plant to an area where it would be exposed to more bright indirect light and wait for the leaves to recover their color. For newer leaves, you don't have to worry because they will gain their markings as they age.
