Unlocking the Secrets of Pothos Care: From Easy Propagation to Thriving in Any Space
Petos plant is one of the most popular indoor plants, which doubles the house’s beauty with its hanging branches and heart-shaped leaves. Petus is very easy to maintain, and in addition to its beauty and high resistance, it has been the most popular plant in terms of feng shui since ancient times. It plays an important role in oxygenating and purifying the air from toxins and negative energies. This beautiful plant has different types with different appearances; we can mention white petus, white petus, etc. If you are also interested in this beautiful and evergreen plant, stay with us in this article to learn about the maintenance and types of petus plant.
Get to know more about Petos plant
Pothos plant, with its English name (pothos) and scientific name (Epipremnum aureum), is an evergreen, creeping, and perennial plant from the flower family and native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia and the western islands of the Pacific Ocean. This beautiful plant is easy to propagate and is one of the most resistant houseplants. Pettus is trailing, and its tall stems climb through aerial roots that cling to surfaces, making this plant an excellent choice for hanging baskets, kokdama style, and bookshelves. Potos leaves are shiny, heart-shaped, dark green or white, growing fast.
One of the main reasons for the popularity of petus is the survival and growth of this plant only in water and without soil. Therefore, according to this feature, it can be suitable for beginners in flower and plant maintenance. Also, this plant grows in a wide range of environmental conditions and is a great option for your bathroom or office because it can tolerate low light and cope well with poor soil and short-term drought.
Familiarize yourself with the maintenance conditions of petus
Light:
Petus grows in many light conditions but prefers bright, indirect light. This plant tolerates low light, semi-shade, or shade well, but the marble and black types should receive more light due to their bright leaves so as not to lose the beautiful color of their leaves. You should never expose the plant to direct sunlight because it will burn the leaves. The low light requirement of the petus plant makes it suitable for offices, companies, and low-light houses.
Temperature:
If you live in a temperate climate, you can keep this plant outdoors and use its hanging branches and wide leaves as a covering element to create privacy on the terrace or window. However, in the apartment, the best temperature for the growth of this plant is 15-25 degrees Celsius. If you keep this plant outdoors, you should know that cold and frosty winters harm it, and losing it at low temperatures is possible. If you see black and frozen leaves, it is better to move them to a warmer place, and if you see lethargic leaves with burnt spots, you should make the storage environment cooler.
Irrigation:
The right time to water the potos is when the top of the soil is completely dry. Potos flowers do not always like dry or wet soil, and regular watering prevents the plant from drying out, which causes the edges of the leaves to turn brown and dry. Also, don’t water the plant too much, and don’t let the soil become swampy because, at this time, the plant’s growth stops, and there is a risk of rotting. If you are a beginner in keeping plants, you can keep this plant in water so that the problems of incorrect watering and soil pollution do not happen to them.
Humidity:
The humidity of the environment is sufficient for the petus plant, but if the climate is dry or the tips of the leaves are dry, it is better to increase the humidity. You can use three methods of making an island: dusting or placing a container of water next to the plant to provide moisture to the potos plant. For dusting, spraying the leaves every 2 or 3 days and after sunset is better.
Fertilization:
This plant does not need a special growth booster, but if its growth has stopped or the soil has not been replaced for a long time, it is better to use a special booster fertilizer during the growing season.
Soil:
Light, nutrient-rich, slightly acidic, and well-drained soil suits all potos. Prepared soil and fertilizer or compost can be ideal for planting petus.
Changing the pot:
Like most houseplants, petus prefers a small pot to a larger one. Therefore, change the pot when the root protrudes from the pot. Check this through the drain of the pot, and if you see the roots protruding from the drain or the leaves are limp even though all the conditions are suitable, replace the current pot with a larger size.
Pruning:
Pruning the old or yellow foliage of plants or shortening long branches can help the plant to grow better, and the petus plant is no exception to this rule. Therefore, if you want a leafy petus, it is better to take cuttings from very long branches and replant them next to the main plant after they are rooted. It is better to take a few cuttings from the long branches of the plant in autumn or winter so that you have a more energetic plant during the cold season.
Reproduction:
Propagation of Petus is very simple and can be done only by cutting 8-10 cm with at least one leaf and a node (where a leaf joins a branch) and rooting it in water or soil. Due to the fast growth of petus, the cuttings are quickly rooted and produce new leaves within two weeks.
Get to know the types of Petos:
The petus plant has different types that differ in the leaves’ shape and color. The Petus flower may be confused with the philodendron plant due to the similarity of its leaves. Still, the leaves of the philodendron plant are pointed and completely heart-shaped, which is different from the elongated leaves of the potus. Despite their different appearances, more than a dozen Petos models have almost the same maintenance conditions. In the following, we will get to know the types of Petos:
1. Golden Pothos
Golden Petus or Ablaq is the most common apartment type of Petus. Its leaves are green and painted with yellow or cream layers.
Leaf color: emerald green with yellow or cream lines.
Maintenance conditions:
It is one of the most adaptable types of petus for different environmental conditions. However, it needs more light than the green type not to lose its leaf characteristics. It is better to give it some fresh air in the summer and avoid exposing the plant to solid light.
2. Marble Queen Pothos
Marble Pettus is very similar to Pettus black; its leaves have more black veins. Since this POTUS has little chlorophyll, so it grows slower than other species.
Leaf color: white and green
Maintenance conditions:
This petus is sensitive to excessive watering, so let the soil dry and start watering. High indirect light suits this petus; low light causes the leaves to turn green or white. The change in the color of the leaves in low light is because the plant begins to compensate for the lack of light by producing chlorophyll.
3. Neon poth
Heart-shaped leaves are the most common for this type of petus, and neon petus gets its name from the green, bright, and neon color of the leaves. The leaves of this plant are bright green when young, and after maturity, their color becomes more colorful and phosphorescent.
Leaf color: neon green, single color.
Maintenance conditions:
Place the Neon Potos in lots of indirect light. The leaves lose their phosphorescent and bright color if placed in low light, and the young leaves grow green. Watering should be done after the soil is dry, and the plant should not be sprayed with water containing salts.
4. Satin pothos – silver/satin pothos
Pettus Satin is also a popular member of the Pettus family. This plant’s leaves are pointed and bend to the sides, and the heart shape is more like a spear. The leaves of this plant have a wonderful green design and color with silver spots.
Leaf color: green with many silver-green spots that sometimes join together.
Maintenance conditions:
Finding this plant in the markets may be difficult, and choosing a bright spot at home is better before buying.
5. Green Pothos – Jade Pothos
This type of potos has dark green heart-shaped leaves and is one of the simplest and most popular types of potos, which is more compatible than other types. The ability to grow in low light is one of the characteristics of this plant.
Leaf color: single color green
Maintenance conditions:
Green petus is resistant to low light and has speedy growth. It is not very sensitive to watering, but avoid drying the plant too much.
6. White or army pothos – N-Joy pothos
Pettus is one of the newest cultivars bred from Pettus. This species’ leaves are smaller than others, with slightly wavy edges.
Leaf color: green with white spots
Maintenance conditions:
White petus is sensitive to watering, and brown spots appear on the leaves in case of excessive watering. So, let the soil dry completely, and then start watering. Bright and indirect light is necessary to have ablaq leaves.
7. Manjula pothos – Manjula pothos
The leaves of Petus Manjola are heart-shaped and green in color like other types of Petus, with the difference that the leaves of this Petus have wavy edges and the white and cream veins are not seen in all the leaves in the same way.
Leaf color: green with cream spots
Maintenance conditions:
Like Ablaq varieties, it needs more light and is sensitive to excessive watering.
8. Hawaiin Pothos
Another type of petus, which is very similar to the golden petus in terms of the color composition of the leaves, is the Hawaiian petus. This type of potos is very suitable for beginners due to its high resistance. The leaves of this petus are wavy and broader than other types, and the tip of the leaf is curved.
Leaf color: large green leaves with golden spots
Maintenance conditions:
This petus needs bright indirect light and constant pruning for beautiful leaves and better growth.
9. Petos Cebu Blue – Cebu Blue
This plant is one of the most notable types of petus; the shape of its leaves differs from other petus. Unlike the different types, this type of petus does not have heart-shaped and broad leaves. The narrow blue-green leaves of this petus have a shiny and spear-shaped appearance.
Leaf color: relatively dark blue-green.
Maintenance conditions:
This plant needs a lower temperature to grow than other types, and it needs bright and indirect light for the blue color of the leaves.
Comparison of Pothos Varieties and Their Care Requirements
The Pothos plant comes in a variety of stunning leaf colors and patterns, each with its own unique care needs. From the vibrant yellow streaks of the Golden Pothos to the subtle silver spots of the Satin Pothos, these different types offer something for every plant enthusiast. While most varieties thrive in bright, indirect light, some, like the Green Pothos, can tolerate low-light environments, making them perfect for offices or low-light rooms. However, variegated types like Marble Queen and N-Joy require more light to maintain their color patterns. Proper watering is essential for all types, as most are sensitive to overwatering. By understanding the differences in appearance and care needs, you can choose the perfect Pothos variety for your space and ensure its vibrant growth.