Variegated pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the easiest and most popular indoor plants to grow. They come in various colors, from lime green to dark purple to pink and white variegated varieties. These plants are also called golden pothos or silver vines, and depending on the age of your plant, it might be green with yellow stripes or white with green stripes.
How do you pick the easiest houseplant to grow? One that’s inexpensive, beautiful, and incredibly easy to care for. Variegated pothos (Epipremnum aureum) fits all of these qualifications. While most varieties of pothos only live about 2-3 years, the variegated variety can live longer, up to 10 years, if properly cared for.
Pothos plants grow very quickly and can reach upwards of 10 feet tall if you allow them to, and their vine-like stems require little maintenance or pruning over time. Growing variegated pothos is the way to go if you’re looking for an easy way to add color, texture, and greenery to your home or office.
What is a Variegated Pothos Plant?
A variegated pothos plant is a succulent trailing vine from the South Pacific’s Solomon Islands that has heart-shaped green leaves that are sometimes variegated with yellow, light green, or white striations. Pothos is a year-round indoor plant that grows swiftly, frequently adding 12 to 18 inches in length in a month.
These unique plants don’t need special care as they are tolerant to various light and weather conditions. The leaves can be green, white, or variegated (a mix of green and white). Variegated pothos plants also do well in low light, which makes them perfect for growing indoors.
In addition, they’re not picky about water; make sure you water them once every two weeks; otherwise, just let the pot dry out between watering cycles. They’ll adapt to their environment if it’s not too hot or cold.
Types of Pothos
There are two types of variegated pothos: rare variegated pothos and common variegated pothos. Among them are the following:
1. Harlequin Pothos
The most difficult to find are harlequin pothos. It looks like a cross between the Snow Queen and the Marble Pothos, with more variegation on the foliage.
2. Golden Pothos
The dark green foliage of the Golden Pothos is embellished with yellow or golden squiggles. They are easily recognized by their heart-shaped evergreen leaves with golden tints and are also known as Devil’s Ivy. Golden Pothos is one of the most manageable and long-lasting pothos varieties.
3. The Marble Queen
The Marble Queen variegated cultivar was one of the first variegated cultivars. They have the same variegation pattern as the Golden Pothos, but their foliage is primarily creamy white with green specks.
It has a cheesecake-like appearance, with interlaced white and dark green leaves that create beautiful variegation, comparable to a crocheted or woven blanket. They grow slowly because each leaf contains chlorophyll. Position them closer to a windowsill or a light source to encourage growth.
4. Jessenia Pothos
Jessenia pothos has greenish-yellow tones with heart-shaped green leaves. Every blade of Jessenia pothos is unique and has a random pattern. Because of their eerie similarity, you may mistake them for the Marble Queen.
Nonetheless, due to Jessenia’s color, you can spot the distinction between the Marble Queen and her. Their greenish variegation is much darker than Marble Queen’s brighter, whiter variegation.
5. Jade and Pearls
It’s a rare variegated pothos that the University of Florida has patented. Unlike other pothos, this one has silver or white variegation at the borders rather than the center. It’s easy to confuse it with another pothos type that looks similar. However, look for green specks on the white areas to indicate the presence of Pearls and Jade.
6. Variegated Neon Pothos
The variegated neon pothos is a plant with vivid lime-green foliage and dark green multicolored stripes. The hues of the budding leaves are striking, while the matured, older leaves have a brighter neon color. To acquire that stunning neon hue, cultivate your variegated neon pothos in direct sunshine, and in low light, the leaves appear dark and drab.
7. Cebu Blue Pothos
The Cebu Blue pothos’ blue-green leaves are shaped like an arrow. Furthermore, the leaves typically have a bluish-metallic sheen that differentiates them from other types. The lustrous, silvery-blue leaves of the pothos variety tend to shimmer under the right illumination circumstances.
8. Satin Pothos
They have large heart-shaped leaves with silvery splashes and are also known as Scindapsus pictus. Surprisingly, this plant resembles the Silver Satin and Silver Pothos in appearance, and the leaves of this type are smaller than those of the other varieties. Maintain silver in intense but indirect light to produce the brightest hues.
How to Grow Variegated Pothos
Variegated pothos is one of the easiest plants to grow. They can tolerate a wide range of light conditions, and you don’t need to overwater them, and Over-watering will more likely kill them. Here are the steps we recommend for growing variegated pothos:
- The first step in planting variegated pothos is to cut a 4inch section off the stem below the root. To do this, you can use a sharp knife or pruning shears.
- Remove the leaves from the lowest 2 inches of the stem you cut. Trim the leaves off the bottom, so they don’t get in the way when you transplant the stem.
- For faster rooting, dip the stem in a rooting agent.
- Fill a vase halfway with water to cover the stem’s base. Position the stem inside the jar and place it where it will receive indirect sunlight. Wait for one month for the roots to develop. Then, place the rooted stem in the soil.
- Fill a small container halfway with coarse sand and halfway with peat moss. The sand will improve drainage in the soil, preventing root rot in your new golden pothos.
- Water the stem immediately, ensuring that the top 1 inch of soil is moist. However, only immerse the stem in water for an extended period.
- Keep the soil wet until new growth appears. Every day, check on the soil. If the stem seems to be dry, softly water it. The roots of your new variegated pothos may take up to a month to mature in the soil.
- Once the roots have developed, allow the soil to dry between watering. Overwatering your new variegated pothos will cause the leaves to turn yellow and wither.
How to Care Variegated Pothos
Variegated pothos is one of the easiest houseplants to care for, and it can be grown in any environment as long as it has bright indirect light with some shade. Furthermore, apply a fertilizer dose about once every two weeks, and you should use only water once the soil is dry.
Here are our recommended tips on how to care for variegated pothos:
1. Preference for Light
Variegated pothos prefers indirect light that is medium to low in intensity. As a result, positioning it near a northern or eastern window source would be optimal. When watering, rotate the plant a half turn to ensure that it receives equal light on both sides. If you have it in the shadow and it appears to be having problems, consider relocating it to a slightly sunnier spot to see if it helps.
2. Humidity/Water
Between you start watering, allow the soil to dry out. To test, carefully probe the soil to determine if the top two inches are dry. Its leaves will curl when it desperately needs additional water. Overwatering often leads to death for variegated pothos; therefore, select soil and pot with good drainage. It prefers high humidity, so spray it from time to time.
3. Temperature
Variegated pothos thrives in temperatures ranging from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, as seen on remote South Pacific islands. As a result, maintain it above 70°F to keep it happy and healthy. Placing the Pothos near an air conditioning vent or a window, for example, might restrict growth or cause damage to your plant.
4. Fertilizer/Plant Food
Feed the variegated pothos once a month with a balanced fertilizer in the summer and spring months for maximum health and development. When fertilizing, ensure the indoor plant is not strained (soaking wet or dry or has disease or pest).
5. Frequency of repotting
Inspect the roots of the variegated pothos every two years, and if it’s time to repot, use a fresh pot 2 inches in diameter. Use pots with drainage holes to keep your roots from becoming soggy. Always use high-drainage soil to avoid root rotting and overwatering.
6. Cleaning
When cleaning your variegated pothos, shower and fill a watering can halfway with filtered water before rinsing the leaves. This procedure simulates rain, which cleanses these plants organically in their native environment. Allow to drain and dry naturally. Spritzing their leaves with bottled, filtered, or rainfall will also quickly clean them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can I Buy Pothos Plants?
You can buy pothos plants at most plant nurseries, grocery stores, and big box stores. They are relatively easy to find but often sold under different names, and the most common is the spider plant.
When do I water my pothos plant?
The best time to water variegated pothos is when the soil feels dry about 2 inches below the surface. As soon as the top inch of the soil dries out, you should water your plant.
How do I propagate pothos plants from stem tip cuttings?
You can propagate variegated pothos plants from stem tip cuttings by cutting off about six inches of a healthy stem into two-inch pieces and planting them in moist potting soil after dipping the cut end in rooting hormone.
What kind of soil should I use when growing pothos plants?
Variegated pothos plants require moist soil that is well-drained but not overly wet. The soil should also be high in organic matter, such as compost or leaf litter.