The Beginners Guide For Emerald Pothos Care

Emerald Pothos is a tropical plant with a unique appearance, making it an excellent choice for indoor gardeners.

This comprehensive care guide will explore the hows, whys, and whens of everything your Emerald Pothos requires to remain healthy.

Find out where you can purchase this Epipremnum, its unique characteristics, and typical dangers to avoid.

What Is Emerald Pothos?

Emerald Pothos is also called Aureum Emerald, E. Aureum Emerald, and Pothos Emerald, known for its attractive variegation. Its botanical name is Epipremnum Aureum’ Emerald’.

All Pothos plants are often referred to as the common names Devil’s Ivy, Silver Vine, Marble Queen, Taro Vine, Silver Satin Pothos, and Golden Pothos. So don’t be surprised when you see some of these names used interchangeably among the best pothos varieties.

The Emerald Pothos is an exceedingly unusual variant of the NJoy Pothos due to its extraordinary variegated leaves with light green margins and dark green centers. The fluidity of the patterns makes the plant much more beautiful to behold.

To the untrained eye, the Emerald Pothos can be mistaken for its sister, Global Green Pothos plants. The Emerald Pothos has lighter green leaves with deeper green variegation spots in the center of the leaf. The variegation is also less distinct than Global Green, with the colors typically melting together rather than presenting sharp lines.

It can be placed as a houseplant near an east or west-facing window, and it can also be grown outside hardiness zones 9-11.

Origin And Family

Aureum Emerald belongs to the Epipremnum genus in the Araceae family. Natively, it’s from the forests of Mo’orea in French Polynesia but has become naturalized in Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific islands.

It was first described in 1880 and was reassigned to several genera several times before finally classifying it as E. Aureum. It was even once mistaken as part of the genus Epipremnum Pinnatum.

This sought-after tropical plant has gained popularity among indoor growers in recent years.

Where To Buy

You can buy an Emerald Pothos from Etsy, one of the best places to buy houseplants online.

Emerald Pothos are typically very affordable, ranging from $10 for small cuttings to $30 for larger plants.

Emerald Pothos Plant Size

The mature size of the Emerald Pothos as a houseplant is between 6 and 10 feet tall and 8 inches broad. This plant will complement a window facing east or west.

Emerald Pothos Care Needs

Your Emerald Pothos will grow well when it’s properly taken care of. Known for its attractive variegation, this plant loves humidity and needs relatively moist soil to stay healthy.

This plant should be watered when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. Allow the water to drain through the pot’s drainage hole. This unusual plant requires intense indirect light to achieve its optimum development potential.

For more specific advice, please refer to the thorough care guide below!

Care Difficulty

In terms of maintenance, the E. Aureum Emerald is simple to care for. The most important factors for this beauty are well-draining soil and ample sunshine.

Growth Rate

The Pothos Emerald grows to a mature height of 6-10 feet as a houseplant. Typically, you will notice faster and bushier growth in the spring and summer.

The majority of Epipremnum species, including the Emerald, grow at a fast rate.

Potting

Medium-sized plastic, terracotta, clay pots, and hanging baskets can be used for potting purposes. As a climbing plant, a moss pole is an excellent way to highlight its beauty. Essential requirements include at least one drainage hole in the container. Your Aureum Emerald could perish if left in moist soil for extended periods.

Repotting

As your plant grows and expands, you might consider upgrading from your current pot to a larger vessel on an as-needed basis. Typically, the need to repot occurs every two to three years because this plant overgrows.

When repotting, you can use a new batch of standard commercial potting soil which is the ideal growing medium for your Emerald Pothos.

Soil

Standard commercial potting soil is an appropriate medium for the E. Aureum Emerald. You can create your own soil mixture by combining peat, sphagnum moss, and perlite. Consider that this plant prefers a growing medium that is relatively damp.

Ensure that the soil type you choose allows for adequate drainage and aeration so that the roots may breathe better.

We suggest the following planting media:

pH

Your Pothos Emerald prefers neutral to acidic soil, so maintain a pH between 6.1 and 6.5. If you are concerned about the acidity of your soil, you can purchase a simple pH testing device to evaluate it.

To lower the soil’s high pH levels, sulfur or aluminum sulfate could be utilized. Add baking soda, calcitic or dolomitic lime, or wood ash to raise low pH levels.

Water

The watering frequency will vary based on the temperature and the humidity in your plant’s surroundings. Generally speaking, your Aureum Emerald prefers a relatively moist growing medium.

Avoid overwatering your Aureum Emerald. When the top 2 inches of soil are dry, it is time to water your plant. Avoid fungal diseases by watering the ground directly and avoiding wetting the leaves.

Allow the water to flow through the bottom of the pot. Remember to empty the collection tray if your plant is sitting in one.

Light

This plant is used to receiving bright indirect light from the forests of Mo’orea in French Polynesia. In an indoor setting, 6-8 are the recommended hours of exposure for your Emerald Pothos.

If your plant is exposed to too much light, its leaves may lose color. When this occurs, relocate your plant to a location with lower light levels, or use curtains and blinds to filter the light entering the room.

In contrast, if your Emerald is not receiving sufficient light, its growth may be inhibited. In such a situation, you can relocate your plant closer to a window. Additionally, you can complement it with grow lamps. The following artificial lighting products are recommended:

Avoid putting your Emerald Pothos in direct sunlight for long periods, as this could severely damage or even kill it.

Fertilizer

The E. Aureum Emerald’s growing season is in the spring and summer. During this time, fertilize your plant once a month using a balanced liquid fertilizer.

In the colder months, when this plant’s development naturally slows, you don’t need to fertilize.

Propagating Emerald Pothos

Perhaps you cannot wait for your Emerald Pothos to produce new leaves. In this instance, you might prune the stem to promote the development of new growth points. The trimmed-back cuttings can then be used to propagate a new plant!

We have provided a variety of propagation options for your consideration.

chopped my emerald pothos to propagate 😂😂🙇🙇 hopefully all cuttings survive so I can build a lush pot!! 🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/Mqpm9i7xSD

— pickle 🌻 🥒🪴 (@picklestpickle) February 18, 2022

Stem Cuttings In Soil

Planting stem cuttings straight into the soil is a fundamental approach for growing an Aureum Emerald and is likely the easiest option. If you do not already have this plant, you can acquire a cutting from Etsy or your community’s Facebook Marketplace.

Spring and summer are the optimal seasons for propagation, as it will be simpler for your plant to recover from transplant shock.

1.Using clean pruning shears, remove a healthy portion of the plant. Ideally, a cutting should be at least three inches tall and contain a few leaves and nodes.

2. Bury the stem’s nodes in a container or pot with moist potting soil. Use wooden skewers or pin the dirt around the stem to secure the plant. Too much movement can inhibit root development.

3.Place the container near a window with indirect, bright light. Don’t forget to keep the soil moist.

4.Expect new roots within two to three weeks. A developing sprout is the most reliable indicator that a cutting has successfully developed roots!

Stem Cuttings In Water

Here are the steps in successfully developing E. Aureum Emerald cuttings in water:

1. Using a sharp knife, sever the stem below a node. Remove blossom stems and lower leaves to allow your cutting to concentrate its efforts on root development.

2. Place the cutting in an old glass bottle and fill it with water. Any portion of the stem submerged in water should be devoid of leaves.

3. The optimal position for your new plant is a window with ample light and airflow. Keep a humidifier nearby to maintain the vigor of the leaves.

4. Check every 3-5 days to see if the water needs to be replenished with a clean batch.

5. When the roots are about an inch or longer, your cutting is ready to be potted in soil.

Air Layering Technique

If you want to ensure that your Pothos Emerald cutting has a substantial root system before it’s separated from the mother plant, air layering is the best propagation method to follow, and it’s believed to be a safer option than soil or water propagation.

To air layer your plant, follow these steps:

1. Identify the cutting. Look for a healthy section of the plant with at least two nodes for better chances of success.

2. Prepare the moss bag. Fill a plastic bag, a Ziploc bag, or a paper cup with damp sphagnum peat moss or coco coir.

3. (Optional) Wound the stem. Make minor, unnoticeable cuts on the chosen section of your plant, then apply a moderate amount of rooting powder to the wounds to stimulate root growth. You may choose to skip this step.

4. Cover the nodes. Enclose the stem in peat moss or coco coir using the bag you’ve prepared before. You may need to cut the container in some areas to properly surround the plant nodes.

5. Secure the covering. Use twist ties or hemp twines to keep the moss bag in place.

6. Water the propagated section. Leave a small opening on the moss bag so you can pour water from above to keep the developing root ball from drying out.

7. Transplant. After 3-5 weeks, check for any aerial roots poking from the moss bag. Cut the propagated section from the mother plant and transplant it into the soil. Don’t forget to remove the moss bag, which can girdle the growing roots.

Humidity And Aeration

High humidity (between 50%-70%) is best for your Emerald Pothos.

Lack of humidity in houseplants is often characterized by crispy leaves and browning edges. Consider getting a humidifier, or place your plant in well-lit, naturally higher humidity spaces (such as bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms).

Temperature

Like most Epipremnum plants, your Pothos Emerald will do best in a warm location. Keep the temperature between 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Houseplants can be sensitive to drastic temperature shifts, so ensure you keep your Pothos Emerald away from heat sources such as vents, hand dryers, furnaces, and other appliances. In the same way, don’t expose your plant to chilly drafts and frost spells during the winter months.

Toxic

If you have small children or pets, be vigilant. The E. Aureum Emerald is hazardous to humans and animals, including cats and dogs. One can anticipate discomfort and pain in the mouth, throat, and digestive tract if swallowed. In the majority of instances, this plant is deemed non-lethal.

Pests, Diseases, And Other Problems

The Emerald Pothos is a plant resistant to several bugs, issues, and diseases. I’ll discuss Emerald Pothos’ concerns and treatment tips in the following sections.

Spider Mites

Spider mites are a prevalent pest, especially on Pothos Emerald plants. Spider mite damage initially manifests as little brown or yellow spots on your plant’s leaves. You may also realize that your plant’s growth has slowed or ended.

Wash your Pothos Emerald with a sink nozzle, a pressure sprayer, or a garden hose to kill spider mites. In addition, you can spray the leaves with neem oil or insecticidal soap, but be sure to include the undersides!

Spider mites’ natural predators include ladybugs, lacewings, and Stethorus picipes beetles (nicknamed “Spider Mite Destroyer”). Despite feeding on spider mites, these insects will not harm your plant.

Scale Insects

Sap-feeding insects are known as scales. Adult scales are distinguished from other insects by their ability to adhere to a single plant portion and remain there. On the stems or petioles of a plant, they may appear as brownish lumps known as armored scales.

As a preventative precaution, you can dilute one teaspoon of neem oil in 500 milliliters of water and spray it on the leaves of your Emerald Pothos to deter scales.

You can also release ladybugs or lacewings next to the afflicted plant and let them take care of the problem.

Mealybugs

On Pothos Emerald, mealybug infestations are pretty standard. Act quickly if you discover these tiny parasites (typically recognizable by white puffs on the leaves) on any of your houseplants.

Pour isopropyl alcohol onto a cotton ball, and then massage it over the plant’s leaves and stem. Neem oil is also effective as a preventative spray.

Brown Leaf Tips

There are several causes for the browning of the leaf edges on your Aureum Emerald. Lack of humidity, excessive exposure to intense light, salt and mineral buildup from chemically treated tap water, and fertilizer burn are potential causes.

Drooping Leaves

The leaves of your Emerald Pothos might start to droop if it’s not getting the proper amount of moisture and light that it needs. Check out or Water and Light sections above to see the recommended care practices for your plant.

Drooping leaves can also be an issue that comes with low humidity, so check the humidity levels in your area and ensure that it matches your plant’s needs.

Yellow Leaves

Yellowing leaves on E. Aureum Emerald can be caused by lack of light, too much light, overwatering, underwatering, nutrient deficiency, overfertilization, recent disruption of the roots, changes in temperature, and humidity, presence of pests, and many others.

If you’re confused, don’t worry! Gardening requires trial and error to figure out the ideal conditions for your plants, and even master gardeners are learning new things every day.

It is usually encouraged to prune off yellowing leaves so the plant won’t waste its energy trying to “save” the leaf instead of supplying nutrients to new leaves.

Root Rot

The most prevalent cause of death for the Pothos Emerald is root rot. Some indoor gardeners may overwater their plants or neglect to provide appropriate drainage, and these are the two most common causes of root rot.

Root rot is difficult to treat; thus, prevention is preferable. If you do not have a soil meter, become accustomed to touching your soil to determine its moisture content. If the top few inches of the earth do not feel dry, do not water!

Use porous containers (such as clay, unglazed ceramic, and concrete) to allow excess moisture to escape through the edges of the container. Give your plant a soil mixture that is well-aerated so that its roots can breathe and grow freely.

emerald pothos is super pretty *o*) it's like njoy or p&j but more green! pic.twitter.com/Gnsib20prL

— pickle 🌻 🥒🪴 (@picklestpickle) May 26, 2021

Similar Plants

Love Aureum Emerald? Here are a variety of pothos plants you should try:

Snow Queen Pothos: – This plant’s white-green speckled variegation makes it one of the most popular plants to grow. Proper to its name, the Snow Queen’s majestic beauty deserves to be the center of any plant collection.

Manjula Pothos: – This plant’s distinct appearance and feel will instantly brighten any room. In a hanging basket, its undulating leaves with splashes and swirls of green and white make it a wonderfully lovely plant.

Marble Queen Pothos: – Team Pothos never runs out of Queens, and rightfully so, because this plant is another magisterial-looking plant that looks terrific as an indoor plant. And it may be “royal,” but it’s straightforward to care for.

Neon Pothos: – This gorgeous plant is one of the most attractive and must-have indoor plants. Vibe with the splash of color it brings and elevates the tropical atmosphere in your home.

Conclusion

With its attractive variegation, Emerald Pothos is a unique ornamental plant that looks stunning indoors. If you follow our care instructions, you’ll have no trouble growing this perfect houseplant!

Have you got an Aureum Emerald? We want to see it! Please submit photos to [email protected] so we can share them on our blog.

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