Scindapsus pictus is a tropical and easy-to-care-for plant that will bring life to any home or indoor garden. This specific genus has beautiful variegation that we love, making it a great accent piece.
In this post, we’ll go through Satin Pothos care in greater depth so that you may confidently grow this very common house plant.
We also will provide various options for you to buy a Scindapsus pictus. Continue reading to find out more about this indoor plant’s exciting attributes.
Table of Contents
What Is Scindapsus pictus?
The Scindapsus pictus, also known as Satin Pothos, Silver Vine, and Silvery Anne, is a well-known perennial plant for its heart-shaped matte leaves. This tropical plant from the Araceae family has leaves that are green or silver-grey.
Origin And Family
From the genus Scindapsus, the Satin Pothos is native to the rainforests regions of Southeast Asia and doesn’t produce flowers. It’s a member of the Arum (Araceae) family.
Where To Buy
We’re a family who loves this silver vine plant. When purchasing most of our houseplants lately, we start with Etsy, which has many plants and deals.
And as an added benefit, it’s sent directly to our house. Buy Satin Pothos on Etsy now.
Scindapsus pictus Plant Size
This vining plant can grow up to 4-10 feet tall. When placed indoors under bright indirect light, it grows slow-to-moderate that you can expect to enjoy for years to come.
Scindapsus pictus Care Needs
A Scindapsus pictus will flourish if you give it proper care – like any other tropical plant. The silk pothos, with their unique heart-shaped velvety leaves, loves pruning and needs relatively dry soil throughout the year.
Water your Scindapsus every 1-2 weeks to allow the soil to dry between waterings. When watering, allow it to drain from the holes along the bottom of the pot. In regards to light, this lovely plant thrives in bright indirect sunlight.
To see the various tips, check the specific care guidelines below.
Care Difficulty
Like other indoor plants, the Scindapsus pictus is often regarded as easy-to-care-for due to its little light, water, and humidity needs. Read on to see the specific needs of the silver pothos!
Growth Rate
The Scindapsus pictus plant measures 4-10 feet in height. The warm months of Spring and Summer mark the start of their growing season.
Scindapsus species grow in stages ranging from slow to moderate, including the Satin Pothos
Does Satin Pothos Climb?
To climb, a Satin Pothos needs to be anchored to something, such as a moss pole. It can, however, cling onto a wall. Bright grow lights above the plant encourage it to climb. Pothos grows naturally toward the light.
pH
For this plant, you’ll need a soil pH of around 6.1 to 6.5, which is considered slightly acidic. pH is not typically a big concern for this plant, so this shouldn’t be a significant worry.
Water
Your Scindapsus pictus prefers a relatively dry growing medium, and you should let it dry out a bit between waterings.
It’s a good rule of thumb to avoid overwatering your Satin Pothos. Ideally, this plant needs watering every 1-2 weeks, allowing the soil to dry between waterings.
Water until you see it trickle out the bottom of the pot, which is usually considered a full watering.
Best way to remedy the blues is getting a new plant baby in the mail. After unboxing and after a little bath! 😍 Thank you California Tropicals! 🥰 #satinpothos #planttwitter pic.twitter.com/JnxbZx6hhq
— 🌿🧶 Beetle (@beetleatbay) April 3, 2021
Light
Scindapsus pictus prefers bright indirect light for a few hours daily. You’re attempting to replicate how it grows in its native habitat, the rainforests of Southeast Asia. In most cases, placing this plant under bright indirect light indoors works well.
When its leaves lose their variegation and get scorched, you’ll know your Satin Pothos is getting too bright light. But if the plant doesn’t receive enough light, its growth will slow down.
Drooping and yellow leaves can mean too much water or too much light, but they can also indicate a lack of fertility. See our section on fertilizer for more information.
Avoid putting your Scindapsus pictus in direct sunlight, as this could severely damage or even kill it.
Potting
Scindapsus plants generally prefer a pot with good drainage. A medium pot made of any material works fine. I use a plastic pot for mine. You should make sure that you’ve got at least one drainage hole in the pot.
Poor drainage is one of the leading killers of the Satin Pothos. Whenever possible, have a drainage hole and well-draining soil.
You could also choose a self watering planter, which I’ve recently fallen in love with. Here is my current favorite option.
When To Repot
You typically know it’s time to re-pot when you see roots are pushing through drainage holes.
This happens, on average, every one to two years. Between repottings, freshen up the organic soil mix in the pot by adding some new commercial indoor potting mix.
It is also crucial to re-pot the Satin Pothos if you think that it’s affected by root rot.
Soil
A commercial indoor potting mix is a good option for the Scindapsus pictus. If you make your own, use peat moss and perlite. Remember that Satin Pothos prefers a relatively dry grow medium, so your soil should support this.
The soil type should also support good drainage, which fends off root rot and other diseases. This easy-to-care-for plant prefers a well-draining soil or mix.
We suggest these potting mixes:
Fertilizer
Many indoor growers overlook fertilization, believing that water and bright indirect light are sufficient. In spring and summer, you should use a water-soluble fertilizer once a month.
If you’re using a stronger fertilizer, you might need to dilute it first. Fertilizer is not required during the cold months.
Propagating Scindapsus pictus
If you want to grow more Scindapsus pictus, it can quickly be done through simple water propagation. The best time to propagate is typically the spring.
Take cuttings from your Scindapsus first. Cuttings for most plants should be between 4 and 6 inches in length.
Using a sharp knife, cut the Scindapsus stems slightly below the nodes. Any section of the cutting that will be submerged in water should be leaf-free. Don’t make your cuttings too big; they won’t root or, if they do, will grow too tall and skinny.
Love waking up to my propagation babiesss having new roots 💚 #SatinPothos pic.twitter.com/kvgg9g10MX
— Brittany Joy (@brittanyyjoyyy) January 19, 2021
Fill the cutting with water and replace it every few days. To produce roots on the plant, the propagated nodes should be regularly exposed to water.
Move the new house plant to the soil while the roots of your new Satin Pothos are developing. It may not convert well to a pot if you wait too long.
Humidity And Aeration
When considering humidity levels for your Scindapsus pictus, keep in mind that you’re attempting to replicate the rainforests of Southeast Asia.
This Scindapsus is a plant that likes moderate-to-high humidity of 40-50%.
If you’ve checked your humidity and discovered that it’s low – or could be better – and especially if you’ve noticed brown spots or brown edges, consider obtaining a humidifier or moving your plant to a naturally humid location.
Temperature
Warm temperatures are preferable for your Satin Pothos plant, but it can thrive in a temperature range of 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Whenever possible, keep your houseplants out of areas where temperatures change – such as near vents, open windows, front doors, etc. They don’t handle change well.
Toxic
Unfortunately, the satin pothos plant is toxic to both pets (including cats and dogs) and humans. If consumed, you can expect the following symptoms: drooling, swelling of the oral cavity, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or doctor if this plant has been eaten by a pet or child, respectively.
| Care Type | Care Specifics |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Scindapsus pictus |
| Common Name | satin pothos, silk pothos, silver pothos |
| Plant Family | Araceae |
| Origin | Southeast Asia |
| Plant Type | perennial |
| Leaf Shape | heart-shaped |
| Leaf Color | Green, Silver / Grey |
| Recommended Home Placement | bright indirect light indoors |
| Growth Rate | slow-to-moderate |
| Light | bright indirect light |
| Soil | commercial indoor potting mix |
| When To Water | Water Every 1-2 weeks, allowing soil to dry between waterings. |
| When To Fertilize | once a month during growing season |
| Preferred pH | 6.1 to 6.5 |
| Humidity Range | 40-50% |
| Toxic To Pets? | Yes - symptoms include drooling, swelling of the oral cavity, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing |
| Common Pests & Diseases | Spider mites, fungus gnats, white flies, scale insects, aphids, mealybugs, brown leaf tips, powdery mildew, downy mildew, yellow leaves, root rot, dropping leaves |
Types Of Satin Pothos
There are three very popular types of Satin Pothos, including the following:
Scindapsus pictus ‘Silvery Anne’: This cultivar has bright green heart-shaped leaves and a lot of variegation.
Scindapsus pictus ‘Argyraeus’: This cultivar has small, dark green leaves. The silvery leaves have more distinct variegation and the markings are evenly spread. T
‘Exotica’ Scindapsus pictus: This cultivar has bigger, dark green leaves with huge silver variegation
There’s nothing more satisfying than propagating your own plants and watch them grow 😍 #scindapsuspictus #satinpothos pic.twitter.com/YqkkhXYqv8
— Carmela Ardiente (@_CARAMELUHH) August 23, 2020
Pests, Diseases, And Other Problems
The Scindapsus pictus is a plant that’s resistant to several bugs, issues, and diseases. Here are some of the common problems for the Satin Pothos.
Spider Mites
Spider mites are an unwelcome but widespread condition, particularly in Satin Pothos. Spider mite damage appears initially as little brown or yellow dots on the leaves of Scindapsus.
You may also notice that your trailing plant has ceased to grow. And, because spider mites are linked to spiders, they make webs, which is a little disgusting. So that’s another thing to keep an eye out for.
Begin by spraying your Scindapsus pictus with a sink nozzle to get rid of spider mites. If that doesn’t work, an insecticidal oil, such as horticultural oil, may do the trick.
If you have several plants in your home, you might need to quarantine them while you’re getting your spider mite population under control.
Fungus Gnats
Where there’s wet soil, you can usually find fungus gnats. Their larvae can attack your Scindapsus pictus’s roots, causing wilting and poor growth.
Using a self-watering planter is one option to help reduce fungus gnats. The roots absorb the water through a wick, and then the topsoil remains dry.
Aphids
Aphids can devour leaves, leaving behind black and brown areas on the plant.
To fend off aphids, use insecticidal soap or neem oil, or make your own with Ivory Liquid.
Look for a product free of perfumes and other potentially harmful components. A mild concentration of soap and water can be used to spray the leaves and stems of the plants, including the leaf undersides.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs may infest your Scindapsus pictus. These tiny parasites damage your Scindapsus by inserting a feeding tube into the plant tissues and sucking on the sap. Mealybugs can weaken or kill your Satin Pothos.
To fight against the mealybug invasion, take a cotton swab, soak it in rubbing alcohol, and rub it over the heart-shaped leaves and stem. I also recommend Neem oil mixed with water as a preventative spray.
Brown Leaf Tips
If the tops of your Satin Pothos start to turn brown from what used to be beautiful dark green leaves, it could be an indication that it’s getting too much sunlight – or that your home isn’t humid enough.
Drooping Leaves
These drooping leaves can be caused by mealybugs are known to damage Scindapsus pictus. Overwatering and fertilization concerns might also contribute to these troubles.
Root Rot
Root rot is a common killer of Satin Pothos. Indoor gardeners may overwater or fail to provide proper drainage for their potting soil. These are the two most common causes of root rot. Because root rot is difficult to treat, as are many other plant diseases, prevention is the best choice.
To avoid root rot in Scindapsus pictus, closely check its water intake. Excess water is the main cause of this annoying and frequently dangerous sickness.
Similar Plants
Love Satin Pothos? We also have guides on other Pothos you should try:
Marble Queen Pothos – Marble Queen Pothos is a highly versatile houseplant that is easy to care for and looks great in any setting. The light-green leaves have a creamy white variegation and add a splash of color and sophistication.
Neon Pothos – The Neon Pothos, as the name implies, is one of the most beautiful house plants due to its vibrant neon-green leaf.
Conclusion
This heart-leaf philodendron plant is ideal for use as an accent plant in your house. And if you follow our care instructions, you’ll have no trouble growing this Satin Pothos.