Scindapsus pictus is native to Southeast Asia and has the reputation of being one of the easiest houseplants to keep alive. It is known for its heart-shaped matte leaves, splashed with spots of iridescent gray, and fast-growing trailing vines. A mature Silver Satin can grow vines between 4-10 feet long depending on conditions.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Scindapsus pictus—commonly called satin pothos, silver pothos, or silver vine—is a species of flowering plant in the aroid or arum family, Araceae, native to Bangladesh, Borneo, India, Java, Peninsular Malaysia, the Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Taiwan and Thailand. The Latin specific epithet pictus means “painted”, referring to the variegation on the leaves.
Capable of growing to around 3 m (10 ft) tall, S. pictus is an evergreen climber (liana), growing upwards and out from roots and ending in the newest leaf. Along the underside of the vine (which is the plant’s stem) are nodes, generally appearing every few centimeters, which produce anchoring roots that enable the plant to grow taller and find more light. The roots are sticky to the touch and will adhere to any firm surface, including rocks, cement, brick, logs and trees. Adjacent to each root node is usually a leaf node, sprouting from the opposite (top) side of the vine. Unlike other related genera, the leaves are a matte, seafoam-pine green hue, often covered in silver blotches of variegation. Similar to other aroid genera (such as Epipremnum or Syngonium), the insignificant flowers of S. pictus are rarely seen in cultivation, as vegetative reproduction (i.e., taking cuttings or root division) is the most common method of propagation.
With a minimum outdoor temperature requirement of 15 °C (59 °F), this plant is widely cultivated as a houseplant in temperate regions around the world, and outdoors in appropriate climes. It typically grows, somewhat slowly, to around 90 cm (35 in). However, if provided with an adequate support structure, such as the side of a building or a wall, or a tree or a wide pole, S. pictus vines often grow faster and higher towards sunlight, with the leaves eventually “shingling” (growing in a flattened position) against the support, in an effort to achieve maximum photosynthetic benefit beneath the forest canopy.
II. Types of Satin Pothos
Popular varieties include:
- Scindapsus pictus ‘Silvery Ann(e)’: a cultivar with light green, highly variegated heart-shaped leaves.
- Scindapsus pictus ‘Argyraeus’: has smaller, dark green leaves. The variegation has more defined, less splotchy, and evenly dispersed silvery markings. The leaves also have silvery edges. The cultivar was named after its silvery variegation—’Argyraeus’ means “silvery”. Because the leaves are dark, the contrast between the leaves and the variegation is more striking in this variety.
- Scindapsus pictus ‘Exotica’: has larger, dark green, lance-shaped leaves with large silver splotches.
III. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Satin pothos needs bright light but it must be indirect. When exposed to full direct sun, its leaves will lose their variegation and get scorched.
If you place the plant near a window with direct sunlight, it will require a curtain to protect it from direct sunlight.
Temperature and Humidity
Satin pothos is a tropical plant, which means it needs warmth and humidity. The ideal growth temperature ranges from 65 to 85 degrees F. At a lower temperature, it will suffer cold damage and die. In dry air, the leaf tips can turn brown.
Relative humidity at 40% to 50% around your plant is ideal. Increase the humidity by placing the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water, but in a way that the roots are not sitting in the water.
Misting to increase humidity is not recommended because the aerial roots also absorb moisture so it might result in overwatering.
Watering
When watering satin pothos, the key is to avoid overwatering, which will manifest itself by yellow leaves and the vine wilting.
Water only when the top two inches of the soil feel dry to the touch. Poke your finger into the soil to check. Water slowly and deeply with room-temperature water until you see water seeping out of the drain holes.
Soil
Use a commercial indoor potting mix, which already contains nutrients and ensures good drainage through its combination of peat moss, pine bark, and perlite or vermiculite. The plant does poorly in wet, soggy soil.
Fertilizing
Apply a 20-10-10 diluted house plant liquid fertilizer monthly during the growing season. You may reduce fertilizing over the winter months. The addition of monthly fertilizing will help keep the foliage vibrant and healthy. Dilute the fertilizer to half-strength and gradually increase as spring and summer go on. In fall, reduce the concentration.
Pruning
Snip off any damaged or dead leaves any time. Any pruning when the vines are growing too long and becoming sparse is best done in the spring when the new growing season starts. Cutting back the plant will encourage new leaf growth and make it fuller.
Propagation
Satin pothos can be propagated from stem cuttings.
- In the spring or early summer, take four-inch tip cuttings with 1 to 2 leaf nodes and 1 to 2 inches of stem below the cut node.
- Fill a wide pot, such as a bulb pot, with a damp potting mix. Place the cutting on the soil and gently press the nodes into the soil. Use propagation pins or a piece of wire to hold the leaf nodes down.
- Keep the soil evenly moist but not wet and place the pots in the same indirect light location as the mother plant. After about a month, new growth should indicate that the plant has rooted, and you can switch to a more infrequent watering schedule.
Potting and Repotting
If you see roots emerging from the drainage holes of the pot, it’s time for repotting. Depending on how fast your satin pothos grows, this might be necessary every year or two years.
Repotting should be done when the growing season starts. Select a pot about one to two inches larger than the current pot and fill it with a fresh indoor potting soil mix. Commercial mixes usually contain enough fertilizer for several months so take that into consideration when feeding the plant.
Pests and Diseases
- Growing Problems
Common problems are usually due to either overwatering or underwatering. Avoid overwatering by waiting for the top few inches of soil to dry out before watering again. Overwatering can result in yellow leaves. Conversely, if you notice curling leaves this can indicate underwatering. The two things that satin pothos does not tolerate well are cold drafts and soggy soil. Yellow leaves can also occur with improper humidity levels. Keep the silvery green foliage healthy with the right drainage, water, and humidity.
Some wonder why their satin pothos plant doesn’t produce flowers, and apply too much fertilizer in attempts to force flowering. This will stress Scindapsus pictus argyraeus or Scindapsus pictus exotica plant, putting it at risk for contracting diseases.
- Common Pests
Scale insects can infest your satin pothos, particularly if you’ve decided to bring it outside in the warm weather months. The scales may hitchhike on your plant back indoors where it will quickly become evident with the lack of outdoor predators. Scale will appear as small, brown rounded lumps on your plant’s stems and leaves. Pop off these insects with a q-tip dipped in alcohol. If the infestation of these brown spots has not progressed too far then remove infected leaves to prevent their spread. In more serious cases you can apply an organic insecticide such as neem oil. Conventional contact insecticides work as well.
Spider mites are the most common issue for most indoor houseplants. They prefer a warm, dry environment with low humidity. A good preventative method is to increase humidity around your houseplants. The first signs of mites will be tiny holes in the leaves or small yellowish spots on the foliage. You may even notice tiny web clusters on the leaves as well. If spider mites have already appeared, but there is little to no damage to the plant then they can likely be manually removed with a forceful spray of water or wiping down your plants with a damp cloth. If the infestation is more serious, then insecticidal soap or organic insecticides containing pyrethrins can be effective at eliminating all the spider mites.
- Common Diseases
Root rot is the main disease that can affect your satin pothos. The symptoms of root rot will appear as a soft mushy stem, wilting, and of course rotten roots. This type of rot is harder to recover from but can be remedied if there are still fresh, white roots on the plant that have not yet turned to mush. Cut back the rotted roots and plant them into a pot of dry soil.
III. Uses and Benefits
Satin pothos is a popular choice for adding greenery to living spaces, offices, and commercial settings, not only for its beauty but also for its health benefits.
Beyond its ornamental value, Scindapsus pictus is known for its air-purifying capabilities, capable of removing certain toxins from indoor environments.
