Satin Pothos is a tropical plant endemic to Bangladesh, Borneo, the Philippines, Java, and Sumatra in Southeast Asia. Satin Pothos is an evergreen climber that may reach a height of 10 feet in frost-free conditions when planted outdoors, but only 3 feet when grown inside, either growing up a moss stick or in hanging baskets.
Growing plants develop pinnately lobed leaves, starting as heart-shaped juvenile leaves. If kept indoors, the plant seldom blooms, but it produces tiny flower spathes followed by small berries in the summer.
How To Care and Grow Scindapus Pictus
Soil Requirements for Satin Pothos
Satin Pothos thrives in a nutrient-rich soil mix with good drainage. The plant will not thrive in thick soils that hold water and remain wet for an extended period of time. In fact, root rot problems might cause your Satin Pothos to die if the weather is too moist.
Your Satin Pothos can thrive in any decent houseplant soil, but you may prepare your own by mixing equal parts peat, potting soil, and perlite. Consider aerating the soil or adding more perlite or peat through the soil to increase aeration and drainage if your potting mix is draining slowly.
Whether you prepare your own soil combination or buy one from a store, the most important things to consider are that it drains properly and has some fertility.
Satin Pothos Light Requirements
It’s recommended to keep your Satin Pothos in an indoor position that receives strong indirect light to keep it generating healthy growth. The leaves will burn, fade, and wilt if it is exposed to direct sunlight.
If you place it in a room where it will be exposed to direct sunlight, make sure there is a curtain to filter some of the rays or that it is not right in front of the window.
But on the other hand, you don’t want to put it somewhere where it won’t receive enough light since the plant won’t develop properly. While satin pothos is tolerant of reduced light levels, the leaf will begin to lose some of its distinctive silvery streaks.
When the weather warms up in your location throughout the spring and summer, you may move your plant outside to give it a vacation from inside growth. Just make sure it’s not in direct sunlight or the leaves may burn. It’s best to put it in a somewhat shaded position and remember to bring it inside before the cold winter temps arrive.
Temperature
Scindapsus pictus is a real tropical plant that demands a warm atmosphere to thrive even inside. The ideal indoor temperature for healthy development is between 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Satin Pothos leaf will be damaged even when grown indoors if temps fall below 60°F. If you’re used to being comfy indoors, your Satin Pothos will most likely feel the same way.
Water Consumption
When it comes to the right quantity of water to give your Satin Pothos, it’s more forgiving if you forget to water it than if you overwater it, which can cause unhealthy growth and plant death.
It’s preferable to wait until the top few inches of soil have dried up before watering. Check the potting mix with your finger, and if the top few inches of soil feel dry to the touch, water until it flows out the bottom drain holes. If you notice your plant’s leaf starting to curl, that’s another clue it needs a sip of water.
Humidity
Because Satin Pothos thrives in humid tropical climates, replicating these conditions indoors is essential for its growth. Maintaining a humidity level of >40% will give the optimal growing conditions for your satin pothos.
Satin Pothos Fertilization
Fertilize your Satin Pothos once a month from spring through summer so that it continues to grow healthily. Fertilize less in the winter and more in the spring. You can choose from a variety of fertilizers.
During vigorous growth, apply a water-soluble houseplant combination diluted to half strength and applied weekly.
Spread slow-release granules evenly over the soil as directed on the packaging. Slow-release fertilizers operate for up to three months, gradually breaking down in the soil with each watering.
Slow-release fertilizers are often included in potting mixes, so you may not need to apply them more than once every few months. If the Satin Pothos begins to lose color and is cultivated in preferred light circumstances, fertilize with a half-strength water-soluble houseplant blend.
Salts from the fertilizer can build up in the soil over time, causing browning and scorched foliage on your Satin Pothos. It’s a good idea to flush the soil with water every three to four months to remove the salts.
Satin Pothos Pruning
Pruning requirements for Satin Pothos are minimal. You’ll only need to use your pruning snips to trim the plant if it’s getting too long, you want to cut it back to make it fuller, or you want to propagate cuttings to create more plants.
Snip off any damaged or dead leaves to keep the plant looking neat. When your plant begins to aggressively develop in the spring, it is the perfect time to conduct extensive pruning.
Before using your pruning tool blades, wash them down with alcohol to avoid accidentally spreading bugs or illnesses to the plant.
Planting Satin Pothos from Seed
Don’t throw away any long stems from your Satin Pothos when you prune them; instead, pot them up to get more plants. It’s a terrific present idea for brightening up a friend’s house with its appealing and unusual leaf colorings.
Snip off at least a 4-inch part of the plant using clean pruning tools and root in a glass of water, changing the water weekly, or repot into a moist, peat-based potting mix. In around four weeks, roots should start to grow on your cuttings. Simply look after your Satin Pothos cuttings as if they were the mother plant.
Problems with Diseases
Satin Pothos isn’t prone to major illness, and the most common issue is root rot caused by overwatering or too heavy soil that stays wet over lengthy periods of time.
When a plant suffers from root rot, the stems become black and squishy, and the foliage becomes black. If the issue is only beginning to manifest itself, you can reduce watering and only irrigate when the top inch or two of soil gets dry.
If your soil mix is too heavy, take the Satin Pothos from the container, carefully shake off as much of the old dirt as possible, and repot into a clean container with a rich, well-draining potting mix. Any stems that are mushy and black should be discarded.
Pest Control Issues
Although scale and spider mites are rarely an issue, they may be, and it’s important to remedy the problem as soon as you see the bugs.
Furthermore, if the scales and spider mites are not treated, they will spread to your other indoor plants, creating an even greater problem for you to deal with. Both pests are easy to recognize and may be treated using the same solutions.
Apply an insecticidal soap spray or neem to all regions of the plant to treat both pests. Always follow the product’s guidelines for usage quantities and frequency.
Learn More About Scindapsus Pictus
Frequently Asked Questions About Satin Pothos
Why are the leaves of my Satin Pothos turning brown?
Brown leaves on a Satin Pothos might be caused by one of two factors. The leaves of your plant might scorch and become brown if it is in full sun and receives too much light.
Furthermore, if there isn’t enough humidity, the leaves might turn brown. It’s ideal to keep your Satin Pothos in bright indirect light, and you may improve the humidity by spraying the plant several times weekly with room temperature water.
Why are the leaves of my Satin Pothos turning yellow?
Overwatering or soil that retains too much water can cause yellowing of your Satin Pothos leaves. If your soil drains well, wait until the top inch or two of soil is dry to the touch before watering again. Repot using a peat-based, rich potting mix with great drainage if the soil is too heavy and holds too much water.
How Can I Make Satin Pothos Grow More Quickly?
The finest thing you can do for your Satin Pothos’s growth is to cultivate it in its ideal circumstances and feed it on a regular basis. Water when the top inch or two of soil is dry and feed weekly with a half-strength water-soluble houseplant fertilizer. Grow in a rich, well-drained potting mix, in bright indirect light, and in a region with temperatures of 65 to 85 degrees F.
