Silver Satin Pothos

Scientific Name: Scindapsus Pictus

Common Name(s): Silver Vine

The correct Silver Satin Pothos care is of utmost importance when growing this luscious Pothos variety in order for it to grow to its fullest. From the origin of the plant to growth facts to overall Silver Satin Pothos care to propagating, toxicity, and common problems, here is everything you need to know on how to care for Silver Satin Pothos.

Quick Care Overview

Common NameSilver Satin Pothos, Silver Vine
Scientific NameScindapsus Pictus
OriginAsia
IdentificationEvergreen plant with green, heart-shaped leaves and variegated silver spots
Height3 to 10 feet tall
SoilRich, well-draining soil
WaterWhen soil is dry
Temperature65-85F
SunlightBright, indirect light
Toxic to Cats & DogsYes
Toxic to HumansYes
PestsSpider mites and scale
DiseasesRoot rot

Below we will dive deeper into each of these categories on how to care for Silver Satin Pothos.

Silver Satin Pothos Care

Silver Satin Pothos History

The Silver Satin Pothos is native to the tropical rainforests of Asia including India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sulawesi, and the Philippines. In the rainforest, it loves to climb evergreen trees.

Silver Satin Pothos Identification

The Silver Satin Pothos is an evergreen plant with heart-shaped leaves with a green leaf and variegated silver spots all over the leaves. You will see the Silver Satin Pothos either climbing up a moss pole or wall or even trailing from a hanging planter in a home.

Silver Satin Pothos Growth Facts

Most Pothos variations range from slow to moderate growers. However, the Silver Satin Pothos growth rate is dependent on the environment in which it resides. For example, if your plant is cared for in a dim-lit area, your Silver Satin will be an incredibly slow grower. Alternatively, given the correct amount of light, such as bright indirect light, the Silver Satin Pothos will grow very well during the growing months.

How Big Does a Silver Satin Pothos Get?

In this plant’s natural habitat, this plant can reach up to 10 feet. However, when grown in a container as an indoor plant, it is likely your plant will grow to around 3 feet, but can take a few years to grow it this long.

How to Care for Silver Satin Pothos

Silver Satin Pothos Care

The Silver Satin Pothos is one of the easier Pothos varieties to grow. To make this plant thrive, place it in bright indirect lighting and in warmer temperatures, somewhere in the range of 64-80F. Be sure to plant it in rich, well-draining soil to prevent overwatering, which is one of the most common reasons the silver satin pothos dies. Water this plant when the top 2 inches of the soil are dry. To achieve new growth on your silver satin pothos, carefully follow the instructions below on best care practices.

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Best Soil for Silver Satin Pothos

In order to achieve the best Silver Satin Pothos care, you want to start it off right with the best soil for Silver Satin Pothos. This Silver Pothos prefers a rich, well-draining potting mix containing organic matter to hold in the moisture while allowing the water to drain freely, making it less likely to water clog and prevent overwatering. Of course, mixing your own soil is almost always the best soil you can give to your pothos for growing it well. A mixture of peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and shredded bark is perfect for the best Silver Satin Pothos care.

Silver Satin Pothos Fertilizer

Fertilizing Silver Satin Pothos will help it to grow faster during the growing season (spring and summer). If you want your plant to grow fast, give it fertilizer once a month during the growing season, starting as early as April. If your plant is already as big as you like it to be, consider giving it fertilizer once or twice during the growing season.

Silver Satin Pothos Watering

You should water your Silver Satin Pothos when the top of the soil becomes dry. Sometimes you may need to water your plant once a week, and other times you may have to water every other day depending on the environment your Silver Satin Pothos resides in. If in a warmer, brighter climate, you will have to water more frequently as it will absorb a lot of light and nutrients, thus making it thirsty more often. Always remember to check your soil often to prevent underwatering or overwatering.

Silver Satin Pothos Light Requirements

Silver Satin Pothos care needs bright, indirect light. Pothos love east-facing windows. Be sure to keep this plant away from direct sunlight as this will cause damage to the foliage of your plant.

Silver Satin Pothos Temperature & Humidity

Silver Satin Pothos likes temperatures between the range of 65-85F. Since silver satin is a tropical plant, it will be beneficial to provide them with tropical-like environments, such as high humidity and a warmer environment. Avoid sudden fluctuations in temperature as this can shock your plant.

The Silver Satin Pothos needs medium to high humidity. If your home can not provide the environment necessary to allow your plant to flourish and thrive, you have options to help improve that in your home. You may find that a pebble tray works wonderfully for your plant. If the pebbles in water tray isn’t for you and your plant, you can consider a humidifier or you can mist your Pothos often.

Repotting Silver Satin Pothos

The best season for repotting a Silver Satin Pothos to give it the best care is in spring. However, if your pothos has exposed roots through the pot’s drainage hole or you can tell it’s suffering from root rot, go ahead and repot the plant immediately. Generally speaking, you can repot silver satin pothos every 3-5 years for larger, full-grown plants.

Silver Satin Pothos Maintenance & Pruning

As the Silver Satin Pothos loves to trail or climb, it does not require frequent pruning. However, by pruning the ends of stems, you can encourage fuller, bushier growth. Additionally, if a vine gets too long, you should prune the trailing stems. Alternatively, you can prune it to get the plant to grow the way you want it to, whether it be long and trailing or short, bushy and full.

Silver Satin Pothos Plant

Propagating Silver Satin Pothos

The recommended propagation technique for this plant is to do a stem cutting rooted in water. The steps to do this are as follows: 

1. Remove the stem node with clean, sharp scissors and place the cut part in a jar of water.

2. In 4 to 6 weeks, roots should start appearing in the water. Once they reach about 1″ in length, it’s time to pot them in pots.

3. Silver Satin Pothos can grow in water for a few months. However, once they have reached a certain height, you’ll have to put them in pots with well-draining soil.

Silver Satin Pothos Toxicity

As with other Pothos variations, the Silver Satin Pothos is a toxic houseplant as it contains calcium oxalate crystals.

Toxicity to Humans

The Silver Satin Pothos is mildly toxic to humans because of the calcium oxalate crystals. It can cause skin irritation and if consumed, irritation in the mouth, mouth inflammation, vomiting, and diarrhea. It’s best to keep the Silver Satin Pothos away from children.

Toxicity to Cats & Dogs

The Silver Satin Pothos is toxic to cats. If ingested by cats or dogs, it can cause irritation to the mouth and stomach. Vomiting and diarrhea are also side effects.

Silver Satin Pothos Problems

In order to give the best Silver Satin Pothos care, the goal is always to not turn the leaves yellow or brown and give it a healthy spot to live. But of course, there are many reasons that yellow and brown leaves occur and numerous diseases and pests you need to watch out for to care for Silver Satin Pothos.

Silver Satin Pothos Leaves Turning Yellow

The most common cause for yellow leaves in Silver Satin Pothos is overwatering. Overwatering is sure to make your luscious silver and green leaves yellow. To prevent this, ensure that the top of the soil is entirely dry before watering again. If your soil doesn’t seem to be drying out, you’ll have to replace the potting soil with lighter, well-draining soil.

Silver Satin Pothos Leaves Turning Brown

Many problems can cause browning leaves in a Silver Satin Pothos, including low humidity, over-fertilization, and excessive sunlight. To prevent low humidity, mist your plant often to boost the humidity surrounding your plant. You can also provide it with a pebble tray or humidifier. To help with over-fertilization, stop fertilizing for a month and sprinkle the soil with plenty of water to wash out the fertilizer when watering your Pothos. Finally, to prevent excessive sunlight exposure, do not place your silver satin pothos in direct sunlight, as this will cause brown, scorched leaves to form. Instead, give it a filtered sunlit spot.

Silver Satin Pothos Diseases

Root rot by overwatering is the most common disease for Silver Satin Pothos. Signs that your plant may have root rot are soft brown roots and yellowing of the leaves.

Silver Satin Pothos Pests

The most common pests that can infest a Silver Satin Pothos are spider mites and scale. The easiest way to identify spider mites is to look for silk spider webs on the stems of your plant. These pests are difficult to find as they are very small. Scales are also hard to see as they are small. They look like brown growths on your plant’s stem. They are typically brown. However, they can give off any shade from white to reddish-brown. It is best to take preventative care as these pests infest quickly and can spread to nearby plants quite fast. When you identify pests on your Pothos plant, take care of them right away by isolating the plant, and treating it with insecticidal soap or spray neem oil onto the leaves.

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