Satin Pothos

Other common names: Silk Pothos

Satin pothos is a creeping shrub that can grow up to 12m long, and is native to Singapore. You can see them climbling on trees in nature parks like Bukit Timah Hill and the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. Its mature leathery leaves are green with white speckles and can be lance or heart shaped. Its flowers are pollinated by insects and its fruits are dispersed by birds.

A perennial plant, satin pothos are great for indoor gardens in semi shaded areas. Its attractive, white-spotted green leaves provide texture and colours to landscape designs.

Sun and soil needs:

This plant thrives in areas with at least 4 hours of indirect sunlight and requires moderate watering. Plants do best in pots with loamy soil at least 10cm deep, or in true ground.

Growing:

This plant grows quickly and generally does not need fertilising, but feeding a balanced fertiliser once a year will boost its growth and make it fuller.

Grow the plant in bright indirect light to keep the variegation on the leaves. The leaves will lose their variegation and get burned if the light is too strong.

As with all potted plants, regular repotting once a year will prevent it from becoming root bound.

Wipe down the leaves with a soft rag to remove dust deposited to prevent pests such as spider mites.

This plant can be trained to climb up a trellis or a wall. Take note that the roots used for climbing may leave marks on surfaces.

Propagation:

Satin pothos can be propagated by stem cuttings.

Common problems & solutions:

This plant is relatively resistant to pests and disease if kept healthy.

Aphids, mealy bugs, whiteflies, and spider mites often infest the plant if it has underlying problems like repeated wilting from heat stress. Mechanical pest control methods like pruning the infested parts are the best methods for managing these pests in the short term, but resolving the underlying problem will prevent them in the long term.