Family: Araceae
Common name: Satin pothos, Silver pothos, Silk pothos, Silver vine
Satin pothos is a strikingly beautiful tropical vine loved for its silvery, heart-shaped leaves and quick-growing nature. They are native to Southeast Asia, but are now grown as garden plants in all parts of the world.
Plant characteristics
Satin pothos plants are vigorous growers reaching a length of 3-4 meters with thick, green stems that are capable of producing anchoring roots. When allowed to climb on trellises or supporting structures, Satin pothos plants can shoot up very quickly.
In the wild, these plants grow on trees or other vegetation, the supporting roots anchoring themselves effectively to the tree trunks. In home gardens, Satin pothos plants can be grown in pots, or in hanging baskets, both looking very elegant.
These plants are loved for their foliage – deep, glossy green, heart-shaped leaves with silver or white marbling across the surface. The extent of silver markings depend on the cultivars, some of them even having silver leaves with green markings.
Leaves are 10-12 cm long with a smooth, leathery texture – the markings showing more prominently in good sunlight. Flowers are very rare in garden plants, but Satin pothos plants are capable of producing spathe and spadix flowers like other plants in the Araceae family.
They do not produce fruits or seeds, and propagation is always vegetative.
Gardening tips
Satin pothos plants prefer indirect, filtered sunlight. They can be grown indoors, but near windows with good sunlight. If grown in complete shade, these plants can lose their leaf coloring, and become lanky. Bright, direct sunlight can scorch the edges of the leaves.
They need regular watering, but make sure there is no waterlogging in the pot or growing area since the roots can get choked. Placing the pot in trays filled with water can help the plant absorb the necessary water. Misting can help the plant stay healthy in the hot summer season.
Occasional fertilization can help the plant grow healthy. Pruning can be done to remove any extra-long branches, or to remove any diseased vines.
The common cultivars are Exotica, Silver lady, Silver splash, and Jade satin each of them with uniquely different markings of green, silver, and white. These plants are closely related to Money plants or Epipremnum aureum.
Uses of Satin pothos
Satin pothos plants are mostly grown as ornamentals, but they are also prized for their air-purifying properties. It has been shown to help improve air quality be removing toxins like formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
They can also be grown on vertical panels to provide privacy for certain areas. The large leaves and lush foliage of Satin pothos can cover separation screens effectively giving privacy to swimming pool areas.
They also make good office plants because they can be grown indoors, and they also help purify the air. Like most Epipremnum species, these plants can be grown in water too.
Propagation
Propagation is through stem cuttings, which roots very easily in water or in humid soil. Make sure the stem cuttings have enough nodes from which the plant can produce anchoring roots
Photographed at: Thrissur, Kerala. And Bangalore international airport Terminal 2
