Epipremnum Care: Tips On Buying, Multiplying Pothos Plant

The Epipremnum or Pothos is a tropical plant and can therefore only be kept in our rooms. You can find out what the ideal location looks like here. Versatile, decorative, and easy to care for: That describes the Epipremnum in a nutshell. Whether as a traffic light plant, for planting in pots, as a climbing plant, or as a wall and window greening – it looks great everywhere. Due to its filter properties, it is popular in the aquarium as well as in offices and apartments. In this way, the Epipremnum can absorb toxins such as formaldehyde from the ambient air and store them in their plant parts. The toxic substances are then processed in the plant parts and rendered harmless.

Epipremnum: origin and characteristics

Like many popular, evergreen houseplants, the Pothos also comes from the tropics. The various plant species – there are 15 worldwide – have very different areas of origin in the tropics and subtropics. The popular Epipremnum aureum, for example, comes from the island of Moorea in the South Pacific. Other species come from Malaysia, Indonesia, or Papua New Guinea. The Pothos feels really good in dense, tropical rainforests. There they climb the larger trees up to the treetops and, under these optimal conditions, can sometimes grow 20 meters in height. In our climate, however, the Epipremnum can only be cultivated indoors.

Epipremnum is a perennial, evergreen plant that grows herbaceous. With good care, they can develop shoots up to ten meters long. At the shoot nodes (nodes) they form adventitious roots with which they can hold on to a base, for example, a tree. The alternate, leathery leaves are shaped differently depending on the species and can have different sizes. The color of the leaves also varies greatly with the species and variety. The basic color includes various shades of green and the leaf pattern ranges from striped to pattern in the colors yellow, white, silver, and light green.

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The Pothos hardly ever develops flowers in indoor culture. This is because the plant has to grow to a certain size to flower and the conditions in the room are simply not ideal for the tropical plant. In tropical rainforests the Epipremnum forms flowers in the form of a greenish-white bulb.

The ivy probably owes its name to its resemblance to the common ivy ( Hedera helix ), after all, both are evergreen climbing plants. But then the similarities stop again, because, in contrast to the Pothos, the common ivy belongs to the Araliaceae family, while the Epipremnum belongs to the Arum family (Araceae).

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Epipremnum or Philodendron :

With these two very similar-looking plant species, it is difficult to say with certainty whether it is the ivy or the philodendron. Still, there are some differences between the two plants:

• Leaf shape: In the Philodendron this is usually more heart-shaped than in the Pothos.
• Leaf texture: Philodendron leaves are delicate and thin, those of the ivy are leathery and waxy.
• Air roots: Philodendron can develop several thin air roots per leaf node, while the Epipremnum only develops one root at each node.

The right location for the Pothos

Once you’ve picked a location for the Pothos that meets their needs, that’s half the battle. Once the popular houseplant feels good, caring for the Epipremnum is very easy.

Light and temperature conditions

According to the conditions in the tropical rainforest, the Pothos prefers partially shaded places without direct sunlight. A south window is therefore unsuitable, but the Epipremnum likes light in the morning and evening. Some species of ivy with lighter leaves can also tolerate a little more light. The temperature should be around 20 ° C all year round and not fall below 16 ° C. If you put the Epipremnum in the bedroom, you must ensure that there is sufficient humidity. Place a bowl of water near the plant or occasionally spray your ivy with lukewarm, low-lime water. In rooms such as the bathroom and kitchen, the humidity is usually higher automatically. Drafts should always be avoided.

The right soil for Epipremnum

If you want to keep the Epipremnum in soil, it is best to use high-quality potting soil. In addition, it can also be kept in hydroponics, where no soil is required. The substrate must be permeable so that as little water as possible builds up. Organic universal soil, for example, which does not require peat and is made from natural raw materials, is well suited for the Pothos. In the first few months, it also provides the Epipremnum with all the important nutrients. It is best to mix a third of broken expanded clay into the soil so that the substrate remains structurally stable for a long time – after all, the climbing plants are difficult to report.

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Does the Epipremnum need a climbing aid?

The Epipremnum develops very long shoots. How you want to deal with it is up to you. For example, you can let the Pothos climb up a climbing aid. This can simply be a shelf or nails specially attached to the wall, on which the plant can be hung on the leaf axils. But it is also possible to keep the ivy hanging by planting it in a hanging pot or by placing it on top of a cupboard.

Planting ivy: instructions

If you have bought an Epipremnum, you should report the young plant as soon as possible. Even cuttings, which are used to multiply the ivy, have to be planted sooner or later. Prepare the pot by laying a drainage layer of potsherds, expanded clay, or pebbles. The pot should have a drainage hole and be placed on a saucer or in a planter. Now fill in a layer of the substrate. Put the root ball of the ivy into the pot and fill in any gaps with soil. Finally, press the substrate lightly and pour on the Epipremnum. If you plant several small plants directly in the pot, the Epipremnum will look bushier later.

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Summary planting Epipremnum :

• Layout a drainage layer in the pot
• Put a layer of substrate, e.g. organic universal soil, in the pot
• put on gloves
• Planting ivy
• Fill in the gaps with soil
• Press lightly and pour on

Is the Epipremnum hardy?

The Epipremnum is not hardy. Even in the cold season, it needs temperatures of over 16 ° C. Between October and March the Epipremnum grows much more slowly due to the low light supply and does not need any fertilizers. It also only has to be watered occasionally so that the substrate does not dry out completely.