How To Grow & Care Scindapsus Plants?

With silvery dots and splashes against its dark green foliage, the Scindapsus pictus is sure to grab attention wherever placed in your home. When properly cared for Scindapsus is a hardy and relatively maintenance-free plant. 

Scindapsus Care: Keep your Scindapsus healthy by growing in rich, well-drained soil, fertilizing monthly and watering when the top 2-3 inches of soil becomes dry. Provide above average humidity and bright indirect light, with temperatures between (18-29°C).

Whether this is your first time growing Satin Pothos, or you’ve been growing the more common types for years, keep reading because we’ve taken all the guesswork out of properly caring for this tropical beauty.

Scindapsus Care Needs

• Varieties: Scindapsus pictus‘Argyraeus’, Scindapsus pictus‘Exotica’, Scindapsus pictus\
• Light Requirements: Bright, indirect light. Quite tolerant to lower light, but can start to lose its characteristic leaf markings.
• Watering: Water once the top 2-3 inches of soil is dry. Will tolerate underwatering, but much less tolerant of overwatering.
• Soil: Choose a nutrient-rich, well-draining potting mix. Any good quality houseplant potting mix will be suitable.
• Temperature:  65-85°F (18-29°C) for best growth.
• Fertilizer: Balanced, water-soluble fertilizer applied monthly through the growing season.
• Humidity: >40% humidity. Consider getting a digital hygrometer to monitor humidity if your plant is getting brown tips.
• Pruning: Only necessary to control size and shape of your plant.
• Propagation: Propagate stem cuttings in water or moist potting mix.
• Re-Potting: Repot every 1-2 years at the start of the growing season.
• Diseases and Pests: Prone to root rot if overwatered. Spider mites and scale can occasionally be encountered.
• Toxicity: Toxic to pets and people if ingested. Can also cause skin irritation on occasion.

How To Fertilize Scindapsus

To keep your Scindapsus producing healthy growth, it’s best to fertilize it monthly during the growing season of spring through summer. In winter, stop fertilizing until spring. You have several options of fertilizers to use.

• Use a water-soluble houseplant blend diluted to half-strength and applied monthly during active growth.This is the fertilizer I use for most of my houseplants.
• Use slow-release granules spread evenly over the soil per package directions on amounts. Slow-release fertilizers usually continue working for up to three months, slowly breaking down in the soil each time you water.

Propagating New Scindapsus Plants

When you are pruning any long stems from your Scindapsus don’t throw them away but pot them up so you get additional plants. With its attractive and unique leaf colorings, it makes a great gift idea to brighten up a friend’s home.

Using clean pruning tools snip off at least a 4-inch section and root in a glass of water, changing the water weekly or repot into a moist, peat-based potting mix. Roots should start forming on your cuttings in about four weeks. Just care for your Scindapsus cuttings as you would the mother plant.

Pest Problems

Although rarely bothered by pests, scale and spider mites can sometimes pose a problem and it’s best to treat the problem as soon as you notice the pests. In addition, if left untreated the scales and spider mites can migrate to your other indoor plants creating even a bigger problem for you to handle. Both pests are easily identified and are treatable with the same products.

• Spider Mites: Tiny, white sap-sucking insects that spin fine webbing over the Satin Pothos. If left untreated, spider mites can quickly kill or damage the plant.
• Scale: Tiny, oblong insects that congregate along the stems in masses and suck the sap from the Satin Pothos. Scales come in a host of different colors like yellow, green, brown.

Treat both pests by covering all areas of the plant with an insecticidal soap spray or neem. Always follow the particular product’s directions on amounts and frequency of use.

Why Are My Scindapsus Leaves Turning Brown?

Brown leaves on a Scindapsus can be the result of two different things. If your plant is situated in full sun and receives too bright of light the foliage can burn and turn brown