Epipremnum

( eh - pee - PREM - num )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of plants, commonly called Pothos, Centipede Tongavine or Devil's Ivy, is filled with species of leafy, vining plants. They produce aerial roots that they use to climb and cling to other plants. These plants are native to China, the Himalayas, southeast Asia, Australia and the western Pacific. These vining plants are popular houseplants, and can also be grown outdoors in tropical and subtropical zones. Outdoors, these plants can be used as a cascading container plant, vining plant for a trellis, or as a groundcover. Take care when keeping these plants indoors or installing them in the garden, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

Epipremnum Species and Varietals

The genus Epipremnum includes 15 species, and is a member of the plant family Areceae. The best growing zones for Epipremnum plants are USDA hardiness zones 10-12. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Epipremnum amplissimum (Silver Streak Pothos, Long Leaf Pothos, Giant Pothos)
This vine is native to Southeast Asia, and produces a tree-climbing plant with evergreen leaves. These plants are sometimes kept indoors as houseplants. Young leaves can be tinted grey-blue, but this disappears with maturity. Cultivar 'Silver Streak' is the most common form, and has distinct silver-white longitudinal streaks on leaves.

Epipremnum aureum (Scindapsus aureus, Epipremnum pinnatum 'Aureum') (Golden Pothos, Ceylon Creeper, Hunter's Robe, Ivy Arum, Silver Vine, Solomon Islands Ivy, Taro Vine, Devil's Vine, Devil's Ivy, Money Plant)
These plants are notoriously easy to grow, keeping green leaves even in the lowest light conditions. This species is considered highly invasive in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe, including Florida and Hawai'i in the United States, Australia, Southeast Asia, and various Pacific Islands (Palau, Cook Islands). Varieties are more commonly grown than the true species, and include those pictured and described below:

'Cebu Blue'
With silver-blue to metallic narrow leaves.

'Global Green'
Compact, with green leaves variegated with chartreuse.

'Golden Pothos'
Leaves are green with splashes of yellow, cream, or white.

'Jade'
With solid, rich, dark green heart-shaped foliage.

'Jessenia'
With chartreuse-gold variegation.

'Manjula'
Leaves are wavy with intense, painted with cream and white.

'Marble Queen'
With striking cream-white and dark green mottling.

'N' Joy'
Green leaves with irregular white margins.

'Neon'
With bright chartreuse-green foliage.

'Pearls N' Jade'
With irregular markings in shades of cream, white, and green.

'Silver Splash'
Velvety heart-shaped leaves with silver-grey mottling.

Epipremnum pinnatum (Centipede Tongavine, Dragon-Tail Plant, Tibatib, Silver Vine, Taro Vine)
This species is native to Asia and Australia and has entire young leaves and fenestrated mature ones. Foliage is green. Individual plants produce trailing stems up to 15-40 feet long (3-6 feet long indoors). This species is considered invasive in Florida, Hawai'i and various Pacific Islands.

Caring for Epipremnum

Take care when keeping these plants indoors or installing them in the garden, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets if ingested. These vines prefer to be planted in full sun to partial shade conditions in the landscape. Ideally, they should be receiving between 4 and 6 hours of sun each day. In warmer climates, it is a good idea to give these vines some protection from late afternoon direct sun. Choose a space in the garden that has some protection from strong winds, which can damage foliage and blooms. Epipremnum plants prefer soil that is light, well-draining, and has plenty of bark. An Orchid bark typically works well. These plants will grow along the ground and form a nice groundcover in the absence of a vertical climbing structure, but they can also be trained to grow up arbors or trail over the sides of containers or hanging baskets.

Water newly planted vines regularly as they establish a strong root system. At maturity, these plants still like to have some moisture in the soil around their roots, but like to have the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out completely between waterings. As a general rule of thumb, water every 2 weeks. These vines do not necessarily need to be pruned, and will form single vines from their base. If plants are becoming too leggy, they can be pruned back for a new flush of growth in springtime. Pruned off cuttings can simply be added back to the growing area to increase the 'bushiness' of the plant. Epipremnum plants survive for 30 to 60 years in the landscape before needing to be replaced.

Growing Epipremnum in Containers
Container cultivation of Pothos plants allows for them to be brought inside to overwinter in cooler zones. They can be grown on their own in a container or used as a spiller at the base of a larger plant. Choose a container that has adequate drainage holes and that is at least two inches larger in diameter than the nursery pot. Use well-draining potting soil to fill in the bottom, and then place the plant in the container and fill in more soil around the outside of the root ball, being careful to not pack it down too much. Pothos do well in Orchid bark. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system. At maturity, these plants still like to have some moisture in the soil around their roots, but like to have the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out completely between waterings. As a general rule of thumb, water every 2 weeks. These vines do not necessarily need to be pruned, and will form single vines from their base. If plants are becoming too leggy, they can be pruned back for a new flush of growth in springtime. Pruned off cuttings can simply be added back to the growing area to increase the 'bushiness' of the plant. Every few years in springtime, check to see if the plant is outgrowing its pot. Choose a new pot that is about two inches larger with sufficient drainage holes, and repot. In cool zones, bring the container indoors or into a greenhouse during the winter, and place it back into the garden again when temperatures remain above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Growing Epipremnum Indoors
Epipremnum plants are considered one of the best for budding indoor plant enthusiasts. They are commonly available at many plant nurseries and other retailers. Because they are native to tropical and subtropical areas, they are commonly grown indoors as houseplants or in greenhouses in many regions around the globe. Choose a container that has adequate drainage holes, and place it in an area that receives medium to bright indirect light. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system. At maturity, At maturity, these plants still like to have some moisture in the soil around their roots, but like to have the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out completely between waterings. As a general rule of thumb, water every 2 weeks. Every few years in springtime, check to see if the plant is outgrowing its pot. Choose a new pot that is about two inches larger with sufficient drainage holes, and repot. Indoor-grown Epipremnum plants typically survive 5-20 years with proper care before needing to be replaced.

Propagation

Epipremnum, or Pothos, plants are most easily propagated through taking cuttings and rooting them.

Propagating Epipremnum by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In late summer or early fall, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that the plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances the cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6-8 inch softwood or semi-hardwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Plant the cutting and fill in soil around it to support it, but do not pack the soil down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. It should be kept in warm, sunny conditions in a protected area. Water whenever the soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, the cutting should be rooted. New growth indicates the formation of roots.
Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when the seedling can be hardened off and then planted outdoors.