General characteristics of the plant, tips for home cultivation of epipremnium, rules for the propagation of scindapsus, difficulties arising from cultivation and ways to solve them, curious facts, species. Epipremnum (Epipremnum) is often found in the scientific literature under the name Scindapsus or Potos. It belongs to the Araceae family. This representative of the flora is native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia, it can also be found on the Solomon Islands and the island territories of the Malay Archipelago, and the lands of Indonesia are also included here. If we take into account the reference books on botany, then they indicate a different number of plants belonging to this genus - there can be from eight to 30 species.
The scientific name of this genus is taken from the Greek word, which translates as "on the trunks", which characterizes the usual habitat of epipremnium, since the plant in nature prefers to settle on the trunks or thick branches of trees, that is, it is an epiphyte. Although among them there are semi-epiphytes and such species that prefer a terrestrial "way of life".
Scindapsus has a herbaceous form of growth and can take a liana-like appearance and be used as an ampelous culture. The plant almost never sheds foliage, since it is an evergreen representative of the flora. The size of the shoots in epipremnium also differs from species to species, as some have the outlines of small specimens of the green world, while in others the shoots can reach a length of 20–40 m. But the maximum length that Epipremnum branches reach when grown in indoor conditions rarely exceed 4.5 m.
The plant has a fibrous root system, and a large number of aerial root processes can also be observed on the stems. If the growing conditions are favorable, then such roots provide an opportunity for the development of an additional root system. Such air roots are usually divided into two types:
- clinging roots that arise from the nodes of the stems of the scindapsus;
- nourishing roots that allow the plant to take root in the substrate, and occasionally they can be loose.
Although these roots have different functions and place of formation, over time they can become lignified, while the former become corky, and the latter are covered with bark, which is divided into ribbon-like fibers.
Since there are aerial roots on the stems, they can take root along the entire length, cling to any ledge on the support and are monopoidal. Free stems are usually not present unless the epipremnium is damaged. Between the nodes of the shoots there are traces of fallen leaf plates. These places are distinguished by a smooth surface, devoid of thorns, or can be provided with well-visible longitudinal whitish ridges.
The leaves are distributed evenly on the stem along its entire length, or they can be scattered in its lower part and also in uniform order in groups along the remaining part of the shoot. The petioles have longitudinal grooves that are poorly marked from above. The vaginas are well visible, at first they have a scaly shape, then they become leathery, and then completely dry out or only along the edges, sometimes they take the form of simple fibers. Then later, they fly around, leaving a trail on the branch.
The surface of the leaf plate can vary from thin to leathery. The foliage is simple, with a heart-shaped outline. When the leaf becomes an adult, it is 60 cm long and about 40 cm wide. Over time, the shape of the leaf changes from whole to pinnately dissected or pinnately divided. There is also surface perforation and holes can extend to the edge of the sheet.
Only when the epipremnium becomes the owner of the "adult" foliage, then you can see the flowering process. But when grown in indoor conditions, the plant never leaves the so-called "childhood". In nature, inflorescences can be single or collected in several units. They are made up of dioecious naked flowers, gathering in the form of a cob, covered with a cover leaf of a light green color.
After pollination of the scindapsus, the fruits ripen in the form of a berry with a too enlarged area of the column. When fully ripe, this area cracks transversely and reveals a depression in which the seeds are located. This seed is immersed in a sticky pulp with different colors. The seeds have a curved shape, their surface is hard and smooth, covered with patterns.
The plant is quite easy and not demanding to care for, and it can be offered for growing even to beginners in the cultivation of domestic flora. The growth rate of pothos is quite high, so in just a year its shoots stretch from 36 cm to 46 cm. If the owner does not violate the conditions of detention described below, then this representative of the flora will delight him for many years.
Tips for growing epipremnium, home care
- Lighting. A place with diffused lighting is suitable for this vine, but it can also grow in the shade. If the pot is in the southern room, then it is placed at a distance of 0.5–2 meters from the window. A place on the windowsill of an east or west window is better. In the shade, the variegated color of the foliage will disappear, and its size is crushed.
- Growing temperature. In spring and summer, thermometer readings of 18-24 are recommended, and in winter they are reduced to 13-16 degrees and not lower.
- Content moisture. In order for the scindapsus to feel comfortable, you should adhere to humidity indicators of about 60%. In the spring-summer period, it is recommended to spray the deciduous mass daily (at least 3 times a week). With the arrival of autumn and winter, the plant should be moved away from batteries and heating appliances. In these months, leaf plates are wiped with a damp sponge or a pot of epipremnum is placed in a deep container on wet expanded clay or sand.
- Watering. In the warm months of the year, it is recommended to water the scindapsus every 4–5 days, and with the arrival of autumn, the frequency of watering is reduced to once a week. It is best to look at the state of the top layer of soil in the pot - it should dry out a little between waterings. It is recommended to use warm and soft water. You can use bottled or distilled water. Sometimes rainwater is collected or irrigation fluid is collected from a river.
- Fertilizers are introduced from the beginning of the activation of growth (spring) until the end of the summer months. The frequency of feeding will be once every 30 days. Full mineral complexes are used, which are taken in half the dose. It is better to select preparations in liquid form, which are easy to dilute in water for irrigation. If the dosage of fertilizers is small, the foliage will react with yellowing.
- Transplant and recommendations for soil selection. While the plant is still young, it is recommended to change the pot and soil in it annually around the middle of spring. When the scindapsus grows and takes on an adult shape, the transplant is performed only once every 2-3 years. It is better to take a new pot shallow. A layer of drainage material should be laid on the bottom so that the substrate does not become waterlogged and the root system does not rot. As such drainage, it is customary to use small-sized expanded clay or pebbles, but you can use medium-sized pieces of brick, which are sifted from dust or shards from clay or ceramic vessels. Several small holes are made in the bottom of the new container, through which excess moisture will flow, which has not been absorbed by the horses of the epipremnum. If the grower prepares the soil mixture on his own, then sod soil, river sand or perlite, leafy soil should be introduced into its composition. The parts of the components must be equal. The second version of the substrate is a mixture of sod land, humus soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 0, 5.
- General advice on care. The plant can be used for cultivation as an ampelous culture due to its elongated climbing shoots. To do this, when transplanting, flower growers recommend installing a tube (pole) in the container and wrapping it with moss or creating another support for the branches. In order for the plant to feel comfortable, low, but wide pots, resembling large bowls, are used, and a large amount of soil is not required to be poured into them.
Epipremnum does not tolerate the action of a draft, and the effect of combustion products will be fatal for it. Pruning of extended branches is recommended in the spring, so to form more bushy and compact outlines, it is necessary to shorten the shoots by half their length.
Scindapsus breeding rules
To get a new bush of such a liana, cuttings are used, since there are large numbers of aerial root processes on the branches. By placing a piece of the shoot in favorable conditions, rapid rooting takes place. From the tops of the shoots, it is recommended to cut off the workpiece for planting with a length of at least 10 cm in the spring. Such a piece of branch should have at least a pair of developed leaf plates. Planting of cuttings is carried out in a pot filled with peat-sandy substrate (parts of the components are taken in equal volumes).
After planting, it is recommended for epipremnum cuttings to create conditions for a mini-greenhouse for early rooting. So the pot with the blanks is covered with a plastic transparent bag or placed under a glass jar. You can use a plastic bottle that has the bottom cut off and the neck part is used. So later it will be possible to easily carry out daily airing by simply unscrewing the plug. The place in which the pot is placed should be with heat indicators in the range of 20-22 degrees. When pothos cuttings take root, they are transplanted into separate pots with a drainage layer at the bottom and more fertile soil.
You can also put the workpieces in a container of water, waiting for the root processes to develop. Their length should reach 1 cm and then they are planted in pots for constant growth, until the next transplant.
Difficulties arising from home cultivation of epipremnum and ways to solve them
If the owner violates the above conditions of detention, then the scindapsus can be affected by spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects or aphids. It will be necessary to spray with insecticidal preparations with a week break.
You can also highlight the following problems:
- at low doses of fertilizers, leaf plates acquire a yellow tint and begin to fade;
- if the humidity in the room is too low, then brown spots form on the leaves, and the tips of the foliage begin to curl;
- when the heat indicators in the room decrease and the humidity rises, then brown spotting and blackness along the edge appear on the leaves;
- with a lack of lighting, the size of the foliage of the epipremnum becomes smaller, it becomes pale, losing its variegated color, the stem becomes too elongated;
- if the substrate is constantly in a waterlogged state, then the stems begin to rot;
- when a pot of potos is constantly exposed to direct sunlight, its foliage turns pale.
Interesting facts about the epipremnum, photo
This representative of the flora has the property of removing formaldehyde and xylene from its environment. Scindapsus is also one of three plant species that are included in NASA's list of samples of the green world, which are distinguished by the highest air purification. Also, epipremnum is able to qualitatively improve the condition of the air in the room.
Important to remember! This plant, like all representatives of the Aroid family, is distinguished by poisonous juice, since it contains a large amount of oxalate crystals. If the plant is available to pets or small children and Epipremnum juice gets on the oral mucosa, this can lead not only to pain, but even to irritation of the lips, tongue and entire mouth. If the case is especially severe, difficulty breathing and swelling of the throat can be the consequences.
Types of epipremnum
Epipremnum golden (Epipremnum aureum). This variety is the most popular in indoor floriculture. The native area of growth falls on the lands of French Polynesia, which is located in the central region of the South Pacific Ocean. It can be grown using the hydroponic method. Synonyms are Scindapsus aureus, Pothos aureum or Raphidophora aurea.
Differs in herbaceous form with climbing branches that have adventitious root processes. The length of the shoots can be 1–2 m. The outlines of the leaf plates are whole-heart-shaped. In length, they are 10-15 cm. Their surface is leathery, color is green with a golden undertone. When exposed to the sun, the foliage acquires a more yellow color than in the shade. Curiously, the plant can collect water from too humid air, which then appears in the form of droplets at the tips of the leaves.
The most popular varieties of this type are:
- "Golden Pothos" whose leaf plates have a bright greenish and golden color scheme.
- Marble Queen is characterized by a sheet plate, which is mostly whitish-silver, and on the surface there is a pattern of a few streaks of green.
Epipremnum giant (Epipremnum giganteum). The plant is found naturally in South and Southeast Asia, which includes the lands of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and other states. Climbing branches of this variety in length can reach indicators of 60 meters. The stem is 1–3.5 cm thick, and the length between the shoots is 1.5–20 cm. The stem has a smooth surface, its color is dark green, but over time it acquires a dark brown color, becoming from cork to semi-woody.
The foliage on the stems is usually evenly distributed over its entire length, but they fall off in the lower part, and the rest can generally grow in groups at equal distances. The length of the leaf petiole is 33–62.5 cm with a thickness of about 6–20 mm. Their color varies from dark green to bluish, their surface is smooth. When dry, the petioles become pale brown.
The leaves are thin, their length varies within 5, 5-120 cm with a width of 8, 5-50 cm. Their shape is oblong-oval, solid, at the base there is an uneven rounding - one side is rounded to a strong truncation to the other. The color of the surface is bright green, the surface is glossy, but in a brightly lit place the foliage takes on a reddish or yellowish tint. The thickness of the sheet can vary from stretched paper to thick (leathery). The lump of the leaf plate is quite dense and elastic. If the plant is in strong shade, then the leaf petioles are very lengthened, spreading the leaves wide to the sides, and their color becomes uniformly green.
Inflorescences are located singly or in greater numbers. The first inflorescence can form in the axil of the leaf, which has sufficient development and an ingrown sheath. The shape of the inflorescence is cob-shaped. It consists of bisexual flowers.
