Pothos vs Scindapsus? Well these are two of the most commonly confused household vines. They’re both easy to care for and can withstand rough treatment. To add, both vines are natives of Southeast Asia. They even belong to the same Araceae family!
What causes even more confusion is the way they’re named. In the past, Pothos was referred to as Scindapsus aureus. Now, Scindapsus pictus goes by “Satin Pothos ” or “Silver Pothos.”
It’s no wonder there are people using their names interchangeably. However, that’s as far as the similarities go.
Even though they’re part of the Araceae family, they don’t belong to the same genus. Pothos, also known as Epipremnum aureum, belongs to the Epipremnum genus, whereas Scindapsus pictus belongs to its own genus.
To identify Pothos vs. Scindapsus, you should take into consideration four important factors: foliage, growth, flowering and propagation, and market price. Read on to learn more.
Pothos vs. Scindapsus: Foliage
The first and most prominent difference between Pothos and Scindapsus lies within their beautifully varied leaves.
Their leaves could be distinguished apart if you examine their basic features, which are:
- Shape
- Size
- Color and variegation
- Texture
- Thickness
Shape
Pothos and Scindapsus could look quite similar when comparing the shape of their leaves. They both could have cordate (heart-shaped) leaves.
However, you’ll find that Pothos leaves could also be elliptical, ovate, or deltoid depending on the different varieties of the plant.
You’d also notice that Scindapsus have asymmetrical leaves that are more grown from one side than the other.
Size
Pothos varieties are known for their large leaves. Golden Pothos, the most common variety, can be as large as 6 inches. Scindapsus varieties, on the other hand, are known for their wide, short leaves.
It’s also worth mentioning that Exotica, a less common variant of Scindapsus pictus, could also be as large as 6 inches.8
Color and Variegation
The color and variegation of the leaves are the first noticeable difference between the two plants. They represent the focal point for many people when deciding which one to buy.
When looking at the color of the leaves, Pothos has bright green leaves variegated with gold or yellow. Some types of Pothos would have white variegation instead of golden splashes.
Scindapsus pictus varieties, especially Argyraeus, have emerald green leaves that stand out from other vining plants. It could be variegated with silver or gray or, on rare occasions, white.
Texture
Pothos and Scindapsus feel utterly different to the touch. Pothos has a smooth leathery texture with a glossy effect, whereas Scindapsus has a matte texture on the green parts and a rough texture on the variegated parts.
What gives Scindapsus its common name Silver Satin is the glow of its leaves like satin when placed in the sun.
Thickness
One of the reasons why many people would rather buy Scindapsus pictus than Pothos is because of its strong durable leaves. In comparison to Pothos, Scindapsus has much thicker leaves that can withstand weather changes.
Pothos vs. Scindapsus: Growth
When you’re planning to care for either Pothos or Scindapsus, it’s crucial to understand their growth differences. Both of them require different treatment and grow to extremely different heights.
Here is what you need to look for regarding their growth differences:
- Growth requirement
- Growth rate
Growth Requirement
Many people would agree that the care process of both Pothos and Scindapsus is extremely similar. Some people would even give them the same treatment. However, that might not be the best option if you want to grow a healthy vining plant.
Despite its soft, thin nature, Pothos isn’t very particular when it comes to the amount of light it needs. You could grow Pothos plants in dappled sunlight, deep shade, or partial shade, and they would still grow long, healthy vines without a problem.
That’s not the case when it comes to Scindapsus. Placing them in direct sunlight or complete shade will harm the plants and cause them to lose their variegation.
A perfect placing spot for Scindapsus is wherever they could receive indirect sunlight for at least two hours a day.
When it comes to the potting soil, both Pothos and Scindapsus would appreciate a well-drained, slightly acidic soil mixture.
In regards to feeding, Scindapsus would prefer to be fed at least once a month, whereas Pothos wouldn’t mind going for up to two months without any fertilizers.
Both of the plants are extremely intolerant to overwatering. They might grow fungus infections, or even wilt and die. However, underwatering or watering them until the soil dries up completely won’t cause a problem, especially for Pothos.
Growth Rate
Pothos is a fast-growing plant in comparison to Scindapsus which would only grow a few inches every year. It could grow more than 10 inches every month and even more during summer and spring.
When mature, Scindapsus pictus could reach up to 10 feet, while Pothos could grow up to 40 feet. However, you could control that height growth by providing shorter or longer support to the plants.
The growth rate could be further controlled by the amount of light and feeding you’re providing to each plant. Less light means slower growing plants and more light means faster-growing plants.
Pothos vs. Scindapsus: Flowering
Flowers rarely ever appear on either Pothos or Scindapsus. That is due to the length they need to reach before producing any flowers.
Pothos requires to grow to at least 35 feet before it can produce any spadices. That is extremely difficult for a household plant.
When it does produce flowers, Pothos grows golden, lavender, or green flowers in a spadix surrounded by a spathe. Scindapthos will produce minute gray or silver in summer or spring. However, none of these flowers is aromatic.
Pothos vs. Scindapsus: Market Prices
Many people would deem Scindapsus as a much-worthy plant due to its beautiful silvery variegations and high durability. For that reason, you’d find it priced much higher than Pothos varieties.
The average price of golden Pothos would be around $15, while the average price of Scindapsus is double that number.
The rarer the cultivar is, the more expensive it becomes. More popular varieties like Exotica would go at a higher price as well.
Common Names and Plant Variations
Understanding the main differences between Pothos and Scindapsus is enough to set them apart. However, both Pothos and Scindapsus go by many common names and have many variations.
Pothos, or Epipremnum aureum, is known by:
- Devil’s Ivy
- Devil’s Vine
- Golden Pothos
- Ivy Arum
- Marble Queen
- Taro Vine
Scindapsus pictus is also commonly called:
- Satin Pothos
- Silk Pothos
Pothos Variations
Pothos is widely available in many places around the globe. They could easily fill large spaces and could grow in very low light. Many of them are used for decoration, whether handing in a basket or climbing over a pole.
Common variations of Pothos include:
- Golden Pothos
- Neon Pothos
- Pearl Pothos
- Jade Pothos
The most common type of pothos is Golden Pothos. They draw the interest of many plant collectors for their golden variegation and glossy leaves.
Neon Pothos has minimal variegation and comes in bright neon green color. They have heart-shaped foliage and a pointy edge.
Peal Pothos is known for its slightly smaller leaf size. They are mostly dark green with light yellow, cream, gray, or white variegation.
Jade Pothos is among the easiest vining plants to care for. They are durable with dense foliage and can grow in almost any kind of light. Their leaves are light green, mint green, or bright green without any variegations.
Scindapsus Variations
Scindapsus is well-known for its huge number of variations. It comes in many sizes and colors. Many of these variations could be easily found anywhere around the market, while some of them are much harder to find.
Here is a list of the commonly found Scindapsus varieties and their features:
- Argyraeus
- Exotica
- Silvery Ann
Argyraeus, also known as Satin Pothos, is the most common variant of Scindapsus pictus. It has a dark green base and medium-sized leaves with silver variegation.
Exotica is a very popular variety of Scindapsus pictus. It has significantly larger leaves than other Scindapsus variants. It has a rough texture and dense gray, white, or silver variegation.
Silvery Ann is arguably the most unique variant of Scindapsus when it comes to foliage color and variegation. It’s similar to Argyraeus in size and base color, but it has less variegation. The leaves of Silvery Ann are usually half silver, half green.
Other rare varieties include:
- Scindapsus treubii
- Jade Satin
Scindapsus treubii comes in two different variants called Moonlight and Dark Form. In comparison to Scindapsus pictus, Scindapsus treubii has narrower and longer leaves.
Moonlight is identified by its light green leaves and milky green variegation. Dark Form has very little variegation and dark leaves.
Jade Satin is unlike any other variation of Scindapsus, as it has almost no variegation and comes in bright green color.
Wrap-Up
Pothos and Scindapsus are two of the most elegant vining trees. They represent the majority of household vines and are commonly found in many places around the world.
They’re often confused with one another and sometimes their names are used interchangeably. That confusion could be the cause of unintentional damage to those plants due to the use of incorrect care methods.
Finding out the differences between Pothos vs. Scindapsus might take some dedication and time. However, once you understand their different variegations, growth conditions, and market prices, it would be easy to make a more informed decision.