Looking for one of the rares pothos plants? Emerald pothos will be the answer. This type of pothos houseplant is loved for its rare nature and not only that, it is the hardest to find distant pothos variety.
Emerald pothos is fairly easy to grow but you have to be extremely careful not to overwater it and this is because it’s like most tropical plants, enjoys moist soil in summer and spring but not too much water.
When the emerald pothos plant is actively growing, it enjoys moist soil and due to its tropical nature, it will do best in high humidity as well. Emerald might be hard to find pothos cultivar but it is very easy to care for.
The Emerald pothos plant is actually similar to the Global green pothos which is the lesser-known variety of pothos plant. Over the years, emerald pothos has gained popularity among many plant parents and gardeners. Emerald green and global pothos plants can be easily mistaken for each other but they are not the same.
The plant can be propagated in similar ways as any pothos plants however caring for it has been considered difficult as it is a very rare variety. So, as beautiful as emerald pothos is, it can be really hard to find which is also what makes it very expensive, but if you come across this plant, this growing guide is for you.
Emerald Pothos Overview
Emerald pothos is very hard to find due to their unique distinct leaves. There are a couple of things you need to know if you want to grow this plant successfully and the first and vital one is that it will not tolerate direct bright sunlight, unlike other pothos plants.
Growers are discovered to have stem cutting sold at a really expensive price since it is very difficult to find even online.
This pothos plant features amazing variegated leaves which have light green edges and a dark green middle, the patterns are fluid which adds more to the beauty of the plant. This plant makes a great addition to any houseplant collection and below is a table showing important basic information on the emerald pothos plant.
| Common Name | Emerald Pothos |
| Scientific Name | Epipremnum aureum |
| Plant Type | Tropical |
| Plant Family | Arum |
| Light | Fluorescent to bright, direct light |
| Soil Type | Well-drained soil |
| Foliage Color | Light green with darker interior variegation |
| Temperature | 60-80 °F or 15-26 °C |
| Soil pH | 6.0 and 6.5 |
| Native | Mo’orea |
| Toxicity | Poisonous |
How to Propagate Emerald Pothos
The vigorous houseplant can be propagated from the stem easily like most pothos plants and to grow it successfully, you have to provide it with attention.
Emerald pothos is a close cousin to global green pothos hence they can be propagated and cared for in the same way. Propagating emerald pothos gives you a chance to always have it handy in case anything happens to one. Below is the easiest way to propagate emerald pothos.
- Take a long healthy stem of emerald pothos of about 4 to 6 inches with at least 2 or 3 leaves on it
- Remove the lower leaves so the nodes can be exposed as It’s where the root will grow from
- You can either propagate in soil or water (both are effective ways to grow new roots).
Propagate in Water
- Place the stem cutting in a glass jar with water
- Next place the container in an area with bright indirect sunlight
- You should have new roots develop in about 14 to 20 days
- Move to a container with soil if you want when the roots go about half an inch or an inch long
Propagate in Soil
- Fill a pot with fresh well-draining potting mix
- Dip the cutting stem in rooting hormone if you want, this is optional
- Next, plant the stem cutting in the soil
- Water the soil to keep it moist
- Place the pot in a spot with bright indirect sunlight
- This will take longer to root compared to propagating in water but in 20 to 30 days, the root should sprout.
How to Care For Emerald Pothos
Emerald is a variant plant with different shades of green and there are a couple of ways you can keep it thriving. They are almost mirror image of each other and makes an amazing combo too. It’s pretty hard to get this plant however If you do come across or finally got one to buy in-store or online.
Below are lists of its requirements to aid its successful growth.
1. Soil Requirement
First, you should know the best type of soil to use in planting your emerald pothos. It is recommended that you go with a combination of peat and perlite in equal amounts. Emerald pothos is not picky tropical plants but you should use a standard potting mix and add some perlite to increase the drainage. This plant needs soil that can hold moisture well so it won’t thrive well with fast-draining soil.
2. Watering
Emerald pothos is just like most tropical plants when it comes to water needs so be careful not to overwater it. Consider using a wide but very shallow pot so you can reduce the amount of water you give to it. Lack of water will also dry out its foliage so water it but not too much. The best way to water emerald pothos is to let the soil dry out before watering.
3. Temperature
It can tolerate high degrees of temperature. The ideal growing temperature of emerald pothos is in the middle of 70 and 80 degrees as it doesn’t like extreme temperatures either. Ensure you do not leave it in really hot locations for too long. It can not withstand the cold either so anything above 55 degrees will stress out the plant and stunt its growth.
4. Humidity
Just like it prefers high temperature, it will do better with high humidity as well. The best humidity level for emerald pothos is between 50% and 70%. It will tolerate 40% and higher and if you live in a dry region, you can always increase humidity by misting, grouping it with other houseplants, or getting a humidifier.
5. Light
Emerald pothos light requirement is similar to that of plants that have solid green leaves. The variegated portions of this plant can absorb plenty of light so you can place it in a place with bright light for a few hours. However, when starting out the root, provide it with bright indirect sunlight.
Long hours of direct sunlight can burn the leaves so it prefers filtered light, indirect light, or partial shade.
6. Fertilizer
This tropical houseplant does not need much fertilizer. Giving it balanced soil and water is the key to growing healthy emerald pothos but it doesn’t need fertilizer although you can feed it one layer of compost every year in spring.
Most growers feed their tropical plant’s fertilizer for optimal growth so you can do the same with this pothos plant by feeding it in spring and summer.
7. Pruning
Next on the list is proper running. Emerald pothos is a vining plant so it needs to be pruned to keep it from looking bushy. You can let it grow in hanging containers but if you are placing it on tabletops then it is best to trim it. Trimming lets you control the shape and size of emerald pothos but if you want it bushier then you can always let it be.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make emerald pothos grow fast?
If you want the emerald pothos plant to grow really fast, you have to use a nutritional medium and place it in a room with the right amount of humidity. Provide it with sufficient bright indirect sunlight, keep pests fast away, and most importantly, do not overwater it.
Are emerald and global green pothos the same?
As mentioned in the article, they are considered cousins but they are not the same plant. Emerald pothos leaves are light green with darker variegation while global green pothos has dark green with lighter green color leaves variegation.
Can I keep my emerald pothos in the water forever?
Yes, you can keep emerald pothos plants in the water forever as long as you care for them and maintain them the right way. Pothos plants are tropical plants and while they don’t like their roots bring in wet soil for too long, they will do great if planted in water but you have to provide the right nutrient and change the water regularly too.
Wrapping Up
Emerald pothos is a tropical plant that will be happy in any condition but this doesn’t mean it will stay healthy for long without its plant needs. The plant is really beautiful and it will be a shame not to have it among your houseplant collection if you get a chance hence why it is also vital to keep it healthy and alive.
In addition, the plant can tolerate regular room temperature without any harm as long as the humidity level is around 40% or higher.
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