Today we are going to talk about the latter, and more specifically, the resistant pothos, undoubtedly the houseplant par excellence. In this guide, you'll find everything you need to grow pothos!
Poto: description, cultivation and care
The popular "poto" is a variety of tropical origin that is part of the genus Scindapsus. It belongs to the Araceaefamily and is native to the Solomon Islands. Its appearance is very striking, with large, shiny, heart-shaped leaves. Its growth is of the climbing type, as it lacks a rigid stem, and stands out for its extremely easy maintenance.
About 40 species belong to the Araceae family. The most common for home cultivation are aureus (with huge variegated leaves) and elpictus (with surfaces of lower brightness and size and small white spots on their top).
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How to grow Poto
Its care and maintenance is very simple since we are talking about a very resistant and long-lived plant. The meandering stems can grow to be several meters in length.
When growing it for home use, it can be used as a climbing or hanging plant, let it grow freely, or steer it into the desired shape with the help of some kind of guide or tutor.
- Light
Bright environments will undoubtedly be the great allies of the poto. The scarcity of light will make it difficult for the veining of small white specks to appear, so characteristic of its surface. However, it is advisable to avoid the direct incidence of the sun's rays on the leaves as they could burn them.
- During
hottest time of the year (spring and summer), water moderately, letting the soil sit until it dries out between waterings. It is not advisable to overdo it with water because this plant withstands relative dryness better than waterlogging. Overwatering will cause the plant to suffer from chlorosis, a disease that in turn will cause the leaves to fall. In autumn and winter, continue with this same pattern, but space out the watering periods.
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How often do you need to water? The frequency and amount of water will depend on the size and characteristics of the pothos. As every plant is different, you will discover the right water ratios from your own experience.
Humidity is also a great friend of this plant. If you moisten its leaves with the help of a small sprayer, it will thank you enormously.
- Temperature
main characteristics of the pothos is its great power of adaptation, although given the choice, it prefers rather warm environments. The optimal temperature range would range between 10 and 30 degrees Celsius. On the contrary, low temperatures and cold air are considered its nemesis. It can tolerate some frost of up to 5 degrees, although it is not advisable for it to be constantly exposed to these temperatures or it will end up succumbing.
- Soil
Pothos is not at all demanding about the type of soil from which to feed. Ideally, the substrate should be composed of an acidic mixture with one portion of fine sand for every two pieces of peat. A mixture of fine sand, mulch and peat moss in the same proportion may also do. Potting cooked soil is recommended instead of plastic, so you can breathe. In general, neutral soil that allows good drainage will suffice.
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General care
- Fertiliser and fertilisers
Diluting a liquid fertiliser in the water used for irrigation once a month will suffice. For this type of plant, it is advisable to use fertilizers with a high nitrogen content.
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- Repotting
It is recommended to do this every spring. The size of the pot will depend on whether you want to encourage growth in height or climbing. The larger the pot, the more the second pot will be favored. This process usually takes place when the amount of soil begins to fall short for root growth.
- Pests
This plant tends to suffer from the attack of mites or spider mites, which cause the unsightly yellowish tone on the surface of the leaves and can cause them to fall. To eradicate the problem, it is recommended to increase the number and frequency of sprays, as dryness facilitates the development of parasites. Manual cleaning can also be carried out with a piece of cotton soaked in methyl alcohol. Only in cases of significant infection should the use of chemicals be resorted to.
- Pruning
This type of plant is not usually pruned. In any case, the leaves that dry out over time are removed to prevent the appearance of pests and diseases.
If what we are looking for is to turn our pothos into a denser and more leafy plant, it will be convenient to eliminate the small shoots in order to favor the development of new branches. Pruning should be carried out during the spring.
You
can multiply your pothos by cuttings or by dividing the plant.
- By cuttings in the ground
The process is carried out at the beginning of spring.
Cut off pieces from the ends and remove the leaves closest to the base.
Plant the cutting in the ground, and cover it until you reach the first leaf.
Cover the pot with plastic in order to achieve optimal temperature and humidity conditions to promote rooting (remove the plastic for a while a day, to avoid condensation and excess temperature).
Once rooted, treat the new element like any adult plant.
- By cuttings in waterThis
type of reproduction is as simple as putting a piece of plant in a bowl of water and waiting for the root to appear!
- All
you have to do is split off a piece of plant with its corresponding stems and roots and transplant it into a new pot with the appropriate substrate.
As you can see, taking care of a pothos is so easy that you won't have any problems keeping it healthy and beautiful, even if you have little knowledge about plant care.
Who said it was hard to maintain a leafy green plant without spending hours and hours caring for it? Thanks to the pothos, you'll get it effortlessly!