Scindapsus and pothos are ideal for those with brown thumbs. Both are hard-to-kill hanging vines that are part of the Arum Araceae family. However, they differ slightly in terms of functionality and increasing requirements.
The main difference between Scindapsus and pothos is the variety of the leaf. Scindapsus foliage is variegated silver gray and has a shimmering sheen. Most pothos cultivars have yellow, light green, or white stripes. Additionally, Scindapsus leaves are more textured and slightly thicker than those of pothos.
stiff confused? I’m here to show you why they are often confused with each other. Look for ways to tell Pothos and Scindapsus apart.
Contents
What is the difference between Scindapsus and Pothos?
Pothos and Scindapsus are nearly indistinguishable from each other in appearance. That’s why I’ve created a table that highlights the basic differences:
| settings: | scindapsus | bros |
| Scientific name | Scindapsus pictus | Epipremnum aureum |
| Common names | Silver satin, silver pothos, satin pothos | Devil’s Ivy, Arum or Devil’s Vine |
| adult size | Smaller (4-10 feet) | Highest (up to 65 feet) |
| leaf color and texture | Green leaves with matte texture | Smooth or leathery glossy green leaves. |
| variation | Silver grey | Usually yellow or white. |
| Flower | It blooms in summer in small inflorescences (spadix) | It rarely flowers. If so, spit some golden yellow or lavender spadix. |
| common color | mostly green | Green stems variegated with gold/yellow or white |
| Toxicity | Toxic to cats, dogs, horses | Toxic to humans and animals (horses, cats and dogs) |
(Source: University of Wisconsin†
Scindapsus versus PothosMain differences to identify them correctlyYes
[1] make differences
Way: the leaves of Scindapsus pictus They are almost always heart-shaped. Depending on the cultivar, pothos foliage can be heart-shaped, elliptical, or oval. Pothos leaves are typically large, measuring 3 to 4 inches in length and width.
Texture: Scindapsus leaves are usually dull in color and textured, with a silver sheen to the leaf surface. They are by no means brilliant. When the sun shines on the leaves, they appear to glow or sparkle, giving the impression that they are. For this reason, Scindapsus are highly valued for their ornamental glaze.
A typical Pothos leaf is shiny, leathery and smooth in appearance. The petioles of pothos are also grooved.
Color: The leaves of the Scindapsus tree are a striking dark green color. On the other hand, the color of pothos leaves can vary from dark green to neon green to bright green, depending on the variety grown. For example, they are vibrant dark green in the case of Jade pothos,
variation: Both plants have beautiful variegated leaves. Scandipsus leaves often have iridescent gray or mottled spots. They are usually seen towards the edges, which makes the midrib look quite green.
Pothos foliage can vary in yellow, white, light green, or a combination of the three. For example, Housekeeper’s Jade pothos have glossy dark green leaves mottled with shades of light green. The light green, waxy leaves of a mottled queen’s pothos are often variegated with white.
Size: Scindapsus pictus the leaves have a thicker, meatier feel than those of pothos.
[2] height and structure
In nature, Scindapsus pictus an epiphyte grows. It uses aerial roots and vines to climb the trunks of the tallest trees in the rainforest. Indoors, it can grow in hanging baskets, with vines reaching 4 to 10 feet long when mature.
Pothos plants are scrambled climbers. Under the right growing conditions, they can reach a width of 13 to 40 feet. Its height is of course limited by the support. On their own, they can reach 6 to 8 inches in height at maturity.
[3] Rate of growth
The growth rate of pothos is much faster than that of Scindapsus. In the spring and summer, pothos can gain 12 to 18 inches per month. The high growth is particularly seen in less varied cultivars, such as Jade pothos.
Darker leaves on jade pothos indicate a lot of chlorophyll. It is the pigment that plants need to produce food and energy for their growth. Pothos also adapt well to various lighting conditions.
Meanwhile, Scindapsus is somewhat slow in its expansion. Although the leaves are usually dark green, they have more shades that do not fade. This indicates a lower concentration of chlorophyll.
So if you are looking for a faster grower, prefer pothos over Scindapsus.
[4] Stem
Scindapsus plants have green-stemmed tendrils. They are slightly thicker and can be up to 3m long.
The vine stems of pothos are green with white or yellow mottling. Unlike those of Scindapsus, they tend to be slender and produce more airy roots.
[5] flowers
Scindapsus pictus small bracts (almost invisible) green inflorescences (spadix). They usually appear in late spring or early summer.
Pothos rarely flower indoors. When they do, they produce white-yellow or gold flowers. In some cultivars, they can be green, lavender or purple.
[6] Growing demands
Pothos tend to be more tolerant of low light than Scindapsus. They also like it if a few inches of soil dries out between waterings. It will develop black spots on the leaves and root rot if the soil is kept moist.
Ultimately, Scindapsus is very picky about overwatering. It will react by wilting the vines and yellowing the leaves.
When it comes to growing mix, pothos prefer neutral to slightly acidic soils. Meanwhile, Scindapsus thrives when the soil pH is between 6.1 and 6.5.
It would be useful to fertilize Scindapsus pictus once a month. On the other hand, pothos can work on a fortnightly diet.
[7] Price
Scindapsus is more expensive than pothos, and for good reason. The average price of a Scindapsus pictus potted plant ranges from $24 to $50. For comparison, the average cost of golden pothos (check the latest price on Amazon here) ranges from $15 to $29.
I love the bright appeal of Scindapsus. And many other plant owners do too. They are also thicker and retain their beautiful shade longer.
Similarities Between Scindapsus and Pothos
[1] flowering season
As plants in the arum family, scindapsus and pothos produce small flowers in the summer. However, pothos flowers are rarely produced indoors.
[2] irrigation needs
Scindapsus and pothos are evergreen plants. They thrive in evenly moist soil and don’t mind missing a watering or two. However, they both hate having “wet feet”.
In either case, water when two inches of the potting mix has dried out slightly.
[3] light requirements
Both plants enjoy sitting in bright, indirect light. They will lose shadows if you expose them to too much direct sunlight.
[4] Humidity
Pothos and Scindapsus do best in areas with high humidity, such as bathrooms and kitchens. Still, they are quite tolerant of low humidity. Use a humidifier or a bowl of water with pebbles to keep the humidity above 80%.
[5] Temperature
Pothos and scindapsus like warmer temperatures, ideally between 65 and 85°F (18 and 29°C). They do not tolerate cold, especially if the temperature drops below 10°C.
[6] Below
Scindapsus and pothos thrive in commercially available potting soil with good drainage and rich nutrients. It would be better if there were vermiculite, perlite and peat. Both appreciate the slightly acidic pH of the soil.
Why are people confused?
Scindapsus and pothos are evergreen tropical plants. Its leaves are usually heart-shaped and both come from the tropical jungles of Southeast Asia. Both are also hardy in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12.
In addition to sharing the arum family, these two plants appear to be variants of the same plant. As if that weren’t enough, their common names sound almost the same.
Scindapsus pictus it is sometimes called satin pothos. And for a long time the pothos were called Scindapsus aureus† So much for the good name!