If you ’re a houseplant lover like me , you ’ve more than probably have both a pothos or a philodendron at some head in your life .
These two beautiful species are easy to care for and grow in gorgeous vining normal , making them exceptionally popular in the rest home . But , given their similar aesthetics , they are often false for one another , even though decided difference of opinion exist between them .
While it does n’t count much which one you ’ve choose to espouse , as their growth use are like , it is still a point of interest to learn how to tell them apart . Indeed , each has some specific pauperism which can make a difference to your originate success and their overall wellness and well - being .
In this clause , we ’ll take a look at what pothos and philodendrons have in coarse and what sets them aside . This include an in - deepness look at their taxonomy and appearance , as well as an probe into their environmental needs . Ready ? Let ’s pass over right in .
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Easy Pothos Care Guide 💚
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💧 urine : body of water when the top inch of soil feels dry . Pothos are forgiving and tolerate occasional drying out but do n’t rent the soil last out soggy .
🌱 Soil : Use a well - draining potting intermixture -I in person usethis potting admixture . This received indoor one work great , specially with its added perlite for aeration .
☀ ️Light : Bright , indirect spark is best , but Pothos can adapt to lower light-colored conditions . Avoid prolong direct sunlight , as it can sear the leaves .
🌡 ️Temperature : Pothos thrive in temperatures between 65 - 85 ° F ( 18 - 29 ° C ) . Keep them away from cold drafts and sudden temperature changes .
🌿 Fertilizer : Feed with a balanced , water supply - soluble fertilizer ( my top pick isthis Miracle - Gro one ) once a month during spring and summer . Skip feeding in fall and wintertime .
What is the difference between pothos vs philodendrons?
Epipremnum aureum and philodendrons enjoy similar grow environs but differ in taxonomy , leaf structure , and procreative habit . Their root and petioles are also different . While their wellness want are similar , golden pothos are more drouth - hardy , whereas philodendrons can endure lower light conditions .
At first glimpse , it can be well - nigh impossible to severalize a pothos from a philodendron and vice versa . Both are generally found growing in plate environments , either as chase after viners or climbing up grow poles or other structures . The grounds these looker are so well - have sex is because they ’re pretty wanton to look after , require very piffling in term of maintenance .
That being read , there are some nonaged conflict between the two that can pretend how you wield them . Most of these have to do with their care , so before we turn over into how to separate them apart , permit ’s have a inscrutable tone at the dissimilarity in their care requirements .
Pothos vs philodendroncare
Pothos and philodendron have similar motive to another pop houseplant , the ceriman . They enjoy relative wet , alimentary - rich soil , average indirect light , and high humidness . Neither philodendron nor Scindapsus aureus are prone to pests and disease but can fall dupe to settle down bunk , make incorrect tearing practice their biggest threat .
In terms of the difference in their care , this is primarily related to light and piddle . Philodendrons do better in stipulation where there is less illumination ( make them perfect for coloured nursing home ) , whereaspothos do n’t need water as often(although it ’s never a good idea to deprive your plant for too long as anunderwatered pothoscan be a trouble ) .
Pothos also favour more humidityand heat , which can be supplemented if necessary .
Are pothos and philodendron related?
Yes , ivy arum and philodendron are related , as both flow within the same aroid plant household , the Araceae family . However , they are disjoined , unlike plants that fall under separate genus . Specifically , pothos belong to to the Epipremnum kinsfolk , whereas philodendrons belong to the Philodendron genus .
This relationship may go somehow to explaining why the golden pothos and philodendron look so similar . They also can look similar to other plants that are in the aroid family , including sure types of ceriman , which I ’ll get to soon .
However , as you ’ll see further down , there are a number of differences that serve to set these plants asunder .
Is monstera a pothos or philodendron?
While there are parallels between ceriman , pothos , and philodendron , they are not the same flora . Monstera belong to their own genus and are get laid for their comparatively expectant leaves and signature fenestration that occur as they get on . The reason they are misguided for pothos and philodendron is because all three species belong to the Araceae family .
Araceae is the blanket terminus for a family of plants more unremarkably known as aroids , and all aroids partake in some exchangeable characteristic . Their most common feature is arguably their decorative leaves , which differ dramatically in size of it from species to species . For the most part , they are tropical plants and therefore do exceptionally well indoors .
Is Devil’s Ivy a pothos or philodendron?
Devil ’s Ivy is a commonly used name for pothos plants , so - call because of their seeming indomitability despite piteous grow conditions . Having uprise in French Polynesia , this plant is now notice all over the world and has adjust to thrive indoors . It is also often consult to as a Money Plant or Silver Vine .
qualify by heart - form leaves , Devil ’s Ivy has brilliant gullible variegation that remains saturated even in low light . Often , it also shows white or green spots and splash . These plant are easy to look after , grow tight , and can be find in almost any greenhouse or garden center .
Interestingly enough , Devil ’s Ivy can bloom ( like all plant life in the Araceae sept ) but will never do so indoors . It is view “ shy - flowering , ” which means it suffer from a familial deadening that makes it unlikely to develop the necessary genes to develop a bud from its meristem .
Pothos vs Epipremnum: What’s the difference?
There is no deviation between ivy arum and Epipremnum . Epipremnum aureum is but pothos ’ scientific name , with Epipremnum being the overarching genus title of plant in this subspecies . All Epipremnum cultivars are part of the Araceae family , just like philodendrons and ceriman .
Epipremnum aureum refers to the Scindapsus aureus we unremarkably call Devil ’s Ivy , which you may read more about in the previous section .
How do you tell a pothos from a philodendron apart?
you’re able to order a pothos and a philodendron apart by visit their petioles and by looking closely at their leaf , textures , and growth habit . There are also distinct difference in their aerial ascendant . Once distinguished , you ’ll also find dissimilarity in how you disperse them .
I ’ll be the first to say that it ’s challenge to tell pothos and philodendrons apart at first coup d’oeil . Both are usually find indoors , sleep together to vine and climb , and have bright light-green , heart - shaped foliage . However , once you get down to the nitty - gritty of inspecting them , you ’ll quickly be able to narrate them asunder .
Usually , it ’s quite easy to discern pothos on colouration alone , specifically because of their variegated leaf . However , there are manytypes of pothosand philodendron , so this is not an exact scientific discipline , and if you ’re curious , it ’s good to get to the gist of matter , so you know which species you ’re dealing with .
get ’s look at the pace you’re able to take to identify whether you have a pothos or a philodendron .
1. Petioles
The petiole is the scientific name for the modest stalking that connects leaf to their primary stems , and ordinarily , they discover everything you want to distinguish if you have a pothos or a philodendron .
A pothos has a bombastic , slenderly flat petiole that indents and extends into the leaf itself . Conversely , a philodendron has a thinner , rounded petiole that almost seems to be resting beneath the leafage , like a stubby node .
2. Aerial roots
Both ivy arum and philodendrons have fast - grow , rife aeriform rootage that help these industrial plant to attach themselves to vary surface . These roots are an interesting evolutionary tacking that develop to help these species mount up with child trees in their natural environments so that they could make their way upwards toward the sun .
If you need to say pothos and philodendrons apart , this is a very good lieu to pop out . Philodendrons have many aerial roots per leaf , whereaspothos only have one aerial root , which is thicker and knobbier and look more like a leaf node than a root when it first develop .
Additionally , philodendron roots await wild , whereas ivy arum roots are slightly neater and more contained .
3. Leaves
mayhap the most confusing thing when telling Scindapsus aureus and philodendrons apart is their leave-taking . Both are decorative and normally heart - mold , making them calculate very at first glance . However , philodendron are , in fact , thin and more trenchant , mainly because of their rounded petiole .
The shape of a philodendron ’s leaves is also more distinct at its base , where it arch in and often forms a tenuous indenture . Pothos leaves are straight and blandish at the theme .
In terminal figure of colour , philodendron leaves are normally more undifferentiated ( although it depends on your cultivar ) . Apothos tends to show diversification .
4. Texture
Do n’t be fooled by their robust coloration – philodendron farewell are thin and delicate . Pothos , on the other hired man , are more leathery and waxy and less prepared to damage .
5. New leaves (growth habits)
Once your ivy arum or philodendron start arise new leaves , they have a drained giveaway that makes it loose to tell these two apart : Philodendrons have cataphylls , whereas ivy arum do not .
A cataphyll , in this attentiveness , refers to the tiny , delicate encasings that hide Modern leaves as they develop and develop . They expect like petty paper coverings that remain on the leafstalk until such a time that they dry , grow brown , and go away .
New Epipremnum aureum leave simply grow and unfurl ( like monstera ) until they are fully work and stout .
6. Taxonomy
Once you ’ve established whether you have a pothos or a philodendron , you’re able to show off to your friends with taxonomy – should this ever come up in a conversation , of course . Pothos belong to the Epipremnum family , whereas philodendrons go to the Philodendron genus .
While both fall under the Araceae sept , their taxonomic differences make them their own species , in their own right , tell apart by the difference of opinion listed in the old section of this clause .
7. Propagation
What lofty industrial plant parent does n’t want to see their Scindapsus aureus or philodendrons producing pretty flora babies ? You ’re in luck – both of these species propagate passing well . The reason for this is their aery root , make it easy to raise them from thinning , eitherpothos propagating from water to soilor directly into soil .
A key difference between the two , however , is that philodendron can produce offsets that can be considered viable flora , whereaspothos cuttingsneed to be rooted first .
You may also be concerned in:8 Simple Steps to Propagate Pothos Plants Successfully
Can you plant pothos and philodendron together?
Because of their similar needs , ivy arum and philodendrons can be uprise together and will have no difficulty prosper . Both plants have similar essential in footing of water , light , humidity , soil , and temperature . They also have similar emergence patterns and should n’t compete for space .
While we ’ve drop a wad of clock time in this clause looking at the dispute between Epipremnum aureum and philodendron , the one thing we can all correspond on is that both coinage are beautiful works . And if you ’re looking for a jungle gravy , there ’s no reason not to plant these lookers together .
One of the benefit of Colorado - growingpothos and philodendron togetheris that they have the same care requirements , and both of them either trail or vine . Together with this , their bright color lights up any space , even if your home environment is not terribly sunny or brilliant .
You ’ll also discover that neither draw pests or disease , making them perfect for beginners and experts likewise . One thing to note is that they may be prostrate to settle down rot , so take care not to overwater them , particularly when they ’re still young and conform to their environment .
Find out more:9 Clear Signs of Pothos Root Rot ( and How to Fix It )
Do pothos or philodendrons grow faster?
Overall , Epipremnum aureum are ever - so - slightly hardier than philodendron and accordingly be given to grow a snatch faster . That being said , in ideal conditions , philodendrons are also fast - arise and make raw leaves almost weekly . The larger both species are , the quicker they develop .
Of the two , golden pothos are fast growers , but the divergence is almost negligible and is not enough to discover its genus on alone . The reason it is considered the quick of the two is because it tends to be more rich than its cousin-german the philodendron , so it is less inclined to be involve by environmental element that may be impacting its growth patterns .
