Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus) is a popular houseplant because it is so easy to grow. A low-maintenance houseplant with beautiful silvery, green leaves, it will look beautiful in a hanging basket or on a bookshelf. It is also tolerant of low light conditions which makes it great for beginners. Just be aware that your satin pothos is toxic to pets and humans so it’s best to keep it away from children and pets. Here are tips on how to care for your Satin Pothos.
Satin Pothos Houseplant Infographic
8 Tips on How to Take Care of Your Satin Pothos Houseplant
1. Your Satin Pothos is Happiest in Bright Indirect Light
Satin Pothos will be happy in a bright, indirect light location. It can also tolerate medium light conditions.
2. Moderate Water is Best for Your Satin Pothos
Your Satin Pothos has moderate water requirements. Water your Satin Pothos when the soil feels dry. The best way to tell when it is time to water your Satin Pothos is to feel the soil. Stick your finger in the soil 1 inch deep. If it feels dry, it’s time to water your Satin Pothos.
3. Get the Soil Right for Your Satin Pothos
Your Satin Pothos needs a well-draining, organic all-purpose potting mix.
4. Fertilize Your Satin Pothos
Your Satin Pothos should be fertilized once a month during the growing season.
5. Don’t forget to Repot Your Satin Pothos
Repot your Satin Pothos every 2 years or when you start seeing the roots come out of the drainage holes. Repot your Satin Pothos in a container with a diameter 2 inches larger than the current pot.
6. Drainage is Essential for Your Satin Pothos
Good drainage is essential, you don’t want your Satin Pothos to sit in soggy soil. Make sure there are drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. After watering your Satin Pothos and you see water draining out of the pot’s drainage holes, make sure you empty out the accumulated water in the saucer. Don’t let your Satin Pothos’s pot sit in this puddle of water. It will cause root rot!
7. Get the Temperature Right for Your Satin Pothos
Your Satin Pothos needs to have a daytime temperature of 70F to 80 Fahrenheit (21-26C). The nighttime temperature should be at 60-70 Farenheit (15-21 C).
8. Humidity is Vital for Your Satin Pothos
Your Satin Pothos is a tropical houseplant that likes humid conditions. You should increase indoor humidity. Turn on the humidifier. Another way to increase humidity is to keep your Satin Pothos in a saucer filled with water. But make sure the pot is elevated with pot feet or pebbles so your Satin Pothos is not sitting directly on the water.
Just don’t mist your Satin Pothos because water can get on the roots and that will result in overwatering.
2 Common Satin Pothos Houseplant Problems
The common problems for Satin Pothos are scales and spider mites.
Why are there Yellow and Brown Spots with Spider-Like Webs on the Leaves and Stems of Your Satin Pothos?
Problem: There are yellow and brown spots on the leaves of your Satin Pothos. You also see spider web-like webbing on the leaves and stems.
Cause: The spider webbing and yellow and brown spots are signs of spider mites attacking your Satin Pothos. Spider mites are tiny pests that are too small to see with your bare eyes.
Solution: To treat spider mites on your Satin Pothos, spray off the leaves with water from a garden hose. The force will cause the little spider mites to wash off the leaves. You can also wash mites off with soapy water or rubbing alcohol. There are also horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps that you can use to kill off spider mites.
Check out our article on how to make your own homemade pesticides using baby shampoo: How to Make Horticultural Oil and How to Make Insecticidal Soap
Why are there many Small Brown Bumps on the Leaves of Your Satin Pothos?
Problem: If you see little brown bumps all over the leaves and stems of your Satin Pothos, that can be a sign of scale. Try picking the bumps off, if it’s easily removed then that’s a telltale sign of scale. The little bumps can also be gray, yellow, or black.
Cause: Scale is common on houseplants and is caused by scale insects.
Solution: You can get rid of scale by picking them off one by one. Or the easier way to get rid of scale is to spray your Satin Pothos with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.
Satin Pothos Houseplant Facts
| Name | Satin Pothos |
| Scientific Name | Scindapsus pictus |
| Light | Bright Indirect Light |
| Daytime Temperature | 70 to 80 F (21-26C) |
| Night Time Temperature | 60 to 70 F (15-21C) |
| Water | Moderate Water |
| Humidity | High Humidity |
| Potting | Well-draining, organic, all-purpose potting mix |
| Fertilizer | Once a month during the growing season |
| Toxic to Pets and Humans | Toxic |
Satin Pothos: Frequently Asked Questions
Satin Pothos: Varieties
Popular Satin Pothos varieties are Scindapsus pictus ‘Argyraeus’, Scindapsus pictus ‘Exotica’ and Scindapsus pictus ‘Silvery Anne’
Is Your Satin Pothos Toxic to Pets?
Satin Pothos are toxic to humans and pets. Don’t let children or pets chew on the leaves of the Satin Pothos plant. It can cause vomiting and upset stomach. If you see any of these symptoms and suspect ingestion of Satin Pothos plants, call poison control immediately! Also, call your doctor or vet once you start seeing adverse reactions in children and pets.
Find out which houseplants are toxic to pets and humans.
How Can You Tell When It’s Time to Water Your Satin Pothos?
Water your Satin Pothos when the soil feels dry. The best way to tell when it’s time to water is by sticking your finger into the soil. Stick your finger in the soil 1 inch deep. If the soil feels dry, then it’s time to water your Satin Pothos.
Can You Use Cold Water When Watering Your Satin Pothos?
Satin Pothos can be watered with tap water but be mindful of the water temperature that you are using to water your Satin Pothos. Don’t use straight cold water from the tap to water your Satin Pothos.
Satin Pothos prefers cool water that is not hot and not cold. When you turn on the cold water from the faucet add a little bit of warm water. You can also get to this ideal temperature by filling a watering can or pitcher with water and leaving it out overnight until the water is at room temperature.
What Fertilizer Should You Use for Your Satin Pothos?
Use liquid or powder, organic fertilizer on your Satin Pothos.
How Big Does Your Satin Pothos Get?
Your Satin Pothos’ stems can grow quite long, easily to 4-10 feet long if you let it.
How Do You Propagate Your Satin Pothos?
Satin Pothos Plant is easy to propagate. You can propagate your Satin Pothos plant by leaf cutting.
Below are steps on how to propagate Satin Pothos Plant by leaf cutting.
1. Take a Leaf Cutting of your Satin Pothos Plant
Cut a mid-sized leaf from your Satin Pothos and include 1-2 inches of the leaf stalk.
2. Plant the Your Satin Pothos Leaf Cutting
Dip the leaf stalk into rooting hormone and then plant it into a pot. Make sure the soil mixture is damp by watering it thoroughly before planting the leaf stalk. You can plant more than one leaf in the pot.
3. Repot Your Satin Pothos to its Permanent pot
The roots of your Satin Pothos will grow in 2-4 weeks. You will see the baby leaves will be about 1 inch long. When that happens, you can repot your Satin Pothos to its permanent container.
4. Place New Satin Pothos Plant in a Spot with Bright Indirect Sun
Place your new Satin Pothos plant in a spot with bright indirect sunlight. Don’t put it in direct sunlight.
You May Also Be Interested in Other Hanging Houseplants:
- 7 Tips on How to Care for Your Creeping Fig (Ficus Pumila Infographic)
- 7 Tips on How to Care for Your Air Plant (Tillandsia species Infographic)
- 8 Tips on How to Care for Your Boston Fern (Infographic)
- 9 Tips on How to Care for Your String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii Infographic)
- 9 Tips on How to Care for your Spider Plant
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