Help my satin pothos please! Leaves were turning yellow so I gave it a big long break from watering, hence the curled leaves. But how can I recover it? Itās lost so many leaves from yellowing. For context this plant died a couple years ago and I water propagated all the cuttings and put them in this pot. There used to be more leaves. Is the pot too big now?
Iām new to scindapsus but what I would do is repot this plant. Iād move it to a 4ā plastic pot, change the soil, and check for rot. If your leaves are turning yellow and you have to wait for a long time for the soil to dry out, your plant is likely at risk of root rot. Unfortunately, you canāt solve that problem by waiting weeks for the soil to dry. If it isnāt drying out within 1-2 weeks, you need chunkier soil. I use a mix of coco coir, perlite, charcoal, and orchid bark. Really make that soil chunky with big orchid bark pieces and perlite mixed into the soil. I heard sphagnum moss is helpful because they donāt like drying out completely, but Iāve never used and my soil has been fine. Itās all about experimenting. I mixed my first soil and didnāt make it chunky enough for a few of my plants and they arenāt drying out quick enough so Iām going to add more orchid bark to my mix and repot. When you water a chunky soil, if you top-water, give it 5 to 10 minutes to sit in the tray and absorb all the water it needs (because a highly porous, chunky soil is going to allow the water to pass through before it has time to really be absorbed). Then dump the excess water after 5-10 minutes and that plant should be good to go for a week or so. And of course check for root rot and cut back any bad smelling, squishy brown roots. Soggy sold for too long is prone to this, but if you let the plant completely dry out it also adds shock to the roots and theyāre more prone to slow growth/rot the next time it gets too wet and Scindapsus do not want to dry out completely. They also love humidity, so a water tray, humidifier, or placing in a group with other plants is helpful for these guys.
2 gillningar Thanks! I have other more tropical plants I use a chunky mix for, but Iāve usually used regular potting for satin pothos. Youāve had success with a chunky mix? Iām definitely happy to size down and change the soil. This one has been finicky for so long, Iāve had it for 4+ years!
1 gilla I would! It doesnāt have to be super crazy chunky, but a bit more until it dries out a bit quicker. Then downsizing will help it dry out because there is less soil to retain the moisture at the bottom that the plant likely isnāt using. Iāve used both types of soil with mine. The problem with regular soil and nothing to aerate it is that itās taking weeks to dry enough for watering and then I get fungus on top too. But Iām recovering a scindapsus dark form from severe root rot from shipping and after 2 weeks in my coir soil mix (50% coir-20%perlite-5%charcoal-25% fine orchid chips) <āroughly I donāt measure, sheās actually starting to really recover! I water every week or so. My house is dry and cool and takes a while to dry out plants. My goal is to have to water a mostly dry plant around day 8 (winter) and Scindapsus are excellent at telling you when itās time for a watering. Scindapsus are definitely more finicky than Epipremnums. I have a moonlight where every tip is growing in bent and brown blemishes, so back into my higher humidity spot she goes. My dark form is sloooowly recovering from rot. And my Silvery Ann is just kicking everybodyās butt with her single vine putting out a leaf a week. š Best of luck!
1 gilla Super helpful, thanks! Iāll downsize and try the chunky mix.
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I fully agree with Pothos Palace on the soil mix and the steps to help the plant recover. This scindapus variety does well in a chunky mix. I leave out the peat and sphagnum mosses, as well, since they hold extra water. I let the soil dry out before watering again. It takes about a week to dry completely in an 8ā wide pot with a chunky mix. Iām in South Texas, zone 9. My plants are outside. So, the higher temperatures make the soil dry faster. Low light can cause yellowing too. Scindapus Pictus is not a true pothos. I found they like more indirect light all day. Mine gets direct morning sunlight a few hours. I recommend fertilizing with diluted fertilizer as least twice a month. The leaves should be darker. šŖ“š
1 gilla Thank you!
1 gilla
This plant did the same thing to me then i put it back in the water and it got strong again so after a month or so i put it back in a chunky soil and its been happy ever since. That was 2 years ago.
2 gillningar Yes okay, will switch to a chunky soil and new pot and see how she fares!
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I am honesty scared for when i come back from my trip because it was literally spiting out 1 leaf a day
2 gillningar WOW thatās incredible! Send a pic!
1 gilla