The OG. The Golden Pothos is the most well known and fairly easy to spot in almost any context.
The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum 'golden') was first described in 1880 by the German botanist Heinrich Wilhelm Schott. Its current botanical name and classification have evolved over the years as scientists learned more about the plant’s genetics and taxonomy. It originates from the Society Islands of French Polynesia, particularly Mo'orea. Despite being widely cultivated today, it's rarely seen flowering in the wild or indoors. This is due to a genetic mutation that makes flowering extremely rare without hormone treatment.
The golden has deep green heart-shaped leaves with splashes or steaks of yellow or white variegation. The texture of the leaves is usually smooth and waxy. This plant is very adaptable to different light and humidity conditions.
The leaf is connected to the petiole. At the base of the petiole there is the petiolar sheath. This is where a new leaf comes out of. Usually near the petioles on the stem are the nodes. These look like little bumps and where new roots form when propagating.
When a plant has had a healthy watering, sometimes little drops of water appear at the end of the leaves. This is a natural way to plants to disposes of excessive water or unwanted solutes. The plant pumps water from the roots all the way to the leaves.
*Guttation droplets may contain minerals, sugars, or xylem sap, so they can leave a white crust when dried.
These plants are extremely easy to propagate. Just look for the little nodes that grow along the stem. Choose a cutting that has at least 2-3 nodes.
There are a variety of different methods that work:
Water - Ensure that the node is submerged in the water. Place in a sunny spot. Root usually appear in 1-2 weeks. Wait until the roots are about 3 or more inches long and have secondary roots coming out of the main root.
Soil - Dip the end of the cutting and node in a rooting hormone. Plant the cutting directly in moist soil. This option is more successful by providing higher humidity like placing a bag over the top of the pot or under a dome.
Sphagnum Moss - Wrap a bundle of damp sphagnum moss around the vine and node. Keep the moss moist (not soaking wet). Roots will grow into the moss.
LECA, Perlite, Stratum - Place cuttings in a jar of LECA (clay balls) or perlite with some water at the bottom. This offers a semi-hydroponic way to root and grow pothos.
These plants are extremely easy to propagate. Just look for the little nodes that grow along the stem. Choose a cutting that has at least 2-3 nodes. There are a variety of different methods that work: Water and Soil are the most popular or other mediums including Stratum, Sphagnum Moss, Perlite.
Whether is it discovering a new species in its natural environment or creating mutations - with selective propagation or gamma radiation, new species are hitting the market more and more frequently it seems. Major greenhouses, nurseries, universities, and passionate collectors all over the world are working on new species.
Do you prefer your plants to climb or to trail? This preference causes a lot of back and forth in the plant community. These plants are natural climbers in the wild. As they climb, the leaf size grows and fenestrations can appear. If allowed to trail, the leave size may be consistent in size or get gradually smaller. This also depends on light as well.