Jade Satin Pothos Houseplant Care - Guide to Growing Jade Satin Scindapsus

Last Updated on April 15, 2022 by Admin

The Jade Satin Pothos is a rare plant that is hard to find. And it is not cheap as well. On average, you can expect to spend an expensive price of between $50 to $100 for a plant, sometimes more.

The plant is also known as Jade Satin Scindapsus, as it is a variety of the Scindapsus pictus, which is better known as the Satin Pothos.

It is actually a close relative of the pothos (Epipremnum aureum). So, its common name can be misleading as well as its looks which makes it easily pass for a pothos plant.

in any case, both are members of the Arum family. Thus, the resemblance.

The biggest different between the Jade Satin Pothos and the Satin Pothos is the former has no variegations, whereas the latter has these siler patches on its leaves.

That said, the Jade Satin Pothos is a beautiful vining plant that likes to climb. It achieves it maximum growth potential if you allow it to go up a pole or similar vertical setup.

But, it looks amazing as well in hanging baskets which is why many home growers prefer to display it this way.

As the vines get longer, you will need to prune it. Nevertheless, the plant is very easy to care for.

Table of Contents

Jade Satin Pothos Plant Care

Light Requirements

One of the most important things that your Jade Satin Pothos needs is light. It will do well in both natural and artificial lighting. But, the former is more efficient since the sun gives the plant the full color spectrum.

As such, 6 or more hours a day of bright, indirect light will allow it to grow optimally. On the other hand, you’ll need at least 12 or more hours of exposure under grow lights to produce the same effects.

The plant is generally an easy to care for houseplant because of its ability to do well in different lighting conditions.

While it does best when given plenty of light, it does not mind medium to low light. But, avoid dark or overly dime locations.

As a general rule, if you can’t read the body text of a newspaper in that spot, there isn’t enough light to sustain the plant.

Thus, leaving it there will eventually cause it to become leggy or slow it growth.

Outdoors, it does best in partial shade away from the harsh sun. This is because there are no walls and ceilings to limit sun exposure. So, it prefers a little more shade outside.

Temperature

Another important factor in keeping your Jade Satin Pothos healthy is climate. The plant is tropical in nature. As such, it prefers moderate to warm environments.

And, it is used to sunshine all year round with no occurrence of snow.

This makes it hardy to USDA Zones 10 to 12. It cannot tolerate frost or snow which means leaving it out in winter conditions will eventually destroy the plant before spring arrives.

For best growth, keep temperature between 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Coincidentally, this is also the level we humans enjoy, which makes it easy for the plant to acclimate to household conditions.

The plant can also tolerate hotter environments. But, it won’t be able to withstand temperatures under 50 degrees for long periods of time.

As such, avoid leaving it outside once the colder months arrive. Indoors, you also want to keep it away from air conditioned rooms or cold vents and drafty areas.

Humidity

Jade Satin Pothos is native to Southeast Asia where it is not only warm (and very hot at times) but also quite humid. There average humidity runs from a low of about 55 to as high as 75 or a even more depending on the time of year.

Thus, the plant prefers humidity of 50% to 70% for optimal growth.

Fortunately, it does not mind regular household humidity as long as it stays between 40% and 50%. And, it can tolerate the upper 30s as well depending on its other living conditions.

That said, you do want to check what humidity is in your home. And, monitor how low it gets during the hot, dry summers and in wintertime when moisture in the air tends to dry up quite a bit.

If you find that humidity is too low for the plant’s needs, you can employ one of the following humidity boosting strategies.

Place the plant on top of stones in a water tray
Group it with other plants
Move it to the bathroom or kitchen
Use a humidifier

One noticeable method missing is misting, which I don’t really recommend for this plant.

The reason is that plant has crinkles leaves which can be delicate. Too much touching or spraying with lots of water can damage or affect their texture.

Also, if your plant has aerial roots, misting can wet these roots increasing their risk of overwatering.

As such, I prefer to use other methods besides misting.

Do note that the same is true for cleaning the leaves. Their textured surface means that collect more dirt and dust between the creases. Thus, regular cleaning is important.

I like to put the plant under the sink in my backyard and give it a thorough shower. This not only cleans the leaves but helps with humidity as well. So you can do this about once a month instead of the methods above.

But, make sure to let the plant dry. That is to leave it under bright, indirect sunlight with good air circulation to dry its leaves quickly.

Avoid using oil or leaf shine on its foliage which can damage them or clog the pores.

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How Often to Water Jade Satin Pothos

Jade Satin Pothos enjoys moist soil during the spring and summer when it is actively growing. However, it is also prone to overwatering.

Thus, you want to be wary of the latter since soggy, wet or waterlogged soil on a regular basis will eventually cause root rot.

Yellow leaves and wilting are two warning signs that the plant is getting too much water. And, it means you want to scale back immediately.

On the other hand, underwatering is less of an issue since the pothos is able to tolerate drought a bit. So it can tolerate neglect and occasional missed waterings in case you forget to do so.

Even when it gets a bit dry, it can quickly bounce back.

From my experience, a dry Jade Satin Pothos will curl its leaves and look a bit dull. Its will also have dry looking foliage.

But, once you water it, it will quickly recover within the next 24 to 48 hours and look very perky again soon after that.

Thus, some growers wait for the plant to start showing signs of dryness before watering.

I on the other hand, prefer to just let the soil dry out a little so you. Once the soil is dry past 1 to 2 inches from the top, it is safe to water again. Don’t get tempted to water before then.

To check for this, just stick your index finger into the soil and feel for wetness.

Alternatively, you can use a moisture meter to measure how much water there is in the soil.

Soil for Jade Satin Pothos

The Jade Satin Pothos has a hard time growing well in wet or soggy soil. This environment also puts it at risk of root rot and fungal problems. As such, avoid heavy soil and those that tend to retain more moisture.

Instead, go for something that drains excess moisture well.

Keep in mind that in plants, a well-draining mix does not mean it will drain all the water soon after your pour or use the garden hose. Instead, it holds enough water to hydrate the plant and gets rid of the excess so the plant does not end up sitting in water.

In contrast, overly fast draining soil like something made from 100% sand will very quickly allow the water to get through. This is another kind of soil to avoid since your Jade Satin Pothos will end up dehydrated as time goes.

In addition to well-draining soil, pH between 6.1 to 6.5 also helps it grow optimally.

A good combination that works really well is to use peat moss, pine bark and perlite or vermiculite.

Fertilizer

Another reason why the Jade Satin Pothos is easy to care for and low maintenance is that it does not necessarily need fertilizer.

I say necessarily because adding a little bit of fertilizer will help it grow faster and look more vibrant.

But, because it does not need a lot of it, be careful not to overdo the plant food.

That said, fertilizer gives you the best results if you have poor soil. This makes up for the soil’s shortcoming.

To feed the plant, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during spring to fall. Make sure to dilute the dose to half strength.

There is not need to feed the plant during winter.

Pruning

The Jade Satin Pothos is a vining plant with the potential to grow to between 4 to 10 feet long.

It is a climber which means that it can achieve it maximum growth potential if allowed to go up some kind of support.

However, it does quite well hanging from a basket or container as well. Many home growers like to display the plant this way because it looks magnificent.

Yet, another way is just to let it grow in a container and allow its vines to get longer and sprawl around the pot.

Whichever you choose will affect how often you prune the plant. The first option requires the least pruning unless you have a specific height limit you want to impose.

From a hanging basket, you can also let it grow. But, the last option will likely become messy looking sooner than later.

Since the plant looks great when bushy, it is a good idea to let it grow out.

But, you can trim it basked on the shape and size you want. Thus, pruning is really more cosmetic.

The only necessary pruning needed is to remove any discolored leaves or damaged foliage.

Jade Satin Pothos Propagation

Stem cutting is the easiest and most efficient way I’ve found to propagate Jade Satin Pothos. This is best done in the spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing. This will allow the cuttings to root quickly and grow from there.

You can root the cuttings in water or soil. Both work really well.

Although I’ve found that starting in water allows for faster rooting. But, you do have to transfer it to soil sooner or later. Oddly enough, pothos can live in water but has a problem with wet soil. Ironic isn’t it?

On the other hand, starting in soil means skipping that extra step of rooting in water. But, because soil offers more resistance to water, the roots take longer to develop in soil.

As such, it takes a little longer for cuttings to root in soil.

I’ve also noticed that propagating in water seems to have a higher success rate compared to soil.

But, I highly suggest going with the method you’re most comfortable with and achieve the best results with.

Here’s how to do both methods.

Take a 3 to 5 inch stem cutting. You want a stem that is healthy with at least a few leaves.
Remove the lower leaves to expose the leaf nodes.

If you wish to propagate in water:

Place the stem cutting cut side down into a glass or jar or water.
Leave the jar under bright, indirect light.
In about 2 weeks or so, you’ll see roots being to develop. Allow them to continue growing.
Once the roots reach about an inch long, you can move the cutting to a small pot with fresh potting mix. You can likewise leave the cutting to grow in water for a while. It won’t mind being in there for months but I haven’t gone up to a year so I don’t know if it can or can’t.

If you wish to propagate in soil:

Prepare a small container (6” pot). Then fill it will fresh, well-draining potting mix.
You can water the soil before or after you plant the stem cutting. Be sure to avoid wet, soggy soil. Moist is more than enough.
Plant the stem cutting into the soil.
You can cover the plant with a plastic bag with holes. The holes allow for air circulation, while the bag increases humidity which speeds up early growth.
Keep the plant under bright non-direct light in a warm spot.
In about 3 or so weeks, it should develop roots. However, you won’t be able to see the roots unlike that in the water jar. So, to test, you can lightly tug the plant. it should resist which is a sign that the roots are taking form.

How to Repot Jade Satin Pothos

Your Jade Satin Pothos does not need to be repot regularly. It takes between 2 to 3 years on average before it needs to be moved to a larger container.

And, the only time (outside of emergency situations) when you need to move the plant is when it has outgrown it current living quarters.

The good news is that it will tell you when.

Often, you’ll see roots coming out from the holes at the bottom of the pot. You might also see them circling the container and staring to emerge from the soil due to lack of space.

The best time to repot is at the start of the growing season.

Here’s how to repot your Jade Satin Pothos.

Find a container that is 2 inches wider than your current container. Avoid going more than 2 inches bigger.
Also have some fresh, well-draining potting soil on hand as you’ll be replacing the spent soil with it.
Now, find a spot to repot. I like to do this outside because it makes a mess. But, you can do it indoors as well. However, I suggest cover the floor with old newspaper or some plastic to make things easy to clean after.
Carefully take the plant out of its current container.
Check the roots and remove excess soil and dirt from the root ball. I also like to separate the roots that have gotten tangled up tougher. The more pot bound the plant is, the more overlapping roots you’ll find.
Fill the new pot with fresh potting mix until about a third of the way. You want to estimate the height so the plant stands out of the container at the same height with its previous home not lover down.
Place the root ball into the new pot. Then, backfill the extra space with soil.
Water the soil until moist.

Toxicity

Pothos are toxic to people and pets. And, the Jade Satin Pothos is not an exception.

Ingesting parts of the plant will cause mouth, throat, tongue and digestive tract irritation as the calcium oxalate crystals are not metabolized by our bodies.

This can lead to vomitin, nausea, swelling and other problems.

Pests and Diseases

Jade Satin Pothos don’t have much issues with pests or diseases. The key is proper care and giving it the living conditions it needs.

However, spider mites and scale can become problems as these two kinds of creatures like attacking the plant for its sap.

As such, regular inspection is needed to spot them early and treat the problem as soon as possible.

With diseases, root rot, fungus and bacterial problems can happen if moisture is not kept in check.

Since the plant enjoys humid conditions, it increases the risk of moisture problems. So, you need to be wary about how and when you water.

If possible stay on the drier side of things as the plant can tolerate this condition quite well. And, even if you neglect it, it is able to bounce back quickly once you water.

Conclusion

One of the most beautiful trailing plants you’ll find, the Jade Satin Pothos is perfect for hanging baskets and tabletops alike.

It is likewise easy to care and because it it low maintenance.

Jade Satin Pothos Houseplant Care – Guide to Growing Jade Satin Scindapsus