Pothos N Joy Vs Glacier (The Differences and Similarities)

Last Updated on October 17, 2022 by Admin

Pothos glacier vs. N Joy is something that any plant enthusiast or collector will hear often. In fact, I get asked this a lot because of how similar the two plants look.

But if you look carefully and observe how each of them grows, you’ll eventually notice some differences.

That said, the two plants are more similar than they are different to be honest.

What are the differences between pothos glacier and N’Joy? The two plants have different variegations and colors. While they have green and white colors, the white patterns vary quite a bit.

Also, they have different growth habits, overall size and growth rates.

That said, caring for both plant is the same.

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Pothos Glacier vs N’Joy Differences

The pothos N Joy and glacier plants are quite similar to one another. This is especially true if you consider their appearance.

However, you may favor one or the other plant for several reasons.

Below, I’ll go through the differences between the two plants so you can tell one from the other.

While they can be difficult to identify from one another, there are some distinctive features that make them different.

Leaf Color and Variegation

The first major difference between the pothos glacier and pothos n joy are the variegations or patterns in their leaves.

When comparing and differentiating pothos varieties, these two are fairly similar looking.

And if this is the first time you’re looking at both plants, they will look very much alike. In fact, it is very difficult to tell them apart by looking at their colors.

Why?

Both Pothos Glacier and N Joy have the same color schemes. Their leaves are green colored with white variegations.

As such, you have to notice the minor details.

In the case of the pothos N Joy you’ll notice that the center of the leaves are primarily green while the white variegations start out at the edges or the sides

Another distinctive feature of its white variegation is that they come in blocks or solid shapes.

You won’t see tiny blotches or unclear patches of white. Instead, the white sections are distinctively white.

On the other hand, the pothos glacier may have a similar green and white color combination.

But the white variegations are not as solid.

Instead, they come in streaks. Although, pothos glacier will usually have more white sections than green sections which makes them more attractive visually.

The downside to more white variegation is that the plant has less chlorophyll.

Therefore, it will need more light to thrive and will be less tolerant of low light. Leaving it in low light environment will easily slow its growth and potentially cause the white variegation to revert back to green.

Overall Size

Once the two plants get bigger and mature, it is also easier to tell the difference between them just by looking at their size and overall shape.

The pothos glacier and pothos N Joy are long trailing vines.

Thus, they will develop long stems with each stem having several leaves on it. This feature along with their gorgeous leaf colors make them stunning once they grow out.

It is also for this reason that they make stunning trailing plants.

That said, pothos N Joy are bigger plants compared to pothos glacier.

While the two will grow much bigger in their native environments, they’re overall size is more limited when kept indoors as houseplants.

In most cases, pothos N’Joy will reach about 10 feet high.

On contrast, glacier pothos usually reaches between 6 to 8 feet long.

However, while the pothos glacier may be shorter in terms of overall height, it will expand more towards the sides.

If you don’t prune it, its vines will spread sidewards as wide as 3 to 4 feet.

Meanwhile, the pothos N’Joy will only get to about half, often less than half of the width of the glacier pothos.

Again, this is when both plants are grown in pots and kept indoors.

Thus, in addition to the look of the plants, choosing one over the other may depend on the kind of space you have available.

If you want something that covers more space up and down, then the N’Joy pothos is a better choice.

But if you don’t want something as tall but prefer side to side coverage, then the pothos glacier is a good option.

Shape and Texture of Their Leaves

Another thing to consider when trying to tell the pothos glacier and NJoy apart is the shape of their leaves.

Although the two plants have similar heart-shaped leaves, the difference is in the details.

Pothos N’Joy have heart-shaped leaves. But compared to the glacier pothos, you’ll notice that its leaf shape is more rounded or oval. Also, it has a more pointed tip.

Another interesting feature is the texture of its leaves.

You’ll need to run your fingers on the surface of a few leaves to feel this.

When you do, you’ll notice that the top and bottom surfaces of the leaves of pothos N Joy have different textures.

The top surface has a smoother feel to it while the lower portion of the leaf has a more leathery texture.

Leaf Size

In general, both pothos glacier and pothos N Joy have small leaves relative to other pothos varieties.

As such, they are amazing as trailing plants as they feature many leaves on their long vines.

That said, if you put the pothos glacier and N’Joy side by side, you’ll notice that the glacier pothos has smaller leaves.

N’Joy pothos leaves will grow to about 2 inches long and 1.5 inches wide.

On the other hand, the pothos glacier’s leaves won’t get as big.

In combination with their color scheme and patterns, you can differentiate the two better.

Temperature Needs

While both pothos glacier and N Joy are tropical plants, they have slightly different temperature tolerances.

Both plants enjoy moderate to warm weather.

As such, the ideal temperature for these plants is around the 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit range.

However, the pothos N Joy will does not mind slightly cooler conditions as well. It is able to grow well in temperatures of 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

On the other hand, the pothos glacier has less tolerance to the cold, preferring 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

Although there is a difference here, it is fairly minor.

The important thing to remember when it comes to temperature of these two pothos plants is that they are not cold hardy.

Therefore, never leave them outdoors during winter.

Also, choose a fairly warm spot for them in your home during the colder months of the year.

Flowers

Both pothos glacier and pothos N Joy are flowering plants.

But they rarely flower when grown as houseplants. Even if you grow them outdoors, the odds of either plant blooming is slim.

However, of the two, glacier pothos have a better chance of flowering.

So, if you want to see your pothos bloom, go with the pothos glacier over the N’Joy.

In most cases, pothos bloom in their native habitat, the tropical rainforests. As such, you don’t usually see them do so as houseplants.

The other thing is that the flowers of pothos plants are insignificant relative to their leaves.

As such, they’re often grown as foliage plants. That’s where their beauty lies.

In fact, most if not all growers will prune any flower then happen to develop. They do so in order to let their pothos focus on foliage.

If the plant produces flowers, it will allocate energy and resources to pushing out and maintaining the blooms.

When it does this, it redirects the energy that was supposed to be used for leaf growth.

Growth Rate

One final difference between the pothos glacier and N Joy is their growth rate.

This is a bit harder to notice unless you own both plants.

That’s because it takes a while before the plants will grow.

That said, the pothos N’Joy grows at a slower rate compared to the pothos glacier.

Therefore, while the N’Joy will eventually get bigger, it will take longer for that to happen.

In contrast, the pothos glacier is the faster growing plant of the two. And because it will spread sidewards more, its growth rate becomes more noticeable as well.

So, what does this mean?

It means that if you do not want to prune your pothos often, then the N’Joy pothos is a better option.

Because the pothos glacier will grow faster and it will grow to the sides rather than upward or downward, regular trimming is needed.

This will prevent it from getting too wayward, invading other houseplants or furniture you have around it.

Pothos Glacier vs N’Joy Similarities

For the most part, the pothos glacier and N Joy are similar. They are both pothos plants, so their taxonomy is very closely related.

In fact, you’ll actually see more similarities than differences between these two plants.

And even when it comes to looks, they’re very much alike.

Light Requirements

Pothos N’Joy and Glacier thrive in well-lit locations. They will grow best when given medium to bright indirect light indoors and partial or semi-shade outdoors.

Note that there’s a difference between indoors and outdoors because there’s almost always more light outside.

Inside homes or offices, the only access to natural sunshine is through windows or other openings.

As such, the ceilings and walls block out the sunlight.

Outside, this is not a problem. Therefore, it is easier for plants to receive more light outdoors.

With regards to pothos, it is important to be aware that while both the N’Joy and Glacier like plenty of light, they cannot tolerate long periods of direct sunlight.

As such, it is best to keep them away from intense direct sunlight or full sun.

Otherwise, you may see their leaves get scorched.

Similarly, try to avoid too little light.

This is especially true since both plants are variegated. And when there is too little light, you run the risk of their white patterns going away.

Like other variegated plants, lack of light can cause their variegations to revert.

This will leave you with solid green leaves on both plants, which makes them lose their special feature.

In addition to losing their variegation, lack of light also causes slow or stunted growth, fewer leaves and smaller foliage as well.

Water

Both pothos glacier and N’Joy need water to thrive.

But they do not need to be watered daily or every other day. In most cases, the plants only need watering once a week.

During the summer when the weather gets hot, watering frequency can go up to between every 5-7 days.

In the winter, you need to scale it back to once every 10 to 14 days.

How often you water will depend on how hot the summers get and how cold the winters get where you live.

This is very important as both plants as susceptible to overwatering.

And too much water or watering them too often can eventually lead to root rot.

Because pothos are more resilient to underwatering and recover more quickly to lack of moisture, it is always better to err on the side of less water.

Too much water can cause yellow leaves and eventually rotten roots.

As such, always wait until the top 2 inches of soil has dried out before adding more water. Never water the plant when the soil still feels moist or wet.

Soil

Because both the pothos N’Joy and Glacier as prone to overwatering, it is very important to use well-draining soil.

Ideally use soil that is rich in organic matter as well to help them grow faster.

But the key is to ensure that the soil mix you use has enough drainage to prevent waterlogging and overwatering.

Fertilizer

When it comes to fertilizer, both plants are not heavy feeders. So, they won’t need a ton of fertilizer. Nor will they need it all the time.

Instead, only apply fertilizer during the spring and summer.

This is when both plants experience the most growth.

Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer and dilute it to half strength when you apply.

You don’t need to feed either plant during the winter.

Toxicity

The pothos glacier and N Joy are both toxic when ingested. This is likewise the case for all pothos varieties.

As such, it is important to be wary of this if you have young children and pets at home.

Ingesting, chewing or swallowing any part of the plant will cause toxic side effects.

Therefore, keep both plants away or out of reach of young kids, dogs and cats. This is true whether you keep the plant inside your home or in the garden.