Epipremnum falcifolium

Natural range and habitat of Epipremnum falcifolium

Epipremnum falcifolium is native to northern and central Borneo, where it grows in humid tropical forest as a climber.

Care for Epipremnum falcifolium

• Support: Give it a pole or other climbable surface early so the aerial roots can grip and the stem can grow upward.
• Light: Give it bright filtered light and protect it from strong direct sun through a window.
• Water: Keep moisture reasonably even but let the upper layer begin to dry before the next thorough watering.
• Humidity: Moderate to higher indoor humidity suits this tropical climber, but keep some air moving around the leaves.
• Temperature: Maintain warm conditions and avoid cold spells.
• Substrate: An open aroid mix with bark or other chunky material keeps air around the roots while still holding some moisture.
• Feeding, repotting and propagation: Feed lightly while new leaves are forming. When growth slows in the darker season, pause feeding and water less often if the mix takes longer to dry. Repot when the roots fill the pot, and propagate from stem sections that include a healthy node.

Common problems with Epipremnum falcifolium

• Long, weak stems with smaller leaves: Increase filtered light and make sure the stem has a support it can attach to.
• Yellow leaves while the mix remains wet: Let the mix dry a little more between waterings and check whether it has become dense and stays wet for too long.
• Crisp edges on newly expanding leaves: Check whether the plant is drying out too much or sitting in very dry heated air.
• Fine pale marks or distorted new growth: Inspect the narrow leaves and newest growth for mites or thrips, isolate an affected plant and use a product labelled for the confirmed pest on ornamental houseplants. Repeat only at the interval stated on the label.

Epipremnum falcifolium is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

Who first published Epipremnum falcifolium, and what does the name mean?

Epipremnum combines Greek epi, meaning upon, with premnon, meaning tree trunk, referring to the way the vine attaches to a support. Falcifolium means sickle-leaved and refers to the leaf shape.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Epipremnum in 1857 in Bonplandia (Hannover), volume 5, page 45.

Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler first described Epipremnum falcifolium in 1898 in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, volume 25, page 11.