Epipremnum pinnatum 'Marble'

Species background

Epipremnum pinnatum is native across a broad area of tropical and subtropical Asia into the Pacific, where it grows as a climbing aroid in warm, humid habitats.

Care for Epipremnum pinnatum 'Marble'

• Light: Give bright indirect light to support growth without scorching the pale areas.
• Water: Let the upper part of the mix begin to dry, then water thoroughly and let the pot drain well.
• Support: A pole or board encourages larger, divided leaves and gives the aerial roots something to grip.
• Humidity: Normal indoor humidity is usually fine; more consistent humidity can help large variegated leaves open without dry edges.
• Temperature: Keep it warm and avoid cold, wet conditions around the roots.
• Substrate: Use a chunky, airy aroid mix that drains freely and does not pack down around the roots.
• Variegation: Keep enough healthy green tissue on the vine.
• Feeding, repotting and propagation: Feed gently during active growth; pause feeding if winter growth slows. Repot when roots fill the container, and propagate from nodes that show both green and pale colouring on the stem.

Issues with variegated 'Marble'

• Pale sections turning dry and beige: Move the plant out of strong direct sun and check whether watering has become erratic.
• Several new leaves lose their cream-white marbling: Because the pattern naturally varies, look for several greener leaves in a row before deciding the vine has reverted. If the pale pattern does not return, cut back to the last node that still produced marbling; changing the light will not restore colour to an already reverted section.
• Stem base softens while the substrate remains wet: Unpot the plant, remove rotted roots or stem tissue and take cuttings from healthy nodes if the damaged base cannot be saved. Use a clean, disinfected blade to cut back to firm, healthy tissue, and discard all rotten material you remove.
• New leaves emerge scarred or twisted: Inspect closely for thrips, isolate if present and treat according to a label that includes thrips and ornamental houseplants. Repeat only at the interval stated on the label.

Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Marble’ 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.

Epipremnum pinnatum: name and meaning

Epipremnum combines Greek epi, meaning upon, with premnon, meaning tree trunk, referring to the way the vine attaches to a support. Pinnatum means pinnate or feather-like and refers to the divided leaves of a mature climbing plant.

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

Carl Linnaeus first described it as Pothos pinnatus in 1763 in Species Plantarum, second edition, page 1324. Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler later placed it in Epipremnum as Epipremnum pinnatum in 1908 in Das Pflanzenreich, IV, 23B, page 60.