Pothos scandens

Natural range and habitat of Pothos scandens

Pothos scandens has a wide natural range from Madagascar and nearby western Indian Ocean islands through South and Southeast Asia to New Guinea.

Wild plants grow on trees and rock in lowland and hill forest, including evergreen forest, monsoon forest, river terraces and forest edges. It also grows on limestone and granite.

How to care for Pothos scandens

• Light: Keep the plant in bright filtered light. Introduce gentle morning or late-day sun gradually.
• Temperature and humidity: For Pothos scandens, use 18–27 °C as the normal range and avoid sustained exposure below 16 °C. Use roughly 50–60% as the humidity target.
• Water: Water when the top of the potting mix feels dry and the pot has become noticeably lighter. Let excess water drain fully.
• Potting mix: Use an airy aroid mix with coarse bark and other chunky materials that hold some moisture while still draining freely.
• Feeding: Feed lightly while the plant is making new leaves.
• Support: Give the stem cork, rough bark, a slim moss pole or another textured vertical surface. Tie young growth loosely until new roots begin to grip.
• Repotting: Repot when roots fill the container or the potting mix becomes compact and drains slowly.
• Propagation: Stem sections with a healthy node can be rooted for propagation.

Problems to watch for with Pothos scandens

• Roots or the stem base turn brown and soft: The roots have stayed wet for too long. Cut rotten tissue back to healthy tissue with a clean tool, discard the rot and repot in fresh potting mix that drains well.
• New growth becomes long and weak: Low light or a smooth unsupported stem can lead to stretched growth. Increase filtered light and give the vine a textured surface to climb.
• Leaf edges become dry and brown: Repeated drying, hot dry airflow or salt build-up may be affecting the foliage. Restore an even watering rhythm and run plenty of rainwater, distilled water or another low-mineral water through the pot to wash out excess salts.
• Sticky residue, cottony insects or tiny pale speckles appear: Check stems, leaf bases and both leaf surfaces for scale, mealybugs or mites. Remove visible pests and use a treatment labelled for the identified pest and houseplants, following the label for repeat applications.
• Pale or tan patches appear on the leaves: The leaves were moved too quickly from filtered light into strong sun. Move the plant back to filtered light and reintroduce direct sun slowly.

Pothos scandens 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.

Where does the name Pothos scandens come from?

The name Pothos traces back to Sinhalese names recorded for Pothos scandens. The Latin scandens means “climbing”, describing its natural climbing habit.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Pothos in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 968.

Carl Linnaeus first described Pothos scandens in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 968.