I hope you and your family and friends stay safe out there too. Pothos vs Philodendron (Vining type) If you are like most people (me included), you may or will confuse between a pothos plant and the vining philodendron. Surprising as it may seem, they’re all used for the exact same popular houseplant. While the base of a pothos leaf is relatively straight, the base of a philodendron leaf is dramatically curved inwards and shaped like the top of a heart. The Pothos leaf lacks this characteristic. Pothos vs Philodendron Summary: A Pothos’s glossy leaves are thicker than a Heartleaf Philodendron’s matte, elongated, heart-shaped leaves. Pothos Pothos leaves are heart-shaped, green, and pointed, somewhat resembling philodendron. Take a look at the photo below and look at the petiole. It’s helpful to know the difference between a Pothos and a Philodendron, but other closely-related species can also be challenging. Two plants that often get confused as the same. So, if you too are planning to grow philodendron indoors, here is everything you need to know on philodendron plant care! Pothos leaves are smoother than those of philodendrons and you can feel a … Keep safe. Leaf texture: Softer, thin leaves with a smooth texture are typical of Philodendrons, while Pothos have a thicker, waxier and more textured leaf surface. The satin pothos is almost identical to the Philodendron silver plant; however, they are a different species.Both plants have long trailing vines, heart-shaped leaves, and silver variegation.Mix-ups also occur because sometimes, the common names for these plants are used interchangeably. Although both golden pothos and heartleaf philodendron do well when grown indoors in indirect light, pothos tolerates more sun than heartleaf philodendron. Philodendron leaves are completely smooth. Plants come and go, but the love for philodendron among the indoor plant growers remain the same! For example, what one person calls Pothos, another might call Devil’s Ivy. The general guidelines outlined here will help you to identify any species of pothos or trailing philodendron with ease. This distinction makes it very easy to quickly tell the difference! In fact, you can propagate scindapsus pictus stem cuttings in water exactly the same way you propagate pothos cuttings in water. The petiole is what joins the leaf to the vine. These include their taxonomy, their leaf shape and texture, their aerial roots and petioles, their growth habit and new leaves, and their growing requirements. The most common type is golden pothos, having medium green leaves with yellow patches and a waxy text… Both pothos and philodendron are toxic to cats and dogs when ingested. New philodendron leaves emerge surrounded by a leaf sheath, which eventually dries and falls off. The potting media should be porous but water retentive. But, they have very similar requirements for water, light and care. Also, check out my shop on Amazon for all your houseplant care needs:OHIO TROPICS PLANT CARE STOREFRONT. A pothos (top photo) has leaves with a thicker, waxy feel and slightly raised/bumpy texture to the leaves. Not your fault at all. Once you read these tips, you will never wonder about it again! I use a blend of large-chunk orchid bark, coarse-grade perlite, and peatmoss at equal ratios; and then I add about 10% charcoal which helps remove toxicities that can build up (over many months) in the potting mix. However, there are a couple of minor differences that are useful to know. Another way to tell the difference between pothos versus philodendron is to look for the presence of cataphylls. While both pothos and philodendrons can tolerate low light, pothos tolerate low light more readily than philodendrons. Decorative and easy to grow, the philodendron has many amazing varieties! You're welcome! The bottom leaf is a closely related variety called Philodendron ‘Brasil.’. 5+ easy ways to tell the difference between a Pothos and a Philodendron, including one difference that no one mentions! It’s a little easier to propagate a Philode There is a huge variety available with different colored leaves, shapes and growing habits. Once you know what to look for, they are quite easily distinguishable from one another. Posted on March 25, 2020 Categories Houseplants, Container gardening, Indoor gardening. There is one observation that I made that I have never seen anyone explain, so keep reading to find out what it is! Common Problems with Marble Queen Pothos. Grow with caution around pets. Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. Petioles are the small stems that connect the leaves to the main stems of the plant. There is only one “official” botanical name for each plant, but there are MANY common names. It’s called “heart leaf” for a reason! I have another question, is the Brasil philodendron the same as the Rio philodendron? Check out our article on pothos vs. philodendron here to know the difference between them! Philodendrons will get leggy more quickly than pothos, and will begin to grow very small leaves if they don’t receive enough light. Because of the differences in growth habits, pothos have petioles that are indented towards the stem they connect to, while philodendrons have petioles that are fully rounded. Here are two types that I grow and that are commonly available. If you, too, are confused about whether or not a Monstera is a type of Philodendron, you are not alone. Philodendron petioles also tend to be thinner than the petioles of pothos. Heyits Davy (dah-v), so in today's video I wanted to discuss the different between the neon pothos & lemon lime philodendron. The pothos plant can thrive in shady or partially shady areas. Satin Pothos vs. Philodendron Silver. Pothos Plant Care & Growing Guide 1. I’ve only covered some of the common vining forms that you will see for sale everywhere. Thank you so much for a very useful information. The Pothos petiole on the left has an indentation, is not completely round, and will eventually form two brown, papery edges. One difference between Pothos and Philodendron is the genus. From them, check out 16 different Types of Philodendrons that you can grow indoors!. Rather than emerging from cataphylls, new leaves on pothos plants simply grow and unfurl from the previous leaf. I noticed two main differences between the two. This distinction makes it very easy to quickly tell the difference! However, the characteristic leaf pattern of satin pothos usually makes it easy to identify. The nodes should catch roots within 2 weeks. Article by Raffaele DiLallo. Taxonomy is the branch of science that is concerned with classifying groups of biological organisms and is how plants are named and organized into genera and families. The Pothos petiole on the left has an indentation, is not completely round, and will eventually form two brown, papery edges. ress_js("//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=3727937f-fd2d-4a8e-aac6-737ec7e1cc2a"); Ohio Tropics (Raffaele Di Lallo) is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Similarities Between Pathos And Philodendron The photo above is Philodendron ‘Brasil’ with gorgeous leaf variegation. And what one person may call Snake Plant, another will call Mother in Law’s Tongue. The leaves on the Silver Pothos look heart-shaped. Differences Between Pothos & Philodendrons, 5 Rare Plants That Are Totally Worth the Splurge, Definition of Petioles, Phyllodes, and Phylloclades in Plants, 10 Houseplants That Will Thrive in Your Kitchen, The 10 Best Plants for Your Office or Desk, How to Grow Grape Ivy Vines (Cissus) Indoors. These leaf differences are especially noticeable in the area where the petiole connects to the base of the leaf. On the left is the Pothos leaf and petiole, and on the right is the Philodendron leaf and petiole. While both pothos and philodendrons can tolerate low light, pothos tolerate low light more readily than philodendrons. Take a look at the wider and stubbier pothos roots on the left, compared to the thinner aerial roots on the Heart Leaf Philodendron on the right. Pothos plants fall under the genus Epipremnum. Satin Pothos, silver Philodendron, silver vine, silk Pothos… what do all these names have in common? Pothos leaves don’t have this sheath. Pothos leaves are thicker than those of a philodendron plant and appear to have a fairly rougher texture. Please do me a favor and share this post to social media because it will help me spread the Ohio Tropics houseplant care tips to the masses! What is the difference between philodendron vs pothos? Like many houseplants, the Philodendron Brasil does best in bright, natural light. Check out the Pothos selection on Amazon. Philodendron leaves are also a distinct heart shape and tend to lay flat with little-to-no curve. If the leaves on your plant appear pale, it probably means that they are getting excess sun exposure. The Philodendron genus is HUGE and there are many species. This difference that I’m about to describe makes it really easy to tell the difference between Pothos and Philodendron. Pothos vs. Philodendron: 5 Easy Ways to Tell the Difference! Namely, at the widest part of the leaf. The Philodendron petiole on the right is very round and uniform. However, pothos (pictured right) only have one large aerial root per node, while philodendrons (pictured left) may have several smaller aerial roots per node, and tend to look more wild and untamed. They ARE somewhat related though. Pothos belongs to the Epipremnum genus and philodendron belongs to the Philodendron genus. Notice the pronounced curving and heart shape. Want to purchase some Pothos online? Simply put, Pothos and Philodendron are common names. So, the leaves of the philodendron are thinner, more flexible, and softer than the pothos. Pothos leaves can be a bit harder than philodendron leaves. Copyright © 2020 Houseplant Care Tips | Trellis Framework by Mediavine, 5 Ways to Propagate String of Hearts - Chain of Hearts, Anthurium Clarinervium: 1 Secret to Growing Them. The Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus) is native to Southeast Asia and has the reputation of being one of the easiest houseplants to keep alive. 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