Proper care for spotted ivy, Scindapsus pictus

It is not surprising that the spotted ivy is often confused with the classic ivy of the genus Epipremnum. The Scindapsus pictus differs from its typical specimens, such as the Tonga plant or gold tendril (Epipremnum aureum, Epipremnum pinatum), visually and tangibly by the leathery consistency of its leaves. This is created by a coating of tiny dots, like half pearls, that shimmer in the light. However, the correct botanical assignment will not cause any headaches for hobby gardeners, since the care is uniform.

location

In order for the enchantingly drawn leaves to retain their expressiveness and not turn green, the following site conditions are important:

• Bright, sunny to partially shaded place
• Ideally on the west or east window
• Protection from the blazing midday sun on the south-facing window is guaranteed
• Warm with temperatures above 15 degrees Celsius all year round
• Tropical humidity of more than 60 percent in the immediate vicinity

If a spotted ivy with a hanging basket is in dizzy heights under the ceiling, the tendrils should be able to grow in the direction of the light. Where the shoots are in shady regions, the leaves remain solid green. The wonderful marbling unfolds on those parts of the tendril that thrive under brighter lighting conditions.

humidity

The desired humidity can be generated with simple means. If you place bowls filled with water, an indoor fountain or a commercially available air humidifier near an ivy, it will immediately feel at home. Another clever solution is to fill the coaster with pebbles and water. The evaporating water constantly coats the foliage, provided that the Scindapsus pictus thrives on the trellis. When the tendrils dangle elegantly from the traffic lights, they are sprayed daily with a gentle spray of lime-free water.

pour

A spotted ivy is watered moderately. This definition implies the following procedure in detail:

• Press the substrate surface with your finger
• If the top 2 cm feel dry, water is needed
• Water the plant until the first drops run out of the bottom opening
• The water accumulated in the coaster will be emptied after 10-15 minutes

In this way, the root ball remains constantly slightly moist on the inside, without harmful waterlogging being able to form. With this rhythm, you also avoid the risk of dry bales, which regularly leads to the leaves being dropped.

Fertilize

The nutrient supply is regulated if the Scindapsus pictus is fertilized from March to October. If you administer a liquid fertilizer for green plants every 2 to 3 weeks during this time, the tropical climbing artist does not have to starve. Since it is usually a mineral or mineral-organic preparation, it should always be applied to a moistened substrate. On dry soil, the high salt concentration causes, at worst, harmful burns to the roots.

To cut

The issue of cutting is a double-edged sword on a Scindapsus pictus. On the one hand, the climbing plant is extremely pruning-tolerant and can be brought into the desired shape at any time. On the other hand, every pruning involves a health risk for the gardener. If the toxic ingredients get to the unprotected skin, this circumstance can trigger painful skin inflammation. Eye contact with the poisonous plant sap has an even worse effect. Significant symptoms of poisoning occur after intentional or unintentional consumption when children or pets get to the clippings. How to protect yourself from the unpleasant consequences of a pruning:

• Always cut mottled ivy with gloves and goggles
• Wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants
• Dispose of the clippings in the household waste and not on the compost

In the family household, one should avoid cultivating ivy due to the potential danger or they are out of the reach of children and pets.

hibernate

The minimum temperature of a spotted ivy is 14 degrees Celsius. Thus, year-round cultivation in living rooms, offices or in the conservatory under largely constant conditions is recommended. If the light conditions decrease from October, the plant will stop growing. Watering occurs at greater intervals during the winter than during the summer growing season. From November to February, stop giving fertilizer. When ventilating, please ensure that no frosty cold air can reach the tropical plant.

repot

Experience has shown that the vigorous Scindapsus pictus has fully rooted its culture pot every 1 to 2 years. At the latest when the roots grow through the bottom opening, you should switch to a larger container. The best time for this important care measure is early spring, when the hibernation ends in March. The suitable substrate should explicitly have two properties: little to no peat content and an acidic pH value of 5.5 to 6.0. This is how transplanting works properly:

• Put on gloves and goggles
• Lay out one or more pieces of pottery shards in the new flower pot over the water drain as drainage
• Fill in a first layer of the substrate so high that the previous planting depth is maintained
• Repot the spotted ivy to cut out rotten, stunted and overly long root strands
• Plant in the middle of the ground and fill with substrate all around, leaving a pouring edge free

After the plant has been watered, it can first recover from the stress for a few days in a partially shaded location. Since the substrate is usually pre-fertilized, the nutrient supply is completely sufficient for the next 6 to 8 weeks.

multiply

The spotted ivy cannot serve with offshoots. The tropical plant makes up for this shortcoming by offering us plenty of cuttings that root particularly quickly thanks to their aerial roots. In the period from April to June, breeding is so easy:

• Head cuttings cut with a length of 10-15 cm, several leaves and some aerial roots
• Defoliate each cutting in the lower half
• Small 9 cm pots fill with peat sand to plant two-thirds of each cutting

Put a transparent hood over each growing pot after the substrate has been moistened. Under plastic bags, long matchsticks act as spacers to keep the material from touching the cuttings. In the following days and weeks, keep the soil constantly slightly moist while rooting progresses. A first sprout signals that the hood has fulfilled its task and can be removed. Don’t repot a rooted cutting until the first strands are peeping out of the soil opening. From this point on you care for your pupils like an adult spotted ivy.

Conclusion
The spotted ivy puts itself in the limelight with subtly shimmering ornamental leaves when it is granted a sunny to partially shaded location. A cosily warm, tropically humid microclimate at well over 15 degrees Celsius and 60 percent humidity allow the exotic climbing plant to develop into a magnificent beauty. A regular water supply with soft water and liquid fertilizer round off the care program in a sensible way. If you can’t get enough of this natural air freshener, you can easily grow more specimens with cuttings.