Silver Pothos – Argy (Scindapsus Pictus): Plant Care and Growing Guide – House Plants Expert

Let’s say you want to raise an exotic plant but just don’t know where to start. You love taking care of plants, but you don’t know everything there is to know about raising them. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place! This ultimate guide is helpful in growing Scindapsus Pictus. It also has caring tips.

Ever heard of Scindapsus Pictus? It’s a plant from Southeast Asia and relatively low maintenance. And with this guide, caring for this pretty plant will be even easier! We will be going over all the facts and information on the plant as well as how to care for it in its developing stages. So, what is the plant, exactly?

The Basics of Scindapsus Pictus

Also known as the silver vine, Scindapsus Pictus is a flowering plant and is from the arum family Araceae. The plant comes from areas in Southeast Asia, such as Bangladesh, The Philippines, Thailand, and a few others. It comes from the Scindapsus family, which has quite a lineup of interesting plants.

From Scindapsus Pictus Argyraeus Variety, aka the “Argy,” all the way to the Scindapsus Pictus exotica variety, there are many variations of this beautiful plant that all have different patterns and markings. There are at least 35 different plants under the Scindapsus name, but we won’t be diving too far into all that yet. 

All you need to know is that we’re talking about Scindapsus Pictus. It can vary based on the different hybrids and what your leaves will look like. However, all of them can be identified by the thick green leaves and silvery patches.

Especially with the silver lady or exotica variation, there are thick patches of silver across each leaf. They are slow growing but can reach up to 3m (10ft) in open ground. The flowers, however, are rarely seen to flourish, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t caring for your plant. It can only survive in warmer conditions, so it’s best for those of us in temperate regions. 

How Does This Plant Bloom?

Flowers are not typically significant, although they do happen. They simply just aren’t a big feature of this plant. However, when they do bloom, it’s in the summer, and they grow small inflorescences, also known as spadix. They’re usually bright green and are occasionally followed by small berries. 

As previously mentioned, this is not a defining feature of the plant. Don’t expect it to bloom at all; however, if you take good care of it, it may bloom one day. 

How To Take Care of Your Plant?

There is a lot to remember when caring for any plant, and Scindapsus Pictus is no different. This plant needs certain temperatures, light conditions, and atmospheres to thrive. 

Temperature and Light

The plant needs bright light and not direct light. Its healthiest growth is18-29°C (65-85°F).

Overall, just remember to keep in mind that although Scindapsus Pictus enjoys hot temperatures, it is prone to scorching or having its leave dried out in direct sunlight. Make sure you have a healthy balance of light and temperature. 

Soil

It does poorly in wet soil, with no fogginess. It is a commercial indoor potting mix. Then, keep decently dry.

The important thing to remember is that the soil has good drainage, and you’re not overwatering (which we will discuss next). It’s good to ensure your plant is in soil that nurtures and helps it grow, not poorly drainable soil with no nutrients. 

Water 

The key to taking care of this plant is to avoid overwatering at all costs. That is another reason you need to have good drainage soil, but it is also relevant when watering. Make sure you aren’t using too much water or watering too often. 

Water slowly with room temperature water only when the top two inches of soil are dry. This will ensure that you avoid overwatering.

Repotting

It’s time to repot when you see roots growing past the drainage holes. Re-pot it every one to two years. It should be done when the growing season starts. Select a pot 1-2 inches bigger.

Scindapsus Pictus Facts

Did you know that there are four different common varieties of Scindapsus Pictus? Earlier, we learned that there are over 35 variations of Scindapsus Pictus. However, few of these are available for purchase, and many of them are incredibly rare. The four common types are:

Scindapsus Pictus Argyraeus

Commonly called Satin Pothos, this variation tends to have more silver patches. These patches are quite small, but there’s usually a lot of them on each leaf. The name of this plant means “silvery,” which describes the silvery look of its leaves. It is probably the most common of these four.

Scindapsus Pictus Exotica

Exotica is known for its huge leaves and stronger variegation. They typically have variegation on the edges of their big leaves and are one of the more attractive of these plants.  

Scindapsus Pictus Silver Satin

These ones have a very similar style of leaf to the Exotica. However, their leaves have far less variegation. These have more spread-out looks to them on their leaves as their blotches are more erratic than Exotica.

Scindapsus Pictus Silvery Ann

This silvery plant has similar leaves to the Argyraeus, but there is a lot more variegation on the Silvery Ann’s leaves. They are almost always half covered in silver. These are definitely the most silver ones.

In Summary

Overall, the Scindapsus Pictus is incredibly easy to care for. Making sure you have properly watered and potted the plant is a must. You also need to be aware of its aversion to sunlight. Keeping this plant going until it grows is easy with all the information displayed here.

We learned a lot about a common houseplant today. We learned about a few of its variations, where it grows, and how to care for it. Hopefully, after this article, you’ve convinced yourself to go out and get one of these plants.

Whether or not you’ve cared for plants, this would be a great addition to your house and your plant family. And now that you know all about it, it makes caring for it even easier. 

If you love to know more about different plants and how to take care of them, you may wnat to check out: Donkey’s Tail Plant, Zebra Plant, Flamingo Flower, Panda Plant, and Lucky Bamboo Plant.

Elyssa Goins

Elyssa Goins is an experienced house plant hobbyist who maintains over a hundred plants. She is a gardener, beekeeper, and a proud mother of four.  She is a member of the American Horticultural Society, has a published study in the National Social Science Association, and loves to talk about her love of plants.  For the past twenty years, she’s been all about growing and caring for various fruits, veggies, herbs, livestock, kids, and houseplants. Managing a big garden to feed four growing kids and raising dairy goats has taught her so much about being an excellent plant parent and now is her time to share with you.