How to Grow and Care for Baltic Blue Pothos

The Baltic blue pothos is a fast-growing, easy-care pothos with large, deep blue-green leaves that fenestrate when it's well established. A Baltic blue pothos plant grows best in warm, slightly above-average humid conditions and requires indirect light and acidic soil. This plant cannot withstand long bouts of cold temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Similar to all pothos plants, the Baltic blue pothos is considered toxic to humans and pets, especially cats.

Baltic Blue Pothos Care

Here are the basic requirements to care for a Baltic blue pothos houseplant.

• Put this pothos in ample medium or bright indirect light.
• Plant the Baltic blue pothos in airy, well-draining orchid bark or another light mix.
• Underwater rather than overwater a Baltic blue pothos.
• Keep the plant in a warm space at slightly above-average humidity levels.
• Baltic blue pothos can benefit from a moss pole or trellis, which may result in larger, more fenestrated leaves.

Light

Baltic blue pothos does best with plenty ofmedium to bright indirect light, although it can withstand low light. However, it will stay relatively small, may not develop fenestrations, or grow leggy if placed in low-light conditions.

Harsh direct light can cause leaf burn. East- or north-facing windows are ideal locations for this plant, but you can also set it back slightly from a west- or south-facing window.

Soil

Choose a soil mix that retains some moisture but is generally well-draining. A combination of equal parts indoor potting soil and perlite is a great choice, but you can also add some orchid bark mix to make it extra chunky and airy.

Water

Allow the soil to almost completely dry out between waterings and then water well. If the soil is dry and the leaves are drooping slightly, give the plant a good drink and it should bounce back.

It's always better to underwater a Baltic blue pothos than to overwater it. Like many tropical aroids, this plant can develop root rot if chronically overwatered or kept in soggy soil conditions. Using a tool like a moisture meter will help you determine the soil's moisture level.

Temperature and Humidity

The Baltic blue pothos thrives in warm indoor temperatures. These tropical houseplants are not cold- or frost-tolerant and should be kept in temperatures above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

These plants prefer average or slightly higher humid conditions (60 percent is ideal). Provide the plant with a small humidifier or a pebble tray filled with water but avoid misting your Baltic blue pothos.

Fertilizer

Fertilize Baltic blue pothos once a month during the active growing season (spring and summer) to encourage growth. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength for the best results. Stop fertilizing during the fall and winter months as the plant enters dormancy.

Pruning

Pruning is not necessary but can be done to control growth or clean up the plant’s appearance. Remove stems with leggy growth to encourage new growth in those areas.

Propagating Baltic Blue Pothos

Like most pothos, the Baltic blue pothos can be readily propagated by rooting stem cuttings in water. The best time to propagate Baltic blue pothos is during spring or summer, but propagating can be done at any time of the year. Take these easy steps.

1. Take stem cuttings from a mature Baltic blue pothos plant using a pair of sharp, clean pruning shears or scissors. Each stem cutting should have at least two to three nodes along the stem, but no more than five for the best chance of success.
2. Remove the bottom one to two leaves from the base of each stem cutting so that the node is exposed along the stem.
3. Place cuttings in a small container with fresh water. Submerge the nodes in the water but the leaves should sit above the top of the water.
4. Place the container in medium to bright indirect light and refresh the water once a week.
5. After a few weeks, small white roots will grow from the nodes along the stem. Once the roots are at least an inch long, the rooted cuttings can be transferred to the soil.
6. Add some well-draining potting mix to one or more small pots and plant the rooted cuttings in the soil, patting it down firmly around the stems to hold them in place.
7. Water the stem cuttings thoroughly and return them to a location with bright light.
8. For the first week, keep the soil evenly moist to help the new roots acclimate to the soil. Slowly begin allowing the soil to dry out more and more between waterings until you establish a normal watering routine.

Potting and Repotting Baltic Blue Pothos

Under the right conditions, this pothos is fast-growing and can quickly outgrow its potting container. However, you should never need to repot this pothos more than once a year—sometimes once every two years depending on its growth.

Watch out for signs that your plant has outgrown its potting container like roots growing from the pot’s drainage holes or bulging out the top of the pot. Then choose a new potting container that is 1 to 2 inches larger than its previous container, and ensure that you give your plant plenty of fresh potting soil during repotting. If possible, wait until the plant's active growing seasons of spring or summer to repot so it has the energy to recover from the disturbance.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Baltic blue pothos are not prone to many pests. However, watch for signs of common houseplant pests like spider mites, thrips, scale, and mealybugs.

Also keep an eye on signs of fungal issues, such as stem and root rot occurring from overwatering. Bacterial leaf spot can also affect pothos. Look for brownish or yellowish spots with yellow halos. Discard infected plants. Avoid watering your plant from overhead and water at the base of the plant.

Common Problems With Baltic Blue Pothos

The Baltic blue pothos is generally low-maintenance and is not known for many particular issues when grown indoors. However, like all plants, there is always the possibility that your pothos may run into a few common problems.

Yellow Leaves

Baltic blue pothos can develop yellow leaves though sometimes it’s not a cause for concern (it may just be an old leaf dying off). Other times it can be an indication that the plant’s growing conditions need adjustment.

Yellow leaves may mean the plant is getting too much or not enough water or light. Spider mites and thrips can also cause yellowing leaves. Cut yellow leaves off the plant.

Brown Spots on Leaves

Brown spots are usually a result of underwatering or a lack of humidity, but could also be from leaf burn (sunburn). Ensure your plant is not receiving intense afternoon sunlight. Also, make sure the plant is almost completely dried out between waterings. Next, check that it is not located too close to a drafty air vent or window which can significantly dry out the air around the plant. If you are concerned, a small plant humidifier helps increase humidity.

Leaves Aren’t Fenestrating

If the leaves of Baltic blue pothos aren’t fenestrating, the plant is likely not receiving enough light. This plant keeps its leaves small to conserve energy in low-light conditions. Move your plant to a brighter location and wait a couple of months for fenestrated growth. It may be that your plant is not mature enough to grow fenestrated leaves, in which case patience is key.

From: thespruce