How to Grow and Care for Pearls and Jade Pothos

Pearls and Jade pothos (Epipremnum aureum ‘Pearls and Jade’) is named for its stunning green and white variegated foliage and for being one of the more lavish pothos varieties. Pearls and Jade pothos has smaller, thinner leaves than varieties such as the marble queen or golden pothos, and their variegation pattern is slightly different. Pearls and Jade pothos is native to the tropics but does well as a houseplant in typical household temperatures, bright, indirect light, and enriched, acidic, well-draining soil. Like all plants in the Epipremnum genus, Pearls and Jade pothos are considered toxic to pets.

Pearls and Jade Pothos Care

These variegated plants are known for being slow-growing and easy to care for. Here are the main care requirements for growing a Pearls and Jade pothos plant:

• Plant in rich, airy, well-draining soil.
• Place in a spot that gets several hours of bright, indirect light daily; it does not tolerate low light conditions as well as other pothos varieties, such as the golden or jade pothos.
• Water regularly or when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil dries out, which varies by time of year.
• Feed monthly in the spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer for houseplants.

Light

Pearls and Jade pothos require several hours of bright, indirect light daily to support their variegated foliage. Avoid placing these plants in direct sunlight as their papery-thin leaves are sensitive to leaf burn. Directly in front of a north- or east-facing window or a couple of feet back from a west- or south-facing window are all ideal locations for these pothos.

Soil

These plants do best when planted in rich, airy, and well-draining soil. Pearls and Jade prefer potting soil that allows for good air circulation around its roots. They enjoy moist conditions but are sensitive to root rot if exposed to soggy soil. A mixture of equal parts potting soil, perlite, and orchid bark is ideal for Pearls and Jade pothos.

Water

Like most pothos plants, Pearls and Jade pothos enjoy regular watering but can withstand some drought if needed. They should be watered once the top 1 to 2 inches of soil has dried out. Before watering, test the moisture in your plant's soil with your finger or a moisture meter.

The exact watering frequency will change slightly depending on the time of year. For example, during the spring and summer, when daylight hours are plentiful, and temperatures are warmer, you may need to water your Pearls and Jade pothos once a week, while in the fall and winter, you may only need to water them once every two weeks.

Also, some choose to grow these pothos in water, which is possible if given supplemental nutrients. However, this method is not recommended since this plant prefers air circulating its roots.

Temperature and Humidity

Pearls and Jade pothos are tropical plants that do best in warm, slightly humid conditions. For the most part, standard household temperature and humidity levels are acceptable for these plants, although if your home is on the dry side, you may want to provide your plant with some extra humidity to help it thrive.

Ensure that your Pearls and Jade pothos is not exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). While these plants are most common as houseplants, you can grow Pearls and Jade pothos outdoors year-round in USDA zones 9 through 12 if you wish.

Fertilizer

During the spring and summer, these pothos benefit from monthly fertilization with a balanced liquid fertilizer designed for indoor plants. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions. Stop fertilizing your plant in the fall and winter months when it no longer grows.

Types of Pothos

Pothos hybrids can have many different types of leafvariegation, with white, yellow, or light green patches interrupting the predominant deep green leaves. Pearls and Jade pothos variety was developed by the University of Florida in 2009. Pearls and Jade pothos is a cultivator species for the popular marble queen pothos, along with several other similar-looking cultivars:

• 'Pearls and Jade':This varietal is an avid white and green climber, but instead of striping, the colors of gray, green, and white show boldly around the perimeter of the leaves.
• 'Marble Queen':A varietal with an exceptionally attractive white-and-green variegated pattern. It requires more light than most pothos to maintain its unique coloring.
• 'N'Joy': Developed by the University of Florida in 2002, it was also used to produce the marble queen pothos.
• Glacier pothos: Another contributing cultivar for marble queen pothos, this dainty pothos has more silvery-green leaves than N'Joy or Pearls and Jade.

Pruning

Pruning is certainly not a regular part of caring for Pearls and Jade pothos, but you will likely need to trim your plant at some point to control its growth. Pruning is also a great way to encourage pothos to have a fuller, bushier growth habit.

It is best to prune Pearls and Jade pothos in the spring or summer when they grow actively. Use a pair of clean, sharp pruning shears or scissors and trim off any excess growth. Avoid removing more than 1/3 of the plant at a time to prevent sending the plant into shock.

Propagating Pearls and Jade Pothos

Pothos are usually propagated by rooting stem cuttings. It is best to propagate your pothos in the spring or summer since the plant is actively growing and can recover better from having cuttings taken.

1. Take one or more stem cuttings using a pair of sharp pruning shears or scissors. Each cutting should have between 3 to 5 nodes on the stem.
2. Remove the bottom 2 to 3 leaves from each cutting so that the lower nodes are exposed along the stem.
3. Prepare a container with fresh water and place the cuttings in the water so that the nodes along the bottom of each cutting are submerged while the leaves at the top are above the water's surface.
4. Place the cuttings in a location that receives bright, indirect light, and refresh the water once a week. After a couple of weeks, you should notice small white roots growing from the cuttings. Once the roots are 2 to 3 inches long, you can move the cuttings from water to soil.
5. Prepare a small pot (or pots) with well-draining soil and plant the rooted cuttings, watering well after planting. Return the cuttings to a location with bright indirect light and keep the soil evenly moist for the first 1 to 2 weeks to help the new roots acclimate from water to soil. After a couple of weeks, you can begin watering your new plant(s) once the top 1 to 2 inches of soil is dry.

Potting and Repotting Pearls and Jade Pothos

Pearls and Jade pothos can tolerate being slightly root-bound but should be repotted once they have outgrown their previous potting container. Usually, this occurs every 1 to 2 years or so, depending on growth. Signs that your plant has outgrown its pot include roots from drainage holes and stunted growth. If you remove your plant from its pot and see more roots than soil, this is also an indication that it’s time to repot.

Repotting is best done in the spring or summer when these pothos are actively growing. Choose a new pot no more than 2 to 4 inches larger than its previous container (e.g., if it was growing in a 4-inch pot, choose a 6- or 8-inch pot). Increasing your plant’s pot size too quickly can lead to issues with overwatering.

Remove your plant from its previous container, loosen the root ball slightly, and pot it in its new container with plenty of fresh, well-draining soil. Water the newly repotted plant thoroughly and return it to its original growing location to minimize shock.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

These pothos are not particularly troublesome but can be bothered by a few common houseplant pests and diseases. Watch for pests like fungus gnats, spider mites, and thrips, which can quickly spread from houseplant to houseplant. Also, watch out for signs of root rot, which can result from overwatered conditions.

Common Problems With Pearls and Jade Pothos

Like most pothos plants, Pearls and Jade pothos are known for being easy to care for and are generally problem-free houseplants. However, watch for the following potential issues that should be addressed if you see them.

Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves indicate that one or more things in your plant’s growing environment are wrong. Usually, yellow leaves result from overwatering or a lack of light, but they can also result from underwatering or too much light (confusing—we know).

Remember that these variegated pothos enjoy several hours of bright, indirect light and prefer to dry out slightly between waterings. Always ensure that your plant is potted in a well-draining soil mix with drainage holes to prevent overwatering.

While yellow leaves are usually an indication that something is wrong, they can also be a completely normal part of a leaf’s natural life cycle. If you notice that your plant’s oldest leaves occasionally go yellow and fall off, but your plant looks healthy, you probably have nothing to worry about.

Brown Leaves

If your Pearls and Jade pothos is developing brown leaves it is usually a sign that your plant lacks moisture, either from underwatering or a lack of humidity.

While these plants like to dry slightly between waterings and can handle the occasional drought, they do best with consistent watering and may begin to develop brown leaves if they are left to dry out for too long. Similarly, if your home is overly dry or your plant is being grown in a particularly dry location, it may develop brown, crispy leaves.

Drooping Leaves

Drooping leaves are a common sign that your plant needs to be watered but are not necessarily cause for concern. Usually, pothos plants perk back up after a good watering.

Waiting until your plant’s leaves droop a little before watering is a good way to avoid overwatering if you are prone to killing your plants with too much love and attention. Just make sure you don’t let your plant sit around with drooping leaves for too long—you don’t want it to start developing brown leaves or have its roots begin to dry out.

From: thespruce