How to keep it happy
Epipremnum love sun but don't want direct light all day. A couple hours of direct morning light is perfect for them. Once their leaves start to mature they can begin to tolerate more light, which encourages fenestration. But if you're not into the giant moss pole and misting your plants all the time thing, these guys are totally happy to just trail in a dark-ish corner, producing much smaller leaves and vines. Dark-ish does not mean no windows! Your plants need sunlight or supplemental grow lights for at least 6 hours a day.
When you're checking to see if it's time to water your Epipremnum, start at the leaves. Does it look shaggy and droopy? Perfect, check the soil next. If your soil is dry and your plant feels light, give it a good soak and shower the leaves at least once a month to remove dust buildup. If your plant looks perky and its leaves are pointed upwards, let it be for a couple more days, even if the soil is dry. These plants are very forgiving for underwatering more so than overwatering.
Also called
Epipremnum are often also referred to as pothos, which is a misnomer. The aurea varieties are also called Devil's Ivy.
Pet Safety
Epipremnum are toxic to animals.
Fun Fact
A house plant favourite for over 100 years, and a scientific mystery until the 1960's, the Epipremnum genus is one we love. These vining, climbing, trailing and hanging aroids have charmed us as a genus so much, they are invasive to many regions of the world. So invasive in fact it's illegal to even own them! Luckily for us, here in Ontario, we have winters and don't have to worry about these fast growing vines taking over outdoors!
Troubleshooting you plant
If your Epipremnum has yellowing leaves don't stress! As the vines grow, the older leaves will turn yellow and die. If more than 25% of your plant is dropping at once, then you should check your roots and increase watering frequency (though they should alwasy be fully dry before watering)
If you're noticing leaves that are turning white, then yellow and dropping, your plant could use less sun. In their juvenile state, these are canopy plants that grow in the shade.
Pruning and propagating
Epipremnum generally respond really well to pruning. You'll see them shooting out one or more active growth points in just a week or so after pruning, during their peak growing season. You can keep your Epipremnum a reasonable size by pruning the vines back to your desired length 4 times per year.
When you are finished pruning, don't throw your cuttings away! Instead, find the nodes and aerial roots, cut the vine in between these nodes and place them in water. In a couple weeks you will have roots and you can plant these propagations back in the mother plant to make it more full, or you can start new ones to fill your space or give as gifts!
Photo by Emily Abreu on Unsplash