- Size and Shape of the Roots. The roots on both pothos and philodendrons can also help you tell them apart. Pothos has broader and stubbier aerial roots.
- Leaf Texture and Shape. Pothos have thicker, larger, and waxier leaves, while philodendrons have soft, thin heart-shaped leaves.
- Petiole. Since it connects the leaf to the vine, the petiole is an easy to identify feature on plants. Pothos have indenting petioles, which form two brown and papery edges.
- Sheath. As they grow, philodendrons form sheaths from their nodes, just like many houseplants. The node, in this case, is the region where the petiole and leaf meet the vine.
- Growing Differences. Both pothos and philodendrons require the same growing conditions (temperature, water, soil, and light) to survive and thrive.
- Growth Habit. You can tell pothos and philodendrons apart by checking whether they have cataphylls on them. Cataphylls are tiny leaves that surround and protect new leaves as they grow.
How can you tell a pothos from a Golden Pothos?
The main difference between these two Pothos plants is in leaf size. Golden Pothos remain relatively small indoors, while Hawaiian Pothos leaves grow much larger under the same conditions – usually bigger than the size of your hand if the lighting is right.
Is my plant a pothos or philodendron?
Because of the differences in growth habits, pothos have petioles that are indented towards the stem they connect to, while philodendrons have petioles that are fully rounded. 3 Philodendron petioles also tend to be thinner than the petioles of pothos.
Are there different types of pothos?
12 Different Types Of Pothos VarietiesGolden pothos.Marble queen pothos.Neon pothos.Manjula pothos.Cebu blue pothos.Jessenia pothos.Hawaiian pothos.Trebi pothos.More items...•
How do I know if my pothos is variegated?
The leaves of variegated pothos will have a unique pattern with two contrasting colors. White, yellow, or light green are the most common general colors of variegated Pothos that contrast with dark green. However, some may appear to have golden, bluish, or silver shades.
Is Devil's Ivy a pothos?
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), also called Devil's Ivy, is a tropical vine native to French Polynesia. Because of its attractive foliage, low maintenance requirements and virtual indestructability, the pothos plant is one of the most popular houseplants in temperate regions.
Why is pothos called devil's ivy?
Epipremnum aureum is known as devil's ivy because it is almost impossible to kill, and it stays green even when kept in the dark. However, it is not actually an ivy. The heart-shaped leaves are bright green and variegated with white, yellow or light green streaks and blotches.
What's the rarest pothos?
Harlequin Pothos. Harlequin is the rarest pothos you can lay your hands on. It looks a lot like Manjula and looks like a mix of marble and snow queen pothos with a little more variegation on the leaves.
Which pothos is the most beautiful?
GLACIER POTHOS – Epipremnum aureum 'Glacier' Beautiful green foliage with white variegation as well as silvery streaks make this a stunning Pothos!
What is the most common type of pothos?
Golden PothosGolden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) Likely the most widely available pothos on the market, the golden pothos is characterized by waxy, heart-shaped green leaves with yellow variegation. It is considered a fast grower and does well in a variety of light conditions—from low light to bright, indirect light.
How do I make my pothos leaves more variegated?
You can increase the amount of variegation on your pothos by increasing the amount of sunlight it gets. If you do this, make sure you gradually introduce more light. Too much sun will burn the leaves. A Golden Pothos, for example, can exhibit entirely yellow leaves if given optimal sunlight conditions.
What is a true pothos?
Pothos is an evergreen plant with thick, waxy, green, heart-shaped leaves with splashes of yellow. As a houseplant, it is commonly grown as a hanging plant. Pothos can climb by means of aerial roots, and wild or cultivated plants grown outdoors can reach enormous heights using tall trees as support.
Why is my Golden Pothos all green?
Just remember, low light isn't no light. In low light conditions, a Golden Pothos (as well as the other variegated ones) will lose its variegation and revert to solid green. That makes the Jade Pothos best for lower light. The leaves of any Pothos plant get smaller if not in enough light.
How do you identify a philodendron?
The foliage of philodendrons is usually green but may be coppery, red, or purplish; parallel leaf veins are usually green or sometimes red or white. Shape, size, and texture of the leaves vary considerably, depending on species and maturity of the plant. The fruit is a white to orange berry.
What is a philodendron plant look like?
The Philodendron gloriosum is a species of plant with spectacular dark green leaves and white veins. The large heart-shaped leaves on this crawling variety of Philodendron are a deep green color with pinkish margins, and pale green, white, or pinkish veins.
How can you tell the difference between a Monstera and a philodendron?
The difference between the two is the shape and size of the leaves. The philodendron has smaller leaves, which are split rather than fenestrated. They also have a feather-like shape, while Monstera leaves are round and heart-shaped.
Is a Monstera a philodendron?
But the monstera is not, technically speaking, a philodendron at all. Both the monstera and true philodendrons are part of the arum family, a much larger group of plants that also includes the ever-popular pothos, one of the world's prettiest and easiest houseplants.
Scientific Classification
Pothos and philodendrons have different taxonomies. Scientists classify philodendron under the Philodendron genus, whereas pothos belong to the Epipremnum genus.
Leaves: Shape, Color, and Texture
Pothos leaves are heart-shaped, though their other visual characteristics differ depending on the variety that you encounter. For example, golden photos are mottled with yellow tones, whereas jade pothos have an even, vibrant green coloring.
Aerial Roots and Petioles
Since philodendrons and pothos are both vine plants, they have aerial roots that protrude above the soil, gripping anything they can find in the local environment. This means they can climb up trees, posts, or a trellis out in your front yard.
The Growth of Baby Leaves
You can also tell pothos apart from philodendrons by looking at each plant’s baby leaves.
Growing Conditions and Care
Philodendrons and pothos are low-maintenance houseplants. Both will grow and thrive in temperatures ranging from 60°F to 90°F, which means they’re great options for an indoor plant display.
Conclusion
The difference between pothos and philodendron is subtle for the untrained eye. After all, they belong to the same plant family and can have a very similar appearance.
What is the drip tip of a leaf?
The drip tip is a characteristic of a leaf that allows the rain to run off the leaves better in the tropical rain forests. Some aroids have more pronounced ones than others.
What is the petiole on a philodendron?
The petiole or the part of the leaf attaching the leaf to the stem of the plant is different on the two plants. The pothos petiole on the right below is grooved and as it ages, the edges become papery and brown. The philodendron petiole is round as you can see on the left below. (Excuse my band-aid.)
Is Heartleaf Philodendron the same as Pothos?
Though they are in the same family, they each are in a different genus. Heartleaf philodendron is a philodendron and the pothos is an epipremnum. There are some differences that help identify the two plants. One thing that is a bit different is the shape of the leaves. The philodendron is more heart-shaped and flat than the pothos. The pothos bends slightly at the midrib, making it more three-dimensional.
How to tell difference between pothos and vining philodendrons?
There are several key differences between pothos (also commonly called "Devil's Ivy") and vining philodendrons that can be used to tell them apart. These include their taxonomy, their leaf shape and texture, their aerial roots and petioles, their growth habits and new leaves, and their growing requirements.
What is satin pothos?
However, the characteristic leaf pattern of satin pothos usually makes it easy to identify.
What are the small stems that connect the leaves to the main stems of a plant?
Petioles are the small stems that connect the leaves to the main stems of the plant. Because of the differences in growth habits, pothos have petioles that are indented towards the stem they connect to, while philodendrons have petioles that are fully rounded. 3 Philodendron petioles also tend to be thinner than the petioles of pothos.
What is the difference between a pothos leaf and a philodendron leaf?
While the base of a pothos leaf is relatively straight, the base of a philodendron leaf is dramatically curved inwards and shaped like the top of a heart.
Why are philodendrons and pothos different?
Because of the differences in growth habits, pothos have petioles that are indented towards the stem they connect to , while philodendrons have petioles that are fully rounded. Philodendron petioles also tend to be thinner than the petioles of pothos.
Do pothos have aerial roots?
However, pothos (pictured right) only have one large aerial root per node, while philodendrons (pictured left) may have several smaller aerial roots per node, and tend to look more wild and untamed.
Do pothos grow faster in low light?
Pothos on the other hand get leggy more slowly, and their leaf size remains relatively unaffected by low light. Pothos are also slightly easier to propagate by cuttings than philodendrons, and they are more drought-tolerant. A new pothos leaf emerging from a cataphyl The Spruce / Cori Sears.
What is the second leaf of a Golden Pothos plant?
One leaf has variegation and the other doesn’t. The second leaf from the top is commonly known as the Heart Leaf Philodendron. The bottom leaf is a closely related variety called Philodendron ‘Brasil.’.
What is the difference between a pothos and a philodendron?
One difference between Pothos and Philodendron is the genus. Pothos are classified as being any plants in the Epipremnum genus, whereas Philodendrons are well… in the Philodendron genus. They ARE somewhat related though. Both are considered to be part of the aroid plant family (Araceae). 2.
What leaf is on the left side of the photo?
On the left side of the photo above is a Pothos le af and the right side is a Heart Leaf Philodendron leaf. It’s called “heart leaf” for a reason! Notice the pronounced curving and heart shape. The Pothos leaf lacks this characteristic.
What is the petiole on a vine?
Take a look at the photo below and look at the petiole. The petiole is what joins the leaf to the vine. On the left is the Pothos leaf and petiole, and on the right is the Philodendron leaf and petiole.
Why is Pothos called Devil's Ivy?
Pothos is called devil’s ivy because it is very difficult to kill and will survive and grow in many locations that are quite dim.
Is Pothos the same as Philodendron?
Pothos generally refer to plants in the Epipremnum genus, while Philodendron plants belong to the Philodendron genus.
Is the petiole on the right or left?
The Philodendron petiole on the right is very round and uniform. The Pothos petiole on the left has an indentation, is not completely round, and will eventually form two brown, papery edges. This distinction makes it very easy to quickly tell the difference!
Scientific Classification
Leaves: Shape, Color, and Texture
- Pothos leaves are heart-shaped, though their other visual characteristics differ depending on the variety that you encounter. For example, golden photos are mottled with yellow tones, whereas jade pothos have an even, vibrant green coloring. As for philodendrons, the most popular ones are probably those that have dark green heart-shaped leaves with lime-green stripes running down t…
Aerial Roots and Petioles
- Since philodendrons and pothos are both vine plants, they have aerial roots that protrude above the soil, gripping anything they can find in the local environment. This means they can climb up trees, posts, or a trellis out in your front yard. The key difference is this: pothos only have one aerial root per node—i.e., the spot where a petiole meets the plant’s stem—whereas philodendro…
The Growth of Baby Leaves
- You can also tell pothos apart from philodendrons by looking at each plant’s baby leaves. Before philodendrons sprout new foliage, they form cataphylls—a small paper-like case that protects new leaves. This casing remains attached to the plant for a long time after the leaves unfurl into their fully-grown form. Over time, it dries out and eventuall...
Growing Conditions and Care
- Philodendrons and pothos are low-maintenance houseplants. Both will grow and thrive in temperatures ranging from 60°F to 90°F, which means they’re great options for an indoor plant display. Ideally, you should put them somewhere with bright, indirect light, to mimic the conditions of the forest floor. We recommend placing them in a room that has plenty of natural light, but no…
Conclusion
- The difference between pothos and philodendronis subtle for the untrained eye. After all, they belong to the same plant family and can have a very similar appearance. But now that you know what to look for, you should be able to identify the two species like an expert.
FAQ
- Are pothos and philodendron the same thing?
No. Pothos and philodendrons are two different species. However, confusion arises because they are both common houseplants that share a similar leaf structure and belong to the same plant family. - Is pothos a type of ivy?
Technically, no, since it isn’t a part of the Hederaplant family. However, people sometimes refer to it as “devil’s ivy” because it has similar characteristics to this type of greenery. Pothos is a vine plant with leaves that can stay green for a long time, even when deprived of sunlight.