Epipremnum (Epipremnum) is a herbaceous perennial vine from the Aroid family. According to various sources, there are from 8 to 30 species of this herbaceous plant. The most famous houseplant of this genus is golden epipremnum.
Sometimes this plant is called - scindapsus, but in fact these are completely different plants, it's just that the conditions for growing them and the rules for caring for them are the same. Therefore, some believe that it is one and the same plant. This article will tell you in detail about the rules for growing and caring for epipremnum at home.
Description of the epipremnum flower
Epipremnum is an evergreen herbaceous vine that leads a semi-epiphyde lifestyle. They exist both independently and as parasites on trees. The plant has a fibrous root system, and also has many aerial roots, which are an additional root system. The plant obtains food with the main roots, as well as the nutrients formed from internodes. But the aerial roots that have emerged from the nodes cling to the support. All aerial roots grow stiff over time. Those that cling to the support are cork, and those that get food are woody, covered with ribbon-like fibers that form bark.
The stems of this kind of liana can easily take root along the entire length and just as easily cling to the supports. Leaves are heart-shaped, thin or leathery. Leaves can grow up to 60 cm long and 40 cm wide. A young plant has less foliage. With age, the leaves may not become solid, but pinnately dissected or pinnately split. Sometimes holes can even form in the sheet plate.
The flowers of the plant look absolutely not decorative, they are collected in inflorescences in the form of an ear. Flowering occurs only after the foliage of the plant becomes adult. Since it is almost impossible at home, the flowering of such a houseplant is very rare.
Caring for the epipremnum at home
Location and lighting
Species of this plant, which have a pure green color, do not need special lighting and tolerate slight shading well. But varieties with variegated leaves need good lighting, since due to a lack of light, their color can lose its brightness. These varieties are best grown in a well-lit room. But it should be remembered that the leaves of the epipremnum do not tolerate direct sunlight, because of it they become lethargic, soft, lose their brightness and become dull, after a while they completely fall off. Stems slow down their growth from direct sunlight. Therefore, for normal growth, a place in the west or east side of the house is suitable, where there is enough bright, but at the same time diffused light.
Temperature
In order for the epipremnum to feel comfortable and grow well, the usual room temperature is suitable.But the plant categorically does not like drafts, therefore, epipremnum is absolutely not suitable for growing on the balcony or in that part of the garden where the wind “walks”.
Watering
Watering epipremnum is necessary only when the topsoil dries underneath. From too frequent and plentiful watering, the soil will be waterlogged, and the epipremnum does not like this and may start to hurt. Due to the waterlogged soil, droplets begin to collect on the reverse side of the leaves of the epipremnum. This is considered a warning sign that watering is too excessive. In the winter season, when the air in the house is dry, the plant needs to be sprayed daily. But the water must be either filtered or settled for a couple of days, since the plant loves exceptionally soft water.
The soil
As a soil for growing epipremnum, it is best to use a ready-made substrate that is specially designed for growing ornamental indoor plants. You can buy such a substrate in almost every store for florists and gardeners. Also, do not forget about the drainage layer, which can be made from expanded clay.
Top dressing and fertilizers
As for feeding, fertilization is necessary twice a month. As a top dressing, it is best to use special balanced mineral complexes, which are designed specifically for feeding lianas. The first top dressing of the season to the bottom should be in early April, and the last at the end of September. In winter, you do not need to feed the plant, since it, like other plants, must rest and gain strength for the new season. But if the epipremnum grows very poorly, then in winter it is not worth completely removing the feeding, but you just need to reduce them to once a month.
Transfer
Epipremnum needs to be transplanted only when its roots are already cramped in the pot. Usually young plants are transplanted annually, but older ones need to be transplanted no earlier than after 2-3 years. The most suitable time for transplantation is April, since it is at the end of this month that the epipremnum begins to actively grow. The plant does not need a too spacious pot, it is enough to transplant it into a container that is no more than 2 cm larger than the previous one.
You need to transplant the plant into a new pot along with an earthen lump. Before planting, about an hour before planting, it is imperative to water abundantly. The epipremnum should be carefully moved into a large pot, placed in the middle, and the remaining space should be covered with prepared substrate.
Reproduction of epipremnum
Epipremnum propagates vegetatively: by layering, by dividing the shoot or by apical cuttings.
For cuttings, you need to use shoots with three leaves. They need to take root in the specialty of the substrate, which consists of sand and peat (in equal amounts). The rooting temperature should be 22-25 degrees. Cuttings need to be sprayed daily. Rooting will take place in 2-3 weeks.
In order to propagate epipremnum by layering, you need to put another pot next to it and put the shoot in it, fixing it to the soil. After the aerial roots of the shoot are well rooted in the pot, then it can be cut off from the adult plant.
Dividing the shoot is the most difficult of all of the above. To do this, the stems must be divided so that at least one real leaf remains on each division. Then they need to be planted in pots and put away in a place without lighting. Watering and spraying is also not needed.
Diseases and pests
If you do not follow the rules for caring for epipremnum, then various fungal infections can affect its root system. Due to waterlogging of the soil, hypothermia of the flower and frequent fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers, the roots of the plant may begin to rot.
Epipremnum is most often attacked by scale insects, spider mites and thrips. These harmful insects roll the leaves and other parts of the flower, sucking the juice out of them.Because of this, the plant weakens, becomes lethargic, the leaves acquire a yellow tint and fall off. Pests are also carriers of viral diseases, so you need to fight them as soon as signs of their presence on the plant are noticed. You can get rid of pests with the help of insecticidal and acaricidal preparations, which can be purchased at shops for gardeners and florists.
Types and varieties of epipremnum
Epipremnum golden (Epipremnum aureum) - this type is considered the most popular. Its other name is epipremnum aureum. These herbaceous vines are selected for support using adventitious roots. The stems of this plant can grow up to 1-2 m. The leaves are heart-shaped, leathery, bright green with a golden tint, which becomes more expressive if the flower grows in a well-lit place. The most popular varieties of this type:
- Golden Potos - the peculiarity of this variety is that it has yellow leaves with a golden tint.
- Epipremnum Marble Queen - This variety is very popular. The leaf plates have a silvery-white color with thin green stripes.
- Angey - leaves of a green shade with white spots and strokes, corrugated.
- Pearls and Jade - This variety is considered to be very compact. The leaves have a very original and interesting color. Most of the leaf is colored green, with gray-green and white spots or strokes present.
Epipremnum pinnatum (Epipremnum pinnatum) - this variety is considered the largest, since in its natural environment it can grow more than fifteen meters. At home, naturally, the shoots are much shorter. Leaves are whole or pinnately-lobed, oval or elongated-elliptical, glossy, dark green or blue-green hue. With age, holes form on the leaf blades. At home, this species is very rarely grown.
Forest epipremnum (Epipremnum silvaticum) - can grow in natural conditions up to six meters in length. Leaves are whole, oval-lanceolate, pointed towards the end, glossy. The leaves can grow up to 20 cm in length and up to 6 cm in width. At home, this type of epipremnum is grown extremely rarely.
If you follow all the rules for growing and caring for epipremnum at home, you can grow an original and unusually beautiful decorative flower with leaves of an interesting color, which will become a real decoration for absolutely every home.
