I feel so blessed to have had the chance to travel to two tropical locales during this bitterly harsh and snowy winter. I picked up my kid after his semester of study abroad in Costa Rica in December, and I recently got back from my husband’s employee reward trip to the Dominican Republic.
Naturally, I loved the warm, sunny weather at both places, but I also adore the tropical plants that can be found there. There are numerous native plants that we grow indoors.
The philodendron and pothos are two that never fail to impress me in their natural setting. While many indoor plants are referred to as philodendron, the majority are likely pothos. Although they both have green leaves and are vining plants, they differ greatly. I’ll attempt to clarify.
Groups of tropical plants known as philodendrons have many different types of leaf shapes and colors. Most people cultivate philodendron heartleaf (Philodendron scandens subsp. oxycardium). This vine plant is expanding quickly. On its thin, adaptable vines, it boasts well-known heart-shaped, dark green leaves. This plant develops quickly. Due to its tolerance to extreme low light and fluctuating temperatures, all philodendrons are well-liked.
Actually, pothos are very different plants. Another tropical vine is the pothos, which is also known as Devil’s Ivy. Its crisp, lustrous leaves with gold, white, or yellow patterns set it apart from similar plants. The silver pothos (Epipremnum aureum ‘Marble Queen’) is the most popular type of pothos. Particularly when young, it features smooth, waxy leaves that are white-variegated. Compared to philodendrons, pothos require a bit more light and warmer temperatures. In fact, pothos require more light to produce attractive leaf marks and variegation.
When grown in a tropical climate, both plants do incredible feats. They have the capacity to generate both young and mature leaves. We typically only observe the young leaves in our domestic settings. Compared to juvenile leaves, adult leaves might occasionally be larger and have a distinct form. Once the vining plant reaches a particular height, the larger adult leaves will be seen at the top.
Two of the greatest plants for indoor air purification are these two. Several indoor plants are effective at removing typical indoor pollutants, including those found in carpets, furniture, building materials, and cleaning supplies, according to NASA research conducted in the late 1980s. The average 2,000 square foot home should include at least 15 indoor plants that purify the air, according to the study.
What distinguishes philodendron from devil’s ivy?
When it’s a pothos, a philodendron ceases to be a philodendron (which is the common name for the genus Epipremnum).
We decided it was time to clear up any confusion about the similarities and differences between these two low-maintenance vines because they are frequently confused with one another.
On slender, flexible stems, philodendron vine-forming species (which is also the name of their genus) develop leaves with a heart-like structure.
The plant below is called pothos and has bigger, waxy leaves that frequently have golden, white, or yellow patterns. ‘Marble Queen,’ ‘Neon,’ and ‘Pearls and Jade’ are a few popular kinds. Find out about the variety of leaves and hues of pothos.
Of course, there are always a few plant species that appear to defy description. Consider a Satin or Silver pothos, for instance. Despite being named pothos, the lovely plants actually come from a separate species called Scindapsus. They have silvery foliage with heart-shaped patterns that initially give them a philodendron-like appearance.
Pothos and philodendrons share requirements in addition to similar appearances. Both species can tolerate low light levels but prefer indirect, strong light. Trim the plants back if they begin to get too lanky and water them when the soil surface seems dry to the touch. New leaves and more compact development will be encouraged by this.
For food, neither plant requires a lot. They’ll be content if you give them a small amount of houseplant fertilizer once or twice a year. Philodendron and pothos can also be trained to climb a support coated in bark, or you can plant them in hanging baskets and let their long vines dangle over the side to form a colorful curtain.
Benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene are just a few examples of the household pollutants that philodendrons and pothos silently remove from the air in your home. According to NASA studies, putting one plant per 100 square feet of living or working area is the most effective approach to purify the air.
Even though there may not be much of a difference between pothos and philodendron, it’s still fun to know the difference when you are shopping at the garden center. Or perhaps during a conversation lull at your upcoming dinner party!
Do pothos and philodendron look alike?
The scientific discipline of taxonomy is involved with categorizing groupings of biological creatures. It is used to provide names to plants and animals as well as to categorize them into genera and families. When it comes to plants, taxonomy mostly focuses on botanical nomenclature.
The genera of pothos and philodendrons are two independent and distinct plant species. While philodendron belongs to the Philodendron genus, pothos is a member of the Epipremnum genus. Pothos and philodendron are members of the same plant family, the aroid plant family, so they indeed have a common ancestor (Araceae).
Is Devil’s Ivy heart leaf philodendron?
Does your house include Devil’s Ivy? One of the most stunning indoor plants, it requires little maintenance. You might be shocked to hear that you have a fraud nearby though! Both philodendron and devil’s ivy (pothos) are grown for their lovely foliage, but because they have comparable leaves and growth patterns, they are frequently confused with one another. So how do you distinguish between them? Here are some warning signs and advice to keep them growing in your house for years to come.
Which is Which? Look At The Leaves
Both plants have leaves that are heart-shaped, but only Devil’s Ivy’s foliage has patterns that are consistently white or yellow. Its leaves also tend to be shiny and waxy, with a distinct midrib line down the middle.
Philodendrons have smooth, solid-green, tapering leaves with a tapered shape. The apex, or distinct pointed tip, is another feature of the leaves.
Caring for Devil’s Ivy and Philodendron
There are a few things you should do to maintain the happiness and health of these plants.
- Light: Both plants are adapted to warm temperatures, high levels of humidity, and direct but filtered sunlight. They do not do well in a lot of direct light because they thrive in tropical woods, growing beneath the shade of the trees. Pothos can withstand low light levels, but too little light can make the leaf streaks fade. In poor light, philodendron leaves frequently turn yellow. Choose a neutral location and give them a lot of indirect light.
- Temperature: These plants require a constant temperature of at least 65°F because they cannot survive cold. You can plant them in outdoor pots and hanging baskets throughout the summer if you live in a hardiness zone lower than 10, then bring them indoors to overwinter. If you decide to grow them outside, protect them from windy conditions as well as extreme heat and light.
- Offer both plants potting soil that drains nicely.
- Water: These plants can quickly perish if you overwater them. Between waterings, let the plants dry out. It is definitely time to get out the watering can if the leaves begin to wilt. Both pothos and philodendrons enjoy the luxury of a weekly or so water spraying on their foliage.
- Use a balanced water-soluble houseplant fertilizer, such as 20-20-20, to fertilize once every three months.
- Pruning: While philodendrons can grow erect or trail, pothos is solely a trailing plant (non-climbing). Since they can grow to a length of between 8 and 10 feet, trailing plants require support. Both plants should have their lengthy stems pruned short to encourage a bushier, more appealing look. Move the plants into additional light if they start to lose leaves or get leggy.
- Pest control: Mealybugs can be a problem for both pothos and philodendron, just like they can for many other indoor plants. A cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol can be used to remove these pests off stems and leaves in order to treat them. Being persistent pays off, so be on guard. Additionally, fungus gnats can be a nuisance, particularly if outdoor plants are brought inside to spend the winter. To catch the adults, set up sticky tape traps. As these insects adore wet potting medium, make sure the soil is not always damp.
- The plants can be readily replanted into larger containers if they get huge and root-bound in their current pots. With stem cuttings, pothos and philodendrons are incredibly simple to grow. These cuttings can be placed in a glass of water until roots emerge, at which point they can be planted.
For the best days to transplant, be sure to consult our Gardening by the Moon schedule.
A Word Of Caution
While philodendron and pothos are both excellent air purifiers, all of its components contain harmful oxalates, so be sure to keep them away from youngsters and dogs.
Do Scindapsus and philodendron look alike?
Popular evergreen Aroid of the genus Scindapsus, the silver philodendron, is also known as Scindapsus pictus. It is neither a pothos nor a philodendron. But because to its near resemblance to the Philos and Pothos, it is frequently mistaken and given several common names.
The velvety leaves are shaped like hearts and are green with areas of silver variegation. They grow on epiphytes and produce wonderful hanging baskets. The Argyraeus and the Exotica are two of the prominent cultivars of this plant that purifies the air.
Which is preferable, pothos or philodendron?
Finding out your plant’s true identification can be done for many reasons, not only botanical curiosity. Despite having a close relationship, Pothos and Philodendrons differ greatly from one another. In general, a Pothos is more resilient and grows more quickly than a Philodendron.
A Philodendron’s leaves are often more consistently green than a Pothos’, despite the fact that both species include eye-catchingly variegated variations.
Significant variations that separate them include:
Pothos
A Pothos prefers bright, indirect light, however it may adapt to low light, and they typically need more of it than a Philodendron. Although the plant can’t stand direct sunlight, it can withstand more of it than a Philodendron without getting burned. Additionally, it is a little more drought-tolerant.
A Pothos can tolerate heat but dislikes chilly conditions. If it gets cold water, its roots could shock.
Philodendron
Compared to a Pothos, a Heartleaf Philodendron may grow with less light. Additionally, they maintain their variegation better in dim light.
Philodendrons are slightly easier to grow from seed (though both species are easy). They can tolerate colder temperatures better as well. Although they can’t resist frost and cease growing in cold climates, philodendrons are less sensitive to stress from lower temperatures than Pothos.
A philodendron or a monstera?
Millennials’ love of houseplants has been reignited through social media. One plant in particular has achieved fame—at least on Instagram. Huge, glossy, dark green leaves with intriguing perforations that don’t even suggest carelessness quickly bring to mind a tropical rainforest. It’s a delicious Monstera plant. Or is it a philodendron with split leaves?
The tropical monstera, as it is commonly known, is a native of Mexico and is mostly valued for its fruit (hence the scientific name). However, it also does well as a houseplant: It can grow remarkably big, tolerates moderate levels of sunlight, and doesn’t require much water.
This plant has several different names, some of which refer to its attractive foliage and others to its excellent fruit (“fruit salad plant” and “monster fruit”). If the conditions are right, those leaves grow holes. One monstrous term for the holes is “Swiss cheese plant.” Split-leaf philodendron is an additional.
If you enjoy gardening, you’re probably already familiar with several of the flowering plants of the philodendron genus, such as the peace lily. Technically speaking, the monstera isn’t even a philodendron.
The arum family, a much bigger group of plants that also contains the perennially well-liked pothos, one of the nicest and simplest houseplants in the world, comprises both monstera and true philodendrons. The requirements for water, light, and climate are identical among all of these plants, and they all contain calcium oxalate, which makes them poisonous to both people and animals. Numerous of these plants feature unusually shaped leaves, such as those with lacy fingers, wide lobes, heart-shaped leaves, or vivid pink veins. Even though the monstera isn’t a philodendron, it undoubtedly behaves and looks like one.
This is where things become challenging. The names split-leaf philodendron refer to two actual philodendron species, Philodendron bipinnatifidum and Philodendron selloum. Despite being wholly different species from monstera, these two plants sometimes share the same moniker. It’s no wonder we’re perplexed!
It might be difficult to name plants because they can have completely different names depending on where you are or who is describing them. Even the names of common plants can vary by generation and locale. You should probably start reviewing your Latin names!
How can a philodendron be recognized?
Philodendron leaves are often green, but they can also be coppery, crimson, or purplish. Parallel leaf veins are typically green, but they can also occasionally be red or white. Species and plant age have a significant impact on the shape, size, and texture of the leaves. A white to orange berry makes up the fruit. It is very impossible to distinguish between distinct species of tiny plants since the juvenile and adult phases are different.
Are philodendron and monstera the same thing?
Actually belonging to a distinct plant family, monsteras are cultivated for their fruit in Mexico and Costa Rica. The enormous, tasty fruit that they produce gives the plant its name, Monstera deliciosa. Their leaves grow enormously, so the term “monster fruit, and can be rather spectacular, with almost-white variegation patterns.
The same family as pothos includes trailing vines called philodendrons. Actually, philodendron’s translation is “love tree, possibly due to their leaves’ heart-shaped design. Their leaves develop much more like a pothos and never become as large as monstera leaves.
And this is when it becomes complicated. There are two actual split-leaf philodendron species, however they don’t have as as striking of leaves as the monstera deliciosa.
Is a Monstera a Philodendron?
No! A philodendron is more closely linked to the pothos, the most popular houseplant in the world, even though they both belong to the same broader family. The peace lily and monsteras are more linked to one another.
Philodendrons make excellent hanging plants since they are somewhat simpler to grow and trail down from their containers like vines. Variegated types of them are easier to grow, more widely available, and less expensive.
Monsteras don’t grow well as hanging plants and require a little more light than philodendrons, at least if you want the dramatic split-leaf pattern on their leaves. In fact, a monstera that lacks adequate light and loses its divided leaves resembles a philodendron quite a bit.
Monstera vs. Split-Leaf Philodendron: Which Should I Buy?
I’m a huge fan of indoor plants, so both! Each houseplant enthusiast should have both in their collection, along with your fiddle leaf fig and ferns, as they are actually quite different. Put your philodendron in a hanging container next to a pothos in a dimly lit area. It will flourish in practically any situation and slowly enlarge like a vine.
Place your monstera in more light and watch out for over-watering. (Read our comprehensive guide to watering monsteras here.)
Watch out for signs of leaf drop, yellowing, or losing the split-leaf pattern on its leaves. Give your plant additional light if you notice these issues. (Click here to view the Monstera Leaf Care Ultimate Guide.)
No matter which houseplant you decide to buy—a monstera, a philodendron, or both—make sure to give it enough of sunlight, not too much water, and weekly attention.