The Cebu Blue Pothos is easy-to-grow houseplant and has become a popular pot plant the world over. Millennials and Gen Z’ers are crazy about them and influencers punt them constantly. It’s low maintenance and can tolerate quite a bit of abuse.
The Cebu Blue variety is known for its silvery-blue variegated leaves and is an eye-catching variant of Pothos that stands out from the crowd.
Our guide will tell you all you need to know about growing and caring for this striking plant.
What Are Cebu Blue Pothos?
A native of French Polynesia and many Asian countries, Pothos (or Devil’s Ivy and Dragon Tail) is a climbing tropical vine with attractive shiny, heart-shaped leaves with silvery-blue variegation.
Its botanical name is Epipremnum Pinnatum. It gets its common name from the Philippine island of Cebu. They are popular house plants valued for their climbing and trailing nature and are often grown in hanging baskets.
In the wild, Pothos can reach huge sizes, with large leaves reaching more than a foot long at times. A vigorous growth rate characterises the Pathos and the plant is considered an invasive species in many US states.
How to Grow Cebu Blue Pothos
As this is one of the world’s most popular houseplants, it can be found at every nursery or garden centre. It’s important to be aware that they are mildly toxic. They contain a substance which can irritate the mouth, throat and tummy. They should not be ingested.
Perhaps you should not consider growing them if your children or pets are curious and known to eat plants.
Plant your Pothos in a good potting mix with some perlite or coco coir to facilitate good drainage. Pothos hate wet feet and will not tolerate soggy conditions.
Often people like to let their Pothos grow up walls as they do naturally in the wild, attaching themselves with their aerial roots. Note these aerial roots can strip paint off walls. An alternative is to provide your Pothos with a trellis or wooden stake to climb on. Besides pots, Pathos do very well in hanging baskets as their trailing vines and lush leaves can be very attractive. They impart a tropical, jungle-like feel to a space.
Pothos will not tolerate cold areas and they favour temperatures well above 10°C and humidity levels above 70%. They grow best in good, strong, but indirect light.
When To Plant Cebu Blue Pothos
Plant Pothos in spring and summer. If you live in a very warm area, you can just about plant Pothos all year round.
Where To Plant Cebu Blue Pothos
Place the plant near a window with good indirect light. If you live in a warm climate, you can grow it in the garden, but plant it in a shady area, under a tree for example. It will happily climb the tree.
Never plant it in direct sunlight.
How To Propagate Cebu Blue Pothos
As the Cebu Blue Pothos is a fast-growing vine, you might want to take cuttings to propagate. Taking cuttings also induces the plant to become more lush and bushy, instead of straggly and leggy.
It’s dead easy to grow and develops roots fairly rapidly.
You will need sharp and clean scissors, a jar of water and obviously the parent plant to take cuttings from.
Step 1: Choose a branch with new growth on the end, about 6-8 inches. It should have at least two nodes on it. Nodes are the brown nubs on the stem.
Step 2: Cut the branch from the parent Pothos.
Step 3: Gently remove the lower leaves leaving 2-4 leaves on the cuttings. This induces the cutting to produce roots and not put all its energy into leaves.
Step 4: Place one end in the jar of water and place it on a light windowsill with no direct sunlight.
Be patient as roots will form. While you wait, change the water weekly and make sure the nodes are submerged. Roots should take 3-4 weeks to form. Once the roots are about 4-6 inches long you can plant the rooted cutting into a pot and care for your new plant just as you would a mature Pathos. Some gardeners like to root and grow cuttings in sphagnum moss or a potting mix, while others prefer the jar method so they can monitor root growth. You can increase humidity levels by either placing a cut plastic bottle over the cutting or a loose plastic bag. This will create a greenhouse effect.
Obviously, the best time to propagate is the growing season of spring and summer but Pathos can be propagated all year round in warm areas. The plant usually goes into dormancy during winter.
FAQs About Growing Cebu Blue Pothos
Where Do Cebu Blue Pothos Grow Best?
Pothos plants do best at room temperature in a warmish area as they do not like draughts or the cold. Regarding their light requirements, Pothos prefer strong but indirect light. In low light, their growth is not vigorous and they may lose the variegation in their leaves.
Should You Fertilise Your Cebu Blue Pothos?
Yes, you should fertilise your Pothos during its early growing years. Any liquid fertiliser or houseplant food will do. A slow-release fertiliser is best though.
It doesn’t need much, so don’t drown it in fertiliser.
Do Cebu Blue Pothos Flowers Like Sun Or Shade?
Cebu Blue Pothos is happy in shade in the garden, or indoors in a pot or hanging basket under a patio roof.
You can carry your Pothos out into the sun for short periods but do this in the early morning when the sun is still gentle. But be careful of excess light as this too will burn the plant.
If the weather becomes very dry, you can place the plant on a pebble tray to increase humidity. Another way is to group it with other plants. Keep the plant tidy by removing dead leaves.
An interesting fact about the plant is that it has two distinct growth phases in which the plant’s appearance changes.
- Juvenile Phase
During the juvenile phase the Pothos’ leaves are very prominently variegated with silver and blue. Its leaves are usually slightly oval and elongated in shape. Also, the plant doesn’t send out long trailing vines in this early phase.
- Mature Phase
During this phase, the leaves turn much greener and develop zig-zag-like divisions in the mid-sections of the leaves.
It is during the mature phase that Cebu Blue Pothos becomes a vigorous climber.
So, if you want a low-maintenance plant that adapts to conditions as long as you meet its light and watering requirements, then a Cebu Blue Pothos is the plant for you. They make perfect gifts for new homeowners as they are easy to care for and provide a lush and tropical feel to a space.