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The spotted ivy combines ease of care, long, overhanging shoots and decorative leaves, which makes it a popular houseplant for everyone.

The spotted ivy is quite similar to the classic ivy

The silvery patterned leaves make the spotted ivy (Scindapsus pictus) a real eye-catcher. The pattern varies depending on the variety. Here you can find out which variants are available and how to care for the undemanding spotted ivy.

Spotted ivy: characteristics and origin

The spotted ivy (Scindapsus pictus), which originates from Southeast Asia, belongs to the arum family (Araceae), like the classic ivy ivy (Epipremnum). It can even be found in northern Australia. The twining foliage plant is also very popular as a houseplant. It can be wound around climbing aids by hand or hang out of a hanging basket and forms tendrils up to 3 m long. These are equipped with green leaves that are decoratively silvery spotted or patterned and have a silky shiny surface. They are heart-shaped and very similar to ivy leaves except for pattern and feel. There are also small aerial roots on the shoots, with which the spotted ivy can cling to climbing aids such as coconut fiber sticks. The spadix flowers, which are typical of the arum family and surrounded by a bract, the spathe, are only formed by the spotted ivy in nature - but rarely as a houseplant.

The leaves of Scindapsus pictus are soft and silky to the touch

The most beautiful Scindapsus pictus varieties

There are a few varieties of spotted ivy that differ in particular in their leaf pattern. Some of the Scindapsus pictus varieties appear almost completely silver and hardly green at all.

Some varieties such as 'Argyraeus' only have small spots on the leaves
  • Scindapsus pictus 'Argyraeus': Has rather small, silver spots and slightly smaller leaves.
  • Scindapsus pictus ‘Exotica’: Appears through the large areaPattern almost entirely silver.
  • Scindapsus pictus ‘Trebie’: Also with large, silvery spots and a green central stripe.
The 'Trebie' variety has large, silvery spots
  • Scindapsus pictus ‘Silvery Ann’: Has irregular, large patches of silver.
  • Scindapsus pictus 'Silver Splash': Shows delicate, light green spots on the leaves.

Planting spotted ivy: location and procedure

As a houseplant, Scindapsus pictus prefers a spot that is bright and warm. It can also stand darker - but this means that the silvery leaf pattern is less pronounced and Scindapsus grows more slowly. A temperature of around 20 °C is ideal for the spotted ivy, it can also be a little cooler or warmer. However, Scindapsus doesn't like it colder than 15 °C. A high-quality potting soil such as our Plantura organic universal soil is ideally suited as a substrate, because it retains its loose structure over a long period of time and can store the irrigation water well. Before you plant the spotted ivy, it is best to create a drainage layer of coarse material, as this will prevent the roots from suffering from waterlogging. In addition to too cold temperatures and too much direct sunlight, waterlogged soil is a main care mistake in spotted ivy.

Tip: Because of the long, leafy shoots, Scindapsus pictus looks particularly decorative in a traffic light pot.

Care of Scindapsus pictus

The spotted ivy has also become a popular plant for the home and office due to its low maintenance requirements. But it doesn't work entirely without occasional attention. But how do I maintain Scindapsus? The following measures should be heeded so that the spotted ivy grows and stays he althy:

Watering and fertilizing

As far as watering is concerned, the spotted ivy has a medium water requirement. This means that the top layer of soil should always dry out slightly between waterings. Excess liquid should be removed a quarter of an hour after watering to prevent root rot. Soft, lime-free rainwater is best for watering Scindapsus.

In order to imitate the humidity of the tropical home region, the spotted ivy should also be sprayed with water from time to time, or you can place a bowl of water in theProximity.

Scindapsus pictus cuts a particularly good figure in a traffic light pot

The nutrient requirement is best covered by a liquid fertiliser, such as our Plantura organic indoor and green plant fertiliser. This can be easily introduced into the soil with the irrigation water, so that no further care step is actually necessary. A nutrient application is sufficient in the vegetation period about every 2 to 4 weeks - in winter there is no fertilization.

Cut

Grows Scindapsus too sprawling or if the long shoots are in the way, you can cut the spotted ivy at any time. However, it is best to use scissors in the spring. Then you can use the cut shoots to propagate cuttings.

Repotting

Spring is also the time to repot the spotted ivy. Every 2 to 3 years and at the latest when the roots grow out of the pot, it is time for a larger container and fresh soil. To do this, carefully lift out the spotted ivy. Remove as much substrate as possible from the roots before planting in a new pot with a drainage layer.

If the pot becomes too small, you should repot the spotted ivy

Why does my ivy have yellow leaves?

There are various reasons for yellow leaves on the spotted ivy. It is usually in the wrong location, or the care of Scindapsus pictus is not quite as it should be. Possible reasons include:

  • Waterlogging: Doesn't tolerate the spotted ivy at all; if the substrate is very moist and smells unpleasant, Scindapsus should be repotted; cut off rotten roots and water less in the future; excess water must always drain out of the pot.
  • Cold and draught: Can also be responsible for discoloration and leaf shedding; look for a sheltered location without drafts for the spotted ivy; high humidity and reasonable temperatures should be observed.
  • Direct Sun: Causes stains on leaves; Such "burns" can be prevented by not placing the plant in an unprotected south-facing window or other location with high levels of sunlight.
  • Drought: Mainly leads to curled leaves; if the spotted ivy is curling up the leaves and these may change colour, it is probably not getting enough water; it's best to dive itWhole pot in lukewarm water until bubbles stop rising, then watering more regularly.
In a dark location, the light pattern is usually less pronounced

Propagating spotted ivy

In order to propagate the spotted ivy, cuttings are an easy way. These are best cut in the spring when the growing season begins. So not only the cuttings, but also the mother plants quickly sprout again. For the cuttings, first prepare one or more small pots with growing substrate, such as our Plantura organic herb and seed soil. Our soil is peat-free, permeable and equipped with fewer nutrients than the universal soil, so that the young plants are encouraged to form more and strong roots. Now proceed as follows:

  1. From the mother plant, cut off one or more shoots, which must have leaf nodes and at least one leaf.

Tip: Leaf knots are slight thickenings on the shoot from which leaves and later new roots emerge. You can also cut a branch into several sections, each of which can be used as a cutting - as long as there are leaf nodes and leaves on each shoot.

  1. The cuttings are placed in the ground with the cut side down and the substrate is well moistened.
  2. It is best to put a plastic bag over the plants at the end to increase the humidity. Air the bag once a day to avoid mold growth.

Place everything in a bright and warm place at around 20 to 25 °C and transplant the cuttings into more nutrient-rich soil as soon as some roots and leaves have formed.

Propagation via cuttings is almost always successful with the spotted ivy

Is Scindapsus pictus poisonous?

The ivy is poisonous - not only to humans, but also to pets that eat parts of the plant. This is due to the needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals contained in the plant. Consumption may cause skin irritation, diarrhea or vomiting. Gloves should therefore be worn when repotting, cutting and propagating Scindapsus pictus.

Another creeper that looks similar to the spotted ivy is Philodendron scandens, also called tree friend. You can find out how to keep it as a houseplant with us.

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Houseplants