The glacial pothos, a beautiful green and white pothos type, is cultivated by the same people that grow the well-known marble queen pothos. Because all three of these kinds appear extremely similar to the untrained eye, they are sometimes confused with their two near relatives, the joy pothos and the pearls and jade pothos.
In addition to having more oval-shaped leaves than the other two types, it is thought to be uncommon and more difficult to find.
However, you should be aware that, like other pothos plants, glacial pothos are harmful to pets before you dash out to your local nursery to get one of these lovely houseplants.
Glacier Pothos Overview
| Botanical Name | Epipremnum aureum ‘Glacier’ |
| Common Name | Glacier Pothos |
| Family | Araceae |
| Plant Type | Perennial, vine |
| Mature Size | 6 ft. long (indoors) |
| Sun Exposure | Partial |
| Soil Type | Moist but well-draining |
| Soil pH | Acidic |
| Bloom Time | Spring, summer |
| Flower Colour | Green, white |
| Hardiness Zones | 10-11, USA |
| Native Area | Asia |
| Toxicity | Toxic to pets |
Glacier Pothos Care
The glacial pothos are gorgeous and easy to maintain, making it a great choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Very little maintenance is required to keep this pothos happy—just a sunny window and semi-regular watering.
This variegated cultivator won’t cause you any trouble if you’ve previously taken care of any other kind of pothos. Note that the glacial pothos is thought to develop more slowly than some of its relatives in the pothos family, so don’t panic if your plant isn’t producing an abundance of new growth.
Light
A lot of bright light is preferred by these pothos. The best place for glacial pothos is somewhere that receives many hours of bright, indirect light, although medium light will also work well for them.
This variety of pothos does not grow well in low light, unlike many others. If the glacial pothos does not receive enough light, its finely variegated leaves will become leggy and start to lose their variegation.
Soil
Planting glacier pothos requires a well-draining soil mixture that holds onto some moisture. To attain this balance, a 1:1 blend of mineral and organic components will be used. For instance, mixing equal parts perlite and indoor potting soil at home using materials from your neighbourhood nursery or garden centre is a simple and quick solution.
Even though most indoor potting soil contains some perlite, adding more before planting your glacial pothos will prevent the soil from compacting over time and give the roots of the plants plenty of drainage.
Water
When you water, make sure the top two to three inches of soil have dried out. Although it can withstand droughts, this plant prefers regular watering. To avoid root rot, let the pothos somewhat dry out in between watering.
As you water your plants, always make sure that any extra water drains out of the drainage holes in the container. This will help prevent root rot and overwatering.
Temperature and Humidity
Pothos thrive in temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit because they are native to warm, humid climates. Remember that glacial pothos are not resistant to frost; therefore, to prevent them from suffering from shock in the winter, keep them away from any draughty or chilly windows.
The glacial pothos can tolerate normal indoor humidity levels for the most part, yet it will flourish in conditions with higher humidity. Because most bathrooms are naturally humid, this plant does well in bathrooms. Alternatively, you can put a tiny humidifier next to the plant.
Fertilizer
Regular fertilization is beneficial to the glacier pothos during its active growing season, as it promotes vigorous, healthy growth. For optimal effects, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month in the spring and summer. When the plant is not actively developing, in the autumn and winter, stop fertilizing.
Pruning
While pruning is not required, it can be done periodically to manage the growth of glacial pothos. Remember that because this pothos grows slowly, any cut growth will take time to regrow. Furthermore, note that pothos, in contrast to certain other kinds of houseplants, do not “branch” at the site of a pruning cut.
When a pothos vine is pruned, it often produces a new shoot from the nearest node and keeps growing that single vine that way. Although it doesn’t always happen, multiple new growth points will occasionally form.
Propagating Glacier Pothos
Similar to other pothos, stem cuttings are an easy way to multiply glacial pothos. To get a fuller plant or to produce additional plants that you can retain or give to friends, propagate your pothos. Moreover, it only requires a few simple steps to do.
- Using pruning shears or scissors, take stem cuttings from a healthy glacier pothos plant. At least three to four nodes, but no more than six or seven, should be present on each stem cutting. Overly lengthy and densely packed cuttings will struggle to root.
- Take off the bottom one or two leaves from each cutting, exposing the nodes at the stem’s base.
- Fill a container with clean water, and then submerge the stem cuttings in the water, making sure the top leaves of the cuttings stay above the water and the exposed stem is completely buried.
- Refresh the water once a week, and place the cuttings in an area that receives bright, indirect light. You should start to see tiny white roots emerging from the stem’s nodes after a few weeks. Cuttings can be placed in soil once the roots are at least 1 to 2 inches long.
- Plant the rooted cuttings in the soil of a small pot or pots that have been prepared with a potting mix that drains properly. Replant the cuttings in their original light spot after giving them a thorough watering and letting any extra water drop out of the pot.
- Keep the soil uniformly moist for the first several weeks to aid in the cuttings’ re-acclimatization to the soil. You can begin allowing the soil to dry out a little between watering as usual after a week or two.
Potting and Repotting Glacier Pothos
This pothos doesn’t mind being slightly root-bound, so don’t worry about repotting it too much. A glacial pothos only needs to be replanted every two to three years, unless it exhibits symptoms of severe root binding before then.
It is therefore advisable to postpone repotting this pothos until the spring or summer when it is actively developing and less susceptible to shock.
Make sure you select a pot that is just 2 to 3 inches bigger than the glacier pothos’s previous container when it’s time to repot them.
Next, carefully remove any extra dirt from the area surrounding the plant’s roots and transfer it to its new container, adding a fresh, well-draining soil mixture to the remaining space in the container. After giving the recently repotted plant plenty of water, place it back where it was before.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Even if the glacial pothos is not particularly susceptible to pests or illnesses, you should nevertheless be on the lookout for several typical houseplant pests that will gladly settle on this plant. Look out for symptoms of mealybugs, thrips, spider mites, and scale in particular.
It is a good idea to routinely inspect your houseplants for signs of pests to prevent full-blown infestations, as these pests typically spread from one infested houseplant to another.
Common Problems with Glacier Pothos
The glacier pothos is typically trouble-free and quite simple to maintain. As you learn how to take care of this tropical vine indoors, there are a few frequent issues you may encounter, just as with any other plant. These consist of brown and yellow leaves as well as growth retardation.
Stunted Growth
Even though glacier pothos are known to develop slowly, if your plant is not producing any new growth, there may be a problem. Plants with stunted growth typically have inadequate light, which can be resolved by transferring the plant to an area with more light.
Additionally, to encourage development, be sure to fertilize your glacier pothos regularly in the spring and summer.
Yellow Leaves
Submersion in water is the most frequent cause of yellowing leaves on glacier pothos. Is there a bright indirect light shining on the pothos? The closest window should be a few feet away, ideally.
You should be able to stop other leaves from becoming yellow once you have identified the underlying problem. Sadly, once leaves start to turn yellow and eventually die off, there’s not much more that can be done.
Brown Leaves
Brown leaves may be a sign that your plant is dehydrated, submerged, or suffering from leaf scorch from excessive direct sunlight. These pothos should not be kept in excessively dry areas of the house or full sunlight, as this will burn their fragile leaves. If not, be sure to water your plant frequently to avoid it becoming underwater.
FAQ
Why is there only one vine on my glacial pothos?
Pothos plants can occasionally be purchased as single-vine specimens, or if you are cultivating your own from a cutting, the mature plant will eventually become only one single vine. Because of the favourable conditions in their natural habitat, pothos often branch out more easily.
To encourage robust, healthy development, make sure your glacier pothos are receiving adequate sunlight, water, and fertilizer. Providing your plant with a climbing structure, such as a moss pole or trellis, will help promote more active and bushy growth.
Are there a few glacial pothos?
The glacial pothos are regarded as being somewhat uncommon among all the other types of pothos that are available. Finding it can be more difficult than finding some of its close relatives, such as the marble queen, pearls, and jade pothos, but it can also be easier than finding some of the rarer kinds, like the jessenia or harlequin pothos.
Do enjoy pothos and glacier pothos share the same plant?
The glacial pothos and the joy pothos are two different cultivators of the marble queen pothos, despite their similar appearance.