Jade Satin Scindapsus – A Complete Care Guide for Beginners

The Jade Satin Scindapsus is a popular specimen among indoor plant enthusiasts.

They have beautiful silver coloration speckled across their heart-shaped leaves, and their ongoing care and maintenance make them perfect for all levels of expertise.

Depending on your vision, you can train these indoor vines to climb structures, or simply have an overflowing waterfall effect from a hanging basket.

Today at the Garden Bench Top we are going to be taking a close look at the Jade Satin Scindapsus. We will be investigation their origins, which will help us identify their ideal environments for care and maintenance.

You can expect to learn:

• where the Jade Satin Scindapsus originates from,
• how to successfully care for the plant in your home,
• how to propogate more plants from your mother plant, and
• answering your most frequently asked questions.

So if you are ready, grab a hot cup of tea and let’s begin.

Is Satin Pothos the same as Scindapsus?

Okay, so we thought we’d address one question before we get into the main care guide.

We receive variations of the one same question from readers all the time. They are often confused which variety of plant they have OR they ask if the satin pothos and scindapsus are the same plant? And to be honest, we cannot blame them.

It is easy to see why many indoor plant enthusiasts find it hard to distinguish between the two plants. Especially when retailers and nurseries frequently mislabel the plants (knowingly or by mistake).

They are, in fact, different plants, that belong to the same Araceae family.

And even though a satin pothos and satin scindapsus look almost identical and have the same care requirements, there are a few distinguishing features that make them unique:

1. Coloration – the easiest way to distinguish between the two plants are the leaves. The Jade Satin Scindapsus has silver variegation throughout the leaves. Whereas the Jade Satin Pothos has deep solid jade green coloration with no variegation.
2. Thickness – the leaves on a scindapsus are also generally thicker than those on a pothos plant.

So before you get into the bulk of this plant guide for the Jade Satin Scindapsus, it may be worth giving the leaves of your plant a once over to determine if you have the right plant guide. If it turns out that you have a Jade Satin Pothos, jump over to our species specific CARE GUIDE for POTHOS.

Jade Satin Scindapsus Facts Guide

In this section we are going to look at the background of this beautiful indoor climbing plant.

Name Guide

So, we have addressed the elephant in the room and made the distinction between the Scindapsus Jade Satin, and it’s close cousin, the jade satin pothos.

It is for this reason that, we at the Garden Bench Top, like to refer to plants by their botanical name. In this case the scientific name is what you should already be familiar with, the Jade Satin Scindapsus. It can sometimes be referred to as the Scindapsus Pictus Jade Satin.

Other common names you may hear this plant being referred to as are:

• silver pothos
• silver satin
• satin pothos (which is why it get’s confused with it’s cousin), and
• silvery ann (however this is a different plant as well!)

Appearance

What makes the Satin Scindapsus appealing to most budding gardeners is the beautiful leaves that have contrasting silver specks on a background of deep green. Some varieties even shimmer in the sun, giving them a shiny silver appearance.

The core plant grows long vines from the main plant that can be trained to climb ropes or structures. The heart-shaped leaves grow along both sides of the vines. Each leaf will grow on alternating sides to give a stepladder effect that is completely mesmerizing.

If the vine has no structure to attach itself, it will grow over the sides of its container and continue along the ground. Some owners take advantage of this trait and grow them from hanging baskets, leaving the vines to drape down like a waterfall.

In both instances, the Jade Satin Scindapsus is a spectacular plant in its own right.

Origin of Jade Satin Scindapsus

Much like their cousins in the Araceae family, the Jade Satin Scindapsus originates in Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines.

By understanding where your plants originate from, it can help you guide your decisions and methods of ongoing care and maintenance for your plant.

In this instance, given Southeast Asia is located around the equator, we know these plants thrive in warm, humid conditions, with plenty of water in and around their surroundings. These clues will help you cultivate the necessary environment for your plants to grow successfully.

Jade Satin Scindapsus Care Instructions

Now that you know a bit more about the background of the Satin Scindapsus, let’s look at the care instructions for these beautiful plants.

Lighting

Looking at the countries these plants grow naturally and flourish, it would be easy to assume they would love the sun.

In actual fact, they often grow closer to the ground of the forest floor, where they are shaded and receive plenty of water and humidity. They will eventually climb their way up forest trees reaching for the sun, but that isn’t until they have matured and settled their main rooting system.

So, when you first bring your Jade Satin Scindapsus home, place it in a position that receives natural indirect sunlight for around 6-8 hours of the day.

If you make the mistake of placing them in direct sunlight, the leaves on the satin scindapsus will tend to dry and brown around the edges. Plus you will be constantly topping up the water in the pot, as the sunlight dries it out.

If you are questioning your positioning of your plant, we suggest letting the plant tell you how it feels about it. Listen with your eyes and closely observe the plants conditions.

place in a position that receives natural indirect light for around 6-8 hours of the day

If you are planning on cultivating these plants outdoors, similar to their natural environment, place them under a tree that will shelter them from the sun and strong winds.

Temperature & Humidity

Again, we’ll draw from our knowledge of the plants’ origin.

Southeast Asia countries tend to be hot and humid. So if you can comfortably replicate this environment (like in a conservatory or greenhouse), your plant will reward you with beautiful lush foilage.

However, for those that are not so fortunate to have a conservatory attached to their house or live in countries away from the equator, maintaining the right conditions can sometimes be a challenge.

Jade Satin Scindapsus can tolerate a temperature range between 60-85° F (15-30° C), but as mentioned earlier, they prefer it on the warmer end of the spectrum.

Additionally, the higher humidity you can maintain, the better. If you do not live in a naturally humid environment, daily misting or keeping an open dish of water near the indoor plants to allow for evaporation are practical solutions.

Difficulty

We consider the Satin Scindapsus to be a beginner level indoor plant.

The Scindapsus is an easy to care for plant that will reward beginner or novice gardeners

If you already have a successful collection of indoor plants, you will already be used to the care and maintenance regiment that this beautiful plant requires.

Maintaining water and adding fertilizer every now and again is all that is required to keep these plants healthy and thriving.

Watering

Water maintenance for the Satin Scindapsus is similar to your basic care for other indoor plants.

The simple topsoil finger test will help you determine when to give your plants a good watering.

For those of you unfamiliar with the finger test:

1. grab some topsoil from the pot between your index finger and thumb,
2. if the soil feels moist, come back in a few days and repeat the test.
3. if the soil is dry, it is time for a healthy watering. Always make sure excess water drains from the pot or container.

Growing Medium and Supplements

If you want to get one thing right for your indoor plant, it is the soil (or growing medium) that you use.

For Jade Satin Scindapsus, we recommend using a soil that is specific for indoor plants. They will usually consist of a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite. All these materials play a vital role in retaining enough water for your plants, yet also expelling any excess water and soggy soil to avoid problems like root rot.

You will also need to consider fertilizer or supplements for a healthy plant.

Other than sunlight and water, the soil you use is the only other way that it can receive nutrients. So, using a slow release fertilizer is a great option. As the name suggests, it slowly release the necessary nutrients and minerals for the plant. This helps to maintain a vibrant plant, and reduces the ongoing maintenance for you – win win!

General Maintenance

We mentioned earlier, the general maintenance and husbandry duties is relatively straightforward for the Satin Scindapsus.

Apart from the obligatory watering, the only other aspect you may need to keep an eye for is trimming and pruning the vines.

Given the opportunity, they will continually grow. This may or may not work for the style and look you have in mind. Especially if you don’t want them trailing on the ground from a hanging basket. They will simply get trodden on and damaged, opening them up to diseases and pests.

To prune, simply take a clean knife or a pair of secateurs and cut below a leaf node (where a leaf is sprouted).

Check out all the varieties of scindapsus plants that Sean from ONLY PLANTS in this video below – it is truly fascinating!

Propagation of Jade Satin Scindapsus

Propagating the Satin Scindapsus is quite easy.

If you have propagated other indoor plants, you will already be familiar with the techniques used to cultivate more plants from the mother plant. The good news is that it is the same for the Jade satin scindapsus.

Below we will set out the simple steps for growing new plants from the mother plant:

1. Identify New Growth. Looking at the mother plant, find and identify a healthy shoot towards the base of the plant. Ideally, it would be easily accessible so you can separate it from the main plant without causing too much damage. Bonus points if it has roots or the beginnings of new ones. It is essential that it has at least one leaf node – better if it has 2-3 nodes to place the odds in your favor of a successful outcome.
2. Rooting Phase. Once you have successfully separated the healthy vine with the nodes, dip the cut stem in some rooting hormone powder to encourage the growth of roots and sink into a container of moist moisture of peat moss and perlite. Be sure to drain any excess water to avoid rotting the cutting. Place the container with cutting in a humid and light space (like on a window sill or greenhouse would be ideal). You can cover the container with a see through plastic bag to create a makeshift greenhouse. Periodically check on the growing medium to ensure it is still moist.
3. Cultivating Phase. After a few weeks, you should be able to observe roots growing down into the medium. It is at this point that you can begin to prepare your cutting for a transfer into some more soil – based growing medium. We like to maintain a 50:50 ratio of indoor planting mix and the peat moss and perlite for the plant. We find it helps to acclimate the plant over from a mainly hydroponic growing period to a soil – based medium. Carefully transfer your plant to the new mix and continue to grow the plant under the same high humidity and light conditions.
4. Graduation Phase. It is entirely up to you when you graduate your plant from just a cutting of the mother plant to a whole new plant in its own entirety. We suggest waiting until you can see a strong healthy root system that has established, with multiple new leaves growing. This will give it a fighting chance to flourish on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are common pests and diseases I should look for?

Like its close cousins, the Jade Satin Scindapsus is relatively resistant to pests and diseases.

It can, however, fall prey to spider mites or mealy bugs. Both of these critters are known to feed on the sap of indoor plants, and can be detrimental to the long – term health of your plant.

It will generally be susceptible to these pests when in a weak or malnourished state. So prevention is the best approach. Ensuring it has enough water to fight against these pests is the key.

As with other plants, it can also develop other diseases like root rot if the growing medium is unsuitable and retains excess water.

Is the Jade Satin Scindapsus toxic?

Unfortunately, YES, most plants in the scindapsus family are toxic if ingested. Therefore, we recommend placing the plants, and it’s vine out of the reach of any children or pets. If you suspect any part of the plant has been ingested, please seek immediate medical advice.

What’s Next?

So there you have it – a complete care guide for the Jade Satin Scindapsus. A beautiful indoor vining plant that shows off intense variegated green and silver leaves.

The perfect plant that will complement any indoor plant collection or even hold its own in solitary.

If you are looking for a pure green leaf version of the Jade Satin plant, be sure to check out its close cousin, the Jade Satin Pothos which is equally as breath taking.