How to cultivate Epipremnum aureum
Today's focus is on how to cultivate Epipremnum aureum and a brief introduction to the maintenance methods of this green plant. The following is a detailed introduction.
Epipremnum aureum is a perennial evergreen vines plant that can be cultivated in soil or hydroponically. Its vines can reach over 10 meters in length, with a slightly woody, climbing habit, equipped with aerial roots. The internodes have small grooves, and the leaves grow larger over time, with alternate, ovate, evergreen, glossy, light green leaves. There are variegated cultivars with irregular golden, white, and gray-green spots and stripes. Known for its beautiful leaf shape and elegant plant form, it has become one of the popular evergreen plants for home cultivation. Epipremnum aureum not only purifies the air but also makes full use of space, adding vibrant lines and bright colors to the dull cabinet surface. In recent years, it has become an excellent choice for indoor decorative foliage plants. Below, the editor summarizes its maintenance methods.
I. Temperature Management
Epipremnum aureum is a tropical foliage plant that prefers a warm environment. The optimal growth temperature is 20-28°C during the day and 15-18°C at night. It is important to avoid large temperature fluctuations; the minimum temperature for overwintering is 10-13°C. The growing season is from April to September, with a suitable temperature of 15-25°C. When the temperature exceeds 30°C or is below 10°C in winter, the stem and leaf growth slows down, and the leaves become droopy. If it drops below 5°C, it will frostbite and drop leaves. To ensure safe overwintering, Epipremnum aureum requires temperatures above 10°C. If the temperature in winter is below 10°C, it should be placed in a greenhouse, plastic greenhouse, or indoors. In warm winter areas of South China and Southwest China, it can be cultivated outdoors.
II. Light Management
The original growth condition of Epipremnum aureum is under the shade of tall trees in the forest, making it a shade-tolerant plant that dislikes direct sunlight and prefers scattered light. When grown indoors, it can be placed near the window but should avoid direct sunlight. Excessive sunlight can burn the leaves, while excessive shade can cause the beautiful patterns on the leaves to disappear. Usually, 4 hours of scattered light is best for its growth and development. When grown outdoors, it is important to provide shade, especially in summer, to prevent direct sunlight, which can cause new leaves to become smaller, the leaf color to become dull, and easily burn the leaf edges. Epipremnum aureum is highly shade-tolerant and can grow normally under a light intensity of 400Lx. However, in excessively dark conditions and temperatures below 10°C, it can lead to leaf drop and withering, affecting the growth and ornamental value of the plant.
III. Humidity Management
Epipremnum aureum prefers a humid environment with higher air humidity, and its roots like a moderately moist environment. During the growing season, the potting soil should be kept moist, with the leaves requiring a relative humidity of over 60%. When the potting soil turns white, it should be watered thoroughly. When the temperature exceeds 28°C in summer, water should be sprinkled early and late in the morning and evening on the leaves, front and back, to cool and moisturize. However, excessive watering should be avoided as it can cause root rot. During dry summers and autumns, water should be sprinkled on the leaves in the morning, afternoon, and evening to increase humidity. A humidifier can also be used, placing the plant close to the humidifier for more than 5 hours a day. In autumn and winter, the amount of watering should be strictly controlled according to the room temperature. Before heating, when the temperature is low and the soil evaporation is slow, watering should be reduced to one-fourth to one-half of the original amount. Even after heating, watering should not be too frequent, and water should be poured less into the pot and more through the coconut fibers. Additionally, water should be sprayed on the aerial roots growing on the coconut column to reduce the risk of root water deficiency due to rapid evaporation. It is better to use water that has been exposed to the sun for one day in winter, as cold water can damage the roots.
How to cultivate Epipremnum aureum
IV. Soil Management
Epipremnum aureum is suitable for loose, organic-rich, slightly acidic and neutral sandy loam soil. For pot cultivation, it is best to choose soil that is loose, breathable, and has good drainage, preferably a mixture of garden soil, decomposed horse manure, and a small amount of peat. It can also be mixed with 70% decomposed leaf material, 20% red soil, and 10% rapeseed cake and bone meal. Another option is to mix humus soil, peat, and fine sand, changing the pot every 3 years.
V. Nutrition Management
Fertilization should focus on nitrogen as the main nutrient and potassium as a secondary nutrient. Before the growing season in spring, apply a 0.3% solution of ammonium sulfate or urea every 10 days, and use a 0.5‰-1‰ urea solution as a foliar fertilizer once. From May to September, it is the growing season for Epipremnum aureum, and chemical fertilizer should be applied once every 2 months, with a dilute liquid fertilizer applied every 10 days. For smaller plants, only liquid fertilizer should be used. After winter, fertilization should focus on foliar application, allowing the leaves to absorb the fertilizer through the stomata, with the fertilizer directly affecting the leaf surface.
The above-sharing on how to cultivate Epipremnum aureum and a brief introduction to its maintenance methods is provided for everyone to learn and understand!