If you are looking for a pothos plant to expand your plant collection, but you are not sure how to decide between a Golden pothos and a Hawaiian pothos, then you have come to the right place!
Pothos plants have become super trendy houseplants these days, and it seems like every plant enthusiast has at least one pothos plant in their collection.
With so many different pothos varieties out there, it can be hard to choose one, especially when they are somewhat similar to one another. The Golden Pothos is the most common indoor plant, though the Hawaiian cultivar is getting close too!
Here, we are going to analyze the Hawaiian Pothos vs Golden Pothos and see what their actual differences and similarities are, so stay tuned and pick the best one for you!
Hawaiian Pothos vs Golden Pothos: Main Differences
Both Hawaiian and Golden Pothos belong to the family Araceae, and they both share the scientific name Epipremnum Aureum—in fact, all pothos plants have the same name, regardless of the pothos cultivar. They are also referred to as Devil’s ivy!
No matter what name you choose to use, be aware that there are many pothos varieties out there, each with its own characteristic features!
Now, when it comes to a comparison between the Hawaiian pothos plant and the Golden pothos, it seems as if they are the same plant at first glance. However, once you really look in more detail, you’ll notice that they actually differ from one another.
So, let’s look at some of the major differences when it comes to the Golden pothos vs Hawaiian pothos!
1. Leaves Variegation
Almost all pothos varieties produce small heart-shaped leaves; the only thing that varies is the color of their variegations!
The Golden Pothos produces foliage that has golden variegations, contrasting against the dark green color of the leaves—this is how they got their name. But, did you know that the Golden Pothos is also one of the most common money plants and it is grown indoors to attract good luck and prosperity?
That’s right—when you are growing this plant, there is a possibility that you will get your money back!
But hey, the Hawaiian pothos is just as good!
Instead of golden variegations on the green leaves, the Hawaiian pothos leaves have somewhat creamy yellow or white variegations. These types of pothos have the same yellow variegation throughout the year, the only thing that varies is the intensity of green leaves—this depends on how much light the plant gets.
Some might say that the Hawaiian pothos has larger leaves than the Golden pothos, though to me it seems like they have the same leaf size.
Comparing the variegations between the Marble queen pothos and Snow queen pothos can also help to differentiate between these two types of plants.
2. The Flowers
Pothos plants are not cultivated for their flowers, mainly because they only bloom in the most perfect conditions (which are hard to achieve indoors). This means that you will rarely, if ever, see a pothos plant blooming.
However, those lucky gardeners and plant collectors that have seen both of these pothos blooming have noticed that the Hawaiian pothos produces beautiful large flowers with a creamy white color.
On the other hand, our Golden plant produces snow-white flowers that are significantly smaller when compared to the Hawaiian ones. Nonetheless, both of these plants are magnificent, even without tiny flowers!
3. Vine Color
In proper light conditions, the Golden pothos will have a completely yellow vine, sometimes even with some speckles on the surface.
However, when all the needs of the Hawaiian pothos are met, it will develop a light green stem. So you can look for a yellow color vine to distinguish between these two pothos plants.
4. Growth Habits
Both Golden and Hawaiian pothos have similar growth habits—they will climb and trail all over your room!
Well, they won’t exactly occupy your entire room, but they will definitely need some kind of support to grow, such as a moss pole or some other alternatives to get your pothos to trail.
When we compare the two pothos, a Hawaiian pothos grows more vigorously—if your goal is to have a large plant in a short period of time, then this is the right plant for you.
A Golden Pothos is much smaller and more compact.
Nonetheless, both of these plants are perfect for growing in hanging baskets, or you can stake them and grow tall pothos instead!
5. Golden Pothos Has Fenestrations
Leaves have fenestrations, and we are not talking about Monstera plants, how’s that possible?
Well, with our Golden plant, anything is possible!
Because these plants originate from tropical forests, they developed fenestrations on their leaves to allow the sunlight and rain to reach the leaves that grow much lower. Without fenestrations, these leaves would be constantly in the shade and dried out. Thus, they would eventually fall off.
It’s interesting that only the Golden pothos produces fenestrations, which is also another feature that can be used to help you to distinguish between these two plants.
Hawaiian Pothos vs Golden Pothos: Similarities
Now that we have covered the differences, let’s look at some of the similarities between these two plants.
They will have similar growing requirements, propagation methods, and common problems.
Let’s dive in!
Structure & Height
The height of all Pothos is pretty much the same because they have similar growing patterns—almost all the species are climbing and crawling. The only difference in height might be due to the support that the growers provide.
For instance, your pothos plant will surely grow much taller if you put a tall stake next to it, onto which the plant can cling on and climb.
The structure of a Pothos is also identical among the different varieties—the leaf size is usually from 4 to 8 inches or 12 to 18 inches.
Pothos Plant Care Guide
Pothos are great plants for beginner gardeners because they are pretty low-maintenance plants that don’t have any special requirements. If you want to keep your pothos plant happy and healthy, continue reading this pothos care guide!
Soil Requirements
Soil that drains efficiently is necessary for pothos plants in order to reduce any significant moisture retention. The wrong soil might lead to root rot because it will hold too much water for the plant.
Excess water can be removed with the help of the right soil mixture and drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. You have the option of purchasing or making your own aroid potting soil.
The ideal potting mix should be created by mixing perlite, universal soil mix, and peat moss. Philodendrons can also be grown in this mixture.
Light Requirements
A Pothos prefers indirect light for growing conditions.
Your new houseplant can be placed in hanging baskets next to windows or on a window that doesn’t receive direct sunlight.
Since the leaves are the most significant component of this gorgeous houseplant, it is crucial to keep them out of direct sunlight to prevent the variegations on the leaves from entirely fading.
However, keeping them in low light conditions is not a great option either, because they need sunlight for photosynthesis. If they don’t get enough light, the variegation part will turn green in order to compensate for the lack of chlorophyll.
Watering Requirements
Beginner gardeners frequently seek out a detailed watering schedule, but in most cases, sticking to a regular schedule won’t guarantee that your plant gets enough water. Overwatering could become a serious problem if you water your Pothos too often.
In general, water the Pothos every five to seven days, but always thoroughly check the soil before doing so.
Because the Pothos species prefers moist soil, it will wilt and develop crispy leaves if the soil is allowed to become too dry between waterings. Your pothos plant will curl its leaves inward if it gets dehydrated, which is an obvious sign of an underwatered pothos.
I suggest that you create your own watering schedule by monitoring the plant and inspecting the soil often to see whether it needs to be watered.
Before watering, let the top 2 inches of soil completely dry out. The simplest approach to determine the moisture content of the soil is to stick your finger into it. An alternative is to use a toothpick or a wooden stick. If any soil remains after removing them, wait a little longer before watering your pothos.
Your Pothos enters a dormant state throughout the winter and requires less water and nutrients compared to during the growing season; therefore, you should not water it or fertilize it as frequently.
Temperature Requirements
Pothos are tropical plants; thus, they thrive in warm temperatures.
It is best to keep these plants between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit because they cannot withstand the cold. Always keep the temperature above 60 degrees, as lower temperatures can easily damage your plant.
The best USDA zones to grow these plants in are 10 to 12. In these zones, you can either plant it in the ground or keep it in a container outside all year. If you decide to plant it outside, take extra care because it is considered invasive in some regions.
In other zones (below 10), you should bring the plant inside once it hits 60 degrees, or even earlier in the fall. You can put it back outside the following summer if you’d like.
Humidity Requirements
High humidity is beneficial for this kind of plant. It is important to mimic the plant’s natural habitat—and you know that these tropical plants absolutely love humid environments, right?
For this pothos plant, the recommended humidity range is between 50 and 70%. As long as the humidity is greater than 40% in the space where your Pothos are kept, you shouldn’t be concerned.
Consider raising humidity levels if you see browning and dry tips on the leaves.
Luckily, there are a few options to boost your humidity levels, and some of them are even free but still effective!
• Misting is a great way to provide your plant with enough humidity. Using a spray bottle, mist the plants with clean water. Misting is especially advantageous in the early winter when the temperatures are decreasing.
• You can place your plant on top of a tray with pebbles and water to create a handmade pebble tray to keep it moist. Your plant will obtain the moisture that it needs when the water evaporates; just make sure that the roots don’t come into contact with the water.
• Grouping the plants is another option. The process through which plants expel moisture through their leaves is known as transpiration. In order to create a more hospitable microclimate, plants can be gathered together to benefit from one another’s transpiration.
• Moving your Pothos to a different room is also a great option. For instance, you may put it in the kitchen or bathroom because those rooms typically have greater humidity levels and are good settings for Pothos. Additionally, adding a Pothos will make the room look fantastic!
• And lastly, you could invest in a humidifier—they monitor and increase humidity, which will help your plant grow healthy and thrive, and you can find them for a couple of bucks on Amazon!
Fertilizer Requirements
Some people believe that fertilizer is not necessary for pothos plants.
However, a little plant food won’t hurt your plant!
Fertilizing Pothos regularly during the growing season is recommended, as these plants are actively growing. However, don’t apply any fertilizers during the colder months because these plants enter dormancy.
Depending on the Pothos species, liquid or slow-release fertilizers can be applied.
Choose a fertilizer that contains nitrogen because it promotes luxuriant leaf growth, which will result in your pothos plant producing a lot more leaves throughout the growing season.
Repotting
Repotting the Pothos species should generally be done every one to two years, though this depends on the pothos variety. However, since we are dealing specifically with the Hawaiian and Golden pothos today, repotting them every 1 or 2 years should do the trick.
When cultivated in low light, the plant may show signs of stunted growth and may wilt if underwatered, thus, repotting is not necessary until the plant has entirely recovered.
If you wish that your Pothos will remain little and not grow to its full size, you shouldn’t be concerned if they are developing in a smaller container.
Large container = large plant
If you decide to repot the plant to promote its growth, keep in mind that the new container shouldn’t be significantly larger than the old one.
The presence of extra soil around a plant does not guarantee that it will receive more nutrients. On the contrary, the extra soil helps plants to retain more water, which could harm their root systems.
It is great if you repot this plant before it produces new leaves in the spring.
Roots poking through the drainage holes in the container is the most obvious sign that it needs to be repotted. You can tell that they need more room to grow because of this.
Pruning
Since the Pothos are vining and climbing plants, they must be pruned as they get bigger.
Expect growth of 4 feet high and 2 feet across if you grow these Pothos in a hanging basket.
Pruning should be done more frequently if you want to maintain a certain shape. On the other hand, if you only prune the plant once or twice a year, it will flourish just fine.
Since they may become fairly bushy when planted in a pot, I like to grow these Pothos in hanging baskets.
Dead, discolored, or damaged leaves should be removed during pruning, since they may stunt the plant’s growth. Always sterilize your pruning shears to prevent contamination.
Pests & Diseases
These plants’ resistance to numerous pests and diseases is another characteristic that makes them ideal for beginner gardeners.
Pest infestations are possible, but they are simple to treat.
Mealybugs and scales are the typical pests that tend to infest pothos plants. These bugs adore settling down on your plant and simultaneously stealing its nutrients.
Applying rubbing alcohol or neem oil at the infestation site will quickly get rid of them.
Root rot is the disease that affects Pothos the most frequently. Overwatering your pothos can result in the deadly fungal infection known as root rot. If not addressed immediately, it can completely destroy your plant.
Propagation
Pothos species are super easy to propagate (no wonder they are the most popular houseplant, right?). Because they have similar structures and functions, the same propagation methods can be used on both Hawaiian and Golden pothos plants.
The easiest way to propagate your Pothos is by using stem cuttings. Here is the list of the things that you’ll need for propagation:
• A sterilized cutting tool (shears, scissors, knife)
• Potting mix
• A container
• Jar with water (optional)
First, choose a 4- to 6-inch-long healthy section of stem. It must have at least two nodes and two leaves attached. Make a cut in the region that lies beneath the node.
It’s time to plant the cutting where the roots can grow. You can choose between growing it in soil or water.
The cuttings can be planted either straight into the ground or submerged in water so that you can see the roots developing.
Put the cutting in a jar and cover it with water. To avoid them rotting and the propagation failing, place one node in the water and make sure that all of the leaves are above the water and not in contact with it.
Place the jar in a warm location with plenty of indirect bright light, and replace the water as needed. It’s fine to replace it every other day.
The roots will begin to form in approximately two weeks, but it will take them about four weeks to reach an inch in length. Then, replant the cuttings in the original container.
If you decide to use the soil instead, you should water it before planting because these Pothos sure love moist soil!
For more information, check out this video:
The Most Common Pothos Varieties
If you are like me, then you’ve probably fallen in love with the Pothos, and now you want to have as many pothos varieties as possible!
Who wouldn’t love a plant that is low-maintenance but produces the loveliest heart-shaped leaves?
Now, let’s look at some of the varieties that you can grow indoors!
1. Neon Pothos
Instead of installing neon lights in your room, how about you grow a neon pothos plant instead?
The name of this type, neon pothos, refers to the vivid green, neon-like leaves that it produces. When it comes to plant care and other specificities, it is the same as any other pothos—the only difference is that it is not as trailing as other varieties.
2. Njoy Pothos
When comparing this variety of pothos to the other members of its genus, you can see that it has considerably whiter variegations.
It is typically grown for minimalist home décor and has exceptional trailing properties. Although it can be used as a frame, Njoy pothos also looks lovely on shelves and in a hanging basket, with its vines drooping and swaying in the wind.
3. Manjula Pothos
The Manjula pothos has white and creamy variegation on both sides of its leaves, just like the Marble Queen pothos. It is an Indian-born Pothos variety that has a patent on it.
This is one of the priciest Pothos, but it is well worth it for its captivating leaves and trailing vines, which are a wonderful addition to a home and give it a cheerful appearance!
4. Jade Pothos
The Jade pothos has dark green leaves that are somewhat smaller when compared to the other Pothos species. However, the size and plant care remain the same.
You can grow Jade pothos in a hanging basket or on a shelf—the forest green leaves create a great pop of color, especially if your home style is more minimalistic.
5. Cebu Blue Pothos
Although called Epipremnum aureum, this pothos variation is actually Epipremnum pinnatum.
It has basic green leaves with almost no variegation, but when it has been cultivated in the right conditions, you can occasionally detect the silver sparkling patches.
In contrast to an E. aureum, the Cebu blue Pothos has leaves that are shaped like an arrow, whereas the other Pothos we’ve previously discussed all have leaves that are either round or heart-shaped.
6. Satin Pothos
Satin pothos, otherwise known as Scindapsus pictus Argyraeus, is a type of pothos plant that has white and silver variegation all over its leaves. What’s interesting is that these variegation are specific to this variety because they look more like white spots, instead of long patches that are found on all Pothos species.
Nonetheless, the plant care is the same—keep them in bright, indirect light, and provide them with enough water to keep the soil moist!
7. Jessenia Pothos
Despite having a glossier texture, the Jessenia Pothos has variations that resemble those of the Marble queen pothos.
I don’t think that you would have any problems with these trailing Pothos because they like to spread quickly, thanks to their heart-shaped leaves and lengthy vines.
Remember that Pothos will spread out over a trellis, and you may need to cut it to keep it in shape.
To Sum Up
I hope our thorough analysis of Hawaiian pothos vs Golden pothos was helpful!
You saw that these plants are practically the same in terms of plant care, but also their sizes and leaf shapes. However, these two Pothos are still different plants!
Sure, you won’t be able to notice the differences at first; but once you look at the plant for more details, you’ll see that they have different variegations and vine colors.
Whatever plant you choose to grow, you won’t make a mistake because both of these are very lovely plants that are easy to take care of, but also to repot and propagate.
Try your luck and go with the Golden pothos, or choose a Hawaiian pothos that grows vigorously—the choice is yours!
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