Cebu Blue pothos or scitentifically known as Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Cebu Blue,’ is a tropical plant with round, silvery-blue leaves. It’s as simple to grow as other pothos, but its foliage is more attractive.
This pothos is one of the few plants having blue leaves in nature. It requires little particular maintenance so it may add color and texture to any house.
Learn about Cebu Blue’s growing and care needs.
A Quick Introduction
The Centipede Tongavine plant is endemic to Cebu in the Philippines, growing in tropical woods and gardens. In its native environment, this vine may grow 40 feet (12 meters) with 20-inch (50 cm) leaves.
This pothos plant’s foliage is distinctive. Narrow, oval, silvery-blue leaves. They glisten in the proper light. The foliage has a corrugated appearance because of the well-defined leaf veins.
Cebu Blue pothos grows 10 – 13 feet (3 to 4 meters) as an indoor plant. This plant likes climbing, so let its tendrils trail or dangle (ideal for a hanging basket). The leaves will acquire Monstera-like fenestrations if you give them a moss pole.
Care for Cebu Blue Pothos
Cebu Blue Pothos is unassuming. Resistant to most pests and illnesses. However, it might suffer from improper soil mix or a gloomy part of the house.
Growing Needs
Light
This pothos plant requires indirect light. Place it in a west- or east-facing room 2 to 3 feet from a window to get enough light.
Don’t place this plant in a dark or bright room. Low light circumstances will inhibit its growth, creating tiny leaves and barren, leggy stalks. Direct sun may burn leaves and cause them to lose their blue foliage.
Soil
Plant in well-drained soil that will still hold moisture. The tropical plant is an epiphyte. It cannot endure drought and is killed by soggy soil. Using the correct substrate keeps it healthy.
If you live in a hot area or your house is dry, mix two parts peat-based potting mix and one part perlite. This mix drains well yet maintains the plant, preventing wilting.
A chunkier mix is appropriate for humid, low-light, or overwatered plants. Mix perlite, potting soil, and also orchid bark. This mix dries quicker between waterings, preventing root rot.
Water
It’s a low-water plant. Before you water, let the soil dry to 2 inches (5 cm), then water the plant. Pour water into the pot until it seeps through the drainage holes to uniformly moisten the soil.
Never entirely dry soil. This pothos variety can last several days without water. However, the plant will grow weaker and more prone to pests and illnesses if it’s regularly underwatered. Water regularly.
Prevent root rot by avoiding extra water.
Temperature
Keep Cebu Blue at 65°F and 85°F (18°C and 29°C). Like other tropical plants, it stops growing around 55°F (13°C) and may be permanently damaged at 50°F (10°C) for many days.
Humidity
This plant does fine in most houses. Although, this plant prefers humidity exceeding 40%.
In dry houses or humidity below 30%, leaf tips may become brown and dry. Consistent watering and potting mix usually solve this issue. Alternatively, place the pot on a pebble tray half-filled with water to improve air moisture around your plant.
Fertilizer
Cebu Blue Pothos grows quickly and requires frequent fertilization to thrive. Therefore, from spring through autumn, give it a nitrogen-rich liquid fertilizer.
Check the fertilizer package for dose and use directions. You may apply fertilizer once every two weeks or weekly to monthly, depending on the brand and type.
Light encourages pothos growth. However, it goes dormant during winter, so cease feeding this plant in the colder months. Unless you’re using grow lights, but that is not too common for houseplants.
Pruning/Maintenance
Under ideal circumstances, this plant may grow 2 feet annually. Use longer vines for propagation after spring pruning. Trimming keeps the plant bushy and controlled.
If you apply synthetic fertilizers more than once a month, cleanse the soil in spring. It removes extra salt and minerals from the soil and maintains the roots healthy.
Flush soil:
- Sink or shower the pot.
- For 5 minutes, slowly water the soil.
- Leave the pot to drain for 15-20 minutes, then replace it.
Repotting
This plant has a quick growth rate, and while it doesn’t mind being rootbound, keeping it in the same pot for many years can produce fading leaves and reduced growth. So, for best results, you’ll want to repot every couple of years.
When you observe roots through the drainage holes, transplant the plant to a larger pot, and check for drainage holes in new containers.
In spring or summer, repot Cebu Blue.
Propagating Cebu Blue Pothos
Cebu Blue Pothos may be propagated through cuttings.
First, grab some rubbing alcohol to disinfect the scissors. Some say this isn’t necessary, by why risk it.
Trim 2/3 of the longest vines, then make single-node cuttings. Put cuttings in the water and maintain them in a warm, sunny room away from direct sunshine.
Once the roots are 2 inches long, put them into a well-draining potting mix.
Common Problems
The Cebu Blue Pothos seldom gets pests or illnesses. But, if you satisfy its growing needs, it might stay healthy. Watch out for them.
Pests
Mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and scale can attack your plant. Pests cause discoloration and stunted growth on top of that, these pesty buggers could even kill your plant.
If you fear your plant is unhealthy, isolate it and check each leaf.
Spray leaves with 70% isopropyl alcohol and water to kill spider mites, scale, and mealybugs. Repeat weekly for about a month.
Trim thrip-infested leaves from your plant. Thrip larvae live on ill leaves; thus, removing them stops their spread. Spray a systemic insecticide after trimming the plant.
Yellowing Leaves
Yellowing pothos leaves are usually caused by water issues. The plant gets too much or too little water. Pests, inadequate light, and nutritional deficits may also contribute.
Yellowing leaves are the most common pothos issue; to repair it, find the reason.
Leaves Curling
Curling Cebu Blue Pothos leaves indicate thirst. If the top 2 inches of soil feel dry, water it.
Check the underside of the leaves to see whether the soil is dry. Spider mites and mealybugs may curl leaves.
Dark-green leaves
Cebu Blue Pothos loses its silvery-blue tint under low light or too much sun. Therefore, this plant prefers indirect light.
Smaller leaves
If your Cebu Blue Pothos leaves are shrinking, they may require more light, nutrients, or a larger pot.
The leaves might become smaller even if the plant is healthy. This is common if you leave your pothos as a hanging or trailing plant for many years. Moss poles enhance leaf growth.
FAQ
Is this plant Toxic?
Ingesting Cebu Blue Pothos leaves causes severe irritations and gastrointestinal issues. Keep cats and dogs away from this plant since it’s somewhat harmful.
Is this a rare pothos?
Cebu Blue Pothos is scarce in certain areas. This variety has been around for years, yet it still needs to be found.
Online is excellent. Most plants are inexpensive; if you’re fortunate, you can get a specimen with fenestrated leaves for less than $50.
Does it grow fast?
Cebu Blue Pothos grows quickly, even among pothos kinds. First-month growth is slower.
Once acclimated, it will erupt with growth. You may anticipate it to grow 2 to 3 feet every year.
How Long for Fenestrate to show on Cebu Blue pothos?
Blue Cebu Pothos leaves get fenestrated while the plant matures. In the natural, the plant climbs a tree. Growing pothos on a sphagnum moss pole inside triggers leaf fenestration.
With indirect light, fertilizer, and a sphagnum moss pole, you should anticipate huge, well-defined windows in less than two years.
Without a moss pole, your Cebu Blue will never grow and acquire fenestrated leaves.
What’s the Difference Between Baltic Blue Pothos and Cebu Blue Pothos?
Cebu Blue and Baltic Blue have different-colored leaves.
Light silvery-blue Cebu Blue leaves. Baltic Blue Pothos has bluish-green leaves.