Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight plants are becoming more and more popular with houseplant enthusiasts. This is especially true now that big box stores such as Lowes are starting to carry these. These plants can be a beautiful, hardy, and low-maintenance addition to your plant collection. Read on if you are looking for tips on Scindapsus Truebii Moonlight care.
- Origins of the Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight
- Other Names for Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Plants
- Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Care Guide
- How to Water a Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight
- Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Light Requirements
- Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Soil
- The Best Type of Pot for a Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight
- Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Propagation
- Fertilizing a Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Plant
- Temperature Needs
- Humidity
- Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Toxicity and Pets
- Pruning a Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Plant
- Common Problems With Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Plants
- Frequently Asked Questions About Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Plants
Origins of the Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight
The Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight has green leaves that have a beautiful looking silver finish that covers most of the leaf. On average the leaves are about 4 to 5 inches long and the plant grows in a vinelike fashion that you can train to climb.
It is originally from Malaysia and Java and was first written about in 1898 by Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler. These plants are from tropical forests and jungles and grow along the ground and up trees.
Other Names for Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Plants
- Scindapsus Moonlight
- Sterling Silver
- Sterling Silver Scindapsus
- Satin Pothos Star
- Moonlight Pothos
- Scindapsus Treubii Silver
Many times you will see the name Sterling Silver listed for a Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight when you find them in a big box store. This is often what CostaFarms seems to label these as.
I picked mine up at Lowes and it was labeled as a Scindapsus Treubii on one label, a Sterling Silver on another tag, and it also had a 3rd tag saying it was a “Satin Pothos Star”. Sometimes people will refer to these as Moonlight Pothos. The Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight is not a Pothos plant. But oftentimes, social media and internet posts or big box nurseries will mislabel many of the Scindapsus cultivars as a Pothos of some type.
Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Care Guide
- Allow the top few inches of soil to dry between waterings. Avoid overwatering.
- Bright indirect light is best.
- A well draining potting mix will work great.
- Ideal temperatures are between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Ideal humidity levels are 40-60 percent.
- Fertilize during the spring and summer.
- Keep away from pets.
How to Water a Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight
These plants can be easy to overwater so you need to be careful. Make sure that you have a pot that has drainage and pick a soil medium that allows for good drainage. If the plant sits for too long in soggy soil and water root rot can set in which is hard to get any plant to recover from.
You should let the top couple of inches of soil dry out before watering your plant. They can go for a bit without water and do fine. If you start to see the leaves of your Scindapsus start to curl then you have let it go too long without water.
Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Light Requirements
Like many of the other tropical plants you find in indoor plant collections, the Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight likes to have bright indirect light.
Direct sunlight is not good for them and can cause burn on the leaves if left in the sun for too long. This includes direct sunlight through a window. You want to make sure to filter any sunlight that might come through a window and shine on your plant. Sheer curtains can be a great option for this.
Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Soil
These plants aren’t too picky when it comes to soil. A well-draining potting mix will work just fine. You can add extra perlite to allow for extra aeration and drainage.
The Best Type of Pot for a Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight
You can use just about any type of pot that you would like as long as it has drainage. If you tend to be a heavy waterer then terracotta might be the best option since it will wick away excess moisture in the soil.
Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Propagation
Propagation of a Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight can easily be done via stem cuttings placed in sphagnum moss or soil that is mixed with perlite. Rooting hormones can be used to help the cutting root faster.
Keep the moss/soil damp and cover the cutting to keep humidity levels up. You can cover it with a plastic bag or upside-down plastic bottles that have had the tops cut off to allow for an open base.
You can also use water to propagate from stem cuttings, but this usually is not as successful as using a soil/moss medium.
Fertilizing a Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Plant
During the spring and summer, the plant is in its growing period. During this time it is best to fertilize your plant once a month with a liquid fertilizer that is higher in nitrogen. I like to use half of the recommended dose when fertilizing monthly for my Scindapsus Treubii.
Temperature Needs
The Scindapsus Treubii Moonlights do best in temperatures that range from 65°F to 75°F.
If the temperature goes too high for too long of a period the leaves will start to wilt. They can also tolerate cooler temperatures just fine. Just make sure that it doesn’t go below freezing or the plant will start to get damaged leaves.
Keeping the plant up against a window during the cold winter months could result in some curling on the leaves due to damage from getting too cold.
Humidity
Ideal humidity ranges for the Scindapsus Treubii are between 40% and 60% but can go lower if you are where it is hard to keep humidity at these levels.
One way to help bring up humidity for your plant is to use a pebble tray underneath it with water. Or you can also use a humidifier for the room that your plants are in.
Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Toxicity and Pets
The ASPCA lists the Scindapsus Pictus as toxic to pets so it is safe to assume that the Scindapsus Treubii is too. Keep these plants away from your pets. If ingested it can cause irritation of the mouth, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
Pruning a Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Plant
There isn’t much need to prune these plants. However, if you feel that the vines are getting too long for the space you have your plant in you can cut them back without doing harm to the plant. You can also take these cuttings and propagate them to make new plants.
Common Problems With Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Plants
Curling Leaves
Most often curling leaves on a Scindapsus Treubii are due to either the leaves getting too cold or the plant being underwatered.
Yellow Leaves
The most common reason Scindapsus Treubii leaves start to turn yellow is due to the plant being overwatered. We have a detailed guide on what you can do for this common Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight problem: Why a Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Gets Yellow Leaves
Check your soil and pot to make sure that the soil is draining well and that your pot allows for drainage. Cut back your watering and allow for the top few inches of the soil to become dry before watering the plant again.
If your soil is not draining well take the plant out its pot and remove the soil that it is currently in. Clean off the root ball and remove any damaged/soft roots that you find. Repot your Scindapsus with new soil that has good drainage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight Plants
Even though the Scindapsus Treubii plants are gaining popularity they are still relatively hard to find. When they do come into big box stores like Lowes or Home Depot they usually sell fast. If you are having a hard time finding the Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight you can try websites such as Etsy which are popular places to find rarer houseplants.
No, the Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight is not a Pothos it is a Scindapsus. The confusion often comes from big box stores mislabeling these plants as a Pothos.
Yes, the Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight grows vines that do climb. Many people like to train the vines to grow up small trellises or items like a bamboo stick.
References:
- Tropicos.org: http://legacy.tropicos.org/Name/2104296
- ASPCA: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/satin-pothos
