Glacier Pothos Care and Growing Guide

If you are a gardener or plant enthusiast who wants to plant something exceptional that is more of an experience than a houseplant, don’t look beyond Glacier Pothos.

It is a rare and mysterious specie that features dark green, silvery green, and bluish-gray variegation. Even though it is a tropical vine, it is hardy and can adapt to several conditions.

However, despite its low-maintenance features that don’t need any special care routine; the Glacier pothos will require little care if you want it to produce the best result.

For instance, they thrive in bright indirect sunlight, temperatures around 60° to 90°F, 50 to 70% humidity levels, and an average potting mix and fertilizer once in two weeks.

Facts About Glacier Pothos Plants

Botanically known as Epipremnum aureum, the Glacier Pothos is a type of devil’s ivy that comes with white and green, variegated foliage. It has leaves that are oval-shaped and partially elongated with a slightly ruffled texture.

Generally, this plant can be white or pale cream and reveal a motley of dark and light green hues.

A closer look will usually reveal leaf designs that almost look like it is silvery-blue, thus making it a gorgeous contrast against the white foliage background.

This appearance can make it take the resemblance of the bluish patterns you’ll find on glaciers; hence, explaining where its name originates.

Like several other types, the glacier pothos can tolerate different growing conditions and is a very hardy plant. Again, like other pothos types, the glacier variety needs little care, making it an excellent starting plant for people beginner gardeners. 

However, the glacier pothos’ variegation isn’t stable. It also features a bushy, compact growth nature. In other words, you can place it on a stand or hanging basket and allow it to spread.

If you want larger leaves from your glacier, a moss pole is an ideal place to grow them. Let’s quickly look at its care tips.

What Is So Unique About Glacier Pothos?

The Glacier pothos has numerous exciting features; however, the most unique and stunning feature of the plant is its high tolerant ability.

In other words, it can withstand different growing conditions more easily than other pothos varieties and is very hard to kill. But like other pothos types, the glacier doesn’t need too much care and isn’t too fussy.

Is Glacier Pothos Rare?

The glacier pothos is not a rare plant, and you can find them with merchants both online and offline. However, considering that it is not rare, the price of it is less expensive than a variety that is more difficult to come by. You will probably find an indoor gardener who is currently growing a glacier pothos.

Glacier Pothos Care and Growing Guide

Glacier pothos is the ideal plant for beginners and experienced gardeners alike and is as easy to keep alive as it is gorgeous. This variety needs the same care guide as other variegated pothos species.

In other words, it will require bright indirect light, semi-regular watering, a sunny window, a well-draining soil mix, and warm temperatures. Let’s quickly break them down;

Light Needs

As long as the glacier pothos is concerned, it thrives best with enough bright light. Therefore, it would be best to place it in an area that gets many hours of bright, indirect sunlight, even though it will survive in moderate lighting conditions. 

Several pothos varieties do best in low light conditions, but the glacier variety is not included. Since it has highly variegated leaves, the glacier will grow leggy and start losing its variegation if you don’t provide it with plenty of light.

Soil Needs

Your glacier pothos will need a well-draining but moisture-retentive soil mix. The perfect mix should be a combination of equal parts potting soil, orchid bark, and perlite. Meanwhile, do not plant your pothos in anything other than a universal potting mix.

This soil type is too compact for the glacier and hence, will not enhance its drainage. Additionally, if the soil remains soggy most of the time, it will make your pothos plant to be prone to root rot. Hence, a proper drainage potting mix is also ideal to complement the soil.

Watering Conditions

Almost every plant requires water to survive, including the glacier pothos. However, like other pothos varieties, it requires moist soil but does not like soggy soil. Therefore, you must wait for the pot to cease dripping before bringing it back to its cover pot or saucer.

The glacier pothos can tolerate dryness between watering but do not leave it for too long. Hence, you must conduct a finger test to check if the top two inches of the soil are dry before watering properly. In this situation, it will appreciate high humidity.

Temperature/Humidity Needs

Tropical species like the glacier pothos enjoy warm temperatures between 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, even though they can survive temperatures that are around 60 degrees and below.

As long as humidity is concerned, the glacier pothos will do best in humidity levels above 50%, but not more than 70%.

However, even though glacier pothos is hard to kill, it would help if you keep them away from spots where they can get extreme temperature changes. An instance of this would be beside a heating and cooling vent or even close to an exterior door.

They would enjoy a place near the bathroom or you can place a small humidifier beside them.

Fertilizing Needs

In the active growth season, the glacier pothos will enjoy regular fertilizing to enhance the strong, healthy growth of the plants. Therefore, you must apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once every month in the spring and summer if you want optimum results.

However, do not fertilize in the fall and winter when the plant is no longer in active growth.

Pruning & Maintenance Needs

Even though the glacier pothos does not necessarily require frequent pruning, you can do so occasionally if you must control its growth. Remember that because pothos is a slow-growing plant, any growth that is pruned will not quickly be replaced. 

Again, unlike several other houseplants, pothos species hardly branch at the spot where it has experienced a trimming cut. In other words, pruned pothos will emit a new shoot from the nearest node and continues to produce the singular vine in this fashion.

At times, more than a single new growth point will sprout but it doesn’t often be like that.

Potting & Repotting

Whenever you notice white roots forming around the sides of the soil or creeping via the drainage holes, it is a sign that your glacier pothos needs repotting. Ensure you upgrade the size of your pot before it gets to this point.

Oftentimes, whenever the plant has produced double its size, it shows that the time to repot is at hand. Pick a new pot around 2 inches wider than the previous one. If the pot is excessively bigger, the additional soil can result in waterlogging and root rot.

Glacier Pothos vs Manjula Pothos

Both pothoses are of the same genus, the major difference between glacier pothos and manjula pothos is the type of variegation on each of their leaves.

For instance, the glacier pothos features different and more unique colored variegation on its leaves than that of the manjula pothos which is more speckled. Also, the leaves of the manjula pothos are rounder and wider than the glacier pothos.

Here’s a detailed gracier pothos and manjula pothos comparison!

How to Propagate Glacier Pothos

If you want to propagate glacier pothos, the easiest way to do that is by root cuttings in water. This method is the most viable in the spring and summer, which is the plant’s active growing season. Below are the easy steps to follow when propagating the glacier pothos:

1. Take a few single-node cuttings and put them in a glass of water
2. Place them in a warm, sunny room but away from direct sunlight
3. After 4 to 5 weeks, or when the roots are at least 2 inches (5 cm) long, you can transplant the cuttings into a well-draining soil mix

Glacier Pothos Pests and Plant Diseases

While the glacier pothos is not susceptible to any particular pests or diseases, it would be best you watch out for some common houseplant pests that will happily attack this plant.

Some of the most common pests to watch out for include spider mites, thrips, scale, and mealybugs. 

These diseases will often infest the glacier pothos by traveling from other infested plants. Therefore, it would be best to check your houseplants frequently for signs of pests to avoid the possibility of a full-blown infestation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Glacier Pothos revert?

Yes, glacier pothos can revert to mostly green leaves, especially when it is growing in a dark room. The only way to retain its variegation is to place the plant in bright indirect light.

Does glacier pothos have speckling?

The reason why glacier pothos is most commonly called the Old Man N’Joy is due to its speckles, wrinkles, and mottled version of his N’Joy cousin.

Its scientific name is Epipremnum aureum ‘Glacier’ because it possesses smaller leaves than several other pothoses and is a slow grower.

How many years does pothos live?

Several pothos varieties, including glacier pothos, can live as long as 5 to 10 years. However, several factors can make it last longer than that, which includes maintenance, care, and adequate watering.

How do you identify a glacier pothos?

Several people confuse glacier pothos with Pearls Jade Pothos and Njoy Pothos. However, you can identify the glacier pothos because it tends to possess more silvery-gray mottling than others, as well as smaller leaves.

Can pothos cuttings go straight into the soil?

Another way to propagate pothos is by putting them directly into the soil. This method is very reliable even though it is less common. However, if you want to use this method, it would be best to use rooting hormone and a pot with a well-draining soil mix.

Conclusion

As we earlier mentioned, glacier pothos is a unique and mysterious specie that features dark green, silvery green, and bluish-gray variegation. Although it is a tropical vine, it is hardy and can adapt to several conditions, and can hardly die.

However, you must provide it with the right growing conditions including adequate sunlight, proper watering, moderate temperature, and humidity, etc.

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