Pothos vs. Philodendron: What is the Distinction?

There are a selection of key variations between pothos, usually referred to as devil’s ivy, and vining philodendron varieties that help you to tell them apart.

These embody taxonomy, leaf kind and texture, aerial roots and petioles, progress habits, new leaves, and rising circumstances.

Taxonomy

Taxonomy is the tactic of organizing residing points like vegetation into distinct households, genera, and species. It’s how vegetation get their botanical names.

Every pothos and philodendrons belong to the aroid family (Araceae) along with completely different frequent houseplants like monstera, alocasia, and peace lily.

Nonetheless, pothos and philodendrons fall into fully completely different genera. Pothos belongs to the Epipremnum genus, and philodendron belongs to the Philodendron genus.

Leaf Type and Texture

One in all many greatest strategies to tell pothos and philodendrons apart is by their leaves. Many philodendrons, along with the aptly named heartleaf philodendron, have thinner, distinctly heart-shaped leaves with a softer texture. Pothos leaves are thicker and waxier.

The fully completely different shapes are significantly noticeable on the extent the place the petiole (leaf stem) connects to the underside of each leaf.

Whereas the underside of a pothos leaf is relatively straight, the underside of a philodendron leaf curves inwards like the best of a coronary coronary heart.

Aerial Roots and Petioles

You may also uncover variations in aerial roots and petioles of pothos versus philodendrons. Every species have aggressive aerial roots that allow them to climb a moss pole, trellis, or completely different help.

Nonetheless, pothos (pictured above correct) solely develop one large aerial root per node, whereas philodendrons (pictured above left) can have a lot of smaller aerial roots per node.

Petioles are the small stems that be a part of the leaves to the plant’s principal stem.

The petioles on pothos vegetation indent within the course of the stem they join with, whereas philodendron petioles are completely rounded. Philodendron petioles moreover are usually thinner than these of pothos.

Improvement Habits and New Leaves

One different strategy to tell the excellence between pothos versus philodendrons is to seek for cataphylls.

When new leaves develop on a trailing philodendron, they emerge from these constructions, which look like small leaves that protect the model new leaf as a result of it grows.

Cataphylls usually keep on the plant after a model new leaf has unfurled, lastly drying up and falling off. New leaves on pothos vegetation develop and unfurl from the sooner leaf.

Maintenance of Pothos vs. Philodendron

Pothos and philodendrons have associated needs for mild, soil, water, and temperature, and are thought-about low-maintenance houseplants.

Nonetheless, there are a couple of minor variations of their care. Philodendrons tolerate low mild larger than pothos.

Pothos select significantly elevated temperatures than philodendrons and are tolerant of drought circumstances.

Every vegetation are simple to propagate from stem cuttings, nonetheless philodendrons moreover produce offsets, or baby vegetation, that could be divided from the mother plant.

One different Sophisticated Houseplant: The Satin Pothos

One different houseplant species normally confused with every pothos and philodendrons is A torn painting.

This aroid goes by the frequent title satin pothos, however it isn’t a species of pothos. This plant is known for its vining progress habits and shimmery silver patches all through its leaves that make it simple to find out, however it has very associated progress requirements to every pothos and philodendrons.