Pothos vs. Philodendron: What is the Distinction?

There are a variety of key variations between pothos, usually generally known as devil’s ivy, and vining philodendron varieties that help you inform them apart.

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

Taxonomy

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

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

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

Leaf Type and Texture

Certainly one of many finest 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 completely totally different shapes are notably 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 very best of a coronary coronary heart.

Aerial Roots and Petioles

You might 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 totally different help.

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

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

The petioles on pothos crops indent within the route of the stem they hook up with, whereas philodendron petioles are completely rounded. Philodendron petioles moreover are often thinner than these of pothos.

Growth Habits and New Leaves

One different technique 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 defend the model new leaf as a result of it grows.

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

Repairs of Pothos vs. Philodendron

Pothos and philodendrons have comparable needs for light, 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 light increased than pothos.

Pothos need significantly larger temperatures than philodendrons and are tolerant of drought circumstances.

Every crops are easy to propagate from stem cuttings, nevertheless philodendrons moreover produce offsets, or little one crops, that could be divided from the mother plant.

One different Sophisticated Houseplant: The Satin Pothos

One different houseplant species usually confused with every pothos and philodendrons is Scindapsus pictus.

This aroid goes by the widespread establish satin pothos, nonetheless it isn’t a species of pothos. This plant is known for its vining improvement conduct and shimmery silver patches all through its leaves that make it easy to ascertain, nonetheless it has very comparable improvement requirements to every pothos and philodendrons.