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It doesn’t matter whether you are an ignoramus gardener or an expert horticulturist because the Manjula Pothos is one of the most variegated plants in the world.
Its botanical name is Epipremnum aureum ‘Manjula’ and is often confused with its cousin plants like devil’s ivy or pearls & jade pothos.
These plants are foolproof, even for beginners. Plant care is low-maintenance and they are pretty forgiving if you are forgetful or simply uninformed.
Read on for tips on how to take care of your manjula pothos plants and learn their growth habits.
Due to their green and white variegation, Manjula Pothos plants are great houseplants to add to any home decor.
What is a Manjula Pothos?
The Pothos plant originated from the Solomon Islands.
In contrast to popular belief, the Manjula Pothos is not the pothos plant that was crossbred and patented by the University of Florida. That plant is the Pearl and Jade pothos.[1]
Rather, the Manjula Pothos was developed and patented by Ashish Hansoti to be one of the most variegated plants in the world.[2]
The Manjula Pothos variety is widely grown in indoor pots, thanks to its resilient nature.
You won’t find this plant easily at your local garden center, but you can easily purchase it online from sellers who propagate their own.
It belongs to the Araceae family, famous for its dense foliage, beauty, and ease of maintenance.
However, all parts of the pothos plants (stem and leaves) are considered toxic and should be kept at a safe distance from kids and pets.
Though not entirely related to the manjula pothos, some famous cousins are as follows:
- Golden Pothos (golden pothos are also known as golden yellow variegation)
- Silver Pothos, Silver Philodendron, Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus)
- Jade Pothos
- Marble Queen Pothos
- N’Joy Pothos (also known as snow pothos, or even snow queen pothos)
How Do You Take Care Of Manjula Pothos Plants (Epipremnum Aureum ‘Manjula’)?
There is good enough reason for the rare variegated pothos plant to be famously known as ‘Happy Leaf’.
Indeed, the Pothos Manjula is one of the easiest plants to grow indoors.
The Devils Ivy is a cheerful plant that doesn’t require direct sunlight, does well with regular houseplant soil, and doesn’t need much watering.
If you do overwater your pothos plants, you may find that your plant will develop root rot something that you will definitely not want.
Best Temperature and Humidity for Pothos Plants
The Pothos varieties hail from the tropical region. Therefore they prefer warm to moderate temperatures.
This makes them perfect for growing indoors, where the ideal temperature range is 60 to 80 degrees F (15 to 26 degrees C).
If the temperature drops lower than 50 degrees F (10 degrees C), they might not be able to survive.
Likewise, the plants require moderate to high humidity, around 50% to 70%. Now, this might be a little tricky to gauge unless you own a hygrometer.
A hygrometer is an inexpensive gadget that measures the level of humidity in the air.
If you decide to get a hygrometer for your plants (or for general use in your home), we suggest this indoor hygrometer because is economical and has a lot of other features such as tracking the high and low humidity levels plus temperature.
- The Best Industrial Grade Accuracy: Humidity gauge with built-in Swiss...
- Easy-to-Read Backlit Display: Temperature and humidity monitor with 3.5''...
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If you don’t own one, try any of these three tricks:
- Put your plant in the bathroom- the hottest and humid place in your house!
- Place it near other plants. Each plant ‘sweats out’ a little water making the air more humid.
- Use a pebble tray – additional water under the pebbles evaporates and increases humidity.
If you don’t know what a pebble tray is, it’s just a tray filled with plant rock or pebbles for decoration. Here is a great set of plant pebbles that work very well for plant trays.
- 【2lbs Pebbles】Package: 2 pounds. Size: 0.8-1.2 inch.Due to machine...
- 【Decorative Pebbles】FANTIAN colorful pebbles are natural and non-toxic...
- 【Indoor Home Decoration】Add river rocks to your flower show, fix the...
What Soil to Use for Manjula Pothos Plants
Your happy leaf plant requires light, breezy, and well-draining potting soil. The preferred pH level is between 6.1 to 6.5.
If you wish to make your own potting mix, use two parts of peat moss and combine it with one part of natural fertilizer.
In the growing season (Summer and Spring), you can use a slow-release fertilizer to supply essential plant nutrients.
For slow-release fertilizer, we highly suggest this houseplant slow-release fertilizer. It’s super simple to use, and you don’t need to worry about it once you set it in the soil. It’s been a game-changer for our indoor houseplants.
- Specially formulated for plants grown in containers, Osmocote PotShots...
- FEEDS UP TO 6 MONTHS: Feed your outdoor and indoor potted plants for up to...
- NO GUESSWORK: Minimize the risk of over- and under-feeding by giving your...
How Much Sunlight for Your Manjula Pothos?
Your pothos plant doesn’t love the sun very much. It is happy to stay out of direct sunlight and can survive in low light as well.
However, if you want to encourage rapid growth, allow your plant to sit in a bright place without direct sun exposure.
Water Requirements
The Epipremnum happy leaf grows well in slightly moist soil, not damp or soaked.
Make sure your pot has drainage holes so that excess moisture can flow out, or it can lead to root rot.
The rule of the thumb is to only water the plants when the topsoil is dry. Overwatering will kill your pothos quicker than underwatering.
Don’t let the soil dry out completely, though.
If you see brown spots on the leaves or stems, it signals that your plant needs more water as the roots are decaying.
Worried about a watering schedule? Don’t fret. We use these self-watering planters so that we don’t forget to water our plants. They’re also great when we go on vacation or are unable to get to the plants.
- SELF-WATERING, 2-WEEKS+ DEEP RESERVOIR: No more troublesome wicks that clog...
- SELF-AERATING, HIGH DRAINAGE, MINIMIZE ROOT ROT: No need to keep poking...
- WATER FROM THE BOTTOM + NO MORE OVERFLOW: Each planter comes with a clip-on...
Is Manjula Pothos the Same as Marble Queen?
Manjula Pothos may be the queen of your garden, but it’s not the same as Marble Queen.
Let’s tell you how so you can differentiate between the two.
Both these plants belong to the same family of Araceae and carry the same genes, Epipremnum Aureum genus.
However, the cousin plants have different needs, and it’s essential to learn how to differentiate between the two.
Most people have mistaken the two as the same because of the similar heart-shaped, dark green variegated leaves.
But if you look closer, the shape and color of the leaves are indeed unique.
Shape
The Manjula has dark green, heart-shaped leaves that are more crimped.
On the other hand, the marble queen has more broad and flat leaves devoid of movement.
Color and Pattern
These houseplants typically get confused with other pothos types.
The Manjula Pothos’ leaves have whirls of white, gold (bright yellow), and green.
Whereas the Marble Queen and Satin Pothos have creamy white leaves splashed with green color.
If you see the leaves have a distinct swirl on them, it’s definitely Manjula Pothos.
But if it looks like a kid’s dotted artwork, it’s the Marble Queen.
Texture
The pothos plants are famous for their leathery, smooth texture. The same is the case with Marble Queen.
On the flip side, Manjula Pothos have leaves that are more rough and rugged to touch.
FAQ
How can you tell a Manjula pothos?
Manjula pothos has a tendency to have specks or speckles of different colors in the creamy parts, even when the variegated areas aren’t well defined. To distinguish Manjula from other pothos, the leaves have wavy edges and do not lie as flat as other pothos.
What Is The Ideal Way To Grow A Manjula Pothos?
Manjula pothos prefers soil that is moist but not saturated. Under no circumstances can the plant be allowed to stand in any water. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings throughout the spring and summer months. Avoid overwatering in the autumn and winter months. If you’re looking for an indoor vine plant, this is the one for you. In addition, if you have extra counter space, it may expand horizontally as well. To stimulate rapid development, just place it in shady, indirect light and mist it every now and then.
What Diseases Should I Be Careful About When Growing Manjula Pothos?
It could be a sign of root rot caused by overwatering if the dark green leaves start to show brown spots or the stems become leggy.[2] It could also indicate a higher salt level or too much direct sunlight exposure (indirect sunlight is preferable).
If your plant becomes too weak, spider mites and tiny bugs can infest it. At the first sign of infestation, use insecticidal soap to save your pothos plant.
Why is Manjula pothos expensive?
Simply because of the variegation of its leaves. Almost all plants that have the potential to produce variegation are quite pricey. This plant, also known as the Epipremnum “happy leaf,” is a patented variant of the pothos plant. It may be difficult to find Manjula pothos in garden centers. This unusual variegated pothos has certain special care needs in order to keep its leaves looking as brilliant as possible.
Other Pothos Plants To Consider
In addition to being beautiful trailing houseplants, manjula pothos plants also look excellent in hanging baskets. They have leaf marks on them that give them a distinct appearance.
They are often confused with Marble Queen or Satin Pothos plants, although they are not the same species.
If you are looking for other types of Pothos plants, read further for our post on:
References
Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.