Hawaiian Pothos Vs Golden Pothos (Differences and Similarities)

The popularity of aroids these days is extreme. That’s why we’re going to compare some of them today.

The main difference between Hawaiian Pothos and Golden Pothos is the leaves. Hawaiian Pothos has light yellow and green leaves. Whereas the yellow color of Golden Pothos is much brighter and more intense. Also, Hawaiian Pothos has larger leaves than Golden Pothos. Hawaiian Pothos prefers a location with brighter indirect sunlight, while Golden Pothos can grow in a less bright place.

Foliage

Both Hawaiian Pothos and Golden Pothos have heart-shaped leaves with pointed tips. But what sets them apart is the coloring of the leaves.

Hawaiian Pothos has bicolor leaves. The light yellow color mingles with the bright green to create amazing variegation. The yellow color is not as intense as the competitor’s, it can be almost white if there is not enough light.

Golden Pothos on the other hand also has a bicolor effect but its yellow is much more intense and rich. The green component is about the same as the competitor. It is also sometimes possible to find specimens of Golden Pothos with white stripes along with yellow and green, that is, sometimes this variety can be tricolor.

Another difference in the leaves is their size. Golden Pothos is the usual leaf size for this type of plant. When growing it outside in a tropical climate and a big pot it can reach over 14 inches long.

Hawaiian Pothos, on the other hand, has much larger leaves even when grown indoors. If it is kept outdoors (in the right climate, of course), the leaves can be enormous.

This is both an advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage is that the big leaves look unusual, and the disadvantage is that the plant needs more space in the house.

Blooming

As for flowering, both plants need a lot of space to develop a strong root system and a large crown. In addition, the soil must be nutritious, light, and drained. It also needs plenty of light and water.

As you can understand, it is difficult to achieve these indoor conditions, so it is rare to see these plants bloom. Only those lucky enough to be able to grow pothos outdoors can get them blooming.

Hawaiian Pothos has bigger flowers because it is a slightly larger plant, but we will talk about that later. Also, the color of its flowers is cream rather than white.

Golden Pothos has snow-white flowers without a hint of cream. Also, the size of the flowers is slightly smaller than the competitor due to the smaller size of the plant itself. But this is an advantage because the smaller plant needs less soil and sun to bloom.

Size and shape

Golden Pothos and Hawaiian Pothos are climbing vine-like plants. This means that they mostly grow upwards and only a little bit wider. In the wild, these plants can reach up to 30 feet in height.

In-home growing, the maximum height you can get is 10 feet. The size of both plants can easily be controlled by support height (moss pole) and pruning. When pruning pothos, use a sterile and sharp tool. Do not cut close to a node and do not remove more than 30% of the plant at a time.

Hawaiian Pothos grows a bit more vigorously and is a larger plant than Golden Pothos. If you want a large plant quickly, Hawaiian Pothos is a better choice. On the other hand, if you like compact plants, choose Golden Pothos.

Light

Both plants have similar lighting needs due to the way they grow. They grow under the protection of large trees. The leaves of the trees absorb most of the sunlight, while the pothos receives bright reflected sunlight.

To get these plants to thrive in your home, you need to recreate the lighting they need. An east or west room is best for this. Place the pothos 3 feet from the window so it gets plenty of light, but so the rays don’t burn it.

In a southern room, the plant should be in the back of the room or to the side of the window as the mid-day sun can seriously damage the leaves.

It is also possible to grow pothos in a northern room. If you live in a sunny climate, a north room may have enough light for the plant to grow properly. But if there is a little sun in your latitude, additional artificial light may be needed.

Also, always remember that sun exposure must be changed gradually.

Watering

Water requirements are also the same in the two varieties. They like plenty of water but do not like to be in wet soil for long periods. Water the pothos after 50% of the potting soil has dried out. For accurate soil moisture monitoring, install a moisture meter.

Water pothos with plenty of water. The pot in which the pothos grows should have drainage holes. After watering, any excess water should drain out into the saucer underneath the pot. Pour all excess water out of the saucer.

Watering more often or watering on a schedule will result in excessive moisture in the soil. Wet soil will make the roots soft and root rot will affect them more easily. Symptoms of root rot are yellowing of the leaves.

If you don’t water the pothos in time for whatever reason, its leaves will start to shrivel and droop. This is an indicator that the plant needs water immediately. After watering, the leaves will become sturdy again.

During the winter months, let the soil dry out completely, but don’t let it stay dry for long. This is due to the pothos being dormant in winter and not needing a lot of water.

Temperature and humidity

Pothos is a heat-loving plant, so you need to provide warm conditions for it to thrive. The most suitable temperature is between 65°F and 85°F (18-29°C). In this case, you can count on vigorous growth and no health problems.

If the temperature drops below 55°F (12 °C), the pothos will slow down considerably or stop growing altogether. If the temperature drops further, the leaves may change color or get cold damage. To avoid all this, do not take the pothos outside if the nights are cold.

Also, don’t place it near a refrigerator, and make sure there are no cold drafts in your house.

When it comes to humidity, both varieties need at least 60% humidity. Otherwise, the leaves can start to brown from the tips or crack.

To ensure the right humidity, place a pebble tray or humidifier near the pothos. Avoid misting the leaves with a sprayer and do not place pothos near heating devices. Also, ensure good air circulation.

Fertilization

Whichever variety you choose, you have to make sure you feed them. The best fertilizer for pothos is a water-soluble fertilizer with a balance of all necessary elements. You can find a lot of good fertilizers on the market. You can even find a specific fertilizer for aroids.

It is best to fertilize from spring until the end of summer. Don’t fertilize more often than once every 1.5 to 2 months. Also, avoid fertilizing in the second half of the autumn and winter since the plant doesn’t need to be fertilized at this time.

If you exceed the recommended amount of fertilizer or fertilize more than once a month, the roots can be damaged. The leaves will turn brown and the plant will go soft. You can remedy this by replanting it in new soil.

On the other hand, if you don’t fertilize the pothos at all, you can’t expect vigorous growth and a beautiful appearance. It will grow slowly, the leaves will be smaller than they should be. And overall the pothos will look unattractive and the plant may even get sick more often.

Repotting

You must transplant pothos from time to time. This should be done about once every 1-2 years. To check if it needs replanting, gently take the plant out of the pot and examine the roots; if they are tight, they need to be replanted.

The new pot should be 1-2 inches larger than the old pot. Avoid using pots that are too large because excess soil around the roots can lead to rot. Make sure the pot has at least 4 large holes, if not, make them.

The potting soil should be light and quickly drained. You can make your own mix by mixing half the potting soil with sterile compost and adding some perlite and bark. Or you can buy orchids or aroids soil, which is also a suitable substrate for pothos.

Transplant carefully, taking care not to damage any of the roots. After transplanting, water the pothos once more. Avoid fertilizing the first month after transplanting.

Problems

Unfortunately, both plants can be damaged by pests. The most common pests are aphids, mites, and mealybugs. Thrips and scale are somewhat less common. All of these insects occupy different parts of the plant and feed on its sap and if you do nothing about it, the pothos may even die.

To get rid of the pests you must first wash them off with water. If the pest colony was small, this will solve the problem. In case the pests return, spray the pothos with a water solution of neem oil or horticultural oil.

Diseases are another problem. The best way to avoid them is to ensure good ventilation of the room where the pothos is located and not to overwater it. Also, make sure that the humidity does not exceed 90%.

If you notice brown spots, yellowing of the leaves, or other abnormalities on your plant, spray the pothos with an aqueous fungicide solution. Fungicides with copper are the best fungicides for fighting fungal diseases. Repeat if necessary after a while.