Hawaiian pothos vs Golden pothos [Top Differences]

If you’re looking for a plant to grow in your home, you may be wondering whether to choose Hawaiian pothos VS Golden pothos. Here, we’ll compare the care requirements of each plant, as well as their toxic nature. Also, find out how often you should repot them. You can grow both types of plants in your home with the proper care.

 

Hawaiian pothos vs Golden pothos

The leaves are the main difference between Hawaiian Pothos vs Golden Pothos. Hawaiian Pothos has both green and pale yellow leaves. Golden Pothos‘ yellow color is brighter and more intense. Hawaiian Pothos also has larger leaves than Golden Pothos. Hawaiian Pothos prefers direct sunlight that is brighter, while Golden Pothos can thrive in less direct sunlight.

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Foliage

Both Hawaiian Pothos, as well as Golden Pothos, have heart-shaped, pointed tips. The color of the leaves is what makes them stand out.

Hawaiian Pothos is known for its bicolor leaves. The combination of light yellow and bright green creates a stunning shade. Although the yellow color isn’t as intense as its competitor, it can almost be white if there’s not enough light.

 

Golden Pothos has a similar two-tone effect to the competitor, but the yellow is more intense and richer. The green component is approximately the same as that of the competitor. Sometimes, you can find Golden Pothos specimens with white stripes in addition to yellow and green.

The size of the leaves can also make a difference. Golden Pothos is the most common leaf size for this species. It can reach over 14 inches when grown outdoors in a tropical climate in large pots.

Hawaiian Pothos has larger leaves even though it is grown indoors. The leaves can grow to be enormous if they are kept outside in the right conditions.

This can be both a benefit and a drawback. This has the advantage that large leaves make the plant stand out, but it also means that there is more space inside the house.

Blooming

Both plants require a lot of space for flowering. They need to have solid roots and a large crown. The soil must be well-drained, nutritious, and light. It needs lots of light and water.

These indoor conditions are difficult to attain, so you will rarely see them bloom. Pothos can only be grown outdoors by those who are able to do so.

Hawaiian Pothos flowers have larger petals because it is slightly larger than the average plant. But we’ll get to that later. The flowers are cream in color instead of white.

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Golden Pothos is snow-white without any hint of cream. Due to its smaller size, the flower size is slightly smaller than the competitors. This is a good thing, as the smaller plants require less soil and sunlight to bloom.

 

Light

Due to their growth, both plants require similar lighting requirements. They thrive under the protection of large trees. The pothos receives the brightest reflected sunlight while the leaves of the trees absorb the most sunlight.

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These plants will thrive in your home if you provide the right lighting. This is best done in an east or west-facing room. The pothos should be placed 3 feet from the windows so that it receives plenty of sunlight but do not burn it.

The plant should not be placed in a south-facing room. Midday sunlight can severely damage leaves.

Pothos can also be grown in northern rooms. A north-facing room with enough light can allow the plant to thrive if it is in a sunny area. If there is not enough sun, artificial light may be required.

Remember to change your sun exposure gradually.

 

The dimensions and shapes

These plants can reach up to 30 feet in the wild.

The maximum height you can grow at home is 10 feet. Both plants can be controlled by adjusting their heights (moss sticks) and by pruning. Use sterile, sharp tools when pruning pothos. Don’t cut too close to the nodes and don’t remove more than 30% at a given time.

Hawaiian Pothos is more vigorous and a larger plant than Golden Pothos. Hawaiian Pothos is the better choice if you need a large plant in a short time. Golden Pothos is a better choice if you prefer compact plants.

See Also: Shangri La Pothos Care Guide

Water

Both varieties require the same amount of water. They are very water-loving, but they don’t like standing in wet soil long. After 50% of the potting soil is dry, water the pothos. A moisture meter can be used to accurately measure the soil’s moisture.

It would be best if you watered pothos with lots of water. Drainage holes should be provided in the pot where pothos is grown. The excess water from the pot should be drained into the saucer underneath it after watering. All excess water should be drained from the saucer.

Excessive moisture in the soil can be caused by watering less often or on a regular basis. Root rot is more common in soil that is too dry. Root rot can cause yellowing of the leaves.

The leaves will shrivel and droop if you fail to water your pothos at the right time. This indicates that the pothos needs to be watered immediately. The leaves will become firm again after being watered.

Let the soil dry completely during winter, but don’t let it dry too long. This is because pothos does not require a lot of water in winter.

Temperature and humidity

Pothos is a heat-loving species, so it needs warm conditions to thrive. The ideal temperature for Pothos is between 65 and 85 degrees F (18 to 29 degrees C). You can expect strong growth and no health issues in this situation.

The pothos may stop growing completely or slow down if the temperature drops to 55°F (12°C). The temperature can drop further and the leaves could lose their color or be damaged by cold. Avoid this by not bringing the pothos outside during cold nights.

It is important to keep it away from a refrigerator and ensure that there are no cold drafts.

Both varieties require a minimum humidity of 60%. The leaves could turn brown or crack at their tips.

Place a humidifier or pebble tray near the pothos to ensure proper humidity. Avoid spraying the leaves with a sprayer, and avoid placing pothos in proximity to heating devices. You should also ensure that there is good air circulation.

 

Fertilization

No matter what variety you choose to grow, it is important that you provide food for them. A water-soluble fertilizer that contains all the necessary elements is the best fertilizer for pothos. There are many great fertilizers available. There are even fertilizers that can be used for aroids.

Fertilize from spring through the end of summer. You should fertilize no more often than every 1.5 to 2 weeks. Avoid fertilizing the plant in the second half of autumn and winter. The plant doesn’t need to be fertilized there.

The roots can be damaged if you fertilize more often than recommended or exceed the recommended fertilizer amount. The plant will turn brown and become soft. This can be corrected by planting the plant in fresh soil.

However, if the pothos isn’t fertilized at all, it won’t grow vigorously and will not look good. The pothos will slow down and the leaves will become smaller than necessary. The pothos will appear unattractive, and can even get sick more frequently.

Repot

Pothos need to be transplanted from one time to another. It should be done every 2 years. If the plant needs to be removed from its pot, take it out and inspect the roots. Roots that are too tight will need to replant.

The new pot should be at least 2 inches higher than the previous one. Pots that are too big can cause rot. If the pot does not have at least four large holes, you should make them.

The potting soil must be light in color and should be drained quickly. Mix half the potting soil and sterile compost together with some bark and perlite to make your own mixture. You can also buy orchid or aroid dirt, which is a good substrate for pothos.

Take care not to damage roots and transplant carefully. After transplanting, water the pothos once again. Do not fertilize the pothos for the first month following transplantation.

Pests & Diseases

Pests can cause damage to both plants. Aphids, mites, and mealybugs are the most common pests. Scales and thrips are less common. These insects live in different areas of the plant, and they feed on the sap. If left unchecked the pothos might even die.

You must first wash the pest off with water. This will resolve the problem if the pest colony is small. Spray the pothos with water containing horticultural oil or neem oil if the pests come back.

Another problem is diseases. It is important to maintain good ventilation in the area where pothos is located. You should also ensure that humidity is not above 90%

Spray the pothos with an alkaline fungicide solution if you see brown spots or yellowing on the leaves. Copper fungicides can be used to control fungal diseases. You can repeat this step if needed.

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