Cebu Blue Pothos

Written by Em Casalena
Published: February 24, 2023
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You’re going to like this plant if you’re a total sucker for any plant with a bluish or purplish hue. The colorful Cebu blue pothos, which is unique to Cebu Island in the Philippines, can be seen clinging to local trees in its natural habitat. Despite being an invasive species, it is currently rapidly spreading over the globe and quickly becoming a popular choice for indoor plants.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at some important information about the Cebu blue pothos variety, as well as how you can start growing your own plant.

What is the Cebu Blue Pothos?

The Cebu blue pothos is classified as Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Cebu Blue’. Epipremnum pinnatum is considered a less popular or rarer houseplant when compared to the common Epipremnum aureum or golden pothos. Epipremnum pinnatum is often referred to as the centipede tongavine or dragon-tail pothos.

The Cebu blue pothos is a distinctive variety of pothos that is native to the Filipino island of Cebu and is in high demand because of its exquisite leaves. They can reach lengths of over 40 feet in the wild and have enormous leaves, but indoors, they are more likely to go no higher than 10 feet and have leaves no longer than four inches. This photo-worthy pothos, whose thin, silvery green-blue leaves are its defining feature, is pleasantly easy to grow inside. Keep this pothos out of reach if you have pets since, regrettably, it belongs to the Epipremnum genus, which is hazardous to both cats and dogs. If you live in USDA hardiness zones nine through 11, you can grow this beauty outdoors in areas where it is not considered invasive.

Potted tropical 'Epipremnum Pinnatum Cebu Blue' houseplant with silver-blue leaves on white background

The Cebu blue pothos (pictured) is known for its muted bluish coloring and very oblong leaves.

©Firn/Shutterstock.com

How to Care for a Cebu Blue Pothos

The Cebu blue pothos is very easy and even fun to cultivate and take care of, much like the majority of its cousins in the pothos family. In the United States, this pothos is most often grown indoors as a houseplant even though it grows outside naturally in the Philippines.

The Cebu blue pothos has two distinct development stages: juvenile and adult. The juvenile stage is the most easily recognized, and it is distinguished by the well-known short, elongated oval leaves that have a silvery blue-green tint. Larger green leaves with fenestrations are indicative of the adult phase, which is often only seen in plants that are cultivated outside.

While most Cebu blue pothos can be manipulated in a way to encourage them to grow along a moss pole or any kind of trellis, adult Cebu blue pothos plants are very powerful climbing plants and do not really grow well without some type of structural support. This is the largest difference between these two stages in terms of care. Nevertheless, growing young and adult Cebu blue pothos is not too difficult.

In between waterings, allow the top one to two inches of soil to dry up. Next, water the plant well, letting the extra water drain from the bottom of the pot. If necessary, the Cebu blue pothos can do without water for longer periods of time, but this variety will grow best when watered often. Remember to reduce watering a little bit throughout the winter to prevent overwatering the plant while it’s in its semi-dormant stage.

The Cebu blue pothos grows surprisingly well indoors despite being a native of the Philippines’ tropical environment. Give your Cebu blue pothos as much extra humidity as you can to promote healthy development. One of the best methods to enhance the humidity surrounding a plant is to place a humidifier nearby, or you can put your plant in a naturally humid area like a bathroom, laundry room, or kitchen. Avoid drafty windows in the winter as this pothos can’t handle the cold at all.

Choose a spot for your Cebu blue pothos to reside that gets plenty of bright and indirect light to promote vigorous, healthy growth. Cebu blue pothos do not thrive in low or dim light for very long periods of time, unlike other species of pothos like golden pothos that can manage in very dim light. Also, it is advisable to keep this plant out of direct sun as its leaves burn very easily.

The Cebu blue pothos needs wet but well-draining soil, just like all other pothos plants. The ideal drainage is achieved by mixing one part potting soil, one part tree bark, and one part perlite. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month in the spring and summer. Once the pothos starts to become dormant in the early fall months, stop fertilizing all the way through winter.

How to Grow Cebu Blue Pothos From Cuttings

The Cebu blue is quite easy to grow, and it is also very easy to propagate. Using stem cuttings is the easiest way to multiply your plants.

Snip a stem during the growing season (spring and summer) that has at least two nodes. A node is where the leaf attaches to the stem. Look for the little nubs on the stems. Nodes are where roots will grow from after propagation, so it’s important to identify them. These growth spots are already exposed if you cut a leggy stem, so you won’t need to remove any of the lower leaves.

In two inches of damp, new soil, bury the cutting with one node. To hasten the formation of roots, you can also dip the cut end of the piece in rooting hormone fertilizer before planting. Horticulturists will occasionally but not usually do this. It’s not necessary for a plant that can be multiplied so easily like the Cebu blue pothos.

By covering the plant with a plastic bag and keeping it in a warm location out of direct sunlight, you can maintain a high humidity level for your growing pothos. You’ll be well on your way to a brand-new Cebu blue in only three or four weeks when you start to feel resistance when you gently tug on the roots.

Pothos cuttings can also be easily rooted in water. Although pothos are among the easiest plants to propagate, most plants generally experience some shock when they are rooted in water and moved to soil. That being said, this species is quite tolerant when transitioning from water to soil.

Just place a clipping in a jar or vase of water and wait for it to grow. Replenish the water every a week or so with filtered and dechlorinated water, and keep an eye on the root’s growth. Transfer it to soil after it has grown some substantial roots. If you enjoy watching plant roots develop, this is a good propagation method.

A closeup of the veiny blue-green leaves of Epipremnum Pinnatum 'Cebu Blue'.

The Cebu blue pothos (pictured) can be easily propagated into many different plants, rather than from seed.

©iStock.com/Firn

Pests, Problems, and Diseases to Watch Out For

You should watch out for several common houseplant pests when it comes to keeping a Cebu blue, because this pothos does have some vulnerabilities. Scale and mealybugs are sap-sucking parasites that gradually harm the plant’s leaves and have a tendency to target tropical plants. One of the first signs that you are dealing with an infestation is when you notice a sticky residue on the leaves and stem of the plant. Another typical indoor pest that is drawn to pothos plants by their damp soil is fungus gnats. These flying pests deposit their eggs in the plant’s soil, and the roots of plants are what their larvae eat.

To get rid of or protect against these pests, check for signs of infestation regularly. Try using neem oil or an organic pesticide to treat your plant and eradicate any pests. If the infestation is very severe, you will need to cut your losses and throw the plant out before the infestation can move to your other houseplants.

The most frequent disease issues with Cebu blue pothos are brought on by inadequate watering or lighting. Nonetheless, these pothos are often not too problematic when it comes to potential illnesses.

Yellowing leaves are one of the most prevalent issues with Cebu blue pothos. However, a variety of things, including excessive light, underwatering, and low humidity, can result in yellow leaves. The easiest way to determine the underlying reason behind the fading leaves on your plant is to evaluate its particular growth environment. What is it missing? What could be improved? By boosting your care, your leaves will likely return to normal.

Curling or wilting leaves can also be an issue. Your Cebu blue pothos probably needs a good watering if its leaves are showing signs of withering or curling. A few hours after being watered, the leaves should resume their usual perky state.

The plant’s roots may have dried up as a result of underwatering if your leaves don’t regrow and continue to wilt. You should inspect the root system to make sure. You can resurrect your pothos by propagating the plant’s healthy stems if the roots have dried up and shriveled.

Is the growth of your Cebu blue unusually slow? Lack of light is the most common reason for the Cebu blue pothos’ delayed development. To promote more vigorous development, try shifting your plant to a spot that receives strong, indirect light.

Is the Cebu Blue Pothos Rare?

The Cebu blue pothos is a vigorous grower, so it’s not very uncommon in the bigger picture of things, but it can be difficult to find as an indoor plant. If you can’t find this species or variety at your local garden center or plant nursery, try looking at online specialty shops. If that doesn’t yield much luck, there are many plant collectors on social media (particularly Instagram and Reddit) that share or sell rare plant cuttings.

Is the Cebu Blue Pothos a Philodendron?

The Cebu blue pothos is a pothos! It is part of the Epipremnum genus. Despite sharing a plant family with philodendron plants, all plants in the Epipremnum genus are considered pothos.

Are Cebu Blue Pothos Dangerous?

Unfortunately, despite being one of the most beautiful plant families, every single member of the Epipremnum genus is poisonous to both people and animals. Thus, keep it out of reach or avoid keeping this plant altogether if there are small mouths in the house. Though not usually fatal, pothos can cause stomach upset and throat issues in children and pets.

The Cebu blue is a unique little pothos plant that can stand out from your other, greener houseplants. As an accent plant, this pothos can really pull a room together. If you have the time and energy to provide minimal care, this special little plant will last for years in your space.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © Firn/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Em Casalena is a writer at A-Z Animals where their primary focus is on plants, gardening, and sustainability. Em has been writing and researching about plants for nearly a decade and is a proud Southwest Institute of Healing Arts graduate and certified Urban Farming instructor. Em is a resident of Arizona and enjoys learning about eco-conscious living, thrifting at local shops, and caring for their Siamese cat Vladimir.

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