Dragon’s Tail Pothos

Because of its unique leaves, the pothos plant species known as the dragon’s tail pothos or Epipremnum pinnatum, is one that you should include in your collection of indoor plants. When they are young, the leaves of dragon’s tail pothos are shiny and elliptical, but as they get older, they change into deeply lobed leaves that resemble a dragon or lizard’s tail. These plants have thick, fleshy stems that can either climb a moss pole if one is supplied or crawl around the surface of the pot and beyond.

If you want to grow your own dragon’s tail pothos or learn more about the unique traits of this plant, keep on reading!

What is Dragon’s Tail Pothos?

Epipremnum pinnatum is the scientific name for dragon’s tail pothos. It is also called the centipede tongavine or tibatib. It is native to China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Australia. It is naturalized in the West Indies. It belongs to the same genus as the pothos species that are grown as houseplants called Epipremnum aureum. However, dragon’s tail pothos is also a well-liked indoor plant that is usually available online as well as in select local nurseries and garden shops. It is distinguished from the golden pothos variant by having leaves that are pointed rather than heart-shaped. The elegant-looking and low-maintenance dragon’s tail pothos will add life and color to your living area. This plant is essential for indoor gardeners and has quite a distinctive look.

How to Grow a Dragon’s Tail Pothos

In the wild, the dragon’s tail pothos thrives in tropical and subtropical regions as a forest floor dweller, meaning it enjoys warmth and humidity. It can, however, adapt quickly and does well in homes, offices, and other indoor spaces. Place your pothos away from the sun and in moderate to bright light. While growth will be hindered, it can technically withstand growing in low light. The distance between the leaves will become wider if the light is insufficient, and the plants themselves may stop growing leaves altogether. Obvious indications that the plant needs to be transferred to a more sunny location are leaf dropping and loss of color and growth.

Use a high-quality potting mix before planting. Once planted, continue to water thoroughly and frequently, making sure that water drains out of the pot’s base. Let the top one or two inches of the potting mix dry out in between waterings. These plants may last longer without water once they are established, especially if they are placed in a cool area. However, they will really thrive with regular waterings and humidity. To boost humidity, mist the leaves occasionally or combine them with other indoor plants. Your dragon’s tail pothos plant will enjoy it even if it isn’t absolutely essential.

Give your dragon’s tail pothos a pole made of sphagnum moss or coconut fiber, which you can either build yourself or buy from most nurseries, to train it to climb rather than crawl around the pot. Set the totem in place behind the plant, and then use twine or wire to encourage the stem or stems to climb the pole. It will ultimately set down roots along the outside of the pole, particularly if it is misted or watered often. A wire trellis or bamboo poles are other options for supporting the stems.

Dragon’s tail may grow outside in partial shade in warm, frost-free areas. As a creeping groundcover, it can be grown in a pot or cultivated in a garden bed, but keep in mind that if there is a tree nearby, it will probably start climbing it once it starts growing. Before planting, make sure the soil is enriched with lots of organic matter and is well-draining to avoid root rot.

How to Care for a Dragon’s Tail Pothos

The dragon’s tail pothos has relatively easy maintenance needs. This plant spreads like a weed in its natural habitat, where it grows as a ground cover or climbing vine. Whatever features your house has, it won’t have any trouble adapting to indoor growth conditions provided you are mindful of its care.

When the top two inches of your pothos’ soil feel dry to the touch, be sure to give it plenty of water. The optimum irrigation technique for this plant is to soak and drain since it guarantees that the soil is evenly wet and that all of the roots have access to water and nutrients. Avoid scheduling a routine for watering your dragon’s tail plant. Depending on the season and the space it is in, its watering needs will change quite a bit. For instance, if your pothos is growing in a warm, sunny, and dry environment, it will require more water during the spring and summer. When placed in a dark, chilly, or damp room or throughout the winter, it will need to be watered less often. Always check the soil with your finger before adding extra water to this pothos in order to avoid problems caused by overwatering, such as root rot.

Because of its low humidity requirements, dragon’s tail pothos is easy to grow indoors. Nonetheless, keep up a humidity level over 40% for the best possible outcome. You can also try raising the humidity to about 60% if you want to promote quicker development and bigger leaves; your plant will appreciate it!

This pothos species thrives when placed in indirect, strong light. It isn’t very snobbish about where you store it in your house, though. This flexible houseplant can thrive in low light, but it will also survive a few hours of strong direct sunshine. This plant’s growth rate will be influenced by the quantity of light it gets. If placed in a room with a north window or on a high, dark shelf, it will grow more slowly. Keep it in a room with an east or west-facing window, about two or three feet away from the window, to promote rapid development.

The ideal temperature range for these plants is between 64 degrees F and 84 degrees F. If given enough water and humidity, it can withstand temperatures as high as 95 degrees F. The plant may struggle to thrive and can possibly sustain irreversible root damage if temperatures fall below 50 degrees F. If you reside in USDA hardiness zones nine and higher, you can grow this species outdoors. But, bear in mind that this quickly-growing plant has the potential to become invasive if you decide to grow it in your yard or garden.

You should plant this species in a large container or pot to make sure it doesn’t escape cultivation. Put your dragon’s tail pothos in a soil mixture that retains moisture but drains easily. When it comes to soil, you don’t need anything particularly sophisticated. It is perfectly fine to use a mixture of two parts organic potting mix and one part perlite. Use a fertilizer designed for tropical plants to feed your dragon’s tail pothos once a month from spring to early fall. To encourage ongoing development, a balanced organic fertilizer with a 10-10-10 ratio of nutrients will do. In the winter, when it won’t require any further nourishment, the plant will go into a brief period of dormancy. Don’t fertilize your pothos during this time.

How to Repot a Dragon’s Tail Pothos

Every two to three years, these houseplants need to be repotted to avoid becoming rootbound. If you can see the roots coming out of the drainage holes or the top of the soil, it is the best indication that you need to repot your plant.

That being said, you might also need to repot your pothos if the soil is very damp. If your pothos suddenly starts to wilt or develop brown areas or if you have fungus gnat infestation issues, you may also need to repot.

Repotting your pothos is best done in the spring and summer. The months that are warmer and sunnier are when your plant is actively growing. This will improve the roots’ ability to recuperate following transplantation and establish themselves. Repot your pothos in a pot that is two inches wider or one size larger than the previous pot. Make sure the pot has drainage holes at the bottom at all times. You don’t want to give your beautiful dragon’s tail pothos root rot! This plant does well in clay and plastic containers. With terracotta pots, though, you will need to water your pothos more often as this material will suck moisture from the soil.

Common Diseases and Pests That Target Dragon’s Tail Pothos

These plants seldom ever experience major issues since they are resistant to pests and illnesses. There are a few things you should pay attention to, though.

Scale, mites, and dastardly mealybugs are the dragon’s tail pothos’ most frequent pests. Also, if the soil in the pot is left damp for an extended period of time, fungus gnats might decide to take up residence there. Although insect infestations are rare, they might prove lethal if wrong growth conditions stress your plant. Hence, using a well-draining soil mixture and providing the correct quantity of light, water, and fertilizer can help keep your pothos pest-free.

In addition to pests, there are some signs of disease to watch out for. To start, your dragon’s tail pothos’ leaves might inevitably acquire tiny, rounded holes, especially along the primary leaf vein. The air in your home might be too dry and the leaf might not have properly unfurled if the holes are irregularly shaped and have dried edges. Also, if you have dogs, particularly cats, this can indicate that they have been gnawing on the leaves, which is quite dangerous because pothos are poisonous to most pets.

You might also run into yellow leaves. The most common causes of yellowing leaves on dragon’s tail pothos are overwatering and failing to let the soil dry out in between watering sessions. Poorly draining, wet soil can support bacterial and fungal illnesses, eventually resulting in root rot.

Your pothos leaves might also have brown or black stains as a sign of a bacterial or fungal infestation. They don’t happen often, but when they do, it means your plant’s health is in grave danger. Finding the precise source of the issue and taking the appropriate action are the only ways to rescue your pothos when it gets to this point.

How Large Do Dragon’s Tail Pothos Grow?

When cultivated indoors, the dragon’s tail pothos plant can produce vines that are up to 10 feet long. This plant can climb trees up to 50 feet in height in the wild by using its aerial roots. To put it simply, this plant can grow quite long and large!

The dragon’s tail pothos is a lovely plant that is visually unique and quite different from the common golden pothos or Epipremnum aureum species. Why not add this special little plant to your indoor plant collection?

Up Next:

• Growing Indoor Pothos: How To Keep This Plant Happy Inside
• How Often Should I Water My Pothos?
• Do Pothos Like To Be Root-Bound? Everything You Need To Know

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