Cebu Blue (Epipremnum pinnatum) Care Guide
The Epipremnum Cebu Blue care guide:
Cebu Blues are low-maintenance like other pothos varieties, but have some unique features: they have a unique silvery-blue leaf color, they develop perforations when fully mature, and they are often confused for a monstera!
They are gaining popularity because of their low-maintenance requirements and unique appearance.
Light:
These are very sensitive to direct lighting, so bright indirect is best. Morning sun seems to be its favorite but will tolerate low light as well. They go great in a kitchen window or a corner by the couch! We highly recommend these for people living in apartments due to their unique nature and ease of care!
Soil:
Fast, well draining but capable of retaining some moisture. Never allow them to sit in standing water for long or allow the soil to become soggy. Commercial soils on the market work just fine. We use a mix of perlite, ground coco coir, coco coir chunks and ground sphagnum moss.
Water:
In general, Epipremnums do fine with a watering ever other week. If your soil holds enough moisture, then you can skip a week or so depending on how fast they are growing. Remember, the more light they get the more water they will need. The Cebu Blue is very sensitive to overwatering, so we sometimes allow them to slightly wilt before the next watering. We like to let them tell us when they are ready for a drink.
Fertilizer:
Usually feeding every other week will make these happy, although due to their ease of care, fertilizing can be done 1x a month. Choose a balanced water-soluble fertilizer. Any commercial fertilizer on the market would work great! We fertilize 1-2x a week during its growing season, and find it has more vigorous growth.
Temperature:
They are very adaptable to their environment and do well from 60-95 degrees F. Anything below 60 and the Cebu will become stressed, potentially stunting its growth. Remember, they are from the jungle, so the warmer they are, the happier they seem to be.
Humidity:
These don't seem to be to demanding with humidity, although you should mist them 1x-2x a day as this will prevent Spider Mites and keep the tips from browning. They love a good misting!
Containers:
You want to make sure that the container you are using has a drainage hole at the bottom. This will prevent them from sitting in water, causing root rot or a build up of salts and minerals. In general, you will want to repot them at least 1x a year. This will promote larger growth and allowing the roots to have more room to grow, preventing them from becoming root bound.
Common Pests:
These seem to be very hardy against pests, although the most common would be fungus gnats, and Spider Mites. Usually a daily misting and following a watering schedule will help prevent these pests. Also, inspecting leaves 1x a week will help catch them early. If this is the case, you will want to use a horticultural spray or a weekly Neem oil leaf shinning.
Troubleshooting:
Yellowing leaves could be caused by not enough light, nutrient deficient or over watering. If the leaves begin browning, then that could be either plant is sun burnt, getting too much light, not enough humidity or too much fertilizer. Try moving the plant closer to a window and fertilizing every other week and get on a watering schedule that works for you. As for browning of the leaves, moving the plant to a different location in the room and getting on a feeding schedule for you plant should do the trick. Other then that, these are super easy to care for!
Maintenance:
Make sure to examine your plant at least 1x a week, "scouting" for the first signs of pests. If you do find signs of potential bugs, a weekly treatment of diluted neem oil on a paper towel will work great. All you need to do is wipe down the entire leaf(s) and stems. Don't forget to remove yellow or dead leaves, as this can create hiding places for Spider mites and Fungus Gnats. Create a watering routine that works with your schedule, fertilizing the plant when needed. Every 6 months or so flush the soil out by taking the plant to the bathtub or outside and let water flush the soil, which removes any built up salts, minerals or fertilizers. Another thing is try repot the plant 1x a year sizing up 1 size larger.