The Cebu Blue Pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Cebu Blue’) is a popular houseplant admired for its distinct silvery blue-green foliage. This tropical vine naturally exhibits a climbing habit in its native environment, often ascending trees and other structures. Encouraging this climbing behavior indoors can significantly enhance the plant’s growth, leading to larger, more mature leaves and a more robust appearance.
Understanding Cebu Blue Pothos Climbing
The Cebu Blue Pothos is an epiphyte, meaning it naturally grows on other plants for support, rather than in soil. In its natural habitat, it climbs to access more light in the dense jungle canopy, driven by its desire for brighter conditions.
A key mechanism enabling this climbing behavior is the development of aerial roots. These roots emerge from the plant’s stems, allowing it to cling securely to surfaces for stability as it ascends. They also absorb moisture and nutrients from the air, supplementing what the soil roots take up. With a suitable climbing structure, the Cebu Blue Pothos can undergo ontogenetic progression, transitioning from its juvenile form (characterized by smaller leaves) to a mature form with significantly larger leaves and fenestrations (natural splits and holes), similar to those seen in Monstera plants.
Selecting a Climbing Support
Providing appropriate climbing support is crucial for encouraging your Cebu Blue Pothos to climb. Moss poles are a popular choice, mimicking the tree trunks the plant naturally ascends. Made of sphagnum moss or coir, they retain moisture, benefiting aerial roots for attachment and absorption. They also encourage larger, healthier leaves by supporting vertical growth and access to more light.
Trellises offer another effective climbing solution, providing a framework for vines to intertwine and grow. Available in various materials like metal, wood, or plastic, they can be chosen based on aesthetic preference and plant size. Unlike moss poles, trellises do not offer moisture to aerial roots but provide structural support for vertical growth. Select a sturdy support that can accommodate the plant’s potential growth.
Training Your Pothos to Climb
Initiate the climbing process by gently guiding the Cebu Blue Pothos stems onto the chosen support. Position the plant’s vines against the moss pole or trellis. Use soft plant ties, clips, or twine to secure the stems, ensuring no damage to delicate tissue. Ensure aerial roots make contact with the support, especially moss poles, as this encourages attachment and natural climbing.
Regularly check new growth and gently direct it upwards, wrapping it around the support as it elongates. Starting this training when the plant is young or has manageable vine lengths simplifies the process. For longer, trailing stems, carefully untangle and reorient them to climb the support, securing them at various points. This consistent guidance helps the plant establish its upward trajectory and promotes mature foliage.
Ongoing Care for Climbing Pothos
Caring for a climbing Cebu Blue Pothos involves specific adjustments to maintain its health and encourage continued vertical growth. Provide bright, indirect light. Climbing allows the plant to access more illumination, supporting larger leaf development. While it tolerates some lower light, optimal growth and fenestration are more likely in brighter conditions.
Watering requires attention, especially if using a moss pole, as the moss should be kept moist to encourage aerial root attachment and absorption. Water the plant when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry, typically every 1-2 weeks, adjusting frequency based on light and humidity levels.
Pruning can help manage runaway vines, maintain the plant’s shape, and encourage bushier growth by stimulating new shoots from nodes. If aerial roots are firmly attached to a support during repotting or transitioning to a taller pole, carefully snip them rather than risking damage to the plant’s main stems or nodes.