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Manjula Pothos (Epipremnum aureum ‘Manjula’) is a pothos cultivar known for its large leaves and extremely unique variegation. Read on for everything you need to know to keep your Manjula thriving. Plus, learn exactly how to propagate this pothos!
What is a Manjula pothos?
The Manjula Pothos is an Epipremnum (Pothos) cultivar known for its compact growth pattern full of large, uniquely variegated leaves. Its leaves are wide and tend to have wavy edges.
Its variegation consists of what looks like brushstrokes as well as speckles of cream and different shades of green. It tends to have more solid green colors on its leaf edges.
While it grows bushier at first, it will vine out over time, but not as much as some other pothos varieties.
The Manjula Pothos is actually a patented plant—a product of a planned breeding program. So while it’s not technically native to any specific location, it enjoys the same tropical-like conditions that other Pothos varieties do.
(I was not able to locate the U.S. patent link, but you can find more info about the patent here.)
How do you grow Manjula pothos?
Here is a quick care summary:
Light Level: | Bright, indirect |
Watering: | When the top inch of the soil is dry |
Humidity: | Prefers high, but OK with average |
Temperature: | 60 – 90 degrees F (16 – 32 C) |
Potting Mix: | Well draining |
Repotting: | When root bound |
Pruning: | To control size/shape and encourage growth |
Fertilizing: | Balanced, monthly in the growing season |
Climbing: | Helpful, but not critical |
How much light does Manjula Pothos need?
Bright, direct light is best for most pothos varieties. This is especially true for the Manjula Pothos with its highly variegated leaves.
Plants need bright light to maintain their variegation because lighter-colored leaves contain less chlorophyll—the high light levels need to make up for the lack of chlorophyll, otherwise, the plant will revert to a darker green.
This doesn’t mean you should give your pothos direct light though (which would mean the sun’s rays are shining directly on the plant). This can damage Manjula Pothos’ leaves! So stick with bright, indirect light.
What if I don’t have enough light?
What if you DON’T have bright, indirect natural light, though? No worries! This is where grow lights come in. They are a life-saving solution for plants. Full-spectrum grow lights will mimic the sun.
This is one of my all-time favorite sets of full-spectrum grow lights. The clip is really convenient and my plants thrive under these lights!
When should I water the Manjula Pothos?
Pothos plants don’t like to dry out completely. Just think of their native environment—tropical, jungly areas.
Water your Manjula Pothos when the top inch of the potting mix is dry. You’ll need to stick your finger down into the potting mix to feel for moisture.
It’s very important to feel the potting mix first before watering your pothos, otherwise, you could inadvertently overwater your plant and cause root rot.
Pothos plants will also tell you they’re thirsty with droopy, curly leaves. This means it’s VERY dry.
You can buy a gorgeous Manjula Pothos here!
Humidity
Speaking of water, you should also consider providing your pothos with some extra humidity. Remember, pothos thrive in jungle-like conditions.
I would not recommend misting your pothos—it’s not very effective and having constantly-wet foliage can lead to rot. Instead, I prefer to use a humidifier. Below is one of my favorite humidifiers.
Temperature
Manjula Pothos likes temperatures between 60 – 90 degrees Fahrenheit (16 – 32 Celcius). However, you really don’t need to worry about the precise degree.
Unless you keep your house FREEZING, your everyday household temperature will be fine. The one exception to this is removing plants from cold areas, such as windowsills, during the winter.
What kind of potting mix does Manjula Pothos need?
Use a well-draining potting mix that will still hold some moisture. This means that when you water your plant, the majority of the water will drain out of the bottom of the pot, but the potting mix will still hold the light amount of moisture this plant likes.
To accomplish this, all you really need is a general houseplant potting mix with some perlite! (Honestly, I just eyeball the amount of perlite I throw in. For smaller pots I start with about a handful.)
When does Manjula Pothos need to be repotted?
Repot your Manjula Pothos when it becomes root bound. This pothos is not as fast growing as some of its relatives, so you won’t need to worry about doing this too often.
How do I know when my plant is root bound?
- Roots are coming out of the pot’s drainage holes
- Roots are swirled heavily around the bottom of the pot (you’ll need to slip the plant out of its pot to check this)
- Stunted growth or sad-looking growth. You should then confirm this by looking for one of the above two signs.
Use a pot one size up from its current pot, and make sure it has a drainage hole!
Pruning
You can prune your Manjula Pothos to control its size and shape, meaning you can make it bushier, control the length, or remove leggy vines.
Leggy vines are caused by inadequate light—the vines grow long with fewer leaves, making for an overall sparse-looking plant.
Above the node vs. below the node
When pruning, you should cut your plant ABOVE a mode. This means that if you hold the vine straight up towards the ceiling, cut above the node.
The reason this matters is because new growth comes from the nodes. So, if you want a bushier Manjula Pothos, cut above a node so the new growth grows on the plant.
I’ll get into this more when I discuss propagation, but when propagating your plant, cut BELOW the node because you want new roots to grow on the cutting.
Fertilizing
Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer, once a month, during the growing season (which is the spring and summer).
Does Manjula Pothos climb?
Vining plants like pothos do well when given something to climb—such as a moss pole—which is their natural tendency. They use their aerial roots to latch on and climb up trees.
That said, Manjula Pothos, is a more compact pothos variety. (This is unlike the classic golden pothos, for example, that grows long, trailing vines.) So, while a moss pole can still be beneficial for the Manjula, it’s not necessary and this plant can grow just as well hanging down.
If you’d like to use a moss pole, I’d highly recommend the one below. It’s stackable and makes it really easy to add more onto the pole as your plant grows!
Where can I buy a Manjula Pothos plant?
You can easily find a Manjula Pothos online on Etsy! Here is a beautiful Manjula for sale from one of my favorite Esty shops. Check it out!
Manjula Pothos Propagation
Propagating pothos plants is easy! There are a few ways to do it.
Manjula Pothos water propagation
A lot of people like this method because it’s fun to watch the roots grow!
- Identify a few healthy vines with at least one node and one leaf
- Use clean scissors to cut off each vine BELOW the node
- Remember, the node is where new roots will grow from, so “below” the node means it should be included on the part you cut off.
- Put the vine into a jar of room-temperature water—the node should be underwater while the leaves should be above the water
- You can remove the bottom-most leaves if you need to so they don’t rot sitting in the water
- Put the jar in an area that receives bright, indirect light
- Refill or replace the water as needed
- Now it’s time to wait and have patience! When the roots are two to three inches long, you can pot up your cuttings, water them, and start caring for your new plant.
Can Manjula Pothos grow in water?
Yes, you can leave your pothos in water permanently, but it won’t grow as fast or as large.
Manjula Pothos potting medium propagation
This method works just as well and is usually a little more seamless since the new roots won’t have the shock of going from water to potting mix.
- Identify a few healthy vines with at least one node and one leaf
- Use clean scissors to cut off each vine BELOW the node
- Remember, the node is where new roots will grow from, so “below” the node means it will be included on the part you cut off.
- Stick the vine into a container of your preferred propagation medium. This could be regular potting mix, sphagnum moss, perlite, etc. (I like either of the first two)
- The node should be buried or at least be in contact with the medium. Don’t bury the leaves.
- Put the container in an area that receives bright, indirect light
- Keep the medium lightly moist, but not wet, as the roots grow. Additional humidity will also help the cutting grow.
- After a few weeks, give your cutting a gentle tug. If you feel resistance, that means a root system has developed.
- Now, you can leave the cuttings where they are if they’re already in potting mix, or pot them up into their permanent home, water them, and start caring for your new plant.
Manjula Pothos propagation by division
Dividing a plant simply means to take one plant and divide it into two or more smaller plants. If you have a large plant and want to have more plants quickly, division is the way to go.
- Slip the mother plant out of its pot
- Identify two or more sections with their own root systems
- Gently separate the sections from each other. Some root breakage is inevitable, but try to keep most of the roots undamaged.
- Plant each section into its own, smaller pot and water them. Give them some time to adjust to their new home. That’s it!
Common Manjula Pothos Problems
Yellow leaves
While yellow leaves can be caused by a few different factors, the number-one cause is overwatering. Let your plant dry out a little more and make sure you’re feeling the potting mix before watering it.
Consistent overwatering can lead to root rot, which is difficult for plants to recover from.
Reverting leaves
Reverting leaves, meaning they lose their variegation and revert back to solid green, means your plant lacks enough light. Highly variegated plants need bright, indirect light because the lighter colors on the foliage contain less chlorophyll.
If you don’t have enough light for your Manjula Pothos, I highly suggest purchasing a grow light.
Brown and crispy edges/tips
This usually indicates your plant is too dry. It could be that you’re not watering it enough, or even that the air is very dry!
Water your plant when the top inch or so of the potting mix dries out, and try providing it with a humidifier.
Brown spots
This can be caused by a few different things, but overwatering is the most common cause. This indicates the beginning stages of root rot.
Droopy/curly leaves
This indicates that your plant is really thirsty. It’s time to water your plant! It will perk back up within a day of being watered.
Pests
Manjula Pothos is not especially prone to any particular pest, but there’s always a risk of common pests with any houseplant.
To help with pest prevention, I like to use Bonide Systemic Houseplant Insect Control. I use this when repotting and also when bringing new plants into my home.
Growth Rate and Size
This is a slower-growing pothos. It does not grow nearly as fast as the classic golden pothos, for example. In optimal conditions, it can typically grow up to six feet in length or height.
Is the Manjula Pothos Toxic to Cats and Dogs?
Yes, all pothos varieties are toxic. Be sure to keep them away from your pets!
Similar Pothos Varieties
Other pothos varieties Manjula Pothos is often confused with are Marble Queen, Snow Queen, N’Joy, and Pearls and Jade.
Manjula pothos vs. marble queen
Marble Queen’s variegation is speckled—no brushstroke-like patterns. Its variegation is relatively even, and it doesn’t have solid parts. Its leaves are not as wide as the Manjula.
What is the difference between Snow Queen and Manjula Pothos?
Snow Queen is very similar to the Marble Queen. Snow Queen’s variegation is speckled—no brushstroke-like patterns. Its variegation is relatively even. It has more white than green, giving the impression of a base color of white with green flecks. Its leaves are not as wide as the Manjula.
Are Manjula and N’Joy the same?
No, they are not the same. The N’Joy has much smaller leaves. Its variegation comes in random but district green and white splotches of solid color. There are no speckles or brushstroke-like patterns.
Manjula pothos vs. pearls and jade
The Pearls and Jade also has smaller leaves. It looks like an N’Joy Pothos with the speckling of a Marble Queen over the top of the N’Joy part.
Is the Manjula Pothos rare?
I would not consider this pothos to be rare. While you may not find it in your local garden center, you can easily find it online. That said, even though they may not be hard to find, they are expensive.
My guess as to why is because they’re not as common as more “standard” pothos varieties that are easily found in big box stores and therefore are more sought after. In addition, they are slow growers so people are more willing to pay a premium on a mature plant.
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