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Cebu Blue pothos. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? It’s the newest “trend” that’s taking the houseplant world by storm—and for good reason! In this post, I’m going to discuss Cebu Blue pothos care, propagation, and more.
Is Cebu Blue a pothos or philodendron?
The Cebu Blue is a type of pothos. Its scientific name, Epipremnum pinnatum “Cebu Blue,” tells us this because “Epipremnum” is pothos’s genus.
“Cebu” comes from the island of Cebu in the Philippines where the plant originates from (although it’s also now invasive in several other tropical countries), and “blue” is because of its blueish foliage.
Foliage
Speaking of foliage, Cebu Blue is rather unique when it comes to other pothos varieties. It is sought after for its long, thin leaves with their silvery, blueish hue that almost seems to shimmer in the right light.
In the adult stage—and by adult I mean this can take as long as 20 years—the leaves develop splits, also known as fenestrations. Now, I love a good leaf fenestration as much as the next gal, but I’m just saying, don’t expect to be seeing any on your Cebu Blue.
Cebu Blue Pothos Care
Light
This plant prefers medium to bright, indirect light. Don’t place it in direct light or the leaves can burn.
For help determining where in your home you should place your Cebu Blue, check out my easy guide to natural light for indoor plants. My guide to grow lights for indoor plants is also helpful for those of you in low-light homes.
Watering
Water your plant when the top inch or two of the potting mix is dry. Be sure to always stick your finger into the potting mix before watering your plant to feel the moisture level and determine whether it actually needs to be watered.
Be careful not to overwater your plant consistently or it could be at risk of root rot.
Humidity
Like other pothos, since this plant is found in tropical areas it will love you if you provide it with higher humidity, but will also be fine in normal humidity conditions.
You can create humidity with a pebble tray, humidifier, and a few other methods. Check out my post on easy ways to create humidity for houseplants for a step-by-step guide to different methods.
Photo credit: A very big thanks to @coco_and_mo_plants for allowing me to use her beautiful image in this post!
Potting Mix
Pot this plant in a well-draining indoor plant potting mix. Nothing fancy needed here! I always like to add a handful or two of perlite for extra drainage.
Fertilizing
Fertilize your Cebu Blue once a month during the growing season (spring and summer) with a liquid houseplant fertilizer.
Repotting
As a general rule of thumb, repot your Cebu once a year. If it’s still growing well and looking healthy then you don’t really need to repot it. If roots are coming out of the drainage holes then you should repot it.
Repot in a pot one size up that has good drainage. If possible, wait until the spring or summer to repot.
Pruning
Cebu Blue doesn’t require heavy pruning, however, pruning any vines that have gotten too long or leggy is helpful to encourage a fuller, more bushy plant. (Leggy means the vines grow long with fewer leaves, usually due to the plant trying to reach out for more light.)
To encourage new growth, snip just above a node—where the roots and leaves grow out of the stem.
In addition to pruning to encourage growth, you should also remove any dead or dying leaves once they can be plucked away.
Climbing and Support
While you can display your Cebu Blue and other trailing plants in many different ways, support is ultimately important for plants that naturally climb. For your Cebu Blue to grow its healthiest, and to help encourage fenestrations (even if it may still take a while), give your plant a moss pole or something similar to climb.
They use their aerial roots to climb in their natural habitat. Aerial roots also help absorb nutrients, so putting those aerial roots to use will only benefit your plant.
Here is a stackable moss pole I recently purchased for another climbing plant.
As part of your watering routine, mist your moss pole so your Cebu’s aerial roots can get a nice drink, too.
Photo credit: A very big thanks to @astro.plantae for allowing me to use their beautiful image in this post!
How do you propagate a Cebu Blue pothos?
Like other pothos, you can easily propagate Cebu Blue in water or in potting mix.
Propagate Cebu Blue Pothos in Water
Trim a few cuttings off the mother plant, cutting about a 1/4 inch below a node. The node is where new roots will sprout from which is why it needs to be included on your cutting.
Put the cuttings in a glass of water making sure at least one node (more if possible) is under the surface. If any of the bottom-most leaves end up being submerged, remove those.
Place the cuttings in a location with bright, indirect light. Be sure to change the water when it gets murky or slimy, about every few days to a week, and make sure the water level doesn’t get too low.
Tiny roots will usually start to sprout within a few weeks. Once the roots are a couple of inches long, you can transfer it to its permanent pot, give it a good watering, and care for the plant as you normally would. I like to wait for the roots to grow about three inches long, give or take.
You can also leave the plant growing in water. It won’t grow nearly as fast or thrive to its full potential, but it will continue to grow and look pretty!
Propagate Cebu Blue Pothos in Potting Mix
You also can skip water propagation and propagate your cuttings directly into potting mix. Both work fine!
Trim a few cuttings off the mother plant, cutting about a 1/4 inch below a node. The node is where new roots will sprout from which is why it needs to be included on your cutting.
Instead of putting your cuttings in a glass of water, stick them directly into a pot with moist potting mix. Make sure at least one node (more if possible) is buried, and remove any leaves that end up being buried.
Place them in a location with bright, indirect light. Keep the potting mix moist, but not soaking wet, as the roots develop.
After a few weeks, you can test your cuttings by giving them a VERY gentle tug. If you feel some resistance, a root system has developed and you can treat the cuttings like a normal plant. If there aren’t any roots yet, that’s OK. It may take a little longer, so be patient 🙂
Cebu Blue Pothos Problems and Pests
A few common problems of Cebu Blue with common causes include:
- Legginess – Legginess tends to happen with vining plants and it’s not a huge issue to worry about, but can be visually unpleasing.
- Often it is due to a plant trying to “reach out” for more light. Try increasing the light levels. Don’t place it in direct light, though.
- Pests – Some common pests include fungus gnats, mealybugs, scale, aphids, and spider mites.
- Check regularly underneath leaves and in crevices for pests. I really like this insecticidal soap for help with pest control, which works on a range of pests. Always read the instructions on the label first, and use caution if you have pets.
- Yellow Leaves – Can be caused by too little light or too much light, too much or too little water, or a nutrient deficiency.
- Start by evaluating your plant’s light situation. Then, stick your finger in the potting mix to determine moisture level and evaluate your watering routine. Last, evaluate your fertilizer regimen.
- Brown/Crispy Leaves – Can be caused by too much direct light, too much or too little water, too little humidity, or too much fertilizer.
- Start by evaluating your plant’s light situation—move it out of direct light if needed. Then, stick your finger in the potting mix to determine moisture level and evaluate your watering routine. Next, provide your Cebu with some humidity if you are not already doing so. Last, evaluate your fertilizer regimen.
Is Cebu Blue pothos rare? Where can I find one?
A few years ago Cebu Blue was harder to find. You may have only gotten your hands on one by knowing a friend who could give you a cutting. Now, they are not as hard to find and can be found on Etsy.
Check out this beautiful Cebu Blue pothos from one of my favorite Etsy shops!
Note: Sometimes, these plants are mislabeled, whether that be intentional or a total accident. So, make sure you know what you’re looking at!
For example, this YouTube video from winding leaf explains how she was sold a plant that was labeled as an Epipremnum pinnatum “Cebu Blue,” but it was actually just a standard Epipremnum pinnatum, a type of pothos that develops splits much earlier. Sometimes this is an accident, but sometimes, unfortunately, it is a scam.
Is Cebu Blue pothos toxic?
Yes, pothos plants including Cebu Blue pothos are toxic, so be sure to keep them out of your furry friends’ reach!
Does Cebu Blue grow fast?
Yes! Just like other pothos, Cebu Blue is a fast grower. If given the proper growing conditions, it can grow many feet in just one year.
More pothos posts
Big pothos fan? Me too! Check out these other care and propagation guides:
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