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Silvery Ann Vs Satin Pothos (Silver Pothos): Are They Really That Different?

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Silvery Ann vs Satin Pothos: Sounds like a pretty tough fight, right?

But before going into this ultimate battle between Silvery Ann and Satin Pothos, let’s see what this tale is really about.

Most of you are already aware of the Scindapsus plant genus. It refuges a remarkable group of the most beautiful plants out there in the world.

Appreciably, the Scindapsus Pictus brands the extremely breathtaking cultivars of the family.

Fun Fact: The word “Pictus” comes from Latin, meaning “painted one.” Therefore, most members of the genus have impressive variegations on their leaves.

After getting familiar with that meaning, all confusion about the distinctive types of Scindapsus plants became clear in my mind.

Silvery Ann Vs Satin Pothos 1

Varieties of Scindapsus Pictus

Now, I group all the variegated varieties of the genus as Scindapsus Pictus. This group includes the most exotic and stunning indoor cultivars that most people are craving for.

Plants coined to S. pictus have been thriving for an eternity now. They include the striated species: Scindapsus argyraeus, Exotica, Silvery Ann, Satin Pothos (Silver Pothos), Silver Splash, Silver lady, Silver Hero, and the S. treubii moonlight. All of them have shining silver variegations.

Aforementioned, today, we are taking a brief look at the differences between two of the most beautiful Scindapsus species varieties. Both have striking silver variegations. We have Silvery Ann vs Satin Pothos, also known as Silver Pothos.

Recently we reviewed a rare plant named ‘Jade Satin’ Scindapsus; you can also check that out.

On that note, I am going to report two relatively more familiar but also rare varieties of S. pictus; Silver Ann and Satin Pothos.

Difference between Silvery Ann and Satin Pothos

Whenever you see these fancy silver-painted vining plants, you can’t really tell the difference between them.

As they all come from the same Arum family named Araceae, many varieties of Scindapsus are pretty similar in looks.

Someone with no prior knowledge about them gets confused seeing them for the first time. Sometimes the Exotica seems to be the Silvery Ann or Silver lady, and sometimes the Silver Pothos is the same as the S. argyraeus or Satin Pothos.

All of this becomes even more frustrating when you try researching for them. That’s because the nicknames are also identical. “Satin Pothos” is used for both S. argyraeus and Silver Pothos. But both of them are different.

Aforementioned, today, we are taking a brief look at the differences between two of the most beautiful Scindapsus species varieties. Both have striking silver variegations. We have Silvery Ann vs Satin Pothos, also known as Silver Pothos.

The main difference between them is their size and appearance; That’s it.

These plants originate from the same family and have the same basics. However, the alteration in the plants coming from the same species arises due to mutations. These mutations can appear in the protoplasm or the genes.

When these mutations hit the chloroplasts, they result in the varied appearance of leaves.

Less chlorophyll causes more variegations on the leaves.

The Difference in Appearance

Regarding appearance, both the Silvery Ann and Satin Pothos (Silver Pothos) have base similarities but mutated differences.

Both of them have silver striations on their leaves which differ significantly.

1. Variegations in Silvery Ann

Silvery Ann has the second most beautiful variegations among the whole group; they greatly resemble Exotica, the most beautiful S. pictus out there.

Silvery Ann Silvery Ann Vs Satin Pothos
Silvery Ann via Reddit

The distinctive and unique feature of these variegations is that they are reflective. These types of variegations are also called “Blister variegations.”

In this type, the outer layer of the epidermis gets separated from the layer containing the chloroplasts. That forms an air pocket between the epidermis and the mesophyll.

The visual effects of the light after reflecting from the air layer results in the beautiful silver variegations that we see on the Silver Ann.

The striations show great diversity as we move from leaf to leaf. A few are entirely silver, while others have silver spots and splashes embedded on a dark green canvas.

These silver patterns cover a broad surface of the leaves and are scattered in a pretty erratic way. Thus, making every leaf a unique one.

2. Variegations in Satin Pothos (Silver Pothos)

On the other hand, the striations in Satin Pothos are relatively less than those in Silvery Ann.

Satin Pothos Silvery Ann vs Satin Pothos
Satin Pothos via Reddit

With more shades of green — diversity in greenness — this thing stands out from the others like Exotica and Silvery Ann. If that is more like your own taste, you’re free to place it in the top tier.

Also, we couldn’t decide the type of variegation in Satin pothos. However, because the striations are very consistent throughout the plant, we can conclude two points:

  • If they are reflective, then it means that the separation of epidermis and mesophyll cells is due to some underlined genetics; sounds pretty scientific, right?

That results in a regular splitting up of the layers, and the variegations appear consistently.

  • The second possibility is that these striations are due to some pigmentation.

Whatever the reason might be, it just looks fantastic.

The other thing is that it strikingly resembles Scindapsus Argyraeus. That’s the main reason why we use “Satin Pothos” for both Silver Pothos and S. argyraeus.

scindapsus pictus argyraeus
scindapsus pictus argyraeus via Reddit

You can compare both of the above pictures to see the considerable similarity. But they are different regarding the leaf sizes. Leaves of S. argyraeus are much more like those of Silvery Ann.

Size Difference in Silvery Ann and Satin

The size of the plants as a whole and the leaf sizes are also different.

Plant Size

  • Silvery Ann

It grows a little smaller than its mate, Satin Pothos. That’s because it has less green pigment known as chlorophyll.

As chlorophyll is the main photosynthetic pigment responsible for providing energy to the plant, less green color in the plant — less chlorophyll — results in less energy production, leading to slower and limited growth.

However, a fully mature Silver Ann can reach up to 1.7 meters or 5-6′ (feet) tall and is almost half as wide, spreading up to 0.8 meters or 3-4′.

  • Satin Pothos

The Silver Satin Pothos is comparatively a fast grower and is taller than Silvery Ann.

It can reach up to 3 meters (10′) in height and gets 1.2 meters (4′) wide.

That’s due to the fact that it has more photosynthetic pigments than the latter.

Leaves Size

  • Silvery Ann

Just like the difference in plant sizes, the leaves of Silvery Ann are a little smaller than those of Satin Pothos. They can reach a max length of 4-5″ (inches) and a maximum width of 2-3″.

  • Satin Pothos

Leaves of Silver Pothos are a bit larger than those of Silver Ann. They can reach a max length of 6-7″ and a maximum width of 3-4″.

All of these growth stats are only applicable to plants growing indoors. The numbers can vary for plants growing in native regions or greenhouse gardens.

That is pretty much it.

Yes! The caring needs slightly differ for the Silvery Ann and Satin Pothos, but they vary only in degree.

Both originate from the same family and are native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia.

Caring Tips for Silvery Ann and Satin Pothos

1. Light Intensity

Both of them thrive in bright indirect or filtered sunlight.

If you are going to place them indoors, it would be best to put them in front of a south-facing window. You can also place them at least 3 to 4 feet away from an east-facing window.

For the Silvery Ann, less light equals less shining variegations. That’s because they appear with the proper reflection of light. Also, direct sunlight for extended periods scorches up the leaves and makes them lose their striations.

Please avoid direct contact with the sun and use sunshades or garden nets if you are growing them outside.

2. Watering

They can tolerate water scarcity. Therefore, you don’t need to water them quite often.

It is okay to water them once in almost ten days. However, during winter, you should give them less water. That’s because during winter, the growth rate is slower, and your plants consume less amount of water than the amount they take during summer or spring.

The thumb rule is that: You should wait for the top third of the soil to get dry before giving your buddy another shot of hydration.

You can check out the soil’s moisture level by sticking your finger inside, feeling for the dry top 2-3 inches.

Leaves usually curl up if they don’t get enough water, but they get back to normal after proper watering.

More water causes leaves to turn yellow. Overwatering or clogged soil can cause roots to rot.

3. Soil Mixture

Soil mixture is the most diverse and essential aspect of plants’ overall health and growth.

A well-draining soil packed with lots of nutrients works best for all plants.

To make that kind of a rich and arid blend, mix in an equal amount of:

  • General potting mix combined with a few grains of perlite and some organic matter.
  • Peat moss.
  • Perlite.
  • You can also add some coco coir, orchid or pine barks, or charcoal pieces to increase the drainage.

There you have the perfect combination.

4. Humidity

Silvery Ann and Satin Pothos are very resilient types of plants. They can easily withstand low to medium levels of humidity.

It is best to keep them around 40% to 50% humidity. As both plants come from tropical regions with higher humidity levels, keeping them slightly more humid would not be a problem.

5. Pests and Diseases

Proper care keeps your Scindapsus Pictus plants far from fungal diseases. You can knock out the pests by spraying the plant with neem oil, soap spray, or horticultural spray.


Conclusion

Silver Ann and Satin Pothos can easily climb up walls, trees, trellises, and fences with proper root strength. They also make great hanging baskets.

Many S. pictus plants have the unique property of filtering up the air and improving air quality. These varieties are hard to find, so you must buy them if you see them for sale.

To conclude the talk, I must say that after writing this article, I learned a lot more about Scindapsus.

Let us know in the comments if you have also experienced the same.

Also, make sure to share this sole information with your friends.

Regards.