Shangri-La Pothos Care : How to Grow Sleeping Pothos

Learn the simple steps to care for and grow the charming Shangri-La Pothos, also called Sleeping Pothos, including optimal conditions, troubleshooting tips, and easy propagation methods.

The Shangri-La Pothos, also known as the Sleeping Pothos or the Persian Cyclamen, is a beautiful trailing vine that’s perfect for adding some greenery to your home or office. With its heart-shaped leaves and unique patterns, this plant is a real eye-catcher! But don’t worry, caring for it is easier than you might think.

What Makes the Shangri-La Pothos Special?

The Shangri-La Pothos gets its name from its unique foliage. The leaves have a beautiful marbled pattern of greens and whites, almost like someone painted them by hand. This is caused by a neat little genetic quirk that makes some parts of the leaf unable to produce chlorophyll, the green pigment that helps plants make their food.

But the real showstopper is how the leaves move! As the day goes on, the leaves will slowly droop downwards, giving the plant a relaxed, sleepy look. That’s why it’s also called the Sleeping Pothos. Then, when the sun comes up the next morning, the leaves will perk back up again, ready for another day. It’s like the plant is waking up with you!

Getting the Right Conditions

Like any houseplant, the Shangri-La Pothos has a few basic needs to stay happy and healthy. But don’t worry, it’s pretty easygoing as long as you give it:

• Bright, Indirect Sunlight – The Shangri-La loves lots of light, but direct sun can scorch those beautiful leaves. An east or west-facing window is perfect.
• Well-Draining Soil – Pothos like their soil to be loose and airy. A chunky potting mix made for houseplants works great.
• Occasional Waterings – This plant is pretty drought-tolerant! Let the top couple inches of soil dry out before giving it a nice, deep drink.

With those simple conditions met, your Shangri-La will be putting on a sleepy little show for you in no time!

General Houseplant Care

Beyond those basic needs, there are a few easy tips that will keep your Sleeping Pothos looking its best:

Pot It Up – These plants do best with plenty of room for their roots to spread out. Use a planter 2-4 inches wider than the rootball and make sure it has drainage holes.

Let It Trail – One of the best parts of the Shangri-La Pothos is those long, trailing vines. Let them spill out over the edge of a hanging basket, plant stand, or shelf for maximum effect.

Stay Humid – Like most tropicals, the Pothos prefers humid conditions. A handy trick is to set the pot on a tray of wet pebbles to raise the moisture around the plant.

Give It a Boost – For best growth, feed your plant with a balanced liquid fertilizer every few weeks during spring and summer.

With just those simple steps, you’ll be enjoying those gorgeous leaves and their adorable drooping motion in no time.

Troubleshooting Problems

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, plants can start looking a little sad. Here are some tips for diagnosing and fixing any issues with your Pothos:

Droopy Leaves (not the fun kind!) – If the whole plant is wilting and drooping, it’s likely underwatered. Give it a long, slow drink and it should perk back up within a day.

Yellow Leaves – This common issue is usually caused by overwatering leading to root rot. Let the plant dry out more between waterings and prune off any damaged growth.

Brown Crunchy Tips – Pothos are sensitive to chemicals like fluoride and chlorine in tap water. Use distilled or filtered water and mist the leaves frequently.

Pests – Keep an eye out for sap-sucking pests like spider mites, mealybugs, or scale insects. An insecticidal soap or neem oil treatment should clear them up.

With some simple troubleshooting, you’ll have your Pothos back to perky perfection in no time.

Propagating and Sharing

One of the best parts about the Shangri-La Pothos is how easy it is to make more plants from just one! Propagation is a fun, free way to share this beauty with friends.

The easiest way is to simply take stem cuttings from an established vine. Choose a healthy stem and snip it off just below a leaf node. Remove the bottom few leaves, dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder, and pop it in a vase of water. Pretty soon, you’ll see roots sprouting!

Once the roots are a few inches long, you can transfer your new baby plant into a pot with fresh potting mix.Orchid bark makes a great “puhubd-upstart” medium for getting it established. How cool is it to grow a whole plant from a simple stem cutting?

You can also try propagating in soil or even propagating from just a single leaf. With some time and patience, those little leaves will morph into whole new vines, ready to share with all your plant-loving friends and family.

The Perfect Plant

Whether you’re new to houseplants or an experienced green thumb, the Shangri-La makes an awesome, low-maintenance addition. Not only is it gorgeous, but that trailing habit and sweet sleepy movement gives it some real character, too.

So if you’re looking to add some easy, breezy beauty to your living space, you can’t go wrong with the one-and-only Sleeping Pothos. Just give it some basic care and it’ll put on a gorgeous, droopy show for you, day after day. Happy planting!