Need one more cool plant to enrich your spectacular collection this year? Look no further! Epipremnum pinnatum a.k.a Tibatib might be exactly what you are looking for, but first, let’s get more familiar with this fascinating plant!
Epipremnum pinnatum is a trailing or climbing species of flowering vines in the Araceae family. This alluring plant goes by many common names including Tibatib, Dragon Tail plant, Centipede tongavine, Silver Vine, and Taro Vine.
Tibatib plants remind us of our old Monstera deliciosa buddies, but they have different needs and particularities!
Besides their foliage that looks absolutely stunning, these plants can also surprise us with lovely, long-lasting flowers. And once you have one of these great vines around, you will certainly be amazed by how easy to grow and care for they can be.
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About Epipremnum Pinnatum
- Epipremnum pinnatum plants are native to many regions worldwide, such as China, Taiwan, Japan, India, Malaysia, Northern Australia, or the Pacific Islands.
- They are versatile plants that can make for wonderful additions to both indoor and outdoor landscape decorations. The most popular companion plants for them are Orchid, Fern, and Aglaonema.
- These vines grow mostly in tropical, subtropical, and temperate areas. They appear at low and medium elevations in thickets, disturbed forests, rainforests, urban areas, or along roadsides.
- In traditional medicine, people have been using the leaves and stems of Tibatib plants as a treatment for fractures, rheumatism, joint pains, skin diseases, chest pains, diabetes, malaria, or toothaches. Their bark is considered by some a great remedy for wounds, headaches, muscular spasms, and back pain.
- Studies have shown that Epipremnum pinnatum plants have numerous important health properties including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and inhibition of pancreatic lipase activity.
- In Mindanao, Bali, Taiwan, or Java tribes, some folks used these vines for teeth blackening. The inner parts of their roots were also excellent materials to produce lampshades or basketry with.
- Dragon Tail plants are good air purifiers, absorbing toxins from their ambient air. For example, they can absorb so much nicotine from their indoor surroundings that the concentration in their leaves is about three times higher than a true tobacco plant.
- All parts of Tabib plants can be pretty toxic if ingested in large quantities. For safety purposes, grow them in a spot where your kids or pets cannot reach them.
Epipremnum Pinnatum Features: An Overview
- These plants belong to the Epipremnum genus that contains exactly 15 species of evergreen and perennial flowering vines. They are large epiphytes that grow and climb on tall host trees or rock surfaces.
- Epipremnum pinnatum species are sturdy vines that can reach between 19.7 to 65.6 feet (6-20 m) in height. They have a big network of aerial clasping roots.
- The foliage of Tibatib plants usually varies depending on their age. Young specimens are terrestrial creepers and will produce mature leaves only when there is enough height for climbing.
- Their first, juvenile leaves are elliptical to arrow-shaped and come with entire edges. At maturity, the leaves become thick, smooth, glossy, ovate with deeply incised margins, and can measure about 11.8 to 19.7 inches (30-50 cm) in length.
- Very often, the leaves of Tibatib plants present white dots and pin-holes along the middle rib. They also have many windows in their leaf blades, making them look very much alike to some Monstera cultivars.
- Epipremnum pinnatum plants do not have a specific flowering period. These vines bloom occasionally, exhibiting tiny, male and female flowers on a canoe-shaped spadix (modified leaf) of up to 3.9 inches (10 cm) long.
- Their spadix is creamy-white on the inside and greenish on the outside. These plants produce blossoms that come in a pure white tint when fresh, turning a creamy greyish-green at maturity.
- Tibatib plants bear clusters of fruits on the spadix. They are red when ripe, containing a sticky orange-reddish pulp and numerous small, brown seeds.
Growing Epipremnum Pinnatum
In general, Epipremnum pinnatum plants thrive in well-lit locations with good indirect sunlight. Indoors, place these vines near a window where they can receive at least six hours of bright, indirect light. In outdoor settings, make sure you provide some partial shade during harsh afternoon sunlight.
If you are growing your Epipremnum plants in improper lighting conditions, they will not hesitate to show their dissatisfaction. For example, when these buddies do not have access to enough sunlight, they will grow somewhat stretched with longer stem sections in-between their leaves. Variegated varieties will also start to lose their markings in areas with too little light.
Tibatib plants grow at their best in warm temperatures and moderate humidity levels. The ideal temperatures for your vines usually range from 64 to 71 °F (18-22 °C) both indoors and outdoors. They are not frost-hardy at all, so you should avoid exposing them to temperatures under 59 °F (15 °C), strong winds, or cold air.
- We package and wrap each plant individually with the utmost care. We are very accomodating and receptive. Feel free to message for any issues or requests.
- House plants are always healthy and gorgeous and it won't be hard to keep them that way. We have 3 main types of plants in our store, following these tips will ensure their and your happiness.
- There are Succulents, Cacti, and Leafy Foliage which are perfect indoor house plants. Succulents and Cacti should be watered only when their soil is dried. Foliage should always stay moist.
- Check our store to see all these types of plants and more like carnivorous, hoyas, and other wildly unique house plants.
- All our plants prefer to be in a bright shade (i.e.: not direct sunlight). They grow amazingly indoors and outdoors. The plants are also very low maintenance.
- RETURNS WITH CUTTINGS REMOVED WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Grown, packaged and shipped exclusively by Wekiva Foliage. Epipremnum pinnatum 'Albo-Variegata' is a rare and highly valued pothos cultivar with green and white striped leaves that develop holes as the plant matures. Despite its beauty, it is less expensive than Monstera Albo or Thai Constellation, and is easier to care for. This pothos is faster growing and requires less attention.
- Epipremnum pinnatum 'Albo-Variegata' is a variation of the Dragon Tail pothos that occurs naturally. Like its parent, it is a tropical climber that transforms the shape and appearance of its leaves as it grows.
- For optimal growth and to preserve its distinct green and white variegated leaves, this pothos cultivar should be placed in bright indirect light. A room facing east or west and positioned 2-3 feet away from the window is ideal. It's important to avoid direct sun exposure, as this can result in brown and dry leaf damage.
- To grow your Epipremnum Albo successfully, plant it in a potting mix that has good drainage and is rich in nutrients. You can either purchase a pre-made chunky aroid soil mix or make your own using a simple recipe. A good soil mixture for this plant can be made by combining equal parts of universal potting soil, orchid bark, and perlite or pumice.
- Epipremnum pinnatum Albo has average water needs. Wait until the top 2 inches (5 cm) of soil have dried out before thoroughly watering the plant. To determine when it's time to water, use your finger to check the soil moisture level. Over-watering can lead to waterlogged soil, so be careful not to water too frequently.
- You will receive a full pot of Baltic Blue with White Ceramic Pot 6in.
- Baltic Blue Pothos can thrive in many light conditions. Ideally it grows best in medium- and high-light spots. (This kind of light creates a medium to strong shadow throughout much of the day). Too bright of light will turn the leaves greener than blue. Our Plant Hunter suggests growing it within 3 to 4 feet of an unobstructed east- or west-facing window where it will get at least 60 footcandles of light.
- Baltic Blue pothos, like other pothos varieties, prefers to dry out a bit (but not completely) between waterings. Never leave the potting mix should wet or saturated for an extended time.
- Overwatering causes stress in pothos, which results in the foliage going yellow prematurely. Check the soil moisture before you water.
Last update on 2023-07-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Due to their long stems and trailing habit, Epipremnum pinnatum species require some extra support to grow healthy and happy. The best support options for these plants are wooden stakes, bamboo stakes, or eco-friendly totem poles wrapped in coconut coir. You can also grow them in hanging baskets to obtain a cascade overall growth, but they will not show up mature or much larger leaves with time.
Although Dragon Tail plants are typically trouble-free when it comes to pest and fungal diseases, some issues may occur in inadequate environmental conditions. For fungal diseases, you must remove the unhealthy parts to prevent any future spread. In case of pest infestation, we recommend you wash the whole plants in the shower and apply a suitable insecticide/pesticide.
Planting Epipremnum Pinnatum
Epipremnum pinnatum plants will have a great time growing in substrates that mimic those from their natural habitat. Because of this, you should plant them in moist, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter and nutrients.
Keep in mind that these vines do not like wet, mucky or dry, sandy growing mediums at all. Moreover, they prefer growing in containers that have drainage holes at the bottom to avoid soggy conditions.
Tibatib plants do not need frequent fertilizing to show the best results. However, they will benefit from regular applications of fertilizers during their active growing period. Feed your plants with a liquid fertilizer once every two weeks only from March to August.
These plants grow at a pretty fast pace, so they will demand repotting from time to time. When your plants start to outgrow their containers, typically once every two years, you should transplant them in others that are slightly larger. Before replanting, try to remove as much old soil as you can from their roots and also prune the root tips back a little.
Pruning the foliage of your Epipremnum plants is a great method to maintain them at a certain size or shape. If your plants are too leggy, you can cut off as much as you want from their stems to give them a fresh look. Make sure you also remove unhealthy or dead leaves to make room for new ones to appear.
Watering Epipremnum Pinnatum
No worries, watering Epipremnum pinnatum plants is not as hard as you would imagine! Although these companions may seem picky at first, you will see that you do not need too much experience in the gardening world to master their watering routine. Especially when they are so talkative and share their inner feelings with you right away.
If you provide your Tibatib plants with too much moisture for a long period, their leaves will begin to fall off and will eventually result in root rot. On the other hand, spotted and wilted leaves may be a sign of under-watering or growing in a location that is too dry.
To prevent any of these extreme situations from happening, make sure you check the top 2 inches (5 cm) of soil in-between waterings. When you notice that the substrate has dried out completely, provide your Tibatib plants with just enough water until you notice it draining from the bottom of the container. In winter, you must reduce the frequency of watering because your plants do not grow actively during that season.
Propagating Epipremnum Pinnatum
Did you fall in love with Epipremnum pinnatum plants and want to share them with your family members and friends? We can help you with that! You can propagate these beauties through stem (shoot) cuttings without too much effort or time spent.
Tibatib plants are so undemanding that you can propagate them almost anytime you want during the year.
First things first, you must cut off individual stems and place their bottom half in a glass filled with fresh water. Make sure each cutting has at least one knot in the water because this is where most of their tiny roots develop.
The cuttings will root better if you change the water once every few days to provide them with a clean propagation medium. They will also require a warm environment and lots of indirect light to form roots faster. When the baby roots have about one inch (2.5 cm) in length, you can plant your Tibatib cuttings directly in the garden (only in spring) or a container filled with suitable potting soil.
In Conclusion
What more could you dream of? They are very attractive, low-maintenance, and loyal companions. Having one Epipremnum pinnatum a.k.a. Tibatib plant in your collection can be a rewarding and everlasting experience. Once you decide to give them a chance, make sure you share your journey with us in the comments!
1 Comment
hi, Miruna
Am having some problems with my plant, i don’t know, i put her out with indirect sunlight and the new leaf are smaller, i don’t get what’s going on, the leafs now are even more smalles, Do you know exactly how is the measure of light this plant needs?.. (like FC)