Epipremnum pinnatum - Dragon-tail plant is an herbaceous root-climber which can reach 6-8 m long with glabrous, and green, not variegated leaves...
Epipremnum pinnatum, also called as Dragon-tail plant, Centipede tongavine, Epipremnum angustilobum, Epipremnum crassifolium, Epipremnum elegans, Epipremnum formosanum, Epipremnum merrillii, Epipremnum mirabile, Epipremnum robinsonii, Monstera caudata, Monstera dilacerata, Monstera pinnata, Philodendron nechodomae, Polypodium laciniatum, Pothos caudatus, Pothos pinnatifidus, Pothos pinnatus, Rhaphidophora caudata, Rhaphidophora crassifolia, Rhaphidophora cunninghamii, Rhaphidophora dilacerata, Rhaphidophora formosana, Rhaphidophora laciniata, Rhaphidophora lovellae, Rhaphidophora merrillii, Rhaphidophora neocaledonica, Rhaphidophora pinnata, Rhaphidophora pinnatifida, Rhaphidophora rosenburghii, Rhaphidophora vitiensis, Rhaphidophora wallichii, Scindapsus bipinnatifidus, Scindapsus caudatus, Scindapsus decursivus, Scindapsus dilaceratus, Scindapsus forsteri, Scindapsus pinnatifidus, Scindapsus pinnatus, Tornelia dilacerata, is a species of the genus Epipremnum. This species was described by Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler in 1908.
IDENTIFY EPIPREMNUM PINNATUM - DRAGON-TAIL PLANT
Epipremnum pinnatum is native from the Tropical Subtropical Asia to Pacific. It is found growing s in well developed lowland rain forest and gallery forest at elevations from near sea level to 350 meters. It has escaped from cultivation areas and currently it can be found growing in disturbed forests, along roadsides, in urban areas, and in secondary and primary forests climbing on the trunks of trees and into the canopy of mature trees.
It is an herbaceous root-climber which can reach 6-8 m long with flexible, cylindrical, green, up to 4 cm in diameter stems that marked by large leaf base scars. The leaves are alternate, glabrous, and green, not variegated, chartaceous, dimorphic. Elongated glands or nectarines visible on the underside of the leaf blade and resemble oil dots when viewed from above. Petiole sheathing the stem when young but disintegrating into fibers when older.
Dragon-tail plant blooms from the axillary, solitary, erect inflorescences with sub-cylindrical, up to 18 cm long, fleshy, yellowish spathe that opening along one side, acuminate at apex. The spadix are sessile, nearly cylindrical, 12-15 cm long.
Some common cultivars:
- Epipremnum pinnatum 'Cebu Blue': a cultivar with pale blue-grey leaves, the colour intensifying in bright light. The leaf blade is narrowly elliptic with a few, deep (nearly reaching the mid-rib) divisions per side and only few micro-perforations. Inflorescences are produced singly or in pairs. The spathe interior is pale green. This plant originates from Cebu Island, Philippines.
- Epipremnum pinnatum 'Key Leaf': a juvenile form in which the greater portion of the leaf blade is reduced to a long, narrow strip of undulating tissue along either side of the mid rib and expanding to form the basal lobes, the whole leaf resembling a key.
- Epipremnum pinnatum 'New Guinea': a cultivar in which the small deep green, glossy leaves are profusely microperforated but never pinnately divided. Most often seen as a juvenile, this plant will readily begin to climb and reach adulthood at which stage the leaf size increases but still no division occurs. This plant originates from western Papua New Guinea.
EPIPREMNUM PINNATUM - DRAGON-TAIL PLANT CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Epipremnum pinnatum grow best in medium to bright indirect light with light level of 10000-20000 lux. While it is tolerant of lower light conditions, you may notice leggy growth as a result. It can withstand 3 hours of direct sunlight but the plant should avoid to get too much direct sun because the leaves will burn. Dappled sunlight is ideal.
Temperature:
Dragon-tail plant can grow in USDA zone 10-12. It prefers average to warm temperatures of 18-29 °C. Do not expose the plant to temperatures below 15 °C even for a short time because cold air will damage the foliage. Avoid cold drafts and sudden temperature changes.
Humididty:
Epipremnum pinnatum grow best with the humidity level of 50% - 60%. It will thrive in almost any environment, but if you want to give it a special treat, gently mist it once a week. It's best to mist your plant in the morning so the water has plenty of time to evaporate before evening.
Substrate and growing media:
Dragon-tail plant need a well-aerated, quick-draining potting soil that dries out quickly. It thrive in moist soils with high organic matter and grow best when provided with a mossy post or burlap wrapped pole to climb. If given a trellis, it will climb and its leaves will become bigger and more fenestrated.
You can use a blend of large-chunk orchid bark, coarse-grade perlite, and peat moss at equal ratios; and then add about 10% charcoal which helps remove toxicities that can build up (over many months) in the potting mix.
Watering:
Water the plant once weekly. Allow the potting mix to dry out before watering. Water more frequently during warmer months and growth season. Generally, the plant will droop to show that it needs more water. Do not overwater or keep the soil wet for too long, as this will encourage root rot. If the leaves are yellowing due to overwatering, skip a week or two of watering.
Fertilizer:
Feed the plant between every two weeks and once per month during their growing season with a balanced houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength. In the late fall and winter, when growth has slowed down, and the plant is dormant, do not fertilize your plant. Too much fertilizer can burn the foliage of your plant. Before applying fertilizer in any form, make sure the soil is damp.
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Pruning:
Trim aerial roots if the plant get too unruly for the space, though tucking them back into the pot is preferred. Unlike some other houseplants, their roots do not damage surfaces.
Pests and diseases:
Wiping dust or debris with a damp sponge or paper towel will keep the plant clean and avoidant of pests. Common pests include mealybugs, aphids, thrips, scale and spider mites. If any are found on the foliage, spray the plant with a direct water stream. Leaves can also be washed with insecticidal soap.
The plant can also develop bacterial diseases such as leaf spot and root rot. Examine the plant periodically for signs of disease and use recommended fungicide and destroy the affected leaves. Correct application and timing are critical.
Propagation:
Epipremnum pinnatum can be propagated by stem cuttings. Stem sections of 10-15 cm long, after removal of leaves, can be placed on a tray filled with an open, humus-rich soil mix at a minimum temperature of 22°C. Rooting takes place in about 2 weeks, and new growth begins from the nodes in about 4 weeks. Once growing strongly, the stem section can be cut into pieces, each bearing a rooted portion, and planted individually.
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