The Trailing Magic of Easy Care Pothos
And Why They’re Called the Devil’s Ivy
The very first plant I ever owned was a golden pothos. It lived in a sunny corner of my first college apartment, a tiny space with a futon and a bookshelf painted in a speckled blue that was always slightly crooked. That pothos grew no matter how busy I was, how inconsistent my watering schedule, or how clueless I felt about plant care. I’d snip a vine, stick it in a jar of water, and like magic, roots would appear. It didn’t ask for much, but it gave so much back, and it made the room feel alive.
That plant is why pothos will always hold a special place in my heart. They were my gateway into the world of plants; forgiving, generous, and always beautiful. And even now, with a home full of more exotic species, I always come back to pothos. These days, I love the silvery shimmer of Cebu Blue, the green on green of Global Green, and the painterly patterns of Manjula. Each one feels like a distinct personality, but they all share that same magic: they don’t demand perfection.
Why Pothos Are Called “Devil’s Ivy”
It’s a funny name for such a care-free plant, isn’t it? “Devil’s ivy” isn’t sinister, it’s a testament to just how resilient these plants are. No matter how much you neglect them, they find a way to keep growing. Forget to water them? They bounce back. Stick them in a low-light corner? They soldier on. Clip a vine? It’ll root in water and give you a whole new plant.
Pothos are called Devil’s Ivy because they’re considered invasive in some parts of the world. Especially in tropical and subtropical regions like parts of Australia, Sri Lanka, and southern Florida, pothos can grow aggressively outdoors, climbing and choking out native vegetation.
As houseplants, they’re perfect for beginners. They trail beautifully from shelves, or spill over the edges of hanging pots. They adapt to their surroundings and make even the most ordinary spaces feel lush and alive.
Global Green: The Bold Classic
Global Green pothos is like a deep breath of fresh air, grounding, and effortlessly beautiful. Its leaves swirl with rich shades of emerald and lime, giving it a vibrant yet classic look that works in any space. It’s the kind of plant that quietly commands attention without needing to be the star of the show.
Care-wise, it’s wonderfully easy. Global Green thrives in bright, indirect light but handles lower light conditions like a champ. I let the top inch of soil dry before watering and feed it lightly during spring and summer to keep those variegated leaves looking their best. Over time, the vines spill dramatically from their pot, creating that wild, jungle-like vibe that makes pothos so great.
Cebu Blue: A Shimmering Statement
Then there’s Cebu Blue, a plant that feels like it was dreamt into existence. Its elongated, silvery-blue leaves have a soft, metallic sheen that shifts with the. Young plants trail gracefully, but as they mature, the leaves grow larger and can even develop dramatic fenestrations (those natural splits that make plants look tropical and exotic).
Cebu Blue loves bright, indirect light and appreciates a bit of humidity, but it doesn’t need anything fancy. It’s one of those plants that draws your eye every time you walk by, a soft shimmer that feels calming and alive all at once.
Manjula: A Living Work of Art
If Cebu Blue is soft and dreamy, Manjula is bold and artistic. Its heart-shaped leaves are splashed and swirled with cream, green, and soft silver, each one a unique little painting. The Manjula Pothos was patented by Ashish Hansoti of India. He developed the plant through years of selecting from over a thousand plants of the Compacta variety and was granted the patent in 2016.
Manjula loves bright, indirect light to keep that stunning variegation strong. Too little light and the creamy patches may fade, so give it a good spot near a window (but not in harsh direct sun). Water when the top inch of soil dries out, and give it a gentle trim now and then to keep it full and bushy.
The Plant I Always Come Back To
I’ve grown plenty of plants since that first golden pothos, some easier, some more demanding, some that made me feel like a plant whisperer and others that tested my patience. But no matter how my collection evolves, I always have pothos.
Whether it’s the classic charm of golden pothos, the shimmer of Cebu Blue, the boldness of Global Green, or the artistry of Manjula, these plants always find a way to make a space feel more like home.
