The Epipremnum Aureum Manjula Pothos is a popular and trendy vining houseplant. It is easy to care for and can thrive in various conditions, making it an ideal indoor plant.
With striking variegated leaves, in shades of white, yellow-green, and green, the Manjula Pothos is a true beauty.
Manjula Pothos
The Happy Leaf Manjula Pothos is cultivated via mutations from the Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Compacta’ plant by Ashish Hansoti. The patented scientific name is named after him as Manjula pothos Epipremnum ‘HANSOTI14’.
The Manjula Pothos grows wavy, heart-shaped variegated leaves, marbled with spots, and splashes in green and off-white.
The Manjula looks similar to and is often mistaken for the other variegated Pothos plants. If you compare the Manjula vs the Pothos Njoy or Epipremnum Marble Queen, you will see that their leaves are less wavy. The Pearls and Jade Pothos generally grows smaller leaves, and the Harlequin Pothos and the Snow Queen have more white variegation than the Manjula.
Need a plant care refresher? Read the Beginners Guide to Houseplant Care.
Light Requirements
Give your Epipremnum Manjula plenty of bright, indirect light. Variegated plants require more and brighter light than regular green-leaved plants. The white leaves need more light to photosynthesize.
When variegated pothos plants are grown in too little light, colors and variegation may fade. The leaves may even completely revert to green. Growth will slow down, and the plant can get leggy reaching toward the light. Consider getting a LED grow light if you can not give your plant enough natural light.
The Manjula pothos can handle a few hours of morning sun. But avoid too much direct sunlight. Dry, brown spots on the leaves can be a sign of sunburn. Move your plant further away from the window, or filter the light with a sheer curtain.
Watering
Water your Pothos Manjula when the top of the soil has dried out. Water thoroughly and allow excess water to drain out of the bottom of the pot.
Stick your finger in the soil to make sure it is time to water. If it still feels moist, wait one or two more days and check again. Limp, curling leaves, and dry soil are signs it needs water.
If you overwater (meaning you’re watering too often), the top layer of the soil does not dry out and the roots of your plant can start to rot.
If in doubt, don’t water yet. An underwatered plant is easier to revive than an overwatered plant. If you are uncertain, you can use a moisture meter to help you out with when to water. And read up on the basics of watering your indoor plants.
Fertilizing
Manjula pothos generally doesn’t need a lot of fertilizer. But you can fertilize to supplement poor soil or give your plant a boost during the growing season.
Feed your Manjula with diluted organic liquid fertilizer about once a month in spring and summer. You can also treat your plant to a specially formulated fertilizer for Pothos plants.
Be sure the soil is damp before fertilizing and don’t fertilize in winter when growth slows down.
Also never fertilize your plant if it is recently repotted or is having problems. It will only stress out an already stressed-out plant. Analyze, adjust, and when it recovers, continue your normal care routine.
Humidity
Manjula pothos likes medium to high humidity. It can grow and survive in average household humidity levels. However, it will do better if you raise the humidity.
Crispy dry, brown leaf tips usually indicate that the humidity is too low. Misting will temporarily up the humidity. Another option is to buy a small humidifier to place near your plant.
Keeping the humidity up is especially important in winter when the heaters go on and the air indoors is usually drier.
Trailing or Climbing
The trailing vines make the Manjula pothos great as an indoor hanging plant. But in nature, pothos plants use aerial roots to climb on tree trunks and branches.
Indoors you can give your plant climbing support in the form of a moss pole. Place the pole in such a way that the aerial roots are touching it, or at least are very near to it. Mist frequently so the roots can attach themselves more easily.
Continue reading to find out how to attach a Pothos to a moss pole!
Soil and Repotting
The Manjula Pothos is a slow grower because of the large amount of cream and white variegation (less chlorophyll) and does not require frequent repotting.
Repot in spring in a pot one size up when roots have filled the pot, and or when you see roots growing from the bottom of the pot.
Even if your plant still has room to grow, you want to refresh the soil every two to three years in spring. The soil will have lost all its nutrients and will need to be replaced with fresh soil. A special aroid potting mix is a good choice for your Manjula Pothos.
Need a repotting refresher? Get all the tips on how to repot your plants.
Pruning
Pruning can be done all year long to help maintain size or remove leggy vines. Remove brown leaves and trim long branches to encourage branching and a more bushy plant.
Avoid pruning too much at once. Do not remove more than one-third of your plant’s growth. Plants need their leaves to grow and thrive.
Manjula Pothos Propagation
Propagating a Manjula Pothos is an easy way to make more plants from the ones you already have.
BUT BE AWARE: As mentioned before, the Manjula Pothos is a patented plant, and propagating patented plants is prohibited by U.S. law.
The patent document for the Manjula Pothos does not contain specific information about whether you are or are not allowed to propagate the plant for personal use. However, as a general rule (not legal advice), the propagation of a patented plant without permission from the patent holder could be considered an infringement of the patent, even for personal use. This patent is set to expire in 2034.
If you do decide to propagate your Manjula pothos, using stem cuttings like you would propagating any Pothos is an easy way to do so. The cuttings can be rooted in water or soil.
Want to learn more about plant propagation? Read the complete guide explaining the 6 different ways to propagate all your plants.
Plant Pests
Manjula pothos plants are not very prone to pests, but just like any indoor plant, they can occasionally be affected. Inspect your plant regularly for signs of bugs to catch a possible infestation before it becomes severe.
Learn more about common houseplant pests and what you can do to get rid of them.
Are Manjula Pothos Toxic to Cats and Dogs?
Unfortunately, yes. Plants from the Epipremnum family are considered mildly poisonous when ingested. It can cause irritation of the mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
Be safe and keep your Epiprmnum Manjula Pothos out of reach of your pet. Read more on the risks of toxic plants and your pets and if you should be worried or not.
Related reading: Meaning and Symbolism of Pothos plants.