How to Grow & Care for Scindapsus Treubii ‘Moonlight’ (2023)

The Scindapsus treubii is originated from rainforests in Southeast Asia and you can find the plant easily in jungles climbing up trees with aerial roots. But there are many people who want to grow Scindapsus treubii in their house but don’t know how. In this article, I have shared my experience of growing and caring for Scindapsus treubii moonlight. 

Quick takeaway:

• For growing the plant in-house you need to provide support for bamboo sticks, totem poles Or trellis, etc to make them easy to climb. 
• The Scindapsus treubii moonlight is a part of Scindapsus genus and belongs to the Araceae family. 
• You can find the plant in Queensland, Southeast Asia, and Pacific Islands. 

Scientific Name	Scindapsus treubii
Common Name	Sterling Silver scindapsus, Moonlight scindapsus, Dark Form  scindapsus
Light	Bright indirect sunlight
Watering	Weekly, water if soil is dry
Temperature	65 to 75ºF (18 to 24ºC)
Hardiness Zone	10a
Humidity	40-60%
Soil Type	Porous, quick-draining
Soil pH	5-8 pH (neutral to low-acid)
Fertilizing	A high-nitrogen feed once a month in spring and summer
Repotting	Every 2 years
Pruning	Beginning of the growing season
Propagation	Root in water or soil
Toxicity	Toxic to humans and pets
Mature Size	6-8 feet (1.5-2 meters)
Bloom Time	Rarely in summer

Grow & Care for Scindapsus Treubii ‘Moonlight’ 

In order to grow and care for, the Scindapsus treubii is a low-maintenance plant having general requirements like watering, lighting, and soil that is easy to provide them. The following are some detailed explanations of how to maintain the environment for growing Scindapsus treubii. 

• Light 
• Watering 
• Temperature 
• Humidity 
• Soil 
• Fertilizer 
• Potting & Repotting 
• Pruning 
• Propagation 

Light:

For growing Scindapsus treubii and the light required by them is not difficult to achieve as you can easily get it without using any kind of equipment. According to the origin of the plant, they need bright light but it should be indirect sunlight. The light levels range from 10000 to 20000. You have to just place the plant by an east window for direct sun. Providing them low light is also good for them but in that case, they will grow slowly. Avoid contacting the plant in too much light as those conditions will burn leaves off the plants. 

Watering:

For growing the Scindapsus treubii plants there is no need for regular watering the plant as in jungles they grow best in low soil moisture and if the soil is too wet it will raise the condition of root rot. In short, you have to just water the plant when you find the soil is completely dried up. 

The other way to find out if the plant needs water or not is to weigh the pot. If you feel it is heavy then it’s clear that it has enough water and there is no need of watering the plant and vice versa. 

You can also check the soil with your finger and find the soil moisture and if it is dry then you need to soak the soil completely in the water. 

Note:

Do not make the pot of the plant sit in water. 

Temperature:

The preferred temperature for growing Scindapsus treubii ranges from 65-75°F and does have a tolerance level that ranges from 55-85°F. But remember that high temperature will make foliage wilting and too low temperature will make quicker growth of the plant. 

Avoid keeping the plant near the window during cold winter weather. 

Humidity:

The preferred or ideal humidity rate for Scindapsus treubii is upto 60% and the tolerance levels are as low as 40%. if you find that the plant leaves start turning yellow and crispy so it’s high time to boost the humidity. For boosting you can use a humidifier that will help to raise the humidity level in the air. 

Soil:

The soil requirement for growing Scindapsus truebii is porous and well-draining because this type of soil will help to prevent roots from getting rotten. The ph level of soil for growing Scindapsus truebii ranges from 5-8 ph. To attain the preferred soil condition you can use the commercial cactus or soil mix to match the porus requirement. 

Fertilizer: 

For keeping the flower’s foliage lush and attractive you need to add fertilizer once a month in the spring and summer seasons but remember not to add fertilizer during the spring and summer seasons. The perfect ratio of adding fertilizer is 20-10-10. the nitrogen present in the fertilizer helps the leaves to grow better and you can add compost to the soil mix that will help to add fertility that will help in the quick growth of Scindapsus truebii.

Potting & Repotting: 

If you notice any outgrowing plants that come out of the pot and roots of the plant coming out of the drainage holes it’s high time for repotting. But dont repot the plant in a rush as it may damage the plant but the condition for repotting takes some years. According to my experience, you can choose a terra cotta pot having drainage holes that help drain the soil freely. You just need to take care of increasing the size by 2 inches in diameter and water the plant well to settle it up

Pruning: 

For removing the dead or damaged leaves you need to trim the Scindapsus treubii so that the appearance of the plant is maintained. In case the plant is going into the stage of over green you need to cut the old stem and leaves for welcoming fresh new growth. The best time for pruning the plant is in spring and for cutting you need to use a sharp knife or scissors so that you can easily cut the damaged leaves or stem without harming the whole plant. 

Propagation:

There are many ways to propagate the plant. One of the easiest ways is by dividing the plants by pulling the roots apart and putting each plant in the pot. You can also propagate the plant by taking cuttings and rooting the plant. To just need a stem cutting that needs to have a leaf node and put them in a cup that is filled with mosses and water. For maintaining the humidity of the plant you need to cover it with a plastic bag and place the pot in a warm place unless the root is grown.

Common Problems of Scindapsus treubii:

There are some common problems by that Scindapsus treubii undergoes and the need to protect the plants so that you grow in a healthier way:

Pests:

Growing of pests on Scindapsus treubii are rare to see. But there is the possibility of getting attracted to spider mites, aphids, or mealybugs. 

• The spider mites are used to grow on the underside of leaves of the plant that have little light dots.
• The aphids are used to grow on the underside of fresh leaves which are sticky substances.
• In the case of mealybugs which look similar to small puffs of cotton.
• You can control these pests by using insecticidal soap spray and pyrethrum to protect your plants.

Diseases:

There are common diseases that can be found while growing Scindapsus treubii and you can prevent them by proper caring.

• They will grow mold if the plant is planted into damp soil. 
• The leaves of the plant will turn Yellow or black and to prevent it you need to replant the plant in well-draining soil. 
• Make sure to spray name oil which will help in killing the fungus which may be because of the damp condition. 

Conclusion:

In case you find any pest or insect on the plant you need to protect it with organic spray. You can also be cured and prevent the Scindapsus treubii by maintaining dry soil. Also, the above-mentioned ways will help you how to grow and care for the Scindapsus Treubii ‘Moonlight’.