Golden pothos vs. marble queen are incredible pothos varieties that intrigue gardeners. Their low maintenance requirements and beautiful foliage make them great for people who want to improve their in-house curb appeal.
Read their differences and similarities and decide which best fits your space.
| Features | Golden Pothos | Marble Queen |
| Leaf color | Medium to dark green | Creamy white or light green. |
| Leaf pattern | Yellow patches | Dark green and yellow patches |
| Plant size | 40 feet while outdoors, 10 feet as a houseplant | Five feet |
| Light requirements | Low light | Bright, indirect sunlight |
| Leaf shape | Heart-shaped | Heart-shaped |
| Toxicity | Toxic to humans and animals | Toxic to humans and animals |
| Flowers | Rarely flowers | Rarely flowers |
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Main Differences Between Golden Pothos and Marble Queen
The main difference between golden and marble queen pothos is that marble queen requires brighter sunlight than golden pothos, as the marble has dark green and yellow patches as patterns. In contrast, golden pothos has yellow patches, with creamy white or light green leaves, and required less sunlight.
Exploring Golden Pothos Features and Uses
Golden pothos is a variety of Epipremnum aureum, and gardeners prefer planting it as an indoor plant. The tropical vine is also called devil’s ivy and is native to French Polynesia. It has attractive foliage featuring medium to dark green and yellow leaves, forming adorable patterns.
Gardeners and scientists worldwide refer to golden pothos by many names because it would vary through different characteristics that this plant has. Some of the most common include devil’s ivy, Ceylon creeper, and money plant. From its gold variegation, the golden pothos is also called Pothos aureus.
Although golden gorgeous vine can be grown outdoors, it best serves as an indoor ornamental vine. Why? This plant is invasive and challenging to control, hence the name devil’s ivy, and it is better to keep it outdoors so that it thrive and grows better.
– Light Requirements
Because golden pothos are not highly variegated, they can easily adjust to different lighting conditions. However, these plants seem to grow better in full and indirect sunlight. Keeping the plants in total darkness will lead to the fading of their foliage.
The fading can be confused with a disease, but since the vine is resilient, it regains its pattern after exposing it to the right light requirements. Interestingly, the golden one will also thrive in fluorescent light, which means that all it needs is a touch of any form of light, and you will notice that its growth does not halt.
– Soil requirements
Any soil type is great for this tropical vine, provided it is well-drained one because the roots will be vulnerable when they sit in water for a prolonged time.
However, these vines do not like being kept in wet soil for long because their roots will start to rot. As tolerant as the golden vining plants are, they grow well in soils that are slightly acidic to neutral, which is what will set them to thrive.
– Leaf Color
Golden pothos derives their name from their leaves’ beautiful patterns and is always confused with jade pothos however they are completely different ones as it comes to their properties.
They begin to feature some veins that have dark green leaves adorned by yellow patches. These color combinations form what looks like a flecked golden pattern hence the name furthermore, the yellow patches can be small or big through their variation and feature.
As the plant ages, the green color starts getting darker while the yellow patches become more visible throughout the trailing that grows and develops. This change can raise genuine concerns when it is your first time planting this vein.
Consider the age of your plant when these signs start showing before concluding that your plant is sick, because you will see the vivid signs of stress.
– Leaf Shape
Just like other varieties, golden pothos has heart-shaped leaves that would be trailing down from the veins and would grow one after the other. These leaves are pointed towards the tips and rounded at the base.
Golden pothos has thick leaves that have a waxy texture. This characteristic is found in most succulents, which survive the desert climate.
As a result, golden ones cannot die for lack of watering in two days, as they will still be intact to their beautiful foliage colors also note that the color would even be able to go for some period without water and not dry up.
– Growth Rate
Golden variation of this plant are not highly variegated. If you are wondering what causes variegation and why it is important for plant growth. The reason is that the variegation results from genetic mutation of the plant cells.
This mutation is called chimeral variegation and hinders photosynthesis from taking place, and the growth rate would drop, because the plant will not be in a prosperous development.
Golden pothos has a considerable amount of chlorophyll that allows photosynthesis to take place actively. As a result, they receive the required nutrients for growth at a high rate.
Which means that whenever the nutritional intake is higher by the plants, it makes them grow fast and huge compared to other pothos varieties such as snow queen and manjula pothos.
– Watering
Golden pothos will not give you a headache whenever you want to be away for a few days, thanks to their thick, waxy leaves. They can go for a few days and remain vibrant. This variety is unhappy when soaked in water and can suffer from root rot.
Instead of following a strict watering schedule, consider allowing the soil at the top to dry out so that you wouldn’t over water the plant. Use your finger to check the level of dryness in your soil. Two to three inches of dryness from the top are recommended to ensure you do not underwater or overwater this pothos.
– Humidity
This tropical vein is used in highly humid areas relative to its native origin. Although it is challenging to replicate its native environment completely, golden pothos can survive in humidity 40 percent and above.
If the humidity within your area is low, you can use humidifiers to achieve the humidity levels that your vein love.
In addition, if you do not wish to invest in this method, but provide the right moisture, you can even mist the plant once a week, and it will thrive, or you may also go for a pebble tray with will give it a good amount of moisture.
Since it is almost impossible to ignore the temperature requirements when talking about humidity, the golden version of this trailing plant does not love cold temperatures .
Below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the golden plant will start experiencing burns on their leaves, which causes crusting at the tips, also a sign of stress due to the wrong temperature.
Ideally, the vine should be planted between 65 degrees Fahrenheit and 85 degrees Fahrenheit to grow healthy foliage and reach its optimum growth.
Golden pothos can also be used to improve the air quality in your home. This plant is known for its ability to absorb toxins from the air, such as formaldehyde and benzene. These toxins are commonly found in household products such as cleaning supplies, paint, and carpets and can contribute to indoor air pollution.
By removing these toxins from the air, golden pothos can help to improve the overall air quality in your home, which can be beneficial for people with allergies or respiratory conditions.
– Propagation
Stem cutting is the easiest way of propagating golden plant. Remember to begin by making sure that you have some sharp cutting tools are handy when propagating your plants, and that these tools are properly sterilized. Since cutting is involved, ensure you disinfect these tools to avoid introducing bacteria and viruses to the plant.
What you must do when you begin the process is to choose a healthy stem to cut to ensure quality new growth. The reason for this is that a healthy stem will produce new healthy shoots, and it will not leave any diseases like rotten roots or discolored foliage to the new blooming plant.
Once your cutting is ready, you can plant it in a new location. Sometimes, these cuttings can take long to develop despite exposure to the optimum growth condition.
You can avoid the long wait by dipping the cuttings in root hormones. Furthermore, as you have a strong root system has developed, healthy foliage follows, and in some time, you will see that this new plant has established roots and is growing.
– Fertilization
These low-maintenance plants do not require a lot of fertilization. However, they benefit from an all-purpose, balanced fertilizer that is applied at the recommended rate from the manufacturer.
It is recommended to fertilize these plants once a month during the growing season, which starts in spring. In the winter, when the plant is not actively growing, you can reduce the frequency of fertilization or skip it altogether.
When fertilizing golden pothos, be sure to use a water-soluble fertilizer that is diluted to the recommended strength. However, at all costs you must avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to excess salt buildup in the soil, which can harm the plant.
– Re-Potting
As your golden plant begins to grow, the root system is not left behind. It grows proportionally to the plant’s size to ensure it supports its weight. Roots can fill the available space when grown in a pot, making it challenging to continue supporting the plant.
The result is drooping foliage whose tips may start turning brown, because the roots will slowly begin to show.
You know your plant has overgrown the pot when you spot roots coming out through the drainage holes, and the plant’s foliage remains withered even after watering. It is time to repot your plant as soon as you can, so that it would not hinder its growth any further.
Get a bigger container for repotting and fill it with the proper potting mix, make sure that the container isn’t too big, probably a size or two upgraded.
The process is simple; you only need to lift the plant from the old pot and transfer it to the new one. Some gardeners opt to plant the mature plant in the garden and eliminate the pot. Water, the plant in your new pot to ensure it does not die after all the work.
– Uses
Gardening enthusiasts use golden pothos as a decorative plant. Its glossy, heart-shaped leaves and trailing vines make it an attractive addition to any room. It is often used to add greenery to bookshelves, tables, windows and as a hanging basket.
However, the plant has to be trained since it cannot climb a trellis on its own like other varieties, such as satin pothos. Its ability to thrive in various indoor conditions makes it a popular choice for office buildings, hospitals, and other public spaces.
They also help in increasing humidity in the environment. Since golden pothos needs high humidity levels, it is impossible to keep one area humid. As a result, the surrounding area benefits from this environment.
With a humid environment, those living in the home enjoy benefits such as improved skin appearance since they remain hydrated and few bacteria and viruses in the air. Humidity makes the air dense and makes it difficult for these organisms to move, and all this is due to this vine plant.
On the other hand, some people would also use to create living walls or vertical gardens. These gardens can be made using various plants, but golden pothos is a popular choice due to its ability to thrive in low light conditions and its ability to grow long vines.
These living walls can add a touch of greenery to an otherwise dull wall or create a privacy screen. They can also create a natural separation between different areas of a room or add a decorative element to a patio or outdoor space.
Exploring Marble Queen Features
The marble queen plant is often mistaken for other pothos, such as the Jessenia Pothos and the snow queen pothos. Their leaf variegation is what seems to bring the confusion. Other gardening enthusiasts cannot tell apart the marble queen pothos and the golden pothos.
– Leaf color
Marble queen pothos is one of the oldest and most popular pothos varieties. It gets its name from the marbled effect created by its leaf variegation. Marble queen pothos leaves are light green or creamy white.
Their patterns are made of darker green and yellow colors, bringing out the enviable marble effect.
– Propagation
Propagating a marble queen is a straightforward practice that does not require expert input. Make markings from the healthy parts of the plant. The best approach is selecting sections that have fine speckles. They create beautiful and healthy new plants.
After getting the markings, plant them during spring or summer when there is plenty of light. The new plants will develop faster and healthy than when planted during the winter when the season is a bit darker.
– Growth Rate
A marble queen’s growth habit is slow, resulting from the little chlorophyll in its leaves. Since most gardening enthusiasts prefer planting the vine as a house plant, it is done so in plant pots. Their slow growth allows them to reach a plant size of five feet as they will be trailing.
Compared to the golden pothos, marble queen has smaller leaves, which can be associated with their little chlorophyll and slow growth rate.
– Light Requirements
Marble queen plants have low levels of chlorophyll. As a result, they need a lot of sunlight to enable photosynthesis to take place. Unlike varieties such as neon pothos, this variety cannot adapt to different light variations.
Bright, indirect sunlight is necessary. It helps the plant get enough nutrients to allow growth to take place. However, allowing the sunbeams to touch the queen pothos leaves can cause sunburns.
– Soil Requirements
Queen pothos grow in most soil types that do not retain water. Ensure your potting soil is rich in minerals, has incredible aeration, and drains well. This pothos variety also appreciates slightly acidic to medium soil pH which is exactly 6.5 to 7.0.
– Taxonomy
Epipremnum aureum is the common name used for referring to pothos. This variety is named epipremnum aureum marble queen after its leaf variegation, which creates marble-like patterns.
– Water Requirements
The plant has the resilience of succulents when it comes to surviving days without water. Their thick and waxy leaves prevent the loss of water that occurs through evaporation. As a result, you do not have to feed them daily to sustain their growth.
Like other pothos varieties, it is great to skip several days without water. However, check the soil dryness with your finger or testing stick, especially if your potting soil drains fast. Allow it to dry for approximately 3 inches deep before your next feed.
– Leaf Shape
Although the variegation of this pothos variety makes it stand out, its leaf shape remains the same as others. It has a heart shape, with elongated tips that are affected by frostbites, which come narrowing down to the bottom of each leaflet.
– Humidity
Most tropical plants love humid environments. From 40 percent humidity and above, these pothos can adapt to their new environment and grow well. However, if the region you come from is a bit dry, consider using a humidifier to help you sustain this beauty.
– Uses
Marble queen pothos are cultivators. Unlike the golden pothos, these are not invasive and are not resilient to outdoor environments. As a result, they are used as excellent in-house plants for decorating the spaces.
Marble queen is often used as a groundcover or as a trailing plant in hanging baskets due to its long, trailing stems and attractive foliage. It is also commonly used as an indoor houseplant due to its ability to thrive in various indoor conditions. It is relatively easy to care for and only requires regular watering and occasional fertilizing to maintain healthy growth.
They are also good natural air purifiers. Marble queen helps absorb pollutants such as toxins and VOCs from the air.
Not only that but also note that some designers and even some gardening enthusiasts also use this vine as a good luck plant. According to them, it helps reduce the negative energy through the Feng Shui approach. When the negative energy is removed from a home, it welcomes good luck.
Marble queen is known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of light conditions, making it a good choice for those who do not have a lot of natural light in their homes. It is also relatively resistant to pests and diseases, making it a low-maintenance choice for those who may not have much experience with plants.
If you have an aquarium, you can plant the marble queen for cleaning purposes. Plant the marble as a floating plant where the roots are inside the water, and the leaves remain afloat.
The aquarium often has high nitrate levels that accumulate from fish food and excrete. The environment can be harmful to your fish and can have a negative effect on their growth.
Planting the marble queen in your aquarium is an excellent way to reduce nitrate. It also helps prevent the growth of fungi and algae, creating a healthy growing environment for your fish.
Conclusion
As we have seen in this review, there is a very slim difference between golden pothos and marble queen. They have many similarities and a few differences, which only the keen can identify. The notable difference is the leaf color and plant growth rate under different light conditions.
Basically, when you are going to make a choice, and if you want something more resilient, go for golden pothos, because of its nature. Furthermore, it is also due to the fact that this variety can be hard to kill, and even when the light conditions vary, this vine will still offer its aesthetic value.
Consider the weather conditions in your region, as it can also help determine the best variety for your space.
References
- Epipremnum aureum. N.C. Cooperative Extension.
Retrieved from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/epipremnum-aureum/ - A. R. Chase and R. T. Poole. Effect of variegation on growth and chilling sensitivity of ‘Marble Queen’ Pothos. University of Florida.
Retrieved from https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/foliage/resrpts/rh_90_17.htm - Ayako Sawada. Taketoshi Yoshida. Hiroyuki Kuroda. Takashi Oyabu. Kozaburo Takenaka. (January 2005). Purification Effects of Golden Pothos and Peace Lily for Indoor Air-Pollutants and its Application to a Real Environment. ResearchGate.
Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/250005457_Purification_Effects_of_Golden_Pothos_and_Peace_Lily_for_Indoor_Air-Pollutants_and_its_Application_to_a_Real_Environment - Ursprung Matthew, Amiri Azita, Kayatin Matthew, Perry Jay. (April 12, 2016). The Effect of Golden Pothos in Reducing the Level of Volatile Organic Compounds in a Simulated Spacecraft Cabin. NTRS – NASA Technical Reports Server.
Retrieved from https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20160005687.pdf
