The Scindapsus Pictus plant group has a wide selection of beautiful yet similar plants. Each plant of the Sindapsus has its beauty. Scindapsus Pictus Exotica and Silvery Ann are just two examples of the gorgeous Scindapsus clan. However, many growers often mistake one for another.
Comparing Scindapsus Pictus Exotica and Silvery Ann causes a lot of confusion. The similar features in each are pretty deceiving, but looking at both plants can be revealing.
If you are interested in either or both plants, we can help you identify them easily. We will also give you insight into each of them to understand more about their needs and growth patterns.
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What is Scindapsus Pictus Exotica?
Scindapsus Pictus Exotica is one of these confusing plants. It combines apparent features of various philodendrons and pothos at the same time. However, it does not belong to either group.
The exotica plant is considered one of the most popular members of Scindapsus. Other Scindapsus species, such as the silver splash, Argyraeus, and silvery Ann, are frequently confused with it.
Just like many of its fellows, this is an exotic climbing plant. Exotica grows in tropical parts of Southeast Asia, such as Thailand and Malaysia. The right atmosphere for growing exotica is anywhere that is warm and humid. The best hardiness zone is anywhere between 10 and 12.
The Scindapsus Pictus Exotica is famous for its moderately bigger leaves compared to the leaves of the Argyraeus. The leaves are also ovate but resemble a heart at the same time.
The leaves are thick and have a deep shade of green. Another feature of the exotica leaves is their beautiful large variegated silverish streaks. These streaks create a fantastic visual contrast with the dark leaf color.
What is Scindapsus Pictus Silvery Ann?
Scindapsus Pictus Silvery Ann is also known as Silvery Ann Pothos. It is not an actual pothos plant, but it bears the name because of its striking resemblance to many pothos group members.
The leaves of this plant somehow resemble Argyraeus’s leaves. The leaves do not reflect a gloss or shine. They have a matt green color that is decorated with silver variegations.
Like the vast majority of the Scindapsus Pictus group, this plant is native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. One of the biggest reasons Silvery Anna is a very popular houseplant known for being a hardy plant.
So, it does an excellent job in various conditions, especially during cold weather. However, it won’t tolerate freezing winters.
What are the Differences between the Scindapsus Pictus Exotica and Silvery Ann?
At first, comparing Scintapsus Pictus Exotica and Silvery Ann can be tricky. However, knowing the basic features of each plant makes distinguishing them a lot easier. They differ in the details of the leaves and variegation. Also, some growing needs vary slightly between them.
1. Leaf texture
The silvery Ann leaves are smoother than the exotica. The exotica leaves are thicker and tougher than silvery Ann. The leaves of exotica won’t get torn easily, but silvery Ann’s are not that stiff.
The exotica’s leaves are glossier, whereas the silvery Ann’s plant has matt leaves.
2. Leaf size
Scindapsus Pictus Exotica has the biggest leaves of all the rest of the Scindapsus group. The exotica leaf can grow as big as your hand’s palm.
When you put a leaf of exotica next to a leaf of silver ann, the former will look twice as big as the latter.
3. Variegation
Both plants have beautiful whitish-silvery variegation. However, they have different levels of variegated spots. The variegation of the exotica leaves is large, but the silvery Ann has larger variegation.
Most Silvery Ann plants have a silvery variegated layer covering at least half of each leaf. The remaining half features smaller variegated blotches. Sometimes, the silvery variegation takes over the whole silvery Ann leaf, but this never happens with the exotica.
4. Plant size
Another deciding point in comparing Scindapsus Pictus Exotica and Silvery ann is the overall size. The exotica plant is bigger than the Silvery Ann and is not just bigger in terms of leaf size. The maximum size of the exotica is nearly 3 meters tall.
It also spreads to be around 1.5 meters in width. The biggest Silvery Ann can be about 2 meters tall and 1 meter wide. So, the size will make a difference, especially if you are looking at both plants simultaneously.
5. Watering needs
These plants are unlike some species of photos that thrive on excessive watering. Both plants won’t need frequent watering, especially if the atmosphere is humid. However, the specific needs are not the same.
The size of both plants plays a role in determining the water needs of each one. The exotica plant is larger, so typically it consumes more water.
You can water your Exotica plant once a week if it is hot. If it is cool, you can water it every 10 days. On the other hand, the Silvery Ann plant can get watered once every two weeks.
A rule of thumb for properly watering these plants is don’t water until the soil feels dry. Unnecessary watering kills both plants.
6. Light needs
Both are tropical plants that thrive under bright natural light. But direct sunlight can kill them. So, you will need to place them in a room where it is sunny but the plants are not directly exposed. Any window facing the north won’t be a good choice for either.
However, the Silvery Ann will need more light compared to the exotica. The more light the Silvery ann gets, the more silvery it will get. So, the exotica might tolerate lower light, as it does not feature much variegation like the silvery Ann.
Scindapsus Pictus Exotica vs Silvery Ann: are they the same?
No, scindapsus pictus exotica and Silvery Ann are not the same plant. They are from the same family, genus, and plant group. Also, their appearance can be almost identical. However, they show recognizable differences.
For instance, the leaf size of the Exotica is a lot larger than the Silvery Ann. A mature Silvery Ann plant will look half the size of a fully grown exotica.
The variegation of Silvery Ann is larger and more dominant than the exotica. Both have beautiful silvery variegation, but Silvery Ann can have fully variegated leaves.
This is not the case with the Exotica plant. The leaves of the exotica plant are taller, wider, thicker, and more difficult to tear.
The exotica leaves are glossy, while the silvery ann has softer matt leaves. The Silvery Ann would require more light because of its fully variegated leaves.
These leaves require more light to complete their growth cycles. As for water, exotica needs more water than Silvery Ann due to the size differences.
