Pothos gracillimus Engl. & K.Krause

• Genus: Pothos L.
• Botanical Background: Described  Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik 54: 74 (1916) by Adolf Engler and Kurt Krause, two prominent German botanists who made foundational contributions to aroid taxonomy.

• Geographical Range: Known only from three widely scattered sites in New Guinea’s lowland hill forests.
• Environment: Thrives in wet tropical biomes, climbing on trees or growing as a hemiepiphyte under high humidity and warm temperatures.

Leaves

• Very narrowly lanceolate, 5–9 cm long and 3–7 mm wide
  

• Apex attenuate, base rounded

• Primary lateral veins diverge at ~20°, with 1–2 intramarginal veins per side

  
  

Inflorescence (Spadix & Spathe)

• Solitary on condensed short shoots subtended by narrow cataphylls
  

• Peduncle slender, up to 3.5 cm long; spadix sessile, 3–7 × 3–4 mm

• Spathe ovate‑lanceolate, 6–8 × 4–5 mm, green; flowers ~1.2 mm diam., with six free tepals and stamens
  

Growth Habit

• Very slender root‑climbing liane or hemiepiphyte with weakly differentiated flowering branches

Light Requirements

• Bright, indirect light; avoid direct sun to prevent leaf scorch
  

Watering & Humidity

• Water when the top 2 cm of soil is dry

• Maintain high humidity (60–80%) to mimic native habitat

Soil & Potting Mix

• Use a well‑draining mix of indoor potting soil, perlite, and orchid bark to support aeration

Temperature & Fertilizer

• Ideal range 18–28 °C (65–82 °F)

• Feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season

• Reduce in cooler months

Division and Cuttings

• Stem cuttings with at least one node can root in water or moist medium

• Ensure high humidity

Seeds

• Rarely available

• Viability and germination requirements are undocumented

Typical Issues

• Spider mites, mealybugs and scale
• Maintain good air circulation and avoid waterlogged soil

Treatment Recommendations

• Neem oil or insecticidal soap
• Systemic insecticides labeled for indoor plants

• Its diminutive form makes it easily overlooked in the wild
• May represent a rare, naturally small variant of P. zippeli

• Sought by specialist collectors for its extreme slenderness and miniature foliage

Wild Population Status

• Very scattered and known from few collections

• Not yet assessed by IUCN but potentially rare

Market Availability

• Not generally available in trade

• Known only from herbarium records and specialist collections