Both NJOY and Pearls and Jade have been developed from the popular Marble Queen pothos plant as part of a planned breeding program. The plan was to develop Epipremnum pinnatum plants with improved form and brighter leaf variegations. Both are cultivars patented by the University of Florida.
Pothos NJOY and Pearls and Jade have lots in common, but they are not the same plant at all. Differences include the size of the leaves and the coloring of the leaves. They are so similar that many unqualified writers talk about them in the same breath, saying they are the same plant. They aren’t!
What is Pothos NJOY?
Part of a new breeding program initiated by the University of Florida, NJOY was discovered in 2002 by Ashish Arvind Hansoti in a commercial greenhouse near Mumbai in India. When the patent was granted in 2007, about 25 generations of what then a new cultivar had been reproduced.
According to the patent application, Epipremnum Plant Named ‘NJOY’, which was eventually granted in 2009, the new variety was discovered as a branch mutation that occurred naturally in a grouping of more than 100 plants. These plants are all superior clones of Marble Queen, a stunning Epipremnum aureum cultivar that has cream and green-colored leaves with a marble-like pattern.
It is described in the patent application as being very compact in its growth with strong, dark green stems. The description also states that the plant has small broad leaves that are brightly colored and distinctively green with white variegations.
NJOY was bred as an indoor potted plant.
What are Pearls and Jade?
Pearls and Jade is another cultivar developed in the Mumbai greenhouse and only one of many. It is, though, one that has become commercially important.
A document published by the University of Florida Extension in 2009 describes it as a small plant with leaves that are between 2.5 and 3 inches long and 1.5 to 2 inches wide. This is more than half the size of the parent Marble Queen plant.
They describe the colorations on Pearls and Jade leaves as being gray and green, showing up in irregular blotches, patches, and streaks.LIke NJOY, Pearls, and Jade is protected by a US Plant Patent. Most refer to coloration and things like internode length.
The American Society for Horticultural Science has a detailed description of Pearls and Jade pothos that compares Pearls and Jade with its parent plant, Marble Queen.
They are, of course, very similar!
Difference Between Pothos NJOY vs Pearls and Jade
Pothos NJOY and Pearls and Jade are both offspring of Marble Queen, (Epipremnum pinnatum), which is unpatented. So, it’s no surprise that they have lots in common.
Both have been patented by the University of Florida.
Pothos NJOY
Ashish Hansoti who “invented” NJOY states that it is similar to its parent plant Marble Queen.
The plants of the new cultivar are shorter than Marble Queen and their leaves are smaller and broader. They also have well-defined, very regular variegations.
Foliage colors of NJOY also vary considerably, even though the Marble Queen parent plant characteristically is only known to display two predominant colors. The average length of the leaves is 5.2 cm and they have an approximate diameter of 0.2 cm.
The texture of the leaves is smooth.
Pothos Pearls and Jade
Officially registered as UFM12 when it was patented in 2009, Pearls and Jade was “invented” by Richard Henry and Jianjun Chen.
The American Society for Horticultural Science describes Pearls and Jade as a much smaller plants when compared to other pothos cultivars, which includes NJOY. They state that mature pearls and Jade leaves are 7-8 cm long and 4-5 cm wide.
That is a lot bigger than NJOY, but a lot smaller than Marble Queen parent plant leaves that are about 8-12 cm.
The foliage colors of Pearls and Jade include irregular patches that are green, white, and gray. They include all kinds of streaks, blotches, and islands of green.
The leaves are far from uniform in their patterns and colors, which creates an interesting overall effect.
The patent application compares Pearls and Jade with Marble Queen. The leaves of UFM12 are smaller, have a different shape, and aren’t smooth like those of the parent plant.
Leaf Shape & Size
NJOY, Pearls, and Jade have typical pothos heart-shaped leaves. NJOY leaves are, though, bigger than Pearls and Jade leaves and both are a lot smaller than their parent Marble Queen plant.
Leaf Texture
The texture of NJOY leaves is smooth and waxy although the bottom surface tends to be a bit leathery. The texture of UFM12 (Pearls and Jade) leaves is described as being irregularly undulated rather than smooth.
Color
NJOY leaves are variegated. The upper side of younger leaves is usually different shades of green. More mature leaves are variegated and a bit whiter with different shades of green.
Pearls and Jade has small variegated leaves that are recognized in three different colors. The description in the patent application is complex with a wide range of color references supplied.
Flower
The patent application states that no blooming was observed on the new NJOY cultivar. There is no mention of blooms in the UFM12 patent application.
Foliage
The leaves of NJOY are arranged alternately. Their average length is 5.6 cm and their average width is 4.1 cm.
The leaves of Pearls and Jade are also arranged alternately and their size is similar but often bigger. They are about 5-7 cm long and between 3.5 and 5 cm wide.
Height
The NJOY patent application states that its height is about 15-25 cm above a 13 cm pot.
Pearls and Jade, on the other hand, are a lot smaller, with a length of about 5-7 cm and a width of 3.5-5 cm. The height from the soil level to the top of the leaf plane is described in the patent application as being 10-12 cm.
Short Care Tips for Pothos NJOY, Pearls and Jade
The caring program for Pothos NJOY and Pearls and Jade is essentially the same as for any other pothos plant. It’s logical and not complicated at all.
What’s good for your NJOY pothos is good for Pearls and Jade too.
Water
You need to water regularly, but in between, you should let the soil dry out. Also, when you water, be sure to drench the soil well, but let the soil get too wet.
Light
All pothos plants do better in an environment that gets indirect light. They will, though, grow in quite shady spots if forced to do so.
Be warned that if they don’t get enough light, your pothos plants might get leggy and their colorations might not be quite what you are expecting. The biggest danger is that variegated pothos will tend to lose their defining variegations.
Humidity & Temperature
Generally, pothos like to be in a humid environment in temperatures that range between 65 and 85℉. They are, though, forgiving, and you will find that most will survive in quite dry conditions.
If your pothos plant isn’t looking good, move it to the kitchen or bathroom where the air is more humid. Or simply try misting it with a bit of water.
Fertilizer
It isn’t usually necessary to fertilize pothos plants, but if the soil you are growing them in isn’t balanced, you might have to. The golden rule, though, is to only fertilize during the growing season – in spring and summer – when the plant is active.
Benefits of Growing Pothos NJOY and Pearls and Jade
You may not realize it, but all pothos plants are on NASA’s list of the best air-filtering house plants. Why should you care?
Most of our homes contain polluted areas caused by chemicals, glues and adhesives, paint, foam insulation products, and other materials that incorporate stuff that can be harmful. But, amazingly, plants, including pothos, are able to trap pollutants.
These include formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia, all of which come from materials used to build our homes as well as products we often use to clean them.
Conclusion
There are so many different types of pothos plants and it’s difficult to differentiate one from the other. But, if you do a bit of homework (and we’ll help you with this), you’ll soon discover what your choices are if you want to grow pothos plants.
There are lots of different types of pothos plants, but they all differ from one another. In this article, we have pinpointed just two cultivars, pothos NJOY and Pearls of Joy.
Both these types of pothos are the result of a breeding program introduced by the University of Florida more than a decade ago. And both are offshoots of a very popular, well-established cultivar, Marble Queen.
While Golden pothos is probably the most popular type, you may be surprised to discover how many other cultivars are out there. The horticultural people at the University of Florida know just how popular pothos plants are.
Maybe you should explore their new offerings. Give it a try!
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