Lemon Meringue Pothos vs. Global Green Pothos: A Houseplant Comparison

Wondering the difference between a Lemon Meringue Pothos vs Global Green Pothos? Let's compare these two super similar varieties to help you determine which one you have!

I love pothos plants because they are so easy to care for and generally do well in average home conditions without much care or attention.

One of the more fun parts of being into pothos plants is collecting different varieties.

Some of those varieties are very different and others are more similar to one another.

Today I want to talk about two types of pothos plants that are often confused with each other - the Lemon Meringue Pothos and the Global Green Pothos.

About the Lemon Meringue Pothos

The lemon meringue pothos is a mounding pothos that has rippled or curly leaves.

The leaves tend to be small and highly variegated with a light yellow to white frame of each leaf and a darker center.

New growth on this plant has a very yellow look to it.

About the Global Green Pothos

Global Green Pothos also have a curly shape to their leaves. However, they tend to have solid emerald green color or slight variegation with a lighter shade of green.

What is the difference between Lemon Meringue Pothos and Global Green Pothos?

Lemon meringue Pothos was actually bred from global green Pothos that had yellow and light colored variegation.

So, these plants are very very similar, except for the coloration of their leaves.

Because the variegation of the lemon meringue Pothos does require bright light to maintain itself, they can actually revert back to a global green Pothos in dark or low light conditions.

Appearance

The biggest difference between these plants is in leaf coloration and variegation.

Lemon Meringue Pothos has a golden or light yellow variegation. It tends to have lighter edges of the leaves and a darker center.

Global Green Pothos leaves may have variegation but they are typically all shades of green. The leaves may be split into two colors but don't typically have the framed/border look.

Light Requirements

The Lemon Meringue Pothos and the Global Green Pothos have slightly different lighting requirements.

Variegated leaves require more light to maintain their colors. This is due to a lack of chlorophil completing photosynthesis. However, they are also more likely to get sunburned.

For this reason, highly variegated plants often do best with grow lights!

Pothos in general will tolerate low light, but are likely to lose any variegation and trun to more of an emerald green color all over without bright light.

Watering Needs

Both of these pothos types need well draining soil and drainage holes in their pots to prevent them from getting water logged.

Otherwise, water deeply once a week and they should be happy!

Temperature and Humidity

These plants are both tropical in nature and like warm, humid environments. Just keep them out of direct sun, which will burn their delicate leaves.

Variegated leaves are generally more susceptible to sunburn so watch your lemon meringue in the sun!

Toxicity Information

All types of pothos are toxic if eaten and should be kept away from pets and kids.

Growth Rate

Variegated plants tend to grow more slowly when compared to non-variegated varieities. So, Lemon Meringue is likely to be the slower grower.

Both of these plants tend to be mounding instead of vining, though adding a moss pole can encourage them to grow longer vines!

Lemon Meringue Pothos and the Global Green Pothos are very similar plants and highly related. The main determining factor between the two is the coloration on the leaves, and telling the difference can be highly subjective!

Thanks for reading!