How to Grow and Care for Pothos (2023)

FAQs

How to Grow and Care for Pothos? ›

Pothos plants thrive in bright, indirect light, but they can tolerate medium to low indirect light, for instance, in north-facing homes or during cooler seasons with shorter days. This plant is not suited for intense, direct sun, which will burn and brown its leaves.

Pothos plants thrive in bright, indirect light, but they can tolerate medium to low indirect light, for instance, in north-facing homes or during cooler seasons with shorter days. This plant is not suited for intense, direct sun, which will burn and brown its leaves.

Caring for pothos is simple. This low-maintenance plant thrives in bright, indirect light, but it can also do well in low-light conditions. Pothos can thrive in standard houseplant potting mix or a chunky, well-draining aroid mix. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.

Providing your pothos with a moss pole to climb will encourage larger leaves which will give the plant a fuller appearance. You can make your own moss pole or purchase one from a nursery or garden center. Add the pole tothe pot and secure the vines using twist ties or zip ties.

To prune, use a sharp, clean pair of scissors or secateurs to make a cut just below a node. If your goal is to encourage bushy growth, prune close to the crown to create lots of shorter stems from which new leaves will emerge. If you want to shorten up a long vine, snip it off wherever you prefer.

It prefers bright, indirect light, but will tolerate medium and low light. The variegation will be more pronounced in brighter light. Your Pothos will not do well in direct sunlight–the sunlight can burn the foliage. Water your Pothos when the top 50% of the soil is dry.

So, while pothos plants don't necessarily require deep pots, choosing a pot that's the right size for your plant is still essential. A pot that's too small can restrict the growth of the roots, while a pot that's too large can cause the soil to stay too moist for too long.

Do Pothos grow better in water or soil? I've found that although Pothos will grow in water with nutrients added, you will get much more luxurious growth if you grow in a standard potting mix and fertilize. Growing in water can be much simpler though so it's just a matter of what you prefer and what fits your lifestyle.

Pothos plants also tend to droop slightly when they're thirsty, which is a great reminder if you sometimes forget to water!

Pothos generally need warm, humid conditions to grow at their best. A room temperature somewhere between 65 and 75ºF is ideal, with humidity levels ranging from 40% to 60%. Usually, if you're comfortable with the humidity and temperature of your home, a pothos will be too.

Why is my pothos not growing well? ›

If your plant isn't growing like it should, it's time to re-examine your watering schedule. Pothos plants need water, but not too much. If the top inch of soil isn't drying out in between your visits with the watering can, then your plant is being overwatered.

Pothos can handle a variety of lighting conditions and temperature fluctuations, so you can enjoy its beauty without stressing over its care. Plus, it feels perfect in high-humidity environments, making it one of the best plants for the shower.

Pothos, also known as Devil's Ivy, is a popular houseplant that has been around for centuries. It's easy to care for and can live for many years, but how long is a pothos lifespan typically? On average, a healthy pothos plant can live anywhere from 5 to 10 years or more.

As with any plant, watch leaves for signs of the plant's well-being: if the leaves are glossy, green, and perky, the plant is happy; if they're wilting or turning brown, you're not watering enough. Yellow leaves are a sign of over-watering and root rot.

Pruning a pothos can help it grow fuller and healthier. Sometimes pruning is just for giving the plant a little touch-up; other times, it can help reinvigorate it and bring it back to life if a lot of leaves have been lost as the vines grow.

For pothos plants and other rapidly growing aroids, plan on repotting every year or so to give your roots more wiggle room!

Trim a 4-6 inch piece just below a root node. Ideally, the cutting will have 4+ leaves and at least two growth nodes. Pothos plant propagation can be done in water or soil, but once it begins, the plant has difficult switching to the other growing medium.

Coffee grounds for Pothos:

Like many other plants the Pothos houseplants also find coffee grounds as a good nutrient-rich food option. As we already know, coffee grounds when unwashed and added to the soil, enrich it with an acid content, this acidic level of the soil is great for the growth of Pothos plants as well.

Pothos. Like jade plants, Pothos can also be prone to leaf spots from splashing water. Bottom watering prevents spots and ensures good soil hydration.

Just keep any Pothos out of hot, sunny windows. They'll burn in no time especially if up against hot glass. High light is fine for a Pothos but make sure it's at least 8-10′ away from a west or south facing window. Indirect sunlight is fine.

Do pothos like tall or wide pots? ›

The best pot for a Pothos should be large enough to give the roots room to grow. At the same time, it should be small enough that the soil doesn't massively outweigh the roots.

To keep your pothos from falling over, you will need to tie it to its trellis or stake. Velcro plant ties are ideal for the job because they're easy to put up or remove, and because they're wider, they won't cut into the stems.

Pothos plants will thrive in a soil with a pH of 6.1-6.8, which is very slightly acidic. Luckily, most potting soils fall within this range.

They do well in bright, indirect light as well as low light and can be grown in dry soil or in vases of water. They will thrive in nutrient rich soil, but do almost as well in nutrient poor soil. Pothos plants make a great addition to your bathroom or office because they can tolerate low light.

There is no precise schedule for watering “every morning and every night.” Sure, pothos may do best when watered once a week or once every 2 weeks, but the frequency of watering that your pothos needs ultimately depends on the soil, sunlight, humidity, and season of growth.

Step 1: Because water does run out of oxygen, you'll want to make sure you replace the water for your pothos every one to two weeks. Step 2: Use a liquid fertilizer to ensure that the water has the proper amount of nutrients for strong growth.

Pothos Growing Requirements

Take note that you can only grow pothos outdoors year-round if you live in a climate that does not typically drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. So, for the vast majority of the US, gardeners will need to bring this heat-loving plant indoors once the temps start to drop.

Pothos plants can thrive in tap water, but don't want it to be full of chlorine. To off-gas chlorine in your tap water, leave it out for at least 24 hours in an open container, then pour it into your vase. Don't use solid fertilizers when feeding your pothos plant.

Benefits of eucalyptus in the shower

In addition to being pleasing to look at and having a scent that many people enjoy, eucalyptus in the shower may provide health benefits when inhaled.

Native to the Solomon Islands of the South Pacific, pothos is a climbing vine that thrives in hot, humid environments. Belonging to arum plants in the Araceae family, pothos' scientific name is Epipremnum aureum. This plant can grow up to 65 feet long in the wild with three-foot-long and wide variegated leaves.

What are the disadvantages of pothos? ›

Golden Pothos is considered to be only mildly harmful in small quantities, but can produce uncomfortable and sometimes serious side effects in animals and people. In humans, it can cause burning of the mouth, skin irritation, swelling of lips, tongue, and throat, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Mealybugs and scale are the most common insect Pothos problems. Mealybugs look like small balls of cotton while scale are dark colored bumps on stems and leaves. Their feeding activity reduces plant sap and redirects nutrients from leaves. In high infestations, the leaves will become distorted and stunted.

A good indication of your plant needing water is when the foliage begins to wilt. It is best to water just as it begins to wilt (not after it has collapsed), and always be sure to feel the soil in addition to visually monitoring the plant.

Simply take a cutting of the vine and place it in a jar of water until it roots. You can even see little brownish knobs along the vine. These are the aerial roots that will start growing once you place them in water. In nature, these are the aerial roots that Pothos will use to attach onto tree trunks.

Let a leaf or two remain on what you've cut off. New pothos vines will sprout and eventually become longer shoots. If you continue the clipping process your pothos will grow more foliage from each node, but you must allow time for growth.

Roots packed tightly in a pot don't take up nutrients efficiently. To promote good nutrient absorption, trim the roots and loosen up the root ball before replanting. Use a sharp knife or pruning shears for this job, removing as much as the bottom third of the root ball if necessary.

After repotting, pothos plants have to adjust to a new soil environment and grow new roots. This can cause it to droop and possibly lose some leaves. But don't worry – this will be a temporary problem, and your plant should recover after a few weeks.

You can make the pothos leaves greener and fuller by using Epsom salt as it contains sulfur, which helps in chlorophyll production. Epsom salt also takes care of the magnesium deficiency that causes dead and brown spots on the foliage.

To prune, use a sharp, clean pair of scissors or secateurs to make a cut just below a node. If your goal is to encourage bushy growth, prune close to the crown to create lots of shorter stems from which new leaves will emerge. If you want to shorten up a long vine, snip it off wherever you prefer.

No, you can't propagate pothos from just a leaf. You must use stem cuttings that contain one or more nodes. Propagating pothos is a great way to multiply one plant into many new ones. With either soil, water, or by division, even beginners can enjoy new devil's ivy plants without much effort.

How long does it take for pothos to grow after cutting? ›

Timing: Pothos generally take about 4 to 6 weeks to produce roots ready for planting. If rooting in water, vermiculite, or perlite, you can move the cutting to household potting mix when roots with side branches have formed.

Don't just pour it down the drain — you can use it to fertilize your plants, both indoor and outdoor. Coffee grounds (and brewed coffee) are a source of nitrogen for plants, producing healthy green growth and strong stems. Coffee also contains calcium and magnesium — both of which are beneficial to plant health.

To brew coffee grounds tea, add 2 cups of used coffee grounds into a mesh strainer. If you don't have one, you can use a sock instead! Next, get 5 gallons of water, add the coffee, and let it steep overnight. You can then use this mixture to water your Pothos plants as you would with a fertilizer.

Eggshells are good for your plants because when they decompose in the soil the plant can take in all the nutrients.

Underwatering makes foliage dry, crispy, and brittle. Overwatered leaves feel soft and limp. We'll get into more detail about these indicators below, along with a few other important diagnostic factors. And we'll explain how you can treat your plant's issues and get it healthy once again.

Remove the leaf that is closest to the end. The end goes in water so you need enough empty stem to stick in a vase. Depending on the length of your cuttings, the weight of the leaves can pull it out of the water. I like to use tubes or apothecary vases to prevent this from happening since they have narrow openings.

Do Pothos Need Deep Pots? Well, here's the deal: pothos plants are known to have a relatively shallow root system, so they don't necessarily need deep pots. In fact, using a pot that's too deep can sometimes do more harm than good.

Pothos can handle a variety of lighting conditions and temperature fluctuations, so you can enjoy its beauty without stressing over its care. Plus, it feels perfect in high-humidity environments, making it one of the best plants for the shower.

Terracotta. Not only are terracotta pots beautiful, they are porous, which means they allow air to pass through the container and they wick water away from the soil. While this may not be ideal for other houseplants that need more moisture retention, it's perfect for pothos.

Make sure you have at least 4 inches of stem with leaves on it, and place it in a glass jar filled with water. You can also put it in a container with a rooting medium, such as a mixture of sand and Miracle-Gro® Perlite. Leave it in a well-lit area, and new roots will develop in just a few weeks.

How long does a pothos live for? ›

Pothos plants live for an average of five to 10 years, but with proper care, these hardy houseplants can live for much longer. Giving your plant the proper environmental conditions and basic maintenance can help increase its lifespan.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos is a super easy houseplant to grow and a trailing plant that's a great candidate for hanging in the shower. Plant a pot of pothos in a medium-light or bright corner. Train the trailing stems along suction cup hooks for lush coverage.

Place your golden pothos in an area with bright, indirect light or low light. North- and east-facing windows are best to encourage healthy growth. This plant's leaves can become sunburnt when placed in direct sunlight.

Its leaves are bright and waxy with a noteworthy pointed heart shape, and are often green or variegated in white, yellow, or pale green. It is rare for them to flower or produce berries, especially indoors, but certain varieties can have tiny, petal-less white flowers that feature small berries.

While pothos leaves can survive submerged in water for short periods of time, they do best when they are grown above water so that they can receive the air circulation that they need.

For pothos plants and other rapidly growing aroids, plan on repotting every year or so to give your roots more wiggle room!

The point where the leaf meets the vine is called a node, and your pothos will send out a new vine in that area after you've pruned. Take care not to leave any leafless vines. I've found that these typically won't regrow. It is probably best to prune leafless vines completely off.

Pothos plants will thrive in a soil with a pH of 6.1-6.8, which is very slightly acidic. Luckily, most potting soils fall within this range. You may be able to find this on the label, and you can test your existing soil with a pH meter.

Weaknesses. Pothos had a specific weaknesses to Devil's Ivy. Devil's Ivy: Pothos' only known weakness was a poisonous plant, so named Devil's Ivy or "Pothos". Landon consumed one such plant and tricked Pothos into consuming his heart, thereby poisoning and killing him.

As with any plant, watch leaves for signs of the plant's well-being: if the leaves are glossy, green, and perky, the plant is happy; if they're wilting or turning brown, you're not watering enough.

Is it better to bottom water pothos? ›

Pothos. Like jade plants, Pothos can also be prone to leaf spots from splashing water. Bottom watering prevents spots and ensures good soil hydration.