How to Grow and Care for Pothos (2024)

Pothos Care

Pothos plants live an average five to 10 years, but with minimal consistent care can live much longer.

• Plant pothos in standard houseplant potting mix or well-draining aroid mix.
• Provide plenty of indirect light, ideally in an east- or west-facing window.
• Allow soil to dry out completely between waterings.
• Feed with balanced houseplant fertilizer monthly during spring and summer.

Light

Pothos likes sun or shade and can grow in low-light areas or those with only fluorescent lighting. Grown indoors, it prefers bright but indirect light. Too much shade causes variegated plants to lose their leaf pattern and revert to all-green foliage. Moving them to brighter conditions usually restores the variegation. Suddenly pale-looking leaves mean the plant is receiving too much direct sun.

Soil

Pothos plants thrive in ordinary, well-draining potting soil on the dry side and do just as well in coarse, chunky planting media. Neutral to slightly acidic soil is tolerated with a preferred soil pH from 6.1 to 6.8.

Water

Expect to water every one to two weeks; more often during the growing season and less often over winter. Let soil dry out completely between waterings. Left in continually damp soil, roots will rot. Black spots on leaves (or the sudden collapse of the plant) indicate soil has been kept too wet.

Pothos droops when it needs water. Don’t wait until the leaves start to shrivel or the plant will lose some leaves. Dry, brown edges mean the plant was kept dry for too long.

Temperature and Humidity

Keep pothos at temperatures consistently above 50°F. and preferably between 65°F and 75°F. They grow best in high humidity, but adapt to low-humidity conditions. You can increase humidity around the plant by keeping it in a typically humid area of the home, such as a bathroom, or by grouping it with other tropical houseplants to create a humid microclimate.

Fertilizer

Pothos plants are not heavy feeders, but benefit from occasional fertilizing during the growing season. Feed with a balanced houseplant fertilizer once per month during spring and summer. Avoid fertilizing in winter when the plant goes dormant.

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Types of Pothos

Pothos hybrids feature different types of leaf variegation, with white, yellow, or light green patches highlighting the predominantly deep green leaves. Some cultivars have solid light green leaves. Recommended pothos varieties include:

• 'Marble Queen': A varietal with an exceptionally attractive white-and-green variegated pattern. It requires more light than most pothos to maintain its unique coloring.
• 'Pearls and Jade': This varietal is an avid white and green climber, but instead of striping, the colors of gray, green, and white show boldly around the perimeter of the leaves.
• 'Neon': A bright chartreuse variety, this pothos needs less light and is great for brightening up a dark area in your home.
• 'Silver Satin': This varietal has thick gray-green leaves with silver splotches. It is tolerant of drought and low-light conditions.

Pruning

Because pothos grow quickly, they can develop a sparse or leggy appearance. Pruning isn't necessary for the health of the plant, but occasional trimming can improve its shape. Use a sharp sterile cutting tool to make your cuts.

Pruning can make your pothos look bushier. To prune it, cut below a node close to the crown, always leaving at least two leaf nodes on the vine you are pruning. If your plant is leggy, cut back the growing tip to a desired length anywhere along the length of the vine.

You can prune pothos any time during the growing season, but you should avoid pruning when the plant is dormant.

Plants tend to develop a few yellow leaves every now and then, which can be removed by pinching it off at the base.

Propagating Pothos

You can buy a mature pothos from a plant shop, but it's easy to propagate using stem cuttings rooted in water. Gather together a sharp hand pruner and clear glass or vase. Once roots form you'll need a pot and houseplant mix. Follow these steps:

1. Use a sterile, sharp pruner to remove a healthy stem with at least three leaves. Cut at an angle about a half-inch or inch below the lowest leaf.
2. Remove the lowest leaf from the stem (you don't need to remove the other leaves).
3. Place the stem in a vase or jar of water, but do not let the remaining leaves touch the water.
4. New roots emerge in a week to ten days. Once roots are several inches long transplant cuttings into pots as soon as possible.
5. Place pots in a spot with bright indirect light and keep soil moist but not wet.

Potting and Repotting Pothos

Over time, your pothos will become pot-bound. When leaves continue to droop no matter how much or how often you water, it's a sign that roots have filled the pot. Look for roots growing through drainage holes, or carefully lift the plant out to examine the roots.

When the plant reaches this stage, you can repot it into a container one or two sizes larger in diameter and depth. Use fresh potting soil and water well to help the plant recover. If possible, wait to repot when the plant is in active growth. Use a plastic, ceramic, metal, or terracotta pot with sufficient drainage. If your pothos lives in an area with low light, consider using terracotta, which helps wick away moisture.

With its long, trailing vines, pothos is well suited for hanging baskets and macrame planters. You can even grow pothos in water as long as the vessel is nonporous and watertight.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Even hardy, low-maintenance pothos can experience common houseplant problems, including pests and diseases.

Pothos is usually pest-free, but it can attract spider mites, whitefly, scale, and mealybugs. Use a soft clean cloth to remove pests or apply neem oil or insecticidal soap in cases of infestation.

Plants may also succumb to bacterial leaf spot or root rot; two conditions often caused by overwatering, soggy soil, and inadequate light. Reduce watering frequency and in cases of root rot, try trimming back damaged roots and repotting in fresh, dry soil.