How to Grow and Care for Pothos

Common Name	Pothos Devil’s Ivy Money Plant Silver Vine Taro Vine Ceylon Creeper Hunter’s Robe Solomon Islands Ivy Marble Queen Pothos Jade Pothos Neon Pothos Golden Pothos Glacier Pothos Pearls and Jade Pothos.
Botanical Name	Epipremnum aureum
Plant Type	Evergreen vine
Sun Exposure	Bright indirect light to low light
Mature Size	Up to 10 feet long as a houseplant, up to 40 feet long in the wild
Soil pH	6.1 to 6.5 (slightly acidic)
Soil Type	Well-drained, peat-moss based potting mix
Flower Color	Greenish-white, rarely blooms indoors
Toxicity	Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

There are many pothos plant choices out there, but these are the most common types:

• Jade Pothos: This type of pothos has dark green leaves and is one of the most popular varieties.
• Golden Pothos: This type of pothos has heart-shaped leaves that are variegated in green and yellow. It is also known as Devil’s Ivy.
• Marble Queen Pothos: This type of pothos has green and white variegated leaves that are heart-shaped.
• Neon Pothos: This type of pothos has bright neon green leaves that are heart-shaped.
• Pearls and Jade Pothos: This type of pothos has green and white variegated leaves that are smaller than those of Marble Queen Pothos.
• Glacier Pothos: This type of pothos has green and white variegated leaves that are smaller than those of Marble Queen Pothos.

Pothos plants should be cared for in a similar way to any other houseplant.

Temperature and Humidity

Temperatures that are continuously over 50 degrees should be maintained for pothos. The ideal range for these plants is 65 to 75 degrees. Although they thrive in high humidity, pothos plants can also tolerate low humidity levels extremely well. If you'd like, you can make the space surrounding the plant more humid by placing it in a room that is generally humid, like a bathroom, or by putting additional tropical houseplants nearby to create a more humid microclimate.

Soil

Unlike other kinds of plants that have more complex requirements, the pothos plant needs are quite simple. Potting mix will be your main concern. It should be organic and have adequate drainage to avoid getting wet feet.

Water

Between waterings, allow the soil of your pothos plant to totally dry out. The plant's roots will decay if left in persistently moist soil. The plant may suddenly collapse or develop black patches on its leaves, both of which are signs that the soil has been maintained overly wet. [1] When it requires water, the plant will let you know. Water is necessary to rejuvenate it when it begins to droop. The plant will lose some leaves if you wait until the leaves begin to shrink. A plant that has dry, brown edges has been dried out too long.

Fertilizer

Although pothos plants do not require frequent fertilization, it can be beneficial for them. During the spring and summer, treat pothos plants with a balanced houseplant fertilizer once a month. When the plant falls into dormancy in the winter, avoid fertilizing.

Light

Pothos like both sun and shade, but you must keep an eye on it if there is too much of either. Pothos favors direct, strong light when planted indoors. Insufficient light can cause variegated plants to lose their leaf pattern and turn entirely green. The variegation is typically restored by moving them to brighter conditions. When leaves suddenly go pale, too much direct sunlight is being received by the plant.

Growing pothos is easy and requires minimal care. Here are the steps to grow pothos:

• Choose a healthy pothos plant.
• Choose a container that is slightly larger than the root ball of your pothos plant.
• Fill the container with well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter.
• Plant your pothos in the container and water it thoroughly.
• Place your pothos in a location that receives bright, indirect light.
• Water your pothos when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
• Fertilize your pothos once a month during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer.
• Prune your pothos as needed to control its size and shape.

Even resilient, low-maintenance pothos are susceptible to pests, diseases, and other typical problems that affect houseplants. Here are a few warning signals to look out for.

Turning-Yellow Leaves

There are numerous reasons why a pothos plant's leaves could become yellow. As long as the plant is producing new growth, a single yellow leaf is nothing to worry about, but abrupt or widespread yellowing is. Overwatering-related root rot or a bacterial or fungal illness could be to blame.

Browning Leaves

Pothos' brown leaves are unsightly and indicate a problem with the plant. Numerous factors, such as insufficient light or overwatering, might contribute to browned leaves. Dry, crunchy brown leaves suggest underwatering or a lack of humidity.

Drooping Leaves

When the leaves of a pothos plant droop or wilt, the plant is under stress, frequently from a lack of water. Deep water your plant and keep an eye on the soil's moisture going ahead to prevent the soil from being too dry. Additionally, droopy leaves may indicate that a plant is diseased or is in a pot.

Common Pests

Typically, pothos is pest-free. However, mealybug infestations with the plant have been known to occur. Aureum epipremnum. a botanical garden in Missouri. Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove the insects. Neem oil and insecticidal soap are other options for controlling infestations.

Your pothos will eventually become pot-bound. No matter how much or how frequently you water a plant, drooping leaves indicate that the roots have likely filled the pot and there is no more area for them to grow. Check the drainage holes in the pot for roots that are growing out, or carefully pull the plant out of the pot to inspect the roots. Once the plant reaches this stage, you can repot it into a pot with a greater diameter and depth. After repotting, use fresh potting soil and give the plant plenty of water to help it recuperate. For optimal results, if you can, wait until the spring or summer and repot the plant when it is actively growing.

Are Pothos Toxic?

Although pothos plants are poisonous to both people [2] and animals, they are not fatal if consumed. Pothos has calcium oxalate crystals that are insoluble and can irritate the skin, mouth, and gastrointestinal tract in its roots, leaves, and stems.

Is pothos simple to care for?

Pothos plants require very little maintenance, and they may tolerate some neglect and less-than-ideal growing conditions. In fact, pothos is known as devil's ivy due to its near-impossibility to eradicate.

How quickly do pothos grow?

Pothos is a houseplant that grows quickly and can expand by more than a foot in a single month.

SOURCES

The New York Garden works under restricted procurement guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies and studies conducted by academic organizations. Tertiary references should be avoided. For more information on how we ensure our material is correct and up to date, please visit our editorial policy.

1. POTHOS (EPIPREMNUM AUREUM) DISEASES. - University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
2. Pothos as a Houseplant. PennState Extension.