Pothos
Epipremnum aureum · also called Devil's ivy, Golden pothos
The trailing vine that roots in a glass of water
- Light
- Low light, Medium light: Handles low light, grows faster in bright indirect
- Water
- Every 1-2 weeks, when the top 2 inches of soil are dry
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Pet safety
- Toxic to cats and dogs
- Size
- Medium
- Height
- Vines to 6+ ft indoors
- Growth
- Fast
- Humidity
- Average home humidity is fine
- Temperature
- 60-85°F
- Good rooms
- Bedroom, Kitchen, Living room, Office
Pothos is the plant people hand you when you say you kill everything. It grows long vines of heart-shaped leaves, often green splashed with gold or cream. Let it trail off a shelf, or give it a small pole and it will climb. The stems root in a glass of water, so one plant has a way of turning into five. It is also cheap and easy to find, from garden centers to grocery stores.
It suits people who like to see progress. In a good spot you can watch a new leaf open every week or two in summer. It copes with a dim hallway or an office with only ceiling lights, though it grows slower there and the gold patches fade toward plain green. Most people do best by watering when the pot feels light in their hand. In bright light, a small pot on a high shelf can reach the floor in a year or so.
Now the catch. Pothos is toxic to cats and dogs, and those dangling vines look a lot like a cat toy. If you have a pet that chews, hang it high or pick a different plant. It also turns bare and stringy if you never trim it, so plan on a snip now and then. The cuttings are not wasted. Root them and push them back into the same pot to make it fuller.
Pothos care
Light
Bright indirect light gives you the fastest growth and the best color. A spot a few feet from an east or west window is ideal. It also handles low light, like a north window or a back corner, but the vines get long gaps between leaves. Keep it out of hot afternoon sun through glass, which can bleach the leaves.
Watering
Water when the top inch or two of soil is dry. In bright light that might be every week. In a dim room it can stretch to two or three weeks. Pour until water runs out the bottom, then empty the saucer. Pothos handles a missed watering much better than soggy soil, so when in doubt, wait a few days.
Soil and pot
Any regular indoor potting mix works if it drains. A handful of perlite or orchid bark helps the roots get air. Use a pot with a hole in the bottom. A pretty pot with no hole is fine as an outer cover, as long as you lift the plant out to water it.
Humidity and temperature
Normal room humidity is fine, and it does not need misting. If your air gets very dry in winter, you may see crispy brown edges. A tray of wet pebbles or a small humidifier nearby can help. Keep it away from heat vents and cold drafts.
Feeding
Pothos is a forgiving eater. A balanced liquid fertilizer, diluted to half the label rate, once a month from April to September keeps the vines putting out leaves. In a dim office it grows so slowly that four feeds a year are enough. A white crust on the soil or brown leaf tips means you have overdone it. Let the tap run through the pot for a minute to wash the extra out.
Repotting
Repot every year or two, when roots circle the bottom or poke out of the hole. Go up one pot size, about 2 inches wider. A much bigger pot holds extra wet soil the roots cannot use, and that is how root rot starts. Spring is the easiest time.
Propagation
This is the fun part. Cut a piece of vine with at least one node, the small bump where a leaf meets the stem. Put it in a glass of water and change the water every few days. Roots show up in two to four weeks. Pot it once the roots are an inch or two long.
Common problems
Why are the lower leaves on my pothos going yellow?
Yellow leaves, mostly low on the vine, usually mean too much water. Check that the pot drains and let the soil dry more between drinks. One old leaf turning yellow now and then is normal.
Why are my vines long with only a few leaves?
That is a light problem. The plant is stretching toward a window. Move it closer to the light, trim the bare vines, and root the cuttings to fill out the pot.
Why did the gold color fade?
Patterned types need more light to keep their color. In a dim spot, new leaves come in greener. A brighter spot usually brings the color back on new growth.
Why are my pothos leaves crispy at the edges?
This tends to mean the soil got bone dry for too long, or the air is very dry. Water a little sooner and keep the plant away from heaters.
Frequently asked questions
Can pothos live in a room with no window?
Not for long under normal room lights. A small LED grow light on a timer is the easiest fix for a room with no window.
Should I let my pothos trail or climb?
Either works, and trailing is easier. If you give it a moss pole and pin the vines to it, the leaves often grow bigger over time.
How fast does pothos grow?
In good light during spring and summer, vines can grow several inches a month. In low light or winter, growth may almost stop, which is normal.
Not sure this plant fits your home?
Take a plant quizSources: www.aspca.org, plants.ces.ncsu.edu, hort.extension.wisc.edu
