Pothos, Potos, or Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) are climbing plants of the Araceae family that require little care. Although they are often grown as hanging plants, in their natural habitat they use their aerial roots to attach themselves to tree trunks. Learn all about Pothos plant care in this article.
Pothos Plant Care
Pothos are quite fast-growing plants and can form long stems. In spring they appreciate pruning that will force them to form new stems to get denser plants.
The topping or pinching of a plant is a type of pruning that consists of cutting the end of the branches of the plant (or of the longest ones, in this case). In this way, we stop its growth in that area, but at the same time, we get new stems or shoots to appear so that its appearance will be denser. We can take advantage of this spring budding to obtain new plants, as we will see later on.
Pothos Plant Care – Light and Temperature
Pothos appreciate a luminous exposure, avoiding direct sun. They can be grown outdoors during spring and summer, as long as they are in the shade.
It is a plant that suffers from temperatures below 41°F (5º C), so it is most common to grow them indoors. That is why it is very important to control the temperature for Pothos plant care.
Pothos Plant Care – Substrate and Repotting
The substrate should be very light and well-drained to avoid waterlogging. To have the roots too humid can cause the appearance of fungi, the reason why a universal substrate mixed with perlite usually works very well. A small layer of arlite at the bottom of the pot will facilitate drainage and lighten its weight.
They appreciate an annual repotting to a slightly larger pot. Of course, its enormous capacity for growth in pots that seem small for a large amount of foliage it produces is often surprising.
If you grow it indoors, you should try dividing the plant to be able to continue using the same pot. Sometimes the space in our homes is limited and we can’t afford a larger pot. Open the root ball wide to divide it and don’t worry if in the process some of the roots break off. As soon as you repot them with new soil you will see that they start to grow quickly.
Pothos Plant Care – Watering
Watering Pothos should always be done when the substrate is dry. And this depends on several factors, such as the time of year, but also the size of the pot that contains it. A large plant still growing in a small pot may need more frequent watering during the summer, so it is difficult to establish a watering pattern for this plant. The best advice is to observe the substrate and hold the pot in your hand to feel its weight, as when the soil dries out, it is much lighter.
If you use plates under the pots, avoid water accumulating in the pot. And if the leaves yellow and fall off, it is usually a symptom of excessive watering.
It is a plant that likes high humidity, which we can provide with frequent spraying during the warmer months. Watch the tips of the leaves: if they are dry, they probably need more spraying.
You should wipe them with a damp cloth, preferably soft microfiber, or take advantage of rainy days to take them out onto the balcony, patio or deck. My mother has a huge one and what she does is to put it in the bathtub to clean it with the shower phone. It’s not a very glamorous method, but I guarantee it’s just as effective.
Let it drain well before putting it back in place.
Fertilizing Pothos
They need regular fertilizing during spring, summer, and the first months of autumn if they are still warm. Use a liquid fertilizer for green plants or indoor plants, following the guidelines indicated by the manufacturer. If you are a bit absent-minded, opt for solid fertilizers in sticks that are stuck in the substrate and are washed away with the irrigation water. Normally they should be replenished once a month or a month and a half.
I suggest you uses this special fertilizer for Pothos, because is efficient and low cost (Order it here).
- POTHOS NPK FERTILIZER: Support the growth of a variety of pothos seeds or live plants. Observe rich, green, variegated leaves developing from your pothos pot. Nutrient based constitution of nitrogen fertilizer augments life cycle.
- EPIPREMNUM AUREUM PLANT GAMUT: Fall fertilizer will care for cebu pothos, epipremnum pinnatum, jessenia pothos, manjula pothos, marble pothos, n-joy pothos, satin pothos and more. Specially designed genus formula treats epipremnum aureum seeds and existing indoor pothos plants.
- EFFORTLESS APPLICATION: Add 1 teaspoon (1 full bottle cap = 1 teaspoon) of plant food per two cups of water. Use this mixture to water your Pothos once per month during months with plenty of sunlight (usually March through September). During the winter (in cooler climates), use this mixture once every 6 weeks rather than once per month.
Common Diseases of Pothos
The Pothos plant is a fairly resistant plant to all kinds of diseases and is usually little affected by pests and diseases. Even so, you should pay attention to it.
Some of the most common diseases that can affect Pothos are:
– Red spider mite
– Stem and root rot (fungus)
– Leaf spots (fungus)
– Bacteria
How to Propagate Pothos Step by Step
Pothos plant care is very important, but it is also important to know how to propagate pothos correctly, follow these steps for correct propagation.
- Choose one of the branches and cut it below one of the leaves.
- Cut the branch into smaller parts keeping the leaves and a small part of the stem on both sides of the leaf. Just below will be the nodes where its aerial roots are formed. In this case, they will form underground giving rise to a new plant.
- This is how the different leaves should look like: if you notice, under each leaf we have an inverted “T”. At this point, choose to submerge them in water or directly in a pot with a new substrate. Both methods are equally valid.
- Bury the “T” part under the soil, compact it around it, and water generously afterward.
- Keep the cuttings in a light location and after a few weeks, you will see new leaves sprouting from the soil.
Learn more how to propagate Pothos in water. This fertilizer is ideal for Pothos plant care.
Can Pothos Plant Grow in Water
Pothos plant is can live for a long time in the water, even for years. If you are going to keep your pothos plant in water, I recommend that you change it every week.
Why Is My Pothos Plant Turning Yellow
There are several reasons why your Pothos may have yellow leaves, one of them could be lack of iron or lack of water. I recommend you to read our complete guide yellow leaves on Pothos.
Where to Buy Pothos Plant
Buy your Pothos plant at your nearest nursery or buy it from the following links that we highly recommend for their quality.
Are Pothos Plant Toxic?
The effects of the Pothos plant in humans are skin irritation, swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat, vomiting, and diarrhea but in cats and dogs, it causes drooling, choking, swelling of the mouth and tongue, difficulty breathing, and stomach upset. Excessive consumption of its leaves can lead an animal to kidney failure and/or death.
Is Pothos Plant Bad Luck?
According to Feng Shui recommends not to have more than three Pothos in your house, that’s why the legend that the Pothos bring bad luck, and also these should be located near the door or a window because they can absorb all the positive and negative.
According to Feng Shui if you put a lot of Pothos in your house this can bring a great energetic imbalance. So, if you believe in Feng Shui beliefs, keep the right number of Pothos so that it is not one of the plants that bring bad luck to your home.
