Pothos care guide

Pothos is the plant most people start with, and for good reason. It forgives missed waterings, grows in most rooms, and roots in a glass of water.

Light

Pothos grows best in bright, indirect light. A spot a few feet back from an east or west window is ideal.

It survives in low light, but it grows slowly and the leaves get smaller. Variegated types like ‘Marble Queen’ lose their cream streaks in low light. Hot afternoon sun through glass scorches the leaves.

Water

Water when the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil is dry. Water until it runs out the drainage holes, then empty the saucer.

Drooping leaves usually mean the plant is thirsty. They perk up within a day of watering. Yellow leaves and wet soil mean too much water. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered if you are not sure which it is.

Soil and potting

Any good houseplant mix works. Add a handful of perlite or orchid bark if your mix stays wet for more than a week.

Use a pot with a drainage hole. Pothos is happy a little snug, so move up only one pot size at a time. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Normal room air is fine. Keep the plant away from cold drafts and heating vents. Leaves get damaged below about 10°C (50°F).

Feeding

Feed once a month in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Skip it in fall and winter, when growth slows.

Pruning

Trim long, bare vines just above a leaf. New growth sprouts near the cut, and the plant gets fuller. Every cutting can become a new plant.

Propagation

Cut a piece of vine with at least one node. A node is the bump where a leaf meets the stem. Roots grow from the node.

Put the cutting in water or moist soil. Roots show up in two to four weeks. Pot water-rooted cuttings once the roots are a few centimeters long.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Yellow leaves, wet soil	Too much water
Drooping, dry soil	Too little water
Brown crispy patches	Too much direct sun
Small leaves, long gaps between them	Not enough light
Variegation fading	Not enough light

Pests

Pothos rarely gets pests. Mealybugs, spider mites, and fungus gnats show up now and then. Fungus gnats point to soil that stays wet. Read how to get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants.

Pet safety

Pothos is toxic to cats and dogs. Chewing the leaves irritates the mouth and can cause drooling and vomiting. Keep it on a high shelf or in a hanging pot if your pets chew plants.

Varieties

• ‘Golden’ has green leaves splashed with yellow.
• ‘Marble Queen’ has heavy cream and white streaks.
• ‘Neon’ has bright chartreuse leaves.
• ‘Manjula’ has wide, wavy leaves with cream patches.
• ‘Global Green’ has two shades of green.

In my house

I have a few pothos plants, and I have had them for years. They are easy. They have never come close to dying, and they have never gone wild on me either. They just keep growing, slow and steady.