How to Grow Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Pothos is one of the most adaptable and forgiving houseplants, tolerating low light, irregular watering, and general neglect. Let the top 3–4 cm of compost dry out between waterings and feed monthly during spring and summer. Train it up a moss pole for larger leaves or let it trail from a shelf. A perfect starting plant for beginners.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed monthly with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser from spring through summer. Reduce to every 6–8 weeks in autumn and stop feeding in winter. Pothos are light feeders — overfeeding causes salt build-up and brown leaf tips.
Watch For
- Mealybug in leaf axils and on stems
- Scale insects on stems
- Spider mites in hot, dry conditions
- Root rot from overwatering
- Yellow leaves from overwatering or nutrient deficiency
Track your Pothos care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Bright indirect light; tolerates low light
Pothos thrives in bright indirect light but tolerates surprisingly low light levels, making it suitable for offices and dim corners. Direct sun bleaches the leaves and scorches the variegation. In low light, variegated varieties lose their patterning and revert to plain green — move to a brighter spot to restore markings.
💧 Watering
Allow top 3–4 cm to dry between waterings
Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom, then wait until the top 3–4 cm of compost are dry before watering again. In winter, reduce frequency further. Overwatering is the leading cause of failure — yellow lower leaves and mushy stems are the tell-tale signs.
🌱 Fertilizing
Monthly spring to summer with balanced liquid feed
Feed once a month from spring through summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength. Reduce to every 6–8 weeks in autumn and stop entirely in winter. Pothos are light feeders — excess fertiliser causes salt accumulation and brown leaf tips.
✂️ Pruning
Trim long trails to encourage bushier growth
Cut back long stems to just above a node to encourage branching and keep the plant compact. Pruned cuttings can be propagated immediately in water. Remove any fully yellow or dead leaves at the base to maintain good air circulation.
🌿 Humidity
Tolerates average household humidity; appreciates occasional misting
Pothos copes well with typical household humidity of 40–60% and does not require a humidifier. However, it benefits from occasional misting or a pebble tray with water during winter when central heating dries the air. Brown crispy leaf tips are a sign the air is too dry.
Growing Tips
Let it dry between waterings
Allow the top 3–4 cm of compost to dry out before watering again. Pothos stores water in its stems and tolerates drought far better than soggy roots — erring on the dry side prevents the root rot that kills most specimens.
Train up a moss pole for bigger leaves
Pothos grows larger, more impressive leaves when climbing. Attach new growth to a damp moss pole with soft ties and keep the pole moist — aerial roots will attach and the plant rewards you with noticeably bigger foliage.
Wipe the leaves monthly
Dust accumulates quickly on the waxy leaves and blocks light absorption. Wipe each leaf with a damp cloth once a month to keep the plant photosynthesising efficiently and looking its best.
Propagate in water any time
Cut a stem just below a node, remove the lower leaves, and place in a jar of water in bright indirect light. Roots appear within 2–3 weeks. Pothos propagates so readily it is a good way to fill out a pot or share with friends.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Mealybug
Identification: White cottony clusters in leaf axils and along stems; sticky honeydew residue on leaves.
- Wipe off colonies with a cotton bud dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- Spray the whole plant with insecticidal soap solution, repeating weekly for 3–4 weeks.
- Apply a systemic houseplant insecticide containing imidacloprid as a soil drench.
Pest Scale Insects
Identification: Brown or tan oval bumps fixed to stems; sticky honeydew and sooty mould below.
- Scrape off scales manually with a soft toothbrush or fingernail.
- Follow up with neem oil spray (5 ml neem + 1 ml dish soap per litre of water).
- Use a systemic insecticide drench; sprays are largely ineffective against armoured scales.
Pest Spider Mites
Identification: Fine webbing on stems and leaf undersides; pale yellow stippling on leaf surfaces.
- Increase humidity around the plant — mites thrive in dry air.
- Spray forcefully with water to knock mites off, then apply insecticidal soap weekly.
- Apply an acaricide such as bifenazate; alternate actives to prevent resistance.
Disease Root Rot Pythium spp. / Phytophthora spp.
Symptoms: Yellowing lower leaves, wilting despite moist soil, blackened mushy roots visible when unpotted.
Treatment: Remove plant from pot, cut away all black or soft roots with clean scissors, dust cuts with powdered cinnamon or sulphur, and repot in fresh well-draining compost.
Prevention: Always use pots with drainage holes, allow the top 3–4 cm to dry between waterings, and never leave the pot sitting in standing water.
Disease Bacterial Leaf Spot Pseudomonas cichorii
Symptoms: Water-soaked, irregularly shaped brown spots often with yellow halos; spots may merge and cause leaf collapse.
Treatment: Remove and bin affected leaves. Avoid overhead watering or misting directly onto foliage.
Prevention: Keep leaves dry, ensure good air circulation, and avoid wetting foliage when watering.
Log Pothos in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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