Pothos Plant Care ( Epipremnum Aureum), one of the easiest indoor plants is often overlooked in favour of more showy plants like orchids.
Although it does not have blooms, this tropical vine is similar to the philodendron and comes in a variety of leaf colours and patterns to suit a wide range of decors and tastes. Pothos is almost foolproof for beginners and virtually pest-and disease-free. It is a low-light indoor herb that is great for dark rooms and offices.
These long stems can be climbed by aerial roots that stick to surfaces. This makes pothos a versatile choice for hanging baskets and plant stands as well as bookshelves. Pothos is a great houseplant for improving indoor air quality and making your home and workplace cleaner.
Botanical name
Table of Contents
Epipremnum aureum
Common names
Ceylon creeper and Devil’s vine are all examples of taro vine, Ceylon vine, Ceylon vine, taro vine and Solomon Islands ivy.
Origin:
The natives are from tropical regions in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific islands.
Zones:
USDA Zones 10-12. You can grow plants outdoors in frost-free areas of Florida or California.
Care level:
Easy.
You only need to be light
Although indirect lighting is best, plants can tolerate low-light and fluorescent lighting. Avoid direct sunlight as it can cause damage to the foliage.
Rate of growth:
Depending on the variety, growth can be slow or fast. Variegation in leaves can lead to slower growth.
Foliage:
Shiny leaves can be 4-12 inches in length, are heart- or lance-shaped and come in a variety of colours, including green, blue, chartreuse, or variegated.
Flowers:
These tiny, white, hooded flowers are very rare and only occur on mature plants. The average home environment will not support plants.
Habit and size
Vining, trailing habit that can reach 6-10 feet; can grow up to 30-50 feet in their natural habitat.
Toxicity:
If ingested by children or pets, all parts of the plant can be mild to moderately toxic. More Common Poisonous Plants For Dogs and Cats.
Pothos lookalikes:
These leaves may look almost identical to the heartleaf philodendron. Pothos leaves are thicker and more textural than philodendron, while philodendron leaves tend to be darker, less variegated, and smoother.
Pothos leaves have a slight groove while philodendron leaves are smooth. The leaves of philodendron are distinctly heart-shaped, while those of pothos can be asymmetrical. Both have similar care and growing conditions.
Pothos can also be related to common garden plants like anthurium and caladium as well as calla Lili.
Where to grow:
Avoid cold drafts by placing your plant near a window that receives indirect sunlight.
Temperature and humidity
Keep pothos at 50°F, with an ideal temperature of 60-80°F. Pothos is not tolerant to dry or average air. When indoor air is dry, plants will appreciate supplemental moisture like misting or a humidifier in the winter.
Type of soil:
Use a well-draining, high-quality potting mix such as Ivy May Redwoods. Pothos is more tolerant to pH values between 6.1 and 6.5.
Pot requirements
Place the roots in a container that is at least 2 inches larger than the root ball and with drainage holes.
Propagation:
Pothos can be easily propagated by stem cuttings. Cut stems to 6 inches just below the leaf nodes and place them in water. Roots will grow over a month. Water should be changed every 2-3 weeks. Place well-rooted cuttings into fresh potting soil. For the best growth, grow multiple stems in one pot.
You can also divide plants to make them more productive. Cut the root ball into sections. Repot the plant in new soil. Leave 1-2 inches of space around the root ball.
Watering:
Overwatering can lead to root rot. Allow the soil’s top inch to dry between waterings. Remove excess water from the saucer under the pot to ensure that the plants don’t sit in water.
Fertilizing:
Pothos are light feeders. To keep your plants healthy, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month.
Pruning:
You can either make plants smaller or allow them to spread out. To keep your plants bushy and full, trim long runners. To encourage new growth, you can trim the stems to the soil. Allow plants to grow naturally for a vining habit.
Cleaning:
To keep your foliage looking new, wipe the leaves with a damp cloth once in a while.
Repotting:
Rootbound plants can appear droopy, regardless of how much water they get. If roots seem crowded or are tightening tightly around the container, it is time to remove the plant. Place the plant in a new container that is 1-2 inches larger and filled with fresh potting soil.
Do pothos plants need a lot of sunlight?
Pothos is flexible. The Pothos prefers indirect, bright light but can tolerate low and medium light. They will not thrive in direct sunlight as the sun will scorch their foliage. Your Pothos should be watered when 50% of the soil has dried.
Why is my pothos dying?
Mist plants that do not require a lot, such as succulents, fiddle leaf figs (Ficus laurata), dragon tree (Draceana margarita), fiddle leaf figs (Ficus lyrata), pothos, pothos, ponytail plants (Beaucarnea regovata), cissus, and spider plants, should be kept out of the misting.
Should I mist my pothos plant?
You may be asking yourself, “Why is my Pothos dying?” Inadequate watering, environmental changes, pest infestation, poor drainage, or neglecting soil requirements are all common causes of plant death. These conditions may not be fatal for your pothos but can lead to a plant dying.
Do pothos like bathrooms?
Pothos. Pothos is a plant that thrives in low to moderate indirect light. It’s the ideal plant for a counter or bathroom shelf. Marino states that pothos does not require extra humidity but is a great choice for bathroom shelves and counters because they can withstand lower light levels and irregular watering.
Check Out Why Are My Pothos Leaves Turning Yellow With Black Spots?
How can I make my pothos grow faster?
Pothos plants (Epipremnum Aureum) is a hardy, fast-growing indoor vining plant that makes a great choice in a hanging basket, on a pedestal or trailing about a room.
In most cases, Pothos (Golden Pothos, Jade and Marble Queen Pothos) will grow quickly, but if you want it to grow at top speed, you must pay close attention to:
- Temperature
- Soil Quality
- Watering
- Lighting
- Feeding
In this article, we share tips to help you grow a Pothos plant faster. Read on to learn more.
7 Tips to Grow Pothos Fast
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Start With A High-Quality Potting Mix
Make sure you invest in a mix of good quality, light and rich in organic matter.
Do not use old potting mixes. Also, do NOT use garden soils or packaged mixes for other purposes than houseplant growing.
TIP Do not keep Pothos in water for too long. They won’t do well in water and they won’t grow quickly. After you have made some roots and started the pothos in water, it is time to put them in potting soil. You might consider letting it grow up a moss pole.
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Choose a Warm and Consistently Warm Environment
These tropical plants are from the Solomon Islands and thrive in temperatures between 70°F and 90°F.
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Pothos in a location that receives bright, indirect sunlight
A Pothos vine can survive in low light conditions, but it won’t thrive. Too much sun can cause weakening, leggy growth, and loss of variegation. Too much direct, harsh sunlight can damage and bleach Pothos leaves.
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Water Judiciously
Too much water can cause root rot and weak growth. Use the soak-and-dry method of watering. Allow the soil to dry completely before watering again.
Start with a cut that has been rooted in water. Give it a good watering, and then continue to water the soil until roots take root and new growth is visible.
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Fertilize with Balanced Fertilizer
Use a water-soluble, slow-release, organic, or balanced houseplant fertilizer in the spring and again in the summer. Avoid fertilizing during the winter months.
You can repot your Pothos every year in spring with a good quality potting mix. However, a little liquid fertilizer in spring and summer will stimulate rapid growth.
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Prune Old Leaves or Damaged Leaves Quickly
To achieve the desired shape and growth habits, trim dead or damaged leaves quickly and prune as necessary. For pruning and trimming, always use a sharp, sterilized blade.
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Regularly check your plants for pests
Pests should be closely monitored. You should not have any problems with pests to your houseplants if you follow these tips. However, it is important to inspect your houseplant every other day for signs of mealybugs or aphids.
These pests can be easily eliminated if caught early.
What to do if your pothos doesn’t grow quickly?
You may be able to see if your plants are not growing as you have tried the above tips. You might ask yourself these questions:
Am I Over Or Underwatering?
With each season, your plants’ water requirements will change. Your plant may need more water if it has experienced significant growth. It may require less water in cooler temperatures.
Are Humidity Levels Enough?
It may have been growing well in spring and summer, but it has become less productive in winter. You might need to add water or daily misting to your heating system to dry the air. You might consider a humidifier.
Is the Temperature Consistent?
Temperatures near windows can become dangerously high or low as temperatures rise outdoors. Pothos won’t be happy with temperatures below 50 degrees Celsius or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
You may have to move your plant closer to the window in the summer or put up a curtain during the hottest parts of the day. You may have to move your winter plant out of the window or cover it with clear plastic.
Does my plant get the right amount of light?
Lighting changes are caused by seasonal changes. The sun’s path relative to the earth can change slightly, so changes like the loss of leaves from deciduous trees outside can affect the amount of light that your houseplants get indoors.
You should closely monitor your Pothos and the amount of light it gets daily and make any necessary changes to ensure that your Pothos gets at least 6 hours of indirect, bright light each day.
Am I Fertilizing Too Much?
Some sources suggest fertilizing Pothos seasonally. However, this is not recommended by all. It is sufficient to apply a moderate amount of fertilizer both in Spring and Summer.
Even a small amount of fertilizer can build up in the soil over time. This can slow down your plant’s growth. This can lead to a salty layer appearing on the soil’s surface.
Excess fertilizer can be flushed out of the soil by running water through it until it runs through the drain holes.
What Do I Need to Repot?
Pothos that has been in the same container for more than two years will need new soil. Your Pothos will eventually eat all of the nutrients in the soil, even if you fertilize it regularly. To give your plant a fresh start, repot, divide and trim it.
Am I using the right size and type of pot?
Pothos may have arrived in a small pot if it was purchased at a garden centre. This will need to be changed immediately.
As soon as you bring your young start home, move it from the plastic nursery pot and into a terracotta pot that has good drainage. You should make sure the new pot is twice as big as the nursery starter pot.
Pothos is a naturally fast and aggressive grower.
Because it is easy to grow and propagate, Pothos is a hardy, enthusiastic immature Pothos.
It can even become a pest in tropical environments. Your Pothos will be happy to live indoors in cool climates. It may even enjoy the patio or porch in spring and summer.
You should be careful to not let Pothos escape from you if you live in tropical areas. Pothos is a dangerous invasive species in tropical areas like Florida. It can grow slowly and is not considered a problem.
This Category II Invasive Exotic Plant can quickly grow to a length of 50 feet if it is not in cultivation. It can also cover mature trees with leaves that are just a few feet wide. Hunter’s Robe is the name given to mature plants when this happens.
Conclusion On Pothos Plant Care
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