Pothos · devil’s ivy
If you have never kept a houseplant alive, start with a pothos. It grows in bright rooms and dim ones, forgives a missed watering, and gives you long trailing vines you can trim and root into brand-new plants.
Golden pothos has green leaves streaked with yellow. Other varieties are marbled white, solid neon or silver-splashed. All of them are cared for the same way.
Let it dry a little between drinks
Water when the top one to two inches of soil are dry. The leaves go soft and slightly droopy when it is thirsty and firm back up within hours of a drink.
The only thing a pothos really can’t forgive is soggy soil. If yours is in a basket or cover, lift it out to water and let it drain.
Finding the right spot
It tolerates almost any light, but more light means more color and faster growth.
- Anywhere from a few feet from a bright window to the middle of a room.
- In low light, the variegated leaves slowly turn plain green. Move it brighter to bring the color back on new leaves.
- Avoid direct afternoon sun, which bleaches and scorches the leaves.
- It is happy on a shelf, in a hanging basket or climbing a moss pole.
Everyday care
Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
- Light
- Low to bright, indirect light. Brighter light keeps the variegation.
- Water
- Every week or two, when the top one to two inches are dry. Less in winter.
- Humidity & temperature
- Normal home humidity is fine. 65–85°F, and keep it above 50°F.
- Feeding
- Half-strength houseplant food once a month in spring and summer.
- Trimming
- Snip long vines just above a leaf to keep it full. The plant branches out from the cut.
- New plants
- Each cutting with a leaf and a little brown bump (a node) will root in a glass of water.
Toxic to cats and dogs. Chewing the leaves causes mouth pain, drooling and vomiting. Hang it or keep it on a high shelf if you have pets. If any part is eaten, call your veterinarian.
Rooting a new plant from a cutting
Pothos is the easiest plant there is to share.
- Cut a piece of vine 4 to 6 inches long with at least two leaves, just below a node (the small bump where a leaf meets the vine).
- Pull off the bottom leaf and stand the cutting in a glass of water so the node is underwater.
- Keep it in bright, indirect light and change the water every week. Roots appear in two to three weeks.
- When the roots are an inch or two long, pot it in houseplant mix, or tuck it back into the original pot to make it fuller.
The eastern North Carolina year
What to do through our Johnston County seasons.
| Season | What to do |
|---|---|
| SpringMarch–May | Growth takes off. Start monthly half-strength feeding and take cuttings. |
| SummerJune–August | Fastest growth. It can hang on a shaded porch once nights stay above 55°F. |
| FallSeptember–November | Bring it inside before nights drop below 50–55°F. Stop feeding by October. |
| WinterDecember–February | Grows slowly. Water less often and keep it away from cold windows at night. |
Repotting
Repot every one to two years in spring, when roots circle the pot or poke out the bottom. Go up one size, with drainage holes, in regular houseplant mix. If it has gotten long and bare, this is a good time to trim it back and replant the cuttings in the same pot.
Quick fixes
Yellow leaves
Usually too much water. Let more of the soil dry before watering again.
Leaves losing their color
Not enough light. Move it closer to a window.
Long, bare vines
Normal with age, or not enough light. Trim and root the cuttings to fill the pot.
Brown, crispy spots
Too much direct sun, or the soil dried out completely.
Droopy, soft leaves
Thirsty. Water thoroughly and it will perk up.
Small leaves on new growth
Needs more light or a little plant food in the growing season.
Common questions
How often should I water pothos?
Every week or two for most homes, when the top one to two inches of soil are dry.
Can pothos grow in low light?
Yes, it is one of the best low-light plants, though it grows slower and greener there.
Can pothos live in water?
Yes. Cuttings can grow in water for a long time; change the water weekly.
Is pothos safe for cats?
No, it is toxic to cats and dogs. Keep it out of reach.
More plant care guides
Tropical Trio
Croton · Lemon Lime Dracaena · Golden Pothos
Three houseplants in one planter, each in its own pot, and how to keep all three happy.
Read the guide →Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum
Medium light, a drink when it droops, and filtered water for clean leaf tips.
Read the guide →Dish Gardens & Planter Baskets
Mixed green and blooming plants
Several plants in one container. Water lightly, give it bright indirect light, and separate them when they outgrow it.
Read the guide →About pets and plants: The pet notes in this guide are general plant knowledge from our florists, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet chews or swallows any part of a plant, contact a licensed veterinarian right away, or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. If a person swallows any part of a plant, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”1 Corinthians 3:7
Questions about your plant?
Call or text us. We are always glad to help, whether you bought it from us or not.
Call or text (984) 250-7771 Clayton Florist · 11440 Clayton Blvd, Clayton, NC 27520claytonncflorist.com