Pothos

Epipremnum aureum,Devil’s Ivy, Money Plant, Taro Vine

Pothos is an extremely popular, very hardy tropical evergreen vine native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its heart-shaped, glossy leaves that grow on long, trailing stems, making it excellent for hanging baskets or climbing moss poles. Pothos is one of the easiest houseplants to grow and can tolerate a wide range of conditions, especially lower light than many other vines. The leaves are typically green, often variegated with yellow, cream, or white. Popular cultivated varieties include 'Golden Pothos', 'Neon Pothos', 'Marble Queen', and 'N'Joy'.

Care Guide

LIGHT

  • Prefers medium to bright, indirect light for optimal growth and variegation.
  • East or West-facing windows are ideal.
  • Tolerant of low light, but growth will slow dramatically, and variegation will fade to solid green.
  • Avoid direct sun, which can burn the leaves.

WATER

  • Prefers the soil to dry out mostly between waterings.
  • Allow the top two-thirds of the soil to dry before soaking thoroughly.
  • Overwatering causes yellowing leaves (especially the lower ones) and root rot.
  • Underwatering causes the leaves to curl, brown, and eventually drop.

SOIL

  • Needs a well-draining, standard indoor potting mix.
  • A blend of potting soil with added perlite or orchid bark will help ensure proper aeration.

GROWTH HABIT

  • Ideal conditions: Consistent warmth (65-80F) and average indoor humidity.
  • Growth rate & size: Growth rate is fast under good light. It is a vigorous, trailing vine that can reach many feet in length.

PROPAGATING

  • Propagates extremely easily from stem cuttings with at least one node and one aerial root.
  • Cuttings can be rooted in water, moist sphagnum moss, or directly in soil.
  • Pothos is often cited as one of the easiest plants to propagate.

PRUNING

  • Pruning is essential to keep the plant full and bushy.
  • Pinch or cut back the long, trailing stems regularly, especially when they become sparse or leggy.
  • Remove old, yellowed, or damaged leaves along the vine.

REPOTTING

  • Repot when the plant is root-bound, typically every 1-2 years due to its fast growth.
  • Repot in spring or early summer.
  • When repotting, you can trim some of the root ball to maintain the current pot size or move up one size.

FERTILIZING

  • Feed regularly during the spring and summer growing season (monthly).
  • Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength.
  • Stop fertilizing in the fall and winter.

FLOWERING

  • Produces an inconspicuous spathe-and-spadix flower (rarely seen indoors).
  • In its native habitat, it only flowers when it matures into its climbing, tree-like form.

TOXICITY

  • Toxic to humans and pets. Contains insoluble calcium oxalates, which cause oral pain, swelling, and vomiting if chewed or ingested.

PRO TIPS

  • Wipe the leaves occasionally to remove dust and maximize light absorption.
  • Watering only when the leaves begin to droop slightly is a good indicator that the plant is thirsty.
  • Variegated varieties need the brightest light to maintain their color; otherwise, they will revert to green.

Variability in Care

Most varieties of this plant follow the standard care above, but some require adjustments.

Golden Pothos

  • The hardiest and fastest-growing variety.
  • Its yellow variegation is more resilient and less prone to reverting than white varieties.

White/Heavy Variegation

Examples: 'Marble Queen', 'N'Joy', 'Pearls and Jade'

  • Require the brightest indirect light to maintain their white and cream coloration.
  • Are slower-growing than the Golden Pothos due to less chlorophyll.
  • Variegated sections are more prone to brown edges if humidity is too low.

Neon Pothos

  • Features vibrant, all-lime-green foliage.
  • Needs medium light; too much direct sun can bleach the color, and too little light can turn it dark green.
  • The leaves are often softer and more prone to wilting when thirsty.

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