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So how often should you water a Pothos plant anyway? Keep reading for a simple care guide for a simple to care for houseplant. One of my favorites for sure!
HISTORY & SCIENCE
But before we dig in, lets get to know the Pothos a little bit.
It is a part of the Araceae family along with Monsteras and Peace Lilies. They are native to Mo’orea in French Polynesia. The scientific name is Epipremnum aureum. Back in 1880 it was named Pothos aureus and how we get “pothos” today. It is also commonly called hunter’s robe, devil’s vine or devil’s ivy.
The Pothos is one of the most popular houseplants and has a reputation for being easy to care for and great for beginner plant parents. Recognizable by their heart-shaped leaves, you will find this plant in just about every garden shop around. There are several different varieties, with the most common likely being the Golden Pothos or perhaps the Jade Pothos. On the rare side you have the Manjula Pothos and the Harlequin Pothos, both with variegated leaves. I am a sucker for a rare, variegated houseplant, I feel like I have to have it if those two words are in the description.
If you are looking to add to your Pothos collection or start a plant collection in general, the Neon Pothos is a great one to consider. It has bright green leaves, that stand out from just about any other plant. The N’Joy gives you that white variegation but is a little easier to find than the more rare varieties.
Other Cool Pothos Varieties to Check Out
WATERING
Ok, on to the reason you came to his post in the first place. Watering for a lot of indoor plants can be tricky and can take some time getting to know what works and find that perfect routine. Some do not do well with regular tap water (eh hem…Calatheas). Some are highly susceptible to root rot (eh hem…Fiddle Leaf Fig) so you have to watch the soil closely to make sure you aren’t overwatering. Some are really dramatic and start to wilt as soon as it is time to water (eh hem…Peace Lily). Not so with these guys.
They are really hardy and can handle a little soggy soil as well as a forgotten watering or two or three. This is why they are considered one of the easiest houseplants to keep around. Of course, if you want to have a healthy, full, happy plant you will want to meet the watering needs of pothos and avoid too much or too little water.
Frequency
A lot of care guides give a really general watering schedule like, once a week or once every two weeks. I would say that checking in on your plant at least once a week and deciding if it is time to water or not, is a good rule of thumb. The reason being is that there are a lot of environmental factors that will require more or less frequent watering.
The type of soil, type and pot size, humidity level of your home, season and more play into how often you should water any plant.
If your plant is in a smaller container or if it has a large root system in its current pot, then it will likely dry out faster and require more frequent watering. Additionally, if you are using terracotta pots, you will probably need to increase your watering schedule. I find I usually have to water my houseplants more in the cooler seasons since running the heater causes drier conditions in my house.
If your Pothos is a bigger pot, then it usually takes longer for the soil to dry out. If you are using a planter with no drainage holes, then you definitely want to error on the side of less frequent watering to avoid root rot.
Too Much Water
If you overwater your pothos, he will tolerate it for a bit. But keep it up and you will start to see some negative consequences, even for the easiest plants. Here are some signs of overwatering:
- Yellow leaves
- Fungus gnats
- Black spots could be a sign you’ve got root rot
- Smelly soil is another sign of root rot
Too Little Water
I have seen a pothos in rock hard, dry soil with the perkiest of leaves, still going strong. A pothos is definitely on of those great plants for a chronic under waterer. However, for healthy growth then consistent watering is best. Here are some signs you are underwatering:
- Wilted leaves
- Brown leaves
- Crispy tips or edges of the leaves
- Leggy (or bare) vines
Right Amount of Water
To get it right, pay attention to the top inch of soil or so. Water this tropical plant when that has dried out. To be sure you can just stick your finger in the dirt and give it a feel. To be extra sure, invest in a moisture meter. This was a game changer for me in my plant parenting. If the moisture meter or other signs say its time to water, pour water around the base of the plant.
If you are on a good and consistent watering routine then this soil will be fairly loose when top layer is dry. If you notice the soil is really hard or pulled away from the edges of the planter you are likely allowing it to dry out too much between watering or it is root bound and may be time to size up your planter. If you have let it dry out too much, then go ahead and give her a good soak.
OTHER CARE TIPS
This is one of those plants that doesn’t complain much about watering or anything else either. But if you want lush, long vines there are a few other things you can do to ensure your houseplant is getting the best care.
Lighting
They will survive and even thrive in low light. So if you need to dress up a shelf or corner of a room, these are your guys. But, to get crazy fast growth and full happy plants, pick a spot that gets good indirect sunlight. This means a good view of the window, but not a front row seat. Direct sunlight could burn the leaves.
Fertilizer
There are super hungry plants that need fertilizer often (eh hem…Alocasias). Not so much with a pothos, but it will get a nice boost of new growth from some additional nutrients. I recommend a liquid fertilizer that you can squirt on the soil or add to your water with each watering.
Neem Oil
Neem oil is another thing that changed my plant parent game. I use this for two things specifically. Cleaning and pest control. When plant leaves get dusty they don’t get the best use of sunlight and don’t get the oxygen they need to grow well. Also, dusty leaves can invite pests like spider mites. Neem oil is a pest deterrent, so not only will it shine your leaves up but will help keep away those spider mites, aphids and more.
Give the leaves a spray about once a month or more often if you notice they are dusty. I also spray Neem Oil right onto the soil to keep fungus gnats at bay. Keep in mind this is kinda like putting suntan oil on your plant. So it is best to hold off on spraying on the leaves until the sun is going down. Or pull it out of the sunlight for the day while it is drying.
ADDRESSING LEGGY VINES
If you have neglected your photos a bit and find yourself with long bare and leggy vines, it is ok. There are a few things you can do to get it back in leafy shape.
One thing you can do is give it a chop. Yep, cut those stringy vines right off. But don’t throw those cut off vines away, propagate them and get a whole new plant for free! Keep reading for propagation tips.
You can also pin the vines into the soil with a bobby pin to promote new growth and fill in bare spots in the planter. To do this, loop the vine on top of the soil with those little light brown bumps pointed down into the dirt. Open the bobby pin wide so you don’t cut the vine and use it to stake the vine in place. Those little brown bumps are aerial roots that will start to grow into the soil and fill in.
Lastly, there are some products out there like Keiki Cloning Paste, that can encourage new growth on bare vines.
PROPAGATION
Pothos are even easier to propagate than they are to maintain. All you have to do is take a cutting that includes an aerial root node or two and pop it in water. With in 1-2 weeks you will start to see roots growing. Make sure you top off the water as it evaporates. If you notice it getting cloudy or algae growing, pour it out, rinse off the cutting and refill the water.
I constantly have a pothos propagation going, mainly because I just like the way they look. You can set them up in a pretty vase or unique jar or glass and add to the esthetic of your home. But it is a great way to fill out your plant collection for zero extra cost. Or gift them to a friend, in my case…my sister.
CREATIVE WAYS TO DISPLAY
There are so many fun ways display a pothos in your home.
I think the most unique that I have seen is being grown on the surface of aquarium water. The roots are allowed to grow down into the water. The fish waste act as a fertilizer and the plant acts as a biological filter.
They make for great hanging plants since the vines will grow nicely over the edge of the planter.
You can also trail the vines across your wall with hooks or along a shelf or counter.
The aerial roots mentioned earlier are actually used to help the plant attach to trees, trellises or other things and climb them. You can add a moss pole to your planter and let the plant grow up rather than down.
Most recently I added a large, bowl sort of planter to my dresser top and filled it with pothos. Rather than let the vines hang over the side I circle back in and let them fill in the large planter. Here is a link to the planter I used.
THAT A WRAP
I hope we gave you a little more confidence in the best ways to water pothos plants. If you are new to houseplant collecting, I highly recommend grabbing one of these varieties!
Do you have watering tips or other care tips for our pothos friends, let us know in the comments.