Pothos generally grow faster and develop larger leaves in soil because soil provides essential nutrients and a sturdy structure for mature root systems. While water-grown pothos propagate and root quickly, long-term growth in water slows down unless you regularly add liquid nutrients or hydroponic fertilizer.
Growing pothos in water is excellent for easy maintenance, visible root growth, and eliminating overwatering risks. However, water lacks the vital nutrients and aeration found in dirt, meaning water-grown pothos eventually grow slower, stay smaller, and require liquid fertilizer. Soil provides sturdier roots and supports larger, bushier growth.
Provide Adequate Light
Pothos love bright, indirect light. In low light conditions, this beautiful vining plant will grow slower, the stems will get leggy, and the leaves will be smaller. Make sure they get enough light to stay healthy, grow well, and look lush.
You needn't fear any permanent damage from repotting a pothos aka Epipremnum Aureum any time of year.
Coffee grounds act as a slow-release fertilizer when mixed into the top few inches of soil. “It not only helps your pothos produce strong stems and healthy leaves, but it also maintains its vibrant color and strong structure,” Bradley says.
The best natural options for pothos are worm castings, liquid fish emulsion, or organic store-bought concentrates like Espoma Organic Indoor Liquid Plant Food. Pothos are light feeders and respond exceptionally well to gentle, slow-release organic nutrients that build healthy soil.
Quick Fixes for a Drooping Pothos
Pothos prefer small, snug pots. Keeping their roots slightly confined forces the plant to focus its energy on growing lush vines and leaves rather than expanding its root system. A pot that is too large holds excess moisture, which easily leads to root rot.
Certain indoor plants are notorious for their demanding environments and hyper-specific care routines. The absolute hardest houseplants to keep alive include the Maidenhair Fern, which quickly turns to dust if its delicate soil dries out even slightly, and the Calathea (or Peacock Plant), which requires distilled water and 60%+ humidity.
Temperature: In their native tropical habitat, pothos grow in temperatures between 70-90 degrees F. The ideal photos indoor plant care temperature for these plants following photos growing guide, is between 65-80 degrees F. Temperatures below 50 degrees F can damage or kill plants.
Pothos are moderate to fast growers indoors, especially in the warmer months. In winter, like your other indoor plants, you won't see much, if any, growth. If you have a Pothos plant growing in lower light conditions, the growth rate will be slower.
Yes, pothos plants do clean the air, but their impact is very minimal. While they can remove certain airborne toxins like formaldehyde, you would need a massive, room-filling jungle of them to match the air-cleaning power of a single HEPA air purifier.
Even with a perfect transplant, my pothos can look a little droopy right afterward. I do not panic. Some mild transplant shock is normal while the roots adjust and start growing into the new soil.
Yes, you absolutely can transition a pothos from soil to water. Pothos are very resilient, but their soil roots are adapted to breathe in dirt, so you must wash the roots completely clean before submerging them to avoid rotting.
It is illegal to propagate some plants primarily to protect intellectual property (such as plant patents or trademarks), to prevent the spread of agricultural diseases, or to control invasive species.
Pothos is nicknamed "Devil's Ivy" because it is nearly impossible to kill. It thrives in near darkness and easily bounces back from severe neglect.
I am learning how to watch the leaves for signs of the plant's well-being: if the leaves are glossy, green, and perky, the plant is happy; if they're wilting or turning brown, you're not watering enough.
Pothos plants do not require misting and can easily thrive in standard household humidity. While misting won't hurt the plant if done properly, it is generally ineffective at raising ambient humidity and can actually encourage fungal diseases like leaf spots or mildew if moisture remains on the leaves for too long.
The absolute easiest pothos to grow is the Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum). Known for its heart-shaped green leaves marbled with bright yellow, it is highly resilient, forgives missed waterings, and adapts to almost any indoor lighting condition.
Snake Plant (Laurentii)
The snake plant is one of the most hardy and unkillable species of housepant and positively thrive on neglect. Native to Western Africa, the plant has sword like leaves that...
The name “century plant” comes from the fact that the slow-growing plant takes years — although not 100 — to flower. The century plant, Agave Americana, is monocarpic, meaning it will bloom once in its lifetime. That bloom may not appear for 10, 20 or more years.
Research has shown that English Ivy can eliminate up to 78% of airborne mold within 12 hours. This makes it particularly useful in humid areas like bathrooms and basements where mold growth is more common.
Golden Pothos (Scindapsus aures)
In humans, it can cause burning of the mouth, skin irritation, swelling of lips, tongue, and throat, vomiting, and diarrhea. Cats and dogs can suffer from drooling, choking, swelling of the mouth and tongue, difficulty breathing, and stomach upset.
Pothos plants have an average lifespan of 5 to 10 years, but under optimal conditions with proper care, they can easily live for 20 years or more. Because they are easily propagated from cuttings, you can continually root new pieces, creating a plant that essentially lives indefinitely.
If your Pothos has been growing for a while, a repotting may be in order. It's a perfectly routine and healthy thing to be repotted periodically, and can provide a good opportunity to upgrade to a hanging pot to help manage the vines as long vines can take up a lot of space on the table and windowsill.