Do pothos like to grow up or down?

Author: Makenzie Miller  |  Last update: Friday, June 5, 2026

Pothos Want to Grow Toward the Light A skylight, large window, or a hanging grow light are the best ways to encourage pothos to keep reaching upward. Remember, these plants fare best in bright, indirect sunlight.

Do pothos prefer to climb or hang?

Pothos love climbing. My one that's just a vine across the shelf does good but nothing impressive. All to ones with poles or a trellis get big leaves. All depends what you're looking for.

Why is my pothos growing up instead of down?

Those are aerial roots. Pothos are a climbing vine. They have aerial roots to attach to near by structures (in the wild, these will be other plants) to hoist themselves up and off the ground. Totally normal and healthy!

What direction should pothos face?

Direct sunlight can scorch the plant's delicate leaves. The Golden Pothos leaves develop unsightly brown patches with regular exposure to direct sunlight. So, it matters to place this plant near a north or east-facing window where it can bask in gentle, filtered sunlight.

Should pothos have a moss pole or trellis?

Moss poles are great for plants that like to climb but don't have tendrils or other natural means of attaching themselves to a support. For example, plants like philodendrons and pothos can benefit from the added support of a moss pole.

8 Top Tips on How to Grow Pothos Faster

Do pothos like to be hung?

Pothos plants have cascading vines that can grow quite long, creating an elegant and lush display. Hanging Pothos is a good option if you have limited wall space or want to add greenery to higher areas of a room. Hanging Pothos can also be a great choice if you want to showcase the plant's trailing nature.

How do you encourage vine growth in pothos?

Give it More Sunlight

Starting with the basics, Pothos craves for bright, indirect sunlight to stimulate its growth. The more sunlight, the more growth!

Do pothos like coffee grounds?

Do Pothos Plants Like Coffee Grounds? Yes, Golden Pothos tends to thrive in soil with coffee grounds.

Do pothos like to be misted?

Does my pothos need a humid environment? Pothos like humid environments, so you may want to mist the leaves or place the pot on a humidity tray. Alternatively, you can keep your pothos in a naturally humid spot, like a kitchen or bathroom.

How often should you water a pothos?

Water your Pothos every 1-2 weeks, allowing soil to dry out between waterings. Expect to water more often in brighter light and less often in lower light. If the plant's leaves begin curling inward or the potting mix is dry, this is a sign you need to water it more often.

Do pothos like to be crowded?

Your Pothos needs personal space, just like you do on a crowded bus.

How to make pothos more bushy?

Pruning directly at the leaf nodes can help the plant to form more bushy foliage. However, the easiest way to get the desired bushy shape is simply to grow several pothos plants in one pot. Tip: Since devil's ivy is poisonous, always wear gloves when working with the plant – especially when pruning and repotting.

Do pothos need deep pots?

Welcome your Pothos into their new home. The upgraded pot must be larger than the bulk of the roots, but not by too much. Approximately two inches of space between the roots and the walls of the pot. If the gap is too wide, the new moist soil will sit for too long before roots can colonize it.

What is the lifespan of a pothos plant?

Natural Lifespan of Pothos

A well-maintained Pothos can live anywhere from 5 to 10 years, sometimes even longer with the right conditions. Factors such as light, water, and soil quality play significant roles in determining how long your Pothos will live.

How to make a pothos grow upwards?

Training pothos plants to climb is as easy as giving them a material to latch onto and guiding the vines to where you'd like them to go. The most popular trellising materials include: Bamboo canes. Metal poles or industrial pipe.

Do pothos like lots of water?

Indoor Pothos plants have minimal water requirements and often can withstand long periods without watering. Still, to enjoy a vibrant and thriving Pothos, consider watering once a week or bi-weekly.

What does an overwatered pothos look like?

A: If overwatered, your pothos will typically show signs of yellowing and mushy leaves.

Does pothos like sun or shade?

Bright, Indirect Light: Pothos plants do best in bright, indirect light. Place your Pothos near a window with a sheer curtain, or in a spot that receives bright but filtered light. Avoid placing the plant in direct sunlight, as this can burn the leaves and cause them to wilt.

How often should I feed pothos?

Pothos plants are not heavy feeders and therefore do not require frequent fertilizer applications. During the active growing season of spring and summer, plan to fertilize your pothos about once a month. Fertilizing more frequently than once a month can be harmful to the plant.

Can I just sprinkle coffee grounds on plants?

Coffee grounds can most certainly be added to your compost and also directly to your soil. Instead of simply tossing them out though, you may wish to incorporate them a bit more thoroughly by digging them in.

How do you perk up a pothos plant?

Your Pothos prefers soil that is consistently moist. Be sure you're not over or underwatering your plant. Keep a consistent watering schedule–water when the top 2”-3” of the soil are dry. If you accidentally let your plant's soil dry out completely, you may see leaves go limp, droop, and possibly start to brown.

What is the best plant food for pothos?

Feed pothos regularly with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food. Grow more pothos by taking cuttings from the vines. Avoid too much light to prevent discolored leaves.

How to tell the difference between pothos and philodendron?

Philodendron leaves are thin, soft, and papery, whereas pothos leaves feel thicker and waxier. You can also eyeball the leaf shape to tell the difference: Philodendrons have heart-shaped leaves, while pothos plants bow out in a more traditional way.

Why does my pothos have long vines with no leaves?

Insufficient sunlight. One of the most common reasons for a vining plant to produce vines without leaves is insufficient sunlight. Vining plants, like many other plants, require an adequate amount of sunlight to carry out photosynthesis, the process that enables them to produce energy and grow.

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