Signs of an Overwatered Pothos
Curled leaves are seen when a Pothos is overwatered. The leaves will curl downwards, in an effort to reduce surface area and slow down transpiration. Yellow or brown leaves are also a sign of overwatering. Discoloration can show up in spots or throughout the entire leaf.
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.
Should I Mist My Pothos? A lot of people may encourage you to mist your houseplants to either water it or to increase humidity, but you should NOT mist your houseplants. For one, sitting water on your pothos leaves can be the perfect breeding ground for various fungi or bacteria to settle and cause leaf spots.
Those yellow leaves will not recover, so you may also want to remove those (again, tug gently and they'll come off if they're ready) so the plant can direct its energy to growth and maintaining healthy leaves. Think about how much and how often you're watering your pothos plant.
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.
To fix an overwatered Pothos, firstly, let the soil dry out completely before watering your plant again. Trim any yellow or mushy leaves to promote new growth. Tweak your Pothos watering schedule to ensure the soil remains moist but not waterlogged.
Pothos naturally wants to grow up, reaching up to the sun.
Cacti, succulents, fiddle leaf fig (Ficus Lyrata), and other plants that prefer dry environments are among them. Although they prefer humidity, watering fuzzy-leaved plants like African violets and piggyback plants (Tolmiea menziesii) is not recommended since the water droplets will mark the surface of the leaves.
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.
Droopy and wilted leaves are the biggest tell, but it can take some practice for beginner plant parents to know what to look for. Practice on pothos plants — they are great at letting you know when they need watered!
If you're seeing roots that are brown, black, or mushy, it's a red flag. They might even smell like a rotten egg, which is a surefire sign of root rot. Next, check the soil moisture. If it's wetter than a rainforest floor, you might be overwatering.
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.
Feel the Soil: The simplest way to gauge your plant's watering needs is by feeling the soil. Turns out that old trick of sticking your finger into the soil up to the knuckle has merit! If it's soggy or has standing water, you're overwatering. If it's dry an inch below the surface, it's time to water.
If your Golden Pothos is getting too much light, you'll notice that the foliage begins to look bleached or washed out, the tips of leaves may turn yellow or brown and crispy, and it may even grow too quickly to support itself.
The good news is that most plants will bounce back between 7-14 days if they're given proper care (which includes rehydration). If this isn't possible because major damage was done or little healthy root system exists then expect about 2 weeks until improvement can be seen.
Tropical plants may benefit from warm mist, but cool mist is also sufficient, if your home's temperature is at a desirable level.
“In nature, plants will naturally gather humidity from the air, creating dew drops which will freshen the plant leaves and remove dust,” she says. “This ultimately creates a better exchange of oxygen and moisture. Misting one to two times per week can refresh your plants and keep them happy and thriving.”
Your Pothos needs personal space, just like you do on a crowded bus.
Pothos plants live an average five to 10 years, but with minimal consistent care can live much longer. Plant pothos in standard houseplant potting mix or well-draining aroid mix. Provide plenty of indirect light, ideally in an east- or west-facing window.
You can check if your Pothos needs water by performing the "finger test." Insert your finger into the soil about 1-2 inches deep. If it feels dry at this depth, it's time to water. Additionally, you can also use a chopstick to text the whole soil situation.
The faster their soil dries out, the better these plants recover. To speed up the process, place a sheet of paper towel under or around the root ball. After a few hours in the shade and in the open air, the soil will be dry. You can then return the plant to its container.
Overwatered pothos will have leaves that are limp and mushy, while underwatered ones will sport leaves that are dry and crispy, like autumn leaves that crunched underfoot. Both scenarios lead to a wilted appearance, but the texture is the telltale sign.