It is significantly better to underwater a pothos than to overwater it. Pothos plants are incredibly forgiving of drought and will simply droop when thirsty, bouncing back within hours of a good watering. In contrast, overwatering leads to soggy soil and root rot, which is much harder to fix and can easily kill the plant.
Your Pothos will display the following signs if you water it unnecessarily or excessively:
You needn't fear any permanent damage from repotting a pothos aka Epipremnum Aureum any time of year.
Pothos thriving in submerged root stem
The root stem has been underwater for 3+ months, and this stem has 5 leaves that have been completely submersed for about 2 months, and it's thriving.
Your pothos is thirsty when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry, the leaves begin to droop or curl inward, and the pot feels unusually light when lifted.
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.
Pothos can live in water indefinitely (forever), often thriving for years or even decades if given the right care. Because pothos are highly adaptable, they easily grow "water roots" designed to extract both water and dissolved oxygen.
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.
Step 3: How to Keep a Pothos Alive in Water
Change the water every now and then and add new water as needed. Water loses oxygen over time, and roots need oxygen! I recommend changing the water every couple weeks or so. Feeding your pothos is important!
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.
With proper preparation, pothos can last up to 2 or 3 weeks without water. However, if you don't provide the plant with ideal conditions, it can die of thirst within a week or so.
Yellowing Leaves: One of the most common signs of overwatering is leaves turning yellow. While older leaves will naturally yellow as they age, widespread yellowing, especially in younger leaves, indicates excess water. 2. Wilting: Paradoxically, overwatered plants often wilt, much like underwatered plants.
If the foliage looks withered and wilted, it's a sign that your pothos is unhealthy. "Wilting usually occurs when your pothos is underwater," says Berendsen. "If the wilting is mild, it should subside within a few hours after watering."
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
Indoor plants that prefer neutral to alkaline soil, or those that require dry, well-draining conditions, do not like coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are acidic and can clump together to trap excess moisture, which can cause root rot, nutrient lockout, and fungal issues.
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.
Generally, you should water pothos every one to two weeks, making sure it dries out between waterings. Don't water it again if the soil is still pretty wet because you don't want soggy soil. Rather than sticking to a set watering schedule, it's best to test the soil first to determine if the plant needs watering.
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.
While pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is incredibly hardy, it is not a true aquatic plant and thrives best when only its roots are submerged.
You can water a potted pothos from either the top or the bottom; both methods effectively saturate the soil. Bottom watering encourages deeper root growth and deters pests. Top watering flushes out mineral buildup. For the best results, alternate methods or top water occasionally.
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.