Why isn't my pothos growing vines?

Author: Mrs. Gilda Price  |  Last update: Sunday, November 16, 2025

If your pothos isn't vining, check whether you are meeting its basic needs of light, nourishment, water, and heat. Next, check for bugs, provide a suitable climbing structure for vines, and ensure the plant has sufficient space to grow.

Why won't my pothos grow vines?

The most common reason why your Pothos plant is not growing is because it's not getting enough light. Consider moving the Pothos plant towards a window where I can receive more indirect light every single day. The Pothos is labeled as a beginner low light plants but almost all of the house plants in the hobby prefer at.

How do I get my pothos to grow more vines?

Regular pruning will encourage bushier growth and result in full pothos plants. Snip the vines just above a leaf node, and you'll see new growth in no time!

How to make a pothos climb?

Climbing: Pothos plants are natural climbers and can develop long vines with aerial roots. If you choose to let your Pothos climb, you will need to provide it with a support structure such as a trellis, Coir pole, or wall-mounted hooks. This allows the plant to grow upwards, creating an attractive vertical display.

How to encourage leaf growth in pothos?

Fertilize the Plant to Increase the Size of the Leaves

Feed pothos with a balanced, water-soluble plant food, thinned down to 1/4 of its toughness, as soon as every 4-6 weeks. You can also include a little bit of Cow Dung Manure in the growing soil.

Why your Pothos or Philodendron isn't growing. (Indoor Vine)

How do I get my pothos to grow more branches?

If you have a large pothos that is getting out of control, trimming it back is a good way to manage the size and shape. Make cuts with a clean, sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears. Cut vines just above a node, the point at which leaves emerge. New growth will appear at these nodes after you make the cut.

How do you induce leaf growth?

Fertiliser fuels growth.

When you want to fuel leaf growth, you want a foliage fertiliser. Those are the ones higher in nitrogen. Two of my favourites are Plant Runner and GT Foliage Focus (those links are for my NZ plant buddies, but overseas you can get GT Foliage Focus on Amazon too).

Why is my pothos not climbing?

Pothos plants don't grow climbing vines, so you must add supports like trellises, bamboo cane, moss poles, or anchors to help the vines grow upward.

Does trimming pothos make it bushier?

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.

How do you help a struggling pothos?

Revive your wilting Golden Pothos 🌿 by spotting and fixing these life-threatening signs!
  1. Yellow leaves and wilting signal distress; check for over or under-watering.
  2. Medium, indirect sunlight and stable temperatures are ideal for Pothos health.
  3. Combat pests and diseases early with insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Why is my pothos growing so slow?

Pothos plants require the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K) to grow fuller. Go for a little amount of compost or liquid seaweed solution to fertilise the soil at least once or twice a month. This will enhance foliage growth and your plant will look healthier and fuller.

Why are my pothos vines bare?

Leafless pothos vines can result from lack of light, overwatering, underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pest infestations. These issues cause spindly or “leggy” pothos plants that aren't as beautiful as healthy bushy plants.

How do I get my pothos to vine?

Propagate Your Pothos

Put the stem cuttings in water and place them in a location that receives bright, indirect light. Small roots will grow from the nodes along the cuttings within a few weeks. Once the roots are 2 to 3 inches long, plant the cuttings in potting soil; they will mature into full pothos vines.

Why is my pothos stunted?

Nutrient Deficiency and Fertilization. Yellowing leaves and stunted growth scream nutrient deficiency in your Neon Pothos. It's like the plant's way of saying, "Feed me, maybe?" But before you go on a fertilizing frenzy, ensure you're not dealing with another culprit like pests or poor lighting.

How do I know if my pothos is dying?

Over-watered Pothos often display yellowing leaves, a sign of distress as clear as a red flag at the beach. The leaves may become soft and squishy, and the soil will feel like a wet sponge days after watering.

How do I get my pothos to grow more stems?

To make a pothos (Epipremnum) fuller you can;
  1. Prune it back heavily.
  2. Add in pothos cuttings to the soil (rooted or unrooted)
  3. Provide bright indirect light.
  4. Keep temperatures between 70-85°F.
  5. Fertilize every 2-3 months when actively growing.

What happens if you cut a pothos and no new leaves?

It's ok that your vines have no leaves as long as you give them a bit more time! ✂️Trim the Cutting: If you have a cutting with no leaves, you can still use it for propagation, but it may take longer to establish roots. Trim the cutting just below a leaf node using clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears.

How often should I water 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 prefer to climb or hang?

Do Pothos like to climb or hang? Pothos naturally vine horizontally or hang downward from their pot unless there is more sunlight to reach up for. Depending on your preferences, these laid-back, easy-to-care-for plants are willing to climb, trellis, weave, or dangle from a hanging basket.

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?

You can encourage branching, bushiness, and give the plant the trimming it needs for optimal shape. If you want to make your pothos fuller from the top, simply take your pruning shears and cut off the stems that are growing out and down so new leaf growth starts to branch out from the top of the plant.

How to stimulate new plant growth?

Tricks to speed up growth
  1. - Use black plastic pots. ...
  2. - Use compost and fertiliser. ...
  3. - Express germination. ...
  4. - Prefer liquid fertilisers. ...
  5. - Look for fast-growing plants. ...
  6. - Transplant as needed. ...
  7. - Basic care.

What increases leaf growth?

Light is the main variable affecting leaf growth rate, both the rate of leaf area expansion, final size, as well as cell shape as mentioned in the previous section.

What liquids help plants grow best?

After weeks of giving each plant different liquids(water, carbonated water, mango juice and pineapple soda), the conclusion is carbonated water grows plants the fastest and the healthiest.

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