How to Take Care of a Pothos Plant – A Comprehensive Guide

There are many things you can do to take care of them when it comes to plants. Some plants require a lot of light, some need to be watered constantly, and others are best in high humidity. What most people don’t know, however, is that you can’t overlook the care required for pothos plants. That’s why we’ve compiled this guide on how to take care of a pothos plant.

Know the basics about pothos plants

Before you learn how to take care of a pothos plant, you should know what a pothos plant is. Pothos plants are vines grown for their beautiful leaves rather than flowers or fruit (though some varieties of plants do produce fruit). If left unchecked, these vines can grow incredibly long and strong — so strong in fact that a single pothos plant can support the weight of an adult human! The same characteristics that make them excellent supports for humans also make them excellent climbers, which is why they’re often used to decorate walls.

Pothos plants have heart-shaped leaves that emerge from the stem in pairs rather than growing directly from the stem. Pothos plants can be green, yellow, or a combination of the two. Pothos plants are relatively easy to grow, and they’re great for beginner gardeners.

How to Take Care of a Pothos Plant:

Lighting

One of the most important things that new pothos plant owners will want to understand is how much light pothos plants need. Pothos vines like bright light but don’t do well in direct sunlight. The pothos plants should be kept where they get bright, indirect light. If they get too much light, they’ll burn, which can kill the pothos plants. In addition, pothos plants also require the right kind of light. UVB light is produced by natural lighting sources like the sun and regular indoor bulbs. Proper UVB lighting is important because it creates a chemical reaction in the plant that produces plant sugars used to feed the plant and its flowers.

Watering

Like any other houseplant, pothos plants need plenty of water to stay healthy. However, most pothos plant owners don’t know that they should water their plants differently from other houseplants. Pothos plants need to be watered less frequently than other plants because their leaves absorb water right through the leaves themselves. Pothos vines should be watered every 7-10 days when rootbound, and every 5-6 days when pot bound.

Recommended Soil

When deciding on what type of soil to use with your plant, you should first consider how the plant will benefit from it. Soil conditions may also affect how long your Potho lasts and what color it turns out to be.

1. SAND: [BEST]

This is the ideal soil for the Pothos. It brings out the best colors from their leaves, and indirect lighting will help grow them faster. The sand helps bring out brown and green colors, which is why it is also a great soil to use if you are looking for a plant that will look good in any area of your home or office. To achieve the best results when using this soil, you should use more than one bag of sand per plant and open up holes in your bag to escape excess moisture. This way your plant will be able to get all of its water needed while it still retains its health and vitality!

2. CACTUS SOIL: [GOOD]

Cactus soil is the next best option for this plant. It helps the Pothos retain its natural colors, which are brown and green. This is a great environment for the plant to grow in because it gives it a little extra room for growth and its sand like texture will also help with drainage and care.

3. COCONUT/SPHAGNUM MOSS: [DECENT]

This soil is an option for those who want to keep their plants natural and want them to grow quicker. It works well because of its good drainage and low moisture-retaining quality. This plant does not need a lot of sunlight either, so it makes a decent choice for those who want their Pothos to grow fast.

Growing the pothos plants

Pothos plants are most commonly propagated through stem cuttings. New pothos plant owners should not worry much because pothos plants are some of the easiest plants to propagate by cuttings in the home. In addition, pothos vines do not need specific nutrients that they can only get from specialized fertilizers.

Pruning

While not necessary, pothos plants can be pruned to keep them from growing too long or give them a bit more shape. Pothos plants can be pruned back to the soil to eliminate new growth or a little to shape the plant into something with a more defined shape.

Some of the most common pothos plant varieties

When interested in growing pothos plants, several varieties are a little more forgiving than others, so it won’t be difficult for a new owner to learn to take care of them. Some of the most common varieties include:

GOLDEN POTHOS (Epipremnum Aureum) – The “OG” that most of us started our love affair with Pothos with. This variety is great for beginners because it’s low maintenance and can be propagated by stem cuttings. Since this variety has the color variegation in it’s leaves, more natural, bright, indirect light will keep the colors bright and will help speed up it’s slower growth.

JADE POTHOS (Epipremnum Aureum ‘Jade’) – Very similar to Golden Pothos, but without the color variegation. Due to it’s solid color, it can and does grow well in rooms with little to no natural light. This one will often be found in the corner of an office or on top of a cabinet. As long as the watering schedule and the access to uvb (most indoor) lighting is kept in steady supply, Jade pothos will continue to provide good color and growth for your indoor space. It propogates from cuttings easily as well.

MARBLE QUEEN POTHOS (Epipremnum Aureum ‘Marble’) – Another pothos that works well for beginners, but grows more slowly due to it’s variegated leaves. This one likes a little more light in order to maintain it’s coloring as well as it’s growth. There are several variations of this type with varying degrees of coloring.  The more light this particular variety gets, the more dramatic the coloring will be. There is a trade off, though. Typically the more the color variation, the slower the growth. Either way, this pothos is a great addition to anyone’s collection.

CEBU BLUE POTHOS (Epipremnum Pinnatum ‘Cebu Blue’) – This variety is another low-maintenance pothos plant that grows vigorously. It is actually a different species (Pinnatum), but is the same genus (Epipremnum). With narrower leaves and a more dainty look, it provides a different style of pothos while maintaining the same basic care requirements. If given ideal conditions, they can grow much longer than most pothos, but typically when grown indoors, the leaves are smaller.

SILVER DOLLAR POTHOS (Scindapsus Pictus) – This variety has smaller leaves. This variety also has a different kind of coloring, with a silvery speckles. If thriving, the silver coloring will often have a shine or flash when the light hits it just right. This is technically a different genus, but has similar maintenance requirements, and is a great show piece to grab if/when they are available at your local nursery or home garden store.

 

More about pothos plants

As you can see, pothos plants are a great addition to most homes. They add that little pop of color, can help to clean the air, and even provide an additional source of home decor with their long vines and variations in color! From their beautiful foliage to their ease of propagation, these plants are a surefire winner for anybody looking for a houseplant they can grow themselves.  Caring for pothos plants is relatively easy if you know how to properly water them and give them the right amount of light. These plants also do well in most climates and can be grown indoors well.

Choosing a good pothos variety will make it easier to care for the pothos plant since some are harder to care for than others. However, most varieties forgive beginners’ mistakes, so even a new gardener can learn how to take care of a pothos plant. This is because they are so easy to grow and require minimum maintenance.

Do you have any recommendations or feedback to add to the discussion? Then comment below! I answer every comment. You can also email me at randi@fairycirclegarden.com or send me a message through social media as well!

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Wishing you all the best,

Randi