How to Care for a Pothos Plant

Last Updated: August 2, 2019 Approved

A great way to start learning to care for houseplants, a Pothos plant is a durable specimen of the Epipremnum genus. Pothos plants are also called devil's ivy, golden pothos, hunter's robe, ivy arum, money plant, silver vine, Solomon Islands ivy and taro vine, or incorrectly called a Philodendron. Care is easy and basic, keep reading!

Steps

1
Pick a Pothos plant. The easiest way to fail at houseplant care is to buy an already dying plant. When at the store, look for:
- Broad, firm, green leaves
- Firm but not rigid green stems
- A firm root base
- No leaves with white or yellow splotches - these may be disease marks
- No mold anywhere, including the soil.
2
Select a pot or container. If you like the pot that the plant came in, skip this step. If you want a different pot, read on. When purchasing a new pot, think of where the pot will go. Consider weight, size, colour, breakability (will children be near it?), and so forth.

Advertisement
3
Repot the plant, if needed.^{[1]
X
Research source} See How to repot a plant for repotting details. Follow those instructions carefully.
4
Choose a plant location. Where should a Pothos plant go? Pothos plants thrive in every light condition except total darkness and direct sunlight.^{[2]
X
Research source} Bathrooms, bedrooms, hallways, and so on, make excellent locations.
5
Keep the plant watered. Pothos plants need the soil to be just damp, not soaking. When you touch the soil with your finger, your finger should have dirt clinging to it but not have water on it. If there is no clinging - water it! If your finger is wet - hold off!
6
Don't fertilize the plant.^{[3]
X
Research source} Pothos plants do not require fertilization as they grow slowly and do not require much to do so.
7
Prune the plant.^{[4]
X
Research source} If your Pothos plant grows too big, use scissors to make a clean cut near a stem base, not below the soil line. Let the stub 'scab' over before you push it into the dirt to prevent disease.
8
Weather-proof the plant. Pothos plants are usually kept indoors. If yours is an outdoor plant, bring it inside before the first frost and return it after you are certain that there will be no more.

Community Q&A

Question

My plants have lost leaves and I'm left with a bare stem. Will the leaves grow back, or should I cut them?

Community Answer

A quick way to check if the stem is still alive (especially when there are no leaves) is to use your thumbnail to scrape a small piece of bark off. If you then see a green color under the bark, your plant should regrow. If there's only brown under the bark, then most likely the plant will not regrow at that part of the stem.
Question

I have some pothos plants growing outdoors. I want to take some cuttings and grow them in water indoors. How do I do that?

Community Answer

Cut the vines you want and put them in a container of water. They will grow better in a pot of moist soil.
Question

What do I do if my plant's stem is turning yellow after I pruned it?

Community Answer

After pruning it, did you over water or fertilize? Stick your finger in the soil, if it is damp and sticks to your finger a little, it is fine. If you over-watered, drain as much water out as you can, and maybe top it off with fresh potting soil. Do not fertilize, it is not necessary. Also, make sure the plant is not in direct sunlight or in a very warm environment.

Warnings

Pothos plants are poisonous!^{[5]
X
Research source} Pothos plants contain raphides which cause vomiting and irritation when consumed by dogs or cats. See How to How to stop your dog eating plants or How to How to stop your cat eating plants for advice. The consumption of Pothos plants is rarely fatal but still needs immediate medical attention.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1