Pothos plant is one of the easiest houseplants to keep in your home. It is low maintenance and adds beauty to your space. It purifies the air and removes harmful toxins from the air. You can grow it in your indoor vertical garden because it grows vertically with a coco coir pole.
The pothos plant grows up to 60 feet long when put outdoors as they climb up trees and grows to 10 feet indoors. A mature plant’s leaves grow to 4 to 8 inches indoors or 3 feet in the wild. The plant has heart shaped green leaves, sometimes with white, yellow, or pale green variations.
The plant can grow indoors for many years with simple basic care as long as you provide the best conditions for them. One thing to be cautious about is that the plant contains some substances that can irritate the skin, mouth, or the gut and may be toxic to some pets, such as cats and dogs, so be wary of that.
Read on for the best pothos plant care tips and recommendations for best results.
Types of Pothos Plant
Before we go into the pothos plant care tips, let’s look into the types of variations.
Some pothos have green, while other has yellow or white variegation. Here are some hybrids of the plant.
- Golden pothos: has heart shaped, shiny green leaves with a golden look.
- Pothos neon: this type of pothos is lime green and requires less light than other types
- Pothos marble queen: the plant has heart shaped leaves with a deep green and white variation. It is a very attractive plant that needs more light than other pothos to maintain the green coloring.
- Silver satin: this variety has thick green leaves with silver patches. It thrives in low light and requires less watering than the other variations.
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10 Pothos Plant Care Tips
The pothos plant is easy for beginners to care for and maintain. If you are wondering how to care for indoor pothos plant, here are a few key things to look out for and optimize for the best results.
1. Soil
The plant thrives in a well-draining potting mix, which allows aeration and does not hold excess water that can cause rot.
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Avoid overwatering the soil, and allow it to dry between watering. The plant can grow in neutral to acidic conditions, so choose a potting mix with a PH range of 6.1 to 6.8.
2. Pots
Pothos plants can grow in plastic, metal, ceramic, or terracotta pots. Ensure the pot you chose has drainage holes in the bottom to let out excess water.
A terra cotta pot works best because it reduces moisture and water, which would otherwise cause rot. You can also use hanging baskets and positions in your indoor vertical garden to allow the vines to grow upwards.
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3. Sunlight
How much sunlight does a pothos plant need? The plant thrives in bright, indirect sunlight and can grow in low light.
Exposing it to intense direct sunlight can burn the leaves and brown their leaves. Intense sunlight also increases the temperature, which may not be ideal for the plant. Be careful not to give too much shade since the leaves may lose their pattern, while too much light may burn the leaves and turn them pale.
4. Water
Pothos thrive best with adequate water, but excess can cause the leaves to turn yellow, the roots to rot, and the stems to turn black. If you notice black spots on the plant, the soil is too wet for a long time.
On the flip side, when the plant does not get adequate water, the leaves may start to wilt and droop, so don’t wait long before watering it.
To get the best results, water the plant once weekly and allow the soil to become dry in between the watering schedule. In summer, the plant may need more water than in winter. Check the plant regularly to monitor how much water is ideal for the plant.
5. Temperature
Pothos plant thrives in temperatures between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the plant stays at ideal temperatures most of the time.
6. Humidity
The plant grows best in high humidity but can survive in conditions with low humidity. Keep them in humid plants in the home or row them together with other houseplants to maintain a humid environment.
7. Fertilizer
Pothos plants do not need too much fertilizer to grow as they are not heavy feeders. Add fertilizer when planting the pothos.
You can add fertilizer monthly to nourish the plant, particularly in spring and summer.
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8. Controlling pests
Most houseplants are at risk of pests and diseases. Although pothos get fewer attacks by pests, watch out for the leaves for any signs of infestation.
If you notice any pests, control them as soon as they appear with natural pesticides such as neem oil.
You can also rub alcohol to keep insects away. Wipe the leaves regularly to keep off dust and dirt. Dilute lemon juice with water and use it to clean the leaves often.
9. Pruning
Since you are growing pothos plant indoors, you can prune the vines unless you prefer them to grow longer.
Pruning also makes the plant grow more branches and become fuller. Prune extra stems with no leaves and discard them to allow the remaining plant to become fuller.
10. Repotting
Once the pot plant grows, you may need to repot it. You may notice that the leaves keep dropping despite giving them adequate water. This means the roots have filled the pot and need a big room to grow.
The roots may also start growing outside the drainage holes as they try to find more room. Repot the plant to a bigger pot to help the plant continue growing. For best results, report the plants either in spring or summer.
FAQs
Pothos plant care regime is one of the easiest compared to other houseplants. You only need to give it indirect sunlight, water it once a week, and add fertilizer often to nourish it.
Pothos plant thrives in bright indirect light. Place the plant in a spot that receives indirect sunlight, such as near a window covered with a sheer curtain.
Pothos plants purify the air and naturally filter out harmful toxins. It also beautifies your space, and it’s good for your wellbeing.
Absolutely. Pothos is an easy houseplant for beginners. You only need to give it the right conditions, such as sunlight and water. Use a well draining potting mix and try natural pesticides to keep off pests, and you’re good to go.
Final Thoughts
Pothos can live indoors for up to 10 years with the right conditions. You can increase the lifespan by giving the plant proper conditions such as sunlight, water, and temperature and with basic maintenance. If your plant has droopy, wilted, brown, or yellow leaves, look out for the above pothos plant care tips and add them to the daily and pothos houseplant care weekly routine.
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