By: Plants and Home
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), also known as Devil’s Ivy, is one of the most popular and easy-to-care-for houseplants. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced plant parent, pothos is a fantastic choice for adding greenery to your home. In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about pothos plants—from care tips to their air-purifying benefits and different varieties.
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Why Pothos is a Must-Have Plant
- Easy to Grow – Pothos thrives in a variety of conditions, making it perfect for beginners.
- Low-Light Tolerant – It can survive in low light, though it grows faster in bright, indirect sunlight.
- Air Purifying – NASA’s Clean Air Study found that pothos helps remove toxins like formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
- Versatile Growth – You can grow it in hanging baskets, on shelves, or even train it to climb a trellis or moss pole. When pothos grows upwards or climbs, the leaves higher up on the vine will get bigger than the ones lower on the vine. I grow my vines up a cord.
Pothos Care Guide
Light Requirements
- Bright, indirect light → Best for vibrant growth and variegation. Grow lights can be helpful for rooms that lack sunlight. I use this light fixture and grow lights. These products are lifesavers when there is less sunlight in the winter.
- Low light → Tolerates shade but may grow slower and lose variegation.
- Avoid direct sun → It can scorch the leaves.
Watering
- Let the soil dry out between watering—overwatering can cause root rot. Water thoroughly, allowing the water to drain out the bottom, is best.
- Yellow leaves? Usually a sign of overwatering.
- Droopy leaves? Time to water or needs more sunlight.
Soil & Fertilizer
- Well-draining potting mix (a standard houseplant mix works well). I mix half potting soil and half perlite.
- Fertilize monthly in spring/summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer (optional but encourages growth). I have had a lot of luck using this fertilizer.
Propagation (Easy Peasy!)
Pothos is one of the easiest plants to propagate:
- Cut a stem with at least 1 leaf and a node (the little bump where roots grow).
- Place in water or directly in moist soil. You can even put them in a fish tank, and it does not harm the fish.
- Roots will develop in 1-2 weeks (in water) or a bit longer in soil.
Popular Pothos Varieties
- Marble Queen – Striking white and green marbled leaves.
- Neon Pothos – Bright, lime-green foliage.
- Golden Pothos – Classic green leaves with yellow variegation.
- Jade Pothos – Solid deep green leaves (great for low light).
- Manjula Pothos – Cream, white, and green heart-shaped leaves.
- Cebu Blue – Silvery-blue, elongated leaves (rare and stunning!).
Common Pothos Problems & Fixes
Yellow Leaves → Overwatering or poor drainage. Pots with many holes are the best option, along with making your soil chunky with wood chips or using a larger perlite.
Brown Tips → Low humidity or too much fertilizer.
Leggy Growth → Needs more light, slowly move closer to the window or use a grow light. I often forget to turn on the grow lights, so I use timers. To promote photosynthesis, leaves need to be wiped off regularly with water and a rag, or gently spray the plant down in the sink or tub when you notice the leaves are dusty; the leaves need to be able to soak up the sun.
Pests (Mealybugs, spider mites) → Wipe leaves with soapy water or neem oil. I use a Garden Safe fungicide. I attend to overwatering, and it attracts all sorts of pests. The Garden Safe fungicide has prevented and stopped many infestations. I have read that mosquito bits help with bug infestations, but I haven’t had to use it, so personally, I’m not sure if this works.
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