How to Care and Grow for Golden Pothos

The title of most well-liked houseplant may go to the Golden Pothos plant. It can be found in most greenhouses, workplaces, and interior buildings.

Epipremnum aureum is the Golden Pothos’ scientific name. This foliage plant, which climbs vertically, is also referred to as Devil’s Ivy. It originates from the Araceae family of plants.

There are numerous sizes and forms for epipremnums! The Golden Pothos has a great desire to cling to and climb everything that it can get attached to. It is beautiful to look at, as the leaves form a heart shape. Its low maintenance requirements explain why it is so well-liked.

Golden Pothos Overview

Golden Pothos Plant Care

Although pothos plants have an average lifespan of five to ten years, they can live considerably longer with little regular maintenance.

• Plant pothos in a well-draining aroid mix or regular houseplant potting soil.
• Give your room a lot of indirect light, preferably from a window facing east or west.
• Let the soil completely dry in between watering.
• Every month in the spring and summer, fertilize your houseplants using a balanced fertilizer.

Light

Pothos may grow in regions with low light levels or solely fluorescent lighting, and they prefer both sun and shade. Bright, indirect light is ideal for its indoor growth. Variegated plants that receive excessive shadow eventually lose their leaf pattern and develop all-green foliage again.

Restoring the variegation usually requires moving them to brighter environments. The plant is getting too much direct sunlight if its leaves suddenly get pale.

Water

Watering should be scheduled every one to two weeks; during the growing season, this frequency should increase, and during the winter, it should decrease. In between watering, let the soil dry out. If roots are kept in consistently wet soil, they will decay.

The abrupt death of the plant or black patches on its leaves is a sign that the soil has been kept too damp. Identification and control of Pseudomembranous aureum (POTHOS) diseases in commercial greenhouse production. Florida University’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

When Pothos is thirsty, it sags. Avoid waiting until the plant begins to lose some of its leaves since this will cause the leaves to shrivel. The plant was kept dry for an extended period if its edges were brown and dry.

Soil

Pothos plants do equally well in coarse, chunky planting media as they do in regular, well-draining potting soil that is on the dry side. Soil that is neutral to slightly acidic can be tolerated; a pH range of 6.1 to 6.8 is ideal.

Temperature and Humidity

Maintain pothos at temperatures that are continuously above 50°F, ideally in the 65°–75°F range. Although they can tolerate low humidity, they thrive in high-humidity environments.

By placing it in a normally humid room of the house, like a bathroom, or by clustering it with other tropical houseplants to create a humid microclimate, you can raise the humidity level around the plant.

Fertilizer

Although pothos plants do not require frequent fertilization, they do benefit from it sometimes during the growing season. In the spring and summer, give your houseplants a once-monthly feeding with a balanced fertilizer. During the winter, when the plant is dormant, avoid fertilizing.

Pruning

These plants have the potential to grow to fairly enormous sizes and even bloom in the wild. Though there is a slim probability, the plant will probably not flower indoors! Allow it to grow if you enjoy the way the pothos looks like a vine!

It can be set atop a pedestal or shelf, and it will gradually droop. To encourage the vines to adhere to items, you can cover them with them or even clip them onto them. Pinch off new growth if you like your pothos to have a “bushy” appearance.

You can prune a vine if it is growing too long. Use some newly cleaned shears or scissors to accomplish this. When cutting your plant, cleaning your instruments will prevent it from coming into contact with any bacteria.

A leaf is 1/4 to 1/2 inch above the vine. Your newly cut vine can be given to a friend or multiplied!

Propagation

Mature pothos can be purchased at a plant store, but stem cuttings planted in water make it simple to multiply. Obtain a transparent glass or vase and a sharp hand pruner. You will need a pot and houseplant mix after the roots start to show. Make these moves:

• A healthy stem with at least three leaves should be removed using a sterile, sharp pruner. Trim off the bottom leaf by half an inch or so at an angle.
• Take off the lowest leaf from the stem.
• Don’t let the remaining leaves come into contact with the water when you place the stem in a vase or jar of water.
• In a week to ten days, new roots appear. Cuttings should be transplanted into pots as soon as feasible after roots are several inches long.
• Keep the soil damp but not soggy, and position pots in an area with strong indirect light.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Common houseplant concerns, such as pests and diseases, can affect even resilient, low-maintenance pothos.

While mealybugs, scale, spider mites, and whiteflies can all be drawn to pothos, it is often pest-free. Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap in times of infestation, or use a soft, clean cloth to eliminate pests.

Inadequate light, damp soil, and excessive watering can also produce bacterial leaf spots and root rot, which can kill plants. Minimize the frequency of watering, and if there is root rot, consider repotting in new, dry soil and pruning back any damaged roots.

Common Problems with Pothos

Browning Leaves

A variety of problems, such as excessive watering or insufficient light, can result in browning leaves. Crispy, dry brown leaves are a sign of underwatering or low humidity.

Leaves Turning Yellow

As long as the plant is producing new growth, an occasional yellow leaf is OK; nevertheless, abrupt or extensive yellowing is cause for concern. A bacterial or fungal disease, or overwatering that causes root rot, could be the cause.

Drooping Leaves

A plant is stressed when its leaves begin to droop or wilt, which is usually caused by a shortage of water. Deep-water your plant, and continue to check the moisture content of the soil. Additionally, drooping leaves may indicate that a plant is diseased or pot-bound.

FAQ

How do pothos and philodendron plants differ from one another?

Despite having a similar appearance, philodendrons and pothos are two different, distinct plants. Pothos feature huge, thick, rough leaves that are heart-shaped and waxy. The leaves of philodendrons are thinner, softer, smoother, and have a more pronounced heart form.

How quickly can pothos grow?

Pothos is a houseplant that grows quickly; in just one month, it can grow more than a foot in length.

Is pothos a simple plant to maintain?

Pothos plants require very little maintenance, and they may tolerate neglect and less-than-ideal growing conditions. Pothos is so hard to kill that it’s sometimes referred to as the devil’s ivy.

Does Pothos have to hang or climb?

It’s up to you whether to let Pothos drape or provide it with a support system to climb. It can be found in its natural habitat, climbing trees, but it also looks good in a hanging basket at home.

Reference

wikipedia.org