The Pothos Plant, or Epipremnum aureum, is known for being the simplest houseplants to care for. Its popular name originates from genus it was originally classified under, Pothos aureus, and there are a few distinct cultivars to watch out for in addition to the traditional emerald green Pothos.
The Pothos may grow to be shockingly large in the wild, with leaves reaching lengths of more than a foot. In the house, it stays much smaller: mature leaves normally vary in length from 4-8 inches, and the vine itself seldom grows taller than a couple dozen feet in ideal conditions.
Pothos Plant
The Pothos is likely one of the simplest houseplants to cultivate, even if you have a habit of forgetting to water plants on a regular basis. This trailing vine from the South Pacific’s Solomon Islands has pointy, heart-shaped green leaves that are often variegated with white, yellow, or pale green striations.
This Pothos plant is ideal for indoor usage since it can filter gaseous pollutants such as formaldehyde from the air. It is known to overgrow forest floors and tree trunks in its native Southeast Asia due to its aerial root structure. It grow vertically in the home by using a coco coir pole, and in proper indoor circumstances, it can trail up to 10 feet long with four to eight-inch leaves.
Pothos is a year-round indoor plant that grows swiftly, frequently adding 12 to 18 inches in length in a month. Pets should be kept away from pothos plants.
Pothos is available in a wide range of colors, including dark green, chartreuse, golden yellow, a blend of lush hues, and even white. Popular types such as golden pothos, neon pothos, and marble queen pothos are likely to be available at local garden center, making it as easy to obtain as it is to care for.
Plant overview
- Common Name: Pothos, Golden Pothos, Devil’s Vine, Devil’s Ivy
- Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum
- Family: Araceae
- Plant Type: Vine
- Mature Size: 20–40 ft. long, 3–6 ft. wide
- Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil Type: Moist but well-drained
- Soil pH: neutral to slightly acidic
- Bloom Time: Rarely, flowers
- Flower Color: Gold, Yellow, Purple, and Lavender
- Hardiness Zones: 10–12
- Native Areas: South Pacific
- Toxicity: dogs and cats
Pothos Plant Species
The Pothos family contains several subspecies, all of which require comparable amounts of water, sunshine, and soil. Some potho kinds, however, have special criteria. The following are some popular pothos varieties.
- Golden pothos
Golden pothos is one of the most popular and frequent species seen in garden stores. According to specialists, they are one of the top three plants in terms of eliminating formaldehyde from the atmosphere, along with philodendron and spider plant. Golden pothos is distinguished by variegated leaves that are deep green with yellowish-gold areas.
- Marble queen pothos
If you’re searching for a weird houseplant, the marble queen is lady. This type has creamy, white streaks that spread over grayish-green leaves. These pothos plants grow more slowly than golden pothos and other pothos species.
- Neon pothos
The neon pothos leaves identify this variation from other pothos species. These lively and energetic plants will brighten up the darkest corners of living area with their vivid chartreuse-green hue and lack of variegation.
- Jade pothos
Jade pothos has uniform dark green leaves that are devoid of variegation, which may be beneficial. This pothos subspecies thrives in low light circumstances, making it ideal for houses and flats with limited natural light.
How To Grow Pothos Plant
Pothos plant can tolerate low lighting, but strong pothos like bright, indirect light. It performs best when placed near, but not directly in front of, a bright window; too much sunlight can burn the leaves. Keep pothos indoors, unless you live in the tropics, when it can display its tendrils from a bookshelf or hanging basket.
Keep in mind that pothos leaves are harmful to both pets and humans, so keep the vines out of reach of Fido and curious children.
Pruning
Pothos plants benefit greatly from rigorous pruning since it makes the plant fuller and promotes new growth. Pruning plant encourages the growth of lateral shoots, which gives the attractive pothos a more rich appearance. It’s also a terrific technique to instruct the young vines to grow the way you want them to.
To prune, cut the stems right above the juncture where the leaves meet the branch using a sharp knife or scissors. To reduce drought stress during the plant’s recovery, remove all trimmed debris and water the plant until the soil feels moist.
Propagation
Take 6-inch cuttings from the growing tips. Remove the leaf nearest to the cut end. Place the cutting in a glass of water. Keep the cuttings in bright, indirect sunlight for a month to monitor for root growth. As soon as roots appear, place the rooted cuttings into potting soil-filled pots and care for them as you would any other houseplant.
Another way is to soak the cuttings in rooting hormone before placing them in a wet rooting mix comprised of one part perlite and one part peat moss. Keep the rooting mix wet. Within a month, roots should form. When roots appear, plant them up in regular potting soil.
Pothos Plant care
Pothos vines do not cling to trellises and supports on their own (like ivy does), but they may be taught to look like they are twining. The Pothos specimens may grow to be 30 feet long as indoor plants, while most are managed at a much lower, neater length. If you allow pothos develop into a long vine, you may attach it on hooks and let it trail over walls and over window frames.
Vines may become highly knotted if left to grow on their own, so shake them loose every now and again to keep them from becoming a tangled mess. While pothos prefers bright, indirect light, it can also flourish in low-light or fluorescent-only environments, making it a good choice for businesses and dorm rooms.
Soil and Fertilizer
Pothos plants flourish in regular, well-draining potting soil that might be dry or rocky. Pothos grows best on soil with a pH range of 6.1 to 6.8. It can withstand a wide range of environments, from neutral to slightly acidic.
Pothos plants are not voracious eaters. However, because most potting soils lack minerals, you can feed the plant with any balanced houseplant fertilizer bi-monthly, except while dormant in the winter, to improve nutrition.
Light and Water
Pothos like sun or shade, but it should not be exposed to too much of either. Pothos loves bright yet indirect light when grown indoors. If they don’t get enough light, variegated plants might lose their leaf pattern and return to all-green leaves. Bringing into stronger light often restores variegation. Suddenly pale-looking leaves indicate that the plant is getting too much sunlight.
A pothos plant prefers to have its soil fully dry between watering. The plant’s roots will decay if kept in constantly wet soil. The presence of black stains on the leaves indicates that the soil has been maintained too moist. When the plant requires water, it will let you know.
It needs water as it begins to droop. However, if you wait until the leaves begin to shrink; the plant will lose some of its leaves. Dry, brown margins indicate that the plant was kept too dry for too long.
Temperature and Humidity
Pothos should be kept at temperatures that are continuously above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, although they prefer a room temperature that is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pothos plants also prefer high humidity. Keep the plant in a normally humid part of the house, such as the kitchen or bathroom, to boost humidity around it. Nonetheless, the plant is quite resilient and may flourish even in low humidity conditions.
Also Read: Exotic Angel Plants Care – Types And Growing Guide
Pests and Disease
Pothos is typically free of pests. Pests such as mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects may cause problems. The easiest technique to get rid of them is to apply an alcohol-soaked cotton ball directly to the afflicted area. You may also remove them using insecticidal soap.
The most prevalent disease is phytophthora root rot, which causes leaves to become black and brown; pothos stems are unaffected since it only affects roots and leaves. Because this disease thrives in damp soil, you may avoid it by not overwatering. The final resort is to prune the afflicted area of the plant.
Toxic: Pothos can induce vomiting and irritation in dogs and children, however it is seldom deadly. Pothos plants, particularly the renowned hanging vines, should be kept out of reach of youngsters by parents and pet owners.
Pothos stems and leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals, which are toxic to cats, dogs, and children. These crystals can irritate the skin, mouth, and throat by penetrating the soft tissue.
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