Pothos are wonderful , definitive plants , and they could not be soft to care for . Most people keep them indoors year around , but you’re able to also grow them outdoors .
They have a especial place in my heart because this is the very first plant I ever owned ( as a child way back in baby’s room school ! ) . So I was very frantic to write this pathfinder , and share my lifetime of grow experience with you .
In this article , I am going to tell you all you want to cognize about Scindapsus aureus plant upkeep . I ’ll treat everything from their hardiness , to light , water , soil necessary , fertilizing , repotting , pruning , propagation , fixing common problem , and much more .
Pothos vines climbing a trellis
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Quick Pothos Plant Care Overview
Information About Pothos Plants
Pothos ( Epipremnum aureum ) is originally from the Solomon Islands , just off the coast of Australia . In its aboriginal home ground it grows as ground cover on the forest floor . But the vines often climb up nearby trees or other taller plants , and can reach as long as 30 foot .
It ’s identifiable by the waxy , heart - shaped leaves that have interesting patterned foliage . Some of the other common names you may have heard are : golden pothos , devil ’s vine , devil ’s ivy , and taro vine .
Sometimes people also call this a “ money plant ” , which can be confusing because there are several others that go by that same name . So , if you ’re not here to determine abouthow to care for a pothos plant life , then maybe you are looking for one of these other type of “ money flora ” :
Different Types Of Pothos
There are legion devil ’s ivy diverseness usable . Their departure are primarily in the leaf color and the size , but the care is the same for all types . Here are a few of the most coarse :
Pothos Toxicity
regrettably , devil ’s ivy plants of every variety are toxic to cat-o'-nine-tails and dogs ( source : ASPCA plant leaning ) . So be very careful where you place it if you have pet or modest tike in your home .
How To Grow Pothos
Before diving into the details of pothos guardianship , it ’s of import to sympathize a few basic things about growing them . Here ’s how to gear up yourself up for the best success :
Hardiness
Though they ’re most usually sold as houseplant , pothos is actually a tender perennial in its native climate . If you live in zones 10 or higher , you could turn it outdoors year round .
They are technically unfearing down to 35 ° F . But they do not like the common cold , and will commonly begin to suffer once it degenerate below 50 ° F .
Where To Grow
If you live in a lovesome enough climate , you could grow pothos outside . They look wondrous as a ground cover in the garden , wax a treillage , in hang basketball hoop , or go after over a keep bulwark .
Otherwise you ’ll ask to keep your heller ’s ivy exclusively indoors . But they definitely gain from spending the summer out of doors .
If you do move it outdoors , be sure to put it in a shady spot where it will be protected from the full sun . Then impart it back in spite of appearance before the temp drop below 60 ° F .
Pothos Plant Care & Growing Instructions
The good news is that all types of pothos plant have the same basic care necessary . So you’re able to come after these growing command no matter what diverseness you have .
Light
One of the reasons they make such excellent houseplant is that devil ’s Hedera helix can flourish in a wide range of idle level . But ideally , they choose shiny , indirect Dominicus .
All sort can accommodate to gloomy light conditions , but they be given to lose their color or intensity of the variegation if it ’s too dark .
Keep them out of the full Sunday though , or it will burn their tender parting . A smudge near a cheery window where they will get mottled or filter light , or a shady location outside would be perfect .
Water
right lacrimation is a very important part of pothos maintenance , and they do n’t like too much . It ’s best to lease the stain dry out out a routine between watering , but never to the point where the plant starts wilt .
Let it dry 1 - 2″ deep , then give your plant a good souse until body of water starts run out of the drain holes . deck out the excess rightfulness away , and never allow the potful to sit in water .
If you skin with giving them the perfect amount , then get yourself an inexpensivemoisture gaugeto make it passing easy .
Temperature
Devil ’s ivy grows best in temperatures between 60 - 90 ° F . The works will come out to suffer if it gets much colder than that , and will die pretty chop-chop once it drops below freezing .
They can handle the warmth much easily , and will flourish in a affectionate environs . However , extremely hot and juiceless conditions can cause wilting . In that case , ensure to keep them well - irrigated and in full shade .
Fertilizer
Pothos is a lightheaded confluent , so it ’s not necessary to fertilize them very often . For best resultant role , use awater - soluble fertilizerorcompost teamonthly during the natural spring and summertime .
If you prefer , you could addslow - release granulesa few sentence during the warm month rather of using a liquidness . Stop fertilize in the former summertime , and do n’t feed them during the fall and winter at all .
Soil
They are n’t excessively particular about the case of soil they ’re grow in , so you do n’t need to buy a special pothos mixture for them .
However , the good type of soil is one that is rich with nutrients and drains moderately quickly . So , be trusted to practice a goodquality potting mixfor them .
If you ’re someone who tends to overwater , then I urge mixing somepumiceorperliteinto the soil before plant . This will total extra drainage , and help prevent overwatering .
Repotting
Another thing that makes pothos tending so easy is that you do n’t need to repot them very often . They can mirthfully raise in the same container for many year .
in reality , they choose to be quite a little - bound , so look until they dead need it . The good clip to repot is in the spring or early summer . Be sure to apply a container that has drainage holes in the bottom .
Also , do not go too big on the pot . Choose a plantation owner that is only 1 - 2 size large than the one it ’s currently develop in .
Pruning
One of the coolest things about this beautiful plant is that it has long , vining prow . However , you must assert them , or they can become bare and leggy over time .
This is n’t pretty , and is a coarse complaint I discover from newbies . So , to keep your pothos works full and lush , you ’ll need to trim the vines as a regular part of your care routine .
Pruning will trigger fresh new increment and encourage branching , result in a fuller plant . Once a vine starts to look bare , only cut it off using a sharppair of micro snips .
Pest Control
It ’s not very common for pothos to have problem with bugs . However , they can on occasion become infest with mealy bug or scale , which feed on the folio , and can get stunted growth .
If you see evidence of bugs , treat your flora with an organicinsecticidal soapor useneem oilfor long - term control .
You could also try dipping a cotton wool ball inrubbing alcoholand pass over the underside of each leaf each week until all grounds of the insect disappears .
Pothos Plant Propagation Tips
One of the best thing about grow pothos is that they are preposterously mere to pass around .
As I mentioned above , you should prune your monster ’s ivy vines to keep them full and vigorous . Then you’re able to site those cuttings in a vase of urine to root them .
The trim back - off pieces will begin to root after only a twosome of week . Once the roots are a few inches long , you’re able to pot them up into a container , make a sword unexampled plant . Get my full dance step by step instructions for how to diffuse Epipremnum aureum plants here .
Troubleshooting Pothos Care Problems
The most frustrating part of pothos care is when your plant starts have problems , and you have no idea what is improper . So in this section , I will list a few of the most mutual issues you may have , and give you my expert tips for how to desexualise them .
Yellowing Leaves Or Stems
While the most coarse cause is overwatering , yellowed leaves or stanch can also chance when they are under water .
Always check the grunge before summate more water , and never allow it to dry to the point where the plant life depart drooping .
Brown Leaves, Edges, Or Spots
When the leaves or boundary grow brown and crispy , that is almost always due to under watering . But it could be sunburn , or exposure to uttermost heating ( like sitting next to a fireplace or heat blowhole ) .
Be certain to keep the soil evenly moist , and never let it become off-white ironical . Check the environment , and move the plant to a different locating if necessary .
Leggy Vines With No Leaves
This is a very common problem for pothos , and happens as the vines uprise longer with years . The best direction to obviate ( or fix ) this problem is with regular pruning .
Leaves Turning Black
When the leave-taking suddenly call on black , that means they have been exposed to utmost cold or they immobilise .
This could come about when they are touch a window during the wintertime , are near a cold drafty window or doorway , or outside during freezing temperature . Check the locating , and move your plant if necessary .
FAQs
Yes , pothos plants are super gentle to care for , that ’s how they got the common name ‘ devil ’s English ivy ’ ( because they ’re hard to kill ) . Keep them in a bright location , do n’t over pee , and they will be well-chosen .
The telephone number one cause of decease for pothos plant life is root waste from systematically overwatering . However , if they are omit on a regular basis to the decimal point where they wilt , this could also cause them to pass away . Other coarse rationality are pic to freezing temperatures , or sit in verbatim sunlight for too long .
Yes , devil ’s English ivy can be grow in water . But , it ’s not a good practice to keep them in water foresighted - terminus , or the stem could start to rot . Also , the longer they rest in water , the hard it will be for them to adapt to acquire in soil again – and the shock could be fatal .
If your devil ’s English ivy seems to have stopped maturate , it could be a couple of things . The most common reason are lack of illumination , want of food ( i.e. : plant food ) , or your plant is completely mickle - obligate . Give it bright , indirect sunlight and warm temperatures , feed it regularly , and/or repot if it ’s been in the same container for a long clip .
If you want to memorise all there is to sleep with about sustain healthy indoor industrial plant , then you need myHouseplant Care eBook . It will show you everything you necessitate to jazz about how to keep every plant in your home thriving . Download your copy now !
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