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Epipremnum aureum

Pothos

Pothos plants are arguably one of the easiest houseplants to care for with their trailing vines with heart-shaped leaves. Not to be confused with the philodendron, this evergreen plant adds a pop of color to anywhere in the house.

Published on 14 October, 2023 by Oliver Rouane-Williams
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  • Neon Pothos plant

Other names for this plant...

Golden pothos Money plant Devil’s ivy Devil’s vine

About Pothos

Pothos plants are known for being low-maintenance indoor plants and are commonly grown as hanging plants. These fast-growing plants can add between 12 and 18 inches per year and are easily propagated, which adds to their appeal.

Typically, they have thick, heart-shaped green leaves with splashes of yellow and sometimes white. These beautiful plants bring brightness to any room and are excellent air purifiers.

Botanical Name

The botanical name for the pothos plant is Epipremnum aureum. It is part of the arum family (Araceae).

Plant Type

Pothos plants are tracheophytes or vascular plants. This means that they have vascular tissues that help conduct food and water throughout the plant. Tracheophytes may grow larger than other non-vascular plants.

Origin

The pothos plant originates from southeast Asia, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands.

Appearance

This tropical vine plant boasts heart-shaped, waxy green leaves. The leaves are sometimes variegated with white, yellow, or light green striations.

There are also less common varieties with silver and white variegations, like the silver Ann and satin Pothos.

The stems grow long and hang down, making this a great hanging plant for your home or office.

Neon Pothos plant
Photo: IndoorPlants.comBright, glossy, heart-shaped leaves and trailing stems are distinct features of Pothos. (Pictured: Neon Pothos / Epipremnum aureum 'Neon')

Types Of Pothos Plants

Besides the golden pothos, there are several different pothos varieties, including:

  • Marble queen pothos

  • Neon pothos

  • Jessenia pothos

  • Manjula pothos

  • Pearls and jade pothos

  • Jade pothos

  • Pothos n’joy

  • Cebu blue pothos (actually an Epipremnum pinnatum rather than aureum)

  • Snow queen pothos

  • Satin pothos

Pothos Styling 

Because pothos is a vine, the best way to style your plant is in a hanging basket. Consider hanging your pot with macrame or repotting your pothos into a decorative hanging basket.

You can also put your pothos on a shelf and allow the vines to trail down. Placed on the top of a bookshelf, the contrast of colors is beautiful as the long stems fill up spaces.

Another way to style your pothos is by placing some stem cuttings in a hanging water vase (or propagation station). This is a fun way to add some color to a plain wall.

Pair Pothos with other tropical plants.

Light

Pothos make excellent houseplants for an office or bathroom because they can handle low-light conditions. However, these plants prefer to be in bright indirect light. They will do alright in shady spots, but you want to ensure they get enough light to grow.

Sometimes, if a variegated plant does not get enough light, it will lose its leaf patterns, though moving the plant to another position in the house that receives indirect light will usually restore the patterns.

You also want to avoid too much direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves, turning them pale and yellowish in color.

Water

Your pothos plant likes its soil to dry out completely in between waterings. You will want to avoid over-watering because this can cause root rot and kill your plant. If you see or feel that your plant’s soil is damp, it is not time to water it.

Typically you should water your pothos every 1-2 weeks and ensure your pot has adequate drainage holes. Your pothos will tell you when it needs to be watered as the leaves will start to wilt some, but it is best not to wait until that point because you may lose some leaves.

Though they don’t like their soil to be too wet, pothos can grow in water. If you place stem cuttings in a glass or jug of water, they will eventually begin to grow roots. Though they can stay in water for long periods, you will want to repot them eventually in potting mix or soil.

Temperature

Pothos prefers a room temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The lowest temperature they can survive in is 50 degrees. Anything below that will stunt their growth.

Humidity

Though the plant is tolerant and can handle low humidity, it prefers areas with high humidity. This is why they do well in kitchen or bathroom areas.

Soil

You want to ensure that your pothos is planted in well-draining potting soil. You can buy a potting mix or mix your own soil with shredded bark, perlite, sand, and peat moss.

Pruning

Pruning is only necessary if you feel like the vine is getting too long. In this case, cut the length to your preference. If you want to encourage bushier growth, prune just below a node, and the plant will send out multiple new leaves.

Feed

Feeding your pothos is unnecessary, but for optimal growth, you can feed it twice a month with any houseplant fertilizer.

Height & Growth

This fast-growing plant can grow to a staggering 60 feet tall when climbing trees in the wild. However, the typical size for an indoor pothos plant is 6-10 feet.

Toxicity

The pothos plant is toxic to animals and people. It may cause oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, lips, and tongue, and even excessive vomiting if consumed.

Pet

Pothos is not pet-friendly.

Common Problems 

  • Outgrowing the pot: In ideal conditions, pothos grow to be rather large plants, and eventually, their roots may outgrow the pot they are in, causing the roots to come out of the drainage hole and the leaves to wilt.

  • Over-watering: You want to avoid watering your pothos too often or too much, as it will cause yellowing leaves and root rot, which can kill the plant.

  • Over- or under-fertilization: Both problems can cause the leaves to begin to yellow.

  • Too much direct sunlight: When exposed to direct light, the leaves may burn, turning brown.

  • Lack of humidity or underwatering: Though they are resilient plants, low humidity levels or insufficient water may turn the tips of the leaves brown.

  • Pests: The pothos plant is susceptible to pests such as spider mites and mealybugs. These usually cause small spots on the leaves or leaf deformation.

Pothos is easily propagated through stem cuttings.

How To Propagate Pothos

Propagation using stem cuttings is very simple. Cut a healthy stem (that has at least 3 leaves on it) about half an inch below its lowest leaf. Make sure to use a sharp, sterile cutting instrument and cut at an angle.

Then, you will want to remove only the lowest leaf from the stem and place the stem in water. Ensure the remaining leaves are not touching the water.

After some time, you will notice new growth of roots. You can then plant it in a pot with potting soil and place it in an area with bright indirect light.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is pothos called devil’s ivy? 

This common name was given to the pothos plant because it is nearly impossible to kill, even when kept in low-light areas of the house.

What should you do if your pothos begins to droop? 

This is typically a sign that your plant needs water. A few hours after watering it, you should see it perk up again. However, if wilting leaves are accompanied by damp soil that doesn’t dry out, your problem is probably over-watering.

Are pothos plants good for the environment? 

Pothos plants can purify the air of formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide, as well as help to eliminate odors in the house.

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