One of the simplest indoor plants to maintain is the Pothos. They can grow in any lighting condition and don’t require particular water or soil. However, many plant parents are astonished when Pothos die in their care. It is because the plants have a reputation as easy care plants, and owners feel they can survive in any condition.
I’ve killed a golden pothos that was already vining within one month of being transferred to my care due to improper watering. Today, my Pothos are thriving wonderfully thanks to experience. I’m putting out this article so you’d learn from my mistakes and know what I failed to do that led to the demise of my precious Pothos.
Watering Tips For Your Pothos
You should avoid overwatering your Pothos if you remember one thing from this. The main factor that causes Pothos to die is overwatering. Pothos can survive underwatering. It prefers it and can recover from a brief drought but struggles to recover from overwatering. Root rot, which can be very difficult to treat, can readily develop after just one month of overwatering. It happened to my marble queen pothos before I learned I was overwatering it.
You should check the soil moisture level of your Pothos rather than simply counting the days since the last watering. Waiting until the earth is parched before watering pothos is the golden rule. To determine if the soil is dry, stick your finger into the pot and probe up to the top two or three inches of the soil, depending on the pot’s size. You can also check the drainage holes after that. Even if the top two or three inches of soil are dry, wait a few more days before watering if you can still see any wetness or moist soil through them.
You can also check the moisture content of the terra cotta pot where you keep your Pothos. The soil still needs to be dry if the bottom half of the pot has a darker shade of terra cotta or if the bottom portion of the terracotta still feels cooler to the touch and moister than the top portion. If the soil is in a plastic container, the edge soil will separate from the container, indicating that the soil is entirely dry. It may only sometimes occur in larger pots, but it is a reliable sign in 6-inch or smaller pots.
How Often Am I To Water My Pothos?
Give your Pothos some water every one to two weeks, allowing the soil to dry. In brighter light, water more frequently, and in less-bright light, less often. Yellowing leaves and black stems are some indicators of overwatering, while under-watered plants may wilt, and their potting soil will dry out.
How Much To Water Pothos
When watering Pothos, you must consider how frequently and much water you give the plant. Do not overwater plants in self-watering planters. Instead, believe they can provide the plants with enough water. Since there is no drainage in these self-watering pots, overwatering will result from using too much water. For instance, I have a Pothos in a planter. I fill it to the line on the back panel where I am supposed to put water. Once the Pothos has absorbed the water, I do not add more water.
With bottom watering, most Pothos are liable to receive only the necessary water. It takes a while to bottom water, but it also minimizes water waste and enables Pothos to absorb just the proper amount. Bottom watering requires placing your Pothos in a container that is larger than its pot. Then, fill it with water to a height of about an inch or so, depending on the tray’s width and the pot’s size, and wait until the topsoil of your Pothos is damp to see if it has absorbed all the water it needs.
How Much Sunlight Does My Pothos Need?
Although pothos plants like bright, indirect light, they may survive medium to low levels, as in residences that face north or in the cooler months when the days are shorter. The leaves of this plant will scorch and turn brown under solid and direct sunlight. Place your Pothos close to or under a lamp or other source of light for eight to twelve hours each day if the room doesn’t have windows, and it will survive and thrive.
While growing under a grow lamp is ideal, it is not strictly necessary because Pothos can flourish under fluorescent lighting and develop into robust, attractive plants. Ensure light reaches the top of the plant and not just the trails if you have it hanging from your wall or setting it on top of a shelf. Your Pothos will become “bald” on the top with insufficient light. Lack of light will also cause Pothos to retain water longer because they dislike overwatering.
Soil Tips For Your Pothos
The soil that Pothos often come in when you buy them is usually okay for them. It is because they are typically not particular about their soil. They don’t require rapid re-potting as long as they are not excessively root-bound and do not exhibit any signs of insect pressure or root rot.
They can remain in the soil you planted them in as long as they keep growing and don’t exhibit any symptoms of ill health. However, if you ever need to re-pot your Pothos, you’ll want to use soil that drains well to ensure that the roots have access to the free oxygen they need to metabolize the nutrients and minerals they need to grow and thrive.
Any indoor potting mix that says “suitable for indoor potting” can be used as well-draining soil for Pothos. You don’t need to worry much about the brand of soil or whether it’s organic. Perlite will improve the soil’s aeration and drainage if you water your indoor plants frequently.
To re-pot your Pothos in a container with drainage holes would be helpful. Any container with drainage is suitable, but it’s preferable to use terra cotta pots, especially for Pothos. They must be in a container at least eight inches in diameter to prevent trapping any additional moisture that can encourage bacterial development or oxygen deprivation, the two leading causes of root rot.
Does My Pothos Need Humidity?
Pothos can survive in normal or dry air, but if you want them to feel genuinely at home, try increasing the humidity. Aim for the 50–70% they would experience in the Tropics, where they are native.
Follow these simple instructions for providing water, light, and soil to your pothos plant, and stay away from poor habits in pothos plant care. Your Pothos can be quite understanding of mistakes made by new plant parents and will recover quickly. The essential lessons are:
- Let the soil entirely dry before watering.
- Provide your Pothos with access to a reasonable quantity of light.
- You should only re-pot your Pothos as a last resort and when required.
- It would help if you first gave your pothos plant a strong and healthy foundation. It starts with taking good care of its roots by not overwatering and providing access to free oxygen with well-draining soil.