How to grow Pothos
Pothos is a trailing vine prized for its heart-shaped leaves and remarkable ability to thrive in low light and neglect. People love growing it because it's nearly impossible to kill, purifies the air, and looks stunning in hanging baskets or climbing up supports.
At a glance
🌱 Grow your Pothos with GardenDex
- Reminders to water it, timed to your weather and whether it's in a pot
- Frost and disease alerts for your garden, the night before
- Follow it from seed to harvest, and see what your garden grew in $
- Point your camera at any plant or bug to identify it
🗓️ When to plant
Start pothos indoors any time of year; propagate from cuttings in mid-spring through early autumn for best rooting.
🌰 How to plant
- Fill a pot with well-draining potting mix, leaving 2–3 cm (1 in) at the top.
- Place the pothos plant or rooted cutting in the centre and gently firm soil around it.
- Water thoroughly until water drains from the bottom, then allow soil to dry slightly between waterings.
- Place in bright, indirect light and wait 2–4 weeks for new growth to establish.
💧 Care
- Pinch back growing tips regularly to encourage bushier, fuller growth rather than leggy vines.
- Wipe leaves with a soft, damp cloth every few weeks to remove dust and keep them glossy.
- Provide a moss pole, trellis, or hanging basket to support trailing growth; pothos naturally climbs in the wild.
- Fertilize monthly during the growing season (spring through early autumn) with a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer.
- Rotate the pot every 2–3 weeks to ensure even light exposure and prevent one-sided growth.
🧺 Harvest
Pothos is not harvested for food or flowers; simply enjoy its cascading or climbing foliage year-round. Prune trailing vines anytime to shape the plant and encourage new growth.
🐛 Common problems
Mealybugs and spider mites: Spray affected leaves with insecticidal soap or neem oil every 7–10 days until pests disappear.
Root rot: Reduce watering frequency, ensure soil drains well, and repot into fresh potting mix if roots are mushy.
Yellowing leaves: Cut back on watering; yellowing usually signals overwatering or poor drainage.
🤝 Companion plants
💚 Good neighbours: Other low-light houseplants like Philode, Syngonium (Arrowhead plant), Peperomia
⚠️ Keep apart from: Plants requiring constant high humidity
More indoor & other guides
General guidance; local conditions vary. All care guides · Privacy