How to Grow Pothos as a Hanging Plant? A Detailed Guide to Growing Methods and Precautions
Pothos is a plant with high ornamental value, and people most often grow it as a hanging plant for display. If pothos grown as a hanging plant thrives, its vines can trail downward, looking very beautiful. However, when growing pothos as a hanging plant, there are also many techniques to master; if the method is not right, it may cause the plant to wither or die.
How to Grow Pothos as a Hanging Plant
1. Temperature. Pothos grown as a hanging plant prefers a hot and humid environment. Pothos can safely overwinter above 10°C, and generally grows normally above 20°C. Therefore, when growing pothos as a hanging plant in winter, pay attention to keeping it warm, minimize opening windows, and avoid frost damage to the leaves. In addition, avoid large temperature differences, and do not place the pothos near a heat source.
2. Light. Pothos grown as a hanging plant prefers shade and cannot be exposed to prolonged direct sunlight, otherwise the leaf edges will be scorched. However, note that you should not place the pothos in a completely shaded environment; provide the pothos with enough light for photosynthesis.
3. Soil selection for potted pothos: For potted pothos, choose fertile, loose, well-draining, slightly acidic leaf mold soil.
Growing Methods and Precautions for Pothos as a Hanging Plant
I. Growing methods:
1. Fertilizer. When fertilizing the leaves of pothos, since ordinary inorganic fertilizers are difficult to absorb, a specialized fertilizer should be used. In the autumn and winter in the north, plants mostly grow slowly or even stop growing, so fertilization should be reduced. Before winter begins, mainly apply liquid inorganic fertilizer by watering or spraying, about once every 15 days. After winter begins, fertilization should mainly be foliar spraying, applied through the stomata on the leaf surface, so that the fertilizer is absorbed through the stomata on the leaf surface, and the fertilizer effect can act directly on the leaf surface. Foliar fertilizer should be a specialized fertilizer; ordinary inorganic fertilizers are not easily absorbed by the leaf surface.
2. Water. Watering the hanging plant should keep it moist; never let the potting soil dry out, otherwise it will easily cause yellowing of pothos leaves and a poor plant shape. However, watering should be moderate; overwatering will cause waterlogging in the potting soil, leading to root rot, withered leaves, and similar problems. In winter, when temperatures are low, watering can be controlled; during the growing season, water appropriately more. Also pay attention to spraying water on the leaf surface to wash away dust, which helps keep the leaves bright and green.
II. Precautions:
Pothos has strong shade tolerance, and when grown at home it can be kept indoors year-round. If grown outdoors, pay attention to shading, especially in summer, and especially prevent direct strong light, otherwise new leaves will become smaller, the leaf color will become dull, and the leaf edges will easily be scorched.
What to Do If Pothos Gets Frostbitten
1. First, we should move the pothos to a warm indoor location. If conditions permit, we should best keep the indoor temperature between 20 and 30 degrees.
2. Next, we can choose to move the pothos to a nearly sealed balcony at noon when there is sun to receive sunlight. Remember never to place the pothos outdoors in the bitterly cold winter; if you do, the pothos will certainly freeze to death.
3. Then, if we have a humidifier, it will provide an environment suitable for pothos growth. If we do not have a humidifier, we can choose to frequently spray water on the leaf surface of the pothos.
4. Next, we should best cut off the parts of the leaves that have changed color. Note one thing: when cutting, be very careful not to damage the pothos's aerial roots.
5. Then, we must remember not to pour cold water directly on the roots of the pothos; instead, pour clear water at about room temperature into the saucer under the pothos pot, so that the pothos can choose for itself how much water to take up.
How to Prune Pothos When the Plant Shape Is Not Attractive
When the plant shape of pothos grows unattractively, you can also prune it to keep it looking good. You can cut off excess branches so that it sprouts new branches again, and in this way the plant shape will become fuller and fuller.
1. A pot of pothos growing very vigorously, but the plant shape is no longer attractive.
2. Cut off all the branches and leaves of the pothos that trail to the ground; this can make its shape beautiful, allow the leaves to breathe, and prevent the appearance of yellow leaves.
When growing pothos as a hanging plant, be sure to pay attention to temperature control, and also let it receive some light at the right times. When growing pothos as a hanging plant, you also need to pay attention to controlling fertilizer and water, and prune it at the right times; only in this way can the pothos you grow thrive.