What to Do When Pothos Leaves Turn Yellow, How to Grow It More Vigorously, and Can It Remove Formaldehyde
Pothos is a plant of the genus Epipremnum. It survives as soon as it meets water, and because of its tenacious vitality it is called the “flower of life”; it can be grown in pots, or a few stems can be broken off for hydroponic growing; it has an extremely strong air-purifying function, hence its fine reputation as a “green purifier,” and it is often used to decorate rooms. So, what should you do when pothos leaves turn yellow? How can you grow it so it thrives more vigorously? Can it remove formaldehyde?
1. What should you do when pothos leaves turn yellow?
Pothos is a shade-loving plant that prefers a hot, humid environment, dislikes direct sunlight, likes diffused light, likes shade, and likes soil rich in humus that is loose, fertile and slightly acidic. Pothos is very easy to keep alive; as long as the temperature is not too low and water is guaranteed, it will not die. But note that if it is not cared for properly, pothos leaves will turn yellow. So do you know exactly what causes pothos leaves to turn yellow, and how to solve it?
Cause 1, overwatering: overwatering pothos causes young leaves to turn dull yellow, the leaves as a whole to become lackluster, and the stems to become thin and yellow-green.
Solution: stop watering, loosen the soil a little, and place the pothos somewhere with plenty of diffused light or good ventilation so the moisture evaporates as quickly as possible; or take it out of the pot, repot the pothos, and then care for it according to pothos's habits.
Cause 2, too little watering: watering pothos too little causes leaf tips and leaf edges to dry out, while newly grown young leaves remain normal and old leaves turn yellow and drop off.
Solution: water the pothos immediately, giving it a thorough soaking in one go.
Cause 3, too much light: pothos is a shade-loving plant, and too much light causes the leaves as a whole to turn yellowish; in severe cases, yellow patches appear on the side of the leaves facing the sun, which are the marks of leaves scorched by strong light.
Solution: place the pothos in a cool spot, water it lightly, and remove the yellowed leaves.
Cause 4, too little light: pothos is a plant that likes diffused light, and a cold, closed-off environment makes the green leaves lack chlorophyll, causing them to turn yellow.
Solution: place the pothos somewhere with plenty of diffused light.
Cause 5, temperature too low: pothos prefers a hot environment, and if the temperature is too low the pothos enters a dormant period, causing the leaves to turn yellow.
Solution: if it is winter, you can place the pothos somewhere a bit warmer; if all the leaves turn yellow and drop off, new leaves will still grow in spring. If it is not due to the effects of winter, then pay attention to keeping it in a warm environment, and the yellowing of the leaves will improve.
Cause 6, too much fertilizer: too much fertilizer on pothos causes excess nutrients, the roots get burned by the fertilizer, and brown tips appear on new leaves.
Solution: stop fertilizing, flush the soil with clean water so some of the fertilizer is washed away; or water more to dilute the excess fertilizer; or simply replace the growing medium.
Cause 7, too little fertilizer: too little fertilizer on pothos causes nutrient deficiency, the young leaves become paler in color, turning yellow or pale green, and the old leaves gradually turn yellow.
Solution: apply more fertilizer, but be careful not to overdo it.
Cause 8: water quality deteriorating. When the water quality for pothos deteriorates, it affects the plant's health and causes its leaves to turn yellow.
Solution: change the water, and check whether the roots have gone bad; if so, cut off the bad roots, then add a little nutrient solution to the water.
2. How can you grow pothos so it thrives more vigorously?
1. Choose soil growing: compared with water growing, soil-grown pothos is more robust, the vines it grows are brighter in color, and its climbing ability is stronger.
2. Prepare a soft, breathable soil mix: pothos likes soil rich in humus that is loose, fertile and slightly acidic; nutrient soil or peat soil will both do, as they are fairly rich in nutrients.
3. Summer care: summer is when pothos grows fastest, so it should receive 3-4 hours of diffused light every day, avoiding direct sunlight; pay attention to watering and keep the soil moist; fertilize sensibly to keep nutrients sufficient; and wipe the leaf surfaces often so dust does not settle on them.
4. Winter care: in winter pothos is in its rest period, so there is no such thing as vigorous growth; simply getting it safely through the winter is enough.
3. Can pothos remove formaldehyde?
Pothos can remove formaldehyde. Pothos is an excellent foliage plant that can be placed in studies, on windowsills, on walls, on wall tops, in entrance halls, in hotels, under tree shade, and so on; it is a plant fairly suitable for indoor placement, and it can absorb harmful gases in the air such as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene, playing a role in air purification. However, pothos's effect in removing formaldehyde is very weak, so it cannot be used as the main method of formaldehyde removal; usually it is still better to open the windows and ventilate more.
4. Is it better to grow pothos in water or in soil?
Pothos is a plant that can be grown both in water and in soil, and each has its pros and cons. The advantage of water growing is that pothos grows faster and it is more hygienic, with no need to water, only occasionally changing the water; the disadvantage is that, due to a lack of nutrients, pothos grows slowly at first, and the plant you end up with is more delicate and softer, with paler color. The advantage of soil growing is that, because it can absorb the fertility the soil itself carries, pothos grows more robustly, with thicker leaves and a more emerald-green color; the disadvantage is that it needs frequent watering, soil turning, fertilizing and so on, requiring a relatively large investment of time and energy.