How do you grow potted pothos and spider plant so they thrive?

Pothos and spider plant are among the finest indoor decorative plants, also known as devil's ivy, stone citrus, and so on. They are large evergreen climbing vines of the genus Epipremnum in the Araceae family, native to the Solomon Islands in Oceania, and are cultivated in Guangdong, Fujian, and Shanghai in China. Widely used for indoor potted ornamentation, they carry the meaning of “watching over happiness.” Now let us take a look at how to grow potted pothos and spider plant!

Growth habits of pothos and spider plant

Pothos and spider plant are shade plants that like warm, humid environments and require loose, fertile, well-drained soil. They enjoy hot and humid conditions, and the overwintering temperature should not fall below 15°C. The potting soil should be kept moist, and water should be sprayed on the leaves frequently to raise air humidity and encourage the growth of aerial roots. For potting, leaf mold soil should be chosen, preferably slightly acidic. When grown indoors, they can be placed beside a window, but direct sunlight must be avoided. Too much sun will scorch the leaves of pothos and spider plant, while too much shade will cause the beautiful patterns on the leaves to disappear. Generally, receiving four hours of diffused light gives the best growth and development for pothos and spider plant.

Propagation methods for pothos and spider plant

1. Cuttings: Propagation of pothos and spider plant by cuttings is generally carried out in late spring and early summer. Cut 15-30 cm stems from healthy plants, pot them directly in loam soil, water thoroughly, and take care to shade them and keep them moist; they can take root and sprout in about 30 days.

2. Layering: Propagation of pothos and spider plant by layering involves weighing down the stems with a heavy object. Once the aerial roots enter the soil they can take root, and once new leaves grow they can be separated from the mother plant.

How do you grow potted pothos and spider plant?

1. Soil: When potting pothos and spider plant, choose fertile, loose, well-drained leaf mold soil. This plant is shade-tolerant and can be placed year-round in a bright indoor spot. In dimmer indoor areas, it should be moved every half month to a brighter environment for a period of recovery, otherwise the internodes tend to elongate and the leaves become smaller.

2. Temperature: Pothos and spider plant like hot and humid environments. Pothos and spider plant can overwinter safely above 10°C, and generally grow normally above 20°C. Therefore, when growing pothos and spider plant in winter, keep them warm, minimize opening windows, and avoid frost damage to the leaves. In addition, avoid excessive temperature differences and do not place pothos and spider plant near a heat source.

3. Light: Pothos and spider plant like shade and cannot be exposed to prolonged sunlight, otherwise the leaf edges will be scorched. However, note that pothos and spider plant should not be placed in a completely shaded environment; they should be given enough light for photosynthesis.

4. Water: Water pothos and spider plant so the soil stays moist, and never let the potting soil dry out, otherwise yellowing leaves and a poor plant shape can easily result. But watering should be moderate; too much water will waterlog the potting soil and cause root rot, withered leaves, and similar problems. In winter at low temperatures, watering can be controlled, while during the growing season water appropriately more. Also be sure to spray water on the leaves to wash away dust, which helps keep the leaves glossy and emerald green.

5. Fertilizer: Before winter begins, pothos and spider plant are mainly given liquid inorganic fertilizer by watering or spraying, about once every 15 days. After winter begins, fertilizing is mainly done by foliar spraying, absorbed mainly through the stomata on the leaves, so the fertilizer effect can act directly on the leaves. Special fertilizer should be used for foliar feeding; ordinary inorganic fertilizer is not easily absorbed by the leaves. Beida Flower Guardian series and Japan-made Hana Ichiban can both be used as foliar fertilizer.

6. Pruning: Pruning of pothos and spider plant is done in spring. When the stems have covered the moss pole and the tips extend about 20 cm beyond the pole, cut 40 cm off the stem tips of 2-3 of the plants. After new buds and leaves sprout following the cutback, cut the stem tips of the remaining plants. For potted plants whose whole plant or lower half has lost leaves due to winter cold or other reasons, half of the stems can be cut back by 1/2 and the other half by 2/3 or 3/4, so that the cut heights are staggered; the new leaves that grow below the cuts can then quickly cover the moss pole.

Precautions for pothos and spider plant

1. Pothos and spider plant like moisture. During the growing season, watering should keep the potting soil consistently moist; in summer, while watering thoroughly, also pay attention to frequently spraying water on the leaves. Whether to water every day is affected by many conditions, such as how much potting soil there is, the size of the plant, the material of the pot, the care environment, and so on. Water consumption varies greatly, so follow the above principles and judge specifically.

2. Pothos and spider plant must not be watered with rice water. Although rice water contains nutrients that can be used, it must be composted, fermented, and fully rotted before use; otherwise it not only easily breeds insects, but in serious cases can also cause root rot.

3. Pothos and spider plant have fairly strong shade tolerance and can be kept indoors year-round in home cultivation. If placed outdoors, pay attention to shading, especially in summer, and be even more careful to prevent direct strong light, otherwise new leaves will become smaller and the leaf color dull, and the leaf edges are easily scorched.