How do you grow pothos so it grows fast? Master these care methods
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a plant quite suitable for indoor placement, also known as devil's ivy, golden pothos, golden vine, etc. It is a large evergreen climbing vine of the genus Epipremnum. It can be allowed to climb on a cylinder made of palm fiber, on tree trunks for greening, or placed in an entrance hall or hotel, and can also be trained into a trailing form and placed in a study, on a windowsill, on a wall, or on a wall footing. Let's take a look below at how to grow pothos so it grows fast!
How is pothos best propagated?
1. Cuttings: In spring and autumn, cut off stems about 15 cm long as cuttings, remove the leaves from the basal 1 to 2 nodes, and insert them into a pot filled with potting soil. After insertion, keep the potting soil and the air moist at all times. At a temperature of 25°C, roots will form and sprouts will grow into new plants in about 3 weeks.
2. Leaf cuttings: When the temperature stays above 20°C, choose robust leaves from the upper part of a pothos stem, cut them off from the base of the petiole with a sharp, clean thin blade, and after the cut surface dries slightly, insert the base of the petiole into clean water. Change the water once every 3 to 5 days, and roots will form in about 1 month.
3. Water cuttings: Cut robust stem vines with at least 3 nodes per section, remove the lower leaves, and insert the base into clean water. Change the water 1 to 2 times a week, and new roots will sprout in about 2 weeks; after another 1 to 2 weeks, they can be transplanted into pots. This method is simple and suitable for small-scale home propagation.
How do you grow pothos so it grows fast?
1. Light: Pothos does not have a strong tendency to grow toward the sun, but in the north during autumn and winter, in order to make up for the lack of temperature and photosynthesis, the light intensity should be increased. At the same time, when the temperature is low, open the windows as little as possible, because the leaves may be frostbitten in a very short time.
2. Humidity: Pothos grows faster in an environment with higher air humidity. It is recommended to maintain indoor humidity, and a humidifier can be used to increase air humidity. A transparent plastic bag can be placed over the plant to create a mini greenhouse effect, but it should not exceed two hours.
3. Temperature: Pothos is very sensitive to temperature, and it is easily frostbitten when the temperature is too low. A room temperature of about 20 degrees is sufficient. If heating equipment is in use, the leaves of the pothos should not be too close to it. If the indoor temperature is kept above 10 degrees, pothos can safely get through the winter.
4. Watering: In autumn and winter, the amount of watering for pothos should be strictly controlled according to room temperature. In addition, water should also be sprayed at the places where aerial roots grow on the palm pole, to reduce insufficient water uptake by the roots caused by excessively fast evaporation. Water that has been left to stand for a day is better, as water that is too cold easily damages the roots.
5. Fertilizing: Because pothos grown indoors absorbs nutrients less abundantly than it does outdoors, it is recommended to apply fertilizer once every half month. You can buy fertilizer specially made for pothos on the market. Or ask the owner of a flower shop to help choose fertilizer.
6. Pests and diseases: Pothos plants are very prone to problems with pests and pathogens. Typical pests affecting pothos include mealybugs, red spider mites, scale insects, etc. Mealybugs are usually the most common; alcohol can be used to kill them, remove them with a cotton swab, or take them out by hand.
7. Shaping: Shaping and pruning of pothos is carried out in spring. When the stem vines have climbed all over the palm pole and the tips extend about 20 cm beyond the palm pole, cut off 40 cm of the stem tips of 2 to 3 of the plants. After new buds and new leaves sprout following the shortening, cut off the stem tips of the remaining plants.
What should you do if pothos leaves turn yellow?
1. Insufficient water: If there is not enough water in the soil, the leaf edges of pothos will become dry and yellow, and the leaves may also drop. At this time, pothos needs to be watered with enough water in a timely manner.
2. Too much water: If there is too much water in the soil or in the container, it will also cause yellow leaves. The leaf surface will appear dull yellow and lusterless, and the roots may even rot. Watering should be stopped, and the soil should be loosened appropriately.
3. Direct sunlight: If pothos is placed under strong light for a long time, the leaves easily become wilted and scorched, and then turn yellow and drop. Pothos needs to be placed in a cool place with light, and watered appropriately.
4. Dim light: If pothos is placed for a long time in a place with dim light and no ventilation, the leaves will turn yellowish due to the lack of chlorophyll, and especially the newly grown leaves will also be yellowish. Pothos needs to be placed in a cool place with sufficient light.
5. Too much fertilizer: If pothos is fertilized too much, the old leaves will accumulate excess nutrients, then also turn yellow, and eventually drop. The frequency of fertilizing should be reduced, and clean water should be poured to dilute the fertilizer in the soil.
6. Insufficient fertilizer: If pothos lacks nutrients and is underfertilized, the color of the leaf surface will gradually become lighter and yellow, and especially the leaves near the roots will turn yellow first and drop. More fertilizing is needed.
7. Poor ventilation: The growing environment of pothos requires ventilation and coolness. In winter, the indoor temperature should not be too hot, and attention should also be paid to ventilation; otherwise, dry heat will also cause green leaves to turn yellow. Windows should be opened for ventilation and the plant should be watered more to ensure nutrition.
8. Old leaves turning yellow: It generally takes about 30 days for pothos to adapt to a new environment. During this period, it is normal for individual old leaves to show signs of yellowing. Do not be too anxious to take measures; once it returns to normal, the pothos will grow vigorously.