Tips for Growing Potted Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) and Propagation Methods for Hydroponic Pothos
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is an evergreen perennial herbaceous plant of the Araceae family, genus Epipremnum. Pothos is highly effective at greening the environment and absorbing polluted air. Next, let us take a look at how to grow pothos.
Growing Potted Pothos
For potted pothos, choose fertile, loose, well-draining leaf mold soil, preferably slightly acidic. Pothos is extremely shade-tolerant and can be placed in a sunny indoor spot year-round. In dimly lit 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.
Pothos prefers a hot and humid environment. The overwintering temperature should not be lower than 15°C. The potting soil should be kept moist, and the leaves should be misted frequently to raise air humidity, which benefits the growth of aerial roots. During the vigorous growth period, apply liquid fertilizer once a month. For plants kept indoors for viewing over a long period, the leaves at the base of the stems tend to drop, reducing their ornamental value. In May and June, when the temperature turns warm, pruning and renewal can be combined with cuttings to encourage new buds to sprout from the base stems.
Pothos is usually propagated by cuttings and the stem-burying method. In late spring and early summer, select healthy pothos vines, cut 15 cm to 30 cm stem segments, remove the leaves from the basal 1 to 2 nodes, being careful not to damage the aerial roots, then insert them into plain sand or coal cinders to a depth of 1/3 of the cutting. Water thoroughly and place in a shaded spot. Mist the leaves daily or cover with plastic film to retain moisture. As long as the environment is kept at no less than 20°C, the survival rate is above 90%.
Propagation Methods for Hydroponic Pothos
1. Hydroponic pothos is mainly propagated by cuttings. In late spring and early summer, cut 15 cm to 30 cm stem segments, remove the leaves from the basal 1 to 2 nodes, and plant directly in pots with growing medium, 3 to 5 stems per pot. Water thoroughly and place in a cool, ventilated spot. Keep the potting soil moist. In about one month, roots and sprouts will form, and within the same year it can grow into a plant with ornamental value. Cuttings taken in spring and summer root easily; for making a totem pole, tip cuttings with large leaves must be used, as they take shape relatively quickly. Hydroponic pothos can also be grown in water, but the plant is smaller compared to soil-grown ones. Newly cut hydroponic pothos grown in water generally takes within about a week to grow roots.
2. In northern regions during autumn and winter, to compensate for insufficient temperature and photosynthesis, its light exposure should be increased. The method is to place the hydroponic pothos in the brightest spot indoors, or move it to a sealed balcony at noon to sunbathe. At the same time, when temperatures are low, open windows as little as possible, because leaves can be frostbitten within a very short time. At room temperatures above 10°C, hydroponic pothos can overwinter safely; at room temperatures above 20°C, hydroponic pothos can grow normally. Generally, households can reach this temperature without much trouble, but be careful to avoid excessive temperature differences, and also make sure the leaves do not come close to heating equipment.
Pothos cultivation mainly requires attention to the following aspects:
1. Provide the Light Pothos Needs for Growth
When growing pothos, place it in a bright indoor spot, or move it to a balcony at noon to sunbathe. Although pothos is not strongly phototropic, in winter its light exposure should be increased to ensure it can carry out normal photosynthesis.
2. Control the Temperature for Pothos Growth
When growing pothos in winter, the temperature should preferably be above 10°C, and excessive temperature differences should be avoided. Especially when temperatures are low, careless cultivation of pothos may cause its leaves to be frostbitten.
3. Humidity Requirements for Pothos Growth
When growing pothos, pay attention to the ambient humidity. Increasing humidity benefits the growth of pothos. A humidifier or misting can be used to supplement humidity for pothos. However, it should be done in moderation, so as not to affect the respiration and photosynthesis of pothos.
4. Water Control for Pothos Growth
The amount of watering for pothos in autumn and winter should be strictly controlled according to room temperature. When the temperature is low in winter, watering should be reduced, and the amount can be controlled between 1/4 and 1/2 of the original.
5. Fertilization Management for Pothos
Before the onset of winter, pothos can be fertilized appropriately. Fertilization should mainly be foliar feeding, with liquid inorganic fertilizer as the main choice, applied once about every 15 days.
The above is the relevant introduction in this article. I believe that after reading it, you have gained a simple understanding of this. If needed, you can continue to follow No.1 Home Network to learn more information.