How to Propagate Pothos from Cuttings So It Grows Lush and Thriving

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the plants many people recommend for decorating the home. Its leaves are emerald green and delightful to look at in the house, and it is a formaldehyde killer with a remarkable effect on purifying indoor air, so many people grow pothos at home. So how should you grow pothos well? After all, many people have never had any contact with pothos and worry they will not be able to keep it alive.

1. The stems and vines of pothos are thick and strong, and can reach several meters long, with aerial roots at the nodes. The young leaves are egg-heart shaped; the leaves of newly propagated seedlings are smaller and lighter in color, and as the plant ages, the mature leaves become long ovate, about 15 cm long and about 10 cm wide. The deep green leaf surface is inlaid with irregular yellow-white spots or streaks. Because of differences in fertilizer and water conditions, the size of the leaves varies. Pothos has luxuriant branches and leaves, tolerates shade well, stays evergreen all year round, and is glossy. In winter, outdoor plants and trees wither and fade, while indoor pothos remains lush and green, so it is an excellent indoor foliage plant. Because the stems and vines of pothos grow quickly, people often grow it as a column-trained vine, that is, erecting a support post in the center of the flower pot, wrapping some palm fiber around the post, with the post reaching 10 cm to 12 cm in diameter, then planting 3 to 4 seedlings in the pot, so that their stems and vines climb and grow around the post. Some also plant pothos in a flower pot and place it on a flower stand, letting its stems and vines hang down like a green curtain, which has a unique charm.
2. Its care needs differ somewhat from other plants. Pothos is generally propagated by cuttings, and because it has aerial roots at the nodes, cuttings root very easily. The cutting time is from April to August. When taking cuttings, cut a section of stem and vine 15 cm to 20 cm long as the cutting, remove the lower leaves, keeping only 1 to 2 leaves at the tip, insert it obliquely into a sand bed, then water it thoroughly, keep it moist, and afterward frequently spray water on the leaves of the cutting; in about a dozen days it can take root. Pothos can also be propagated by water rooting of the terminal bud. The method is: cut a tender, robust stem and vine section 20 cm to 30 cm long and insert it directly into a bottle filled with clear water, changing the water once every 2 to 3 days; in more than 10 days it can take root and survive. Because potted pothos is limited by the potting soil, after being grown too long the plant is prone to aging, and the leaves become smaller and fall off. Therefore, after 2 to 3 years of cultivation, it must be repotted or pruned and renewed.
3. It is a child with a personality. It likes warm, humid environments and requires loose, fertile soil with good drainage. For potted pothos, choose fertile, loose, well-drained leaf mold soil, preferably slightly acidic. Pothos is extremely shade-tolerant and can be placed in a sunny spot indoors in all four seasons. In a dimly lit room, it should be moved every half month to a brighter environment for a period of recovery, otherwise the internodes tend to lengthen and the leaves become smaller. Pothos likes hot and humid environments; the overwintering temperature should not be lower than 15°C, the potting soil should be kept moist, and the leaves should be sprayed with water frequently to raise air humidity, so as to favor the growth of aerial roots. During the vigorous growth period, apply liquid fertilizer once a month. For plants kept indoors for viewing over the long term, the leaves at the base of the stems tend to fall off, reducing their ornamental value. In May and June, when the temperature turns warmer, you can combine pruning and renewal with cuttings to encourage new buds to sprout from the base of the stems.
Pothos is actually very easy to grow. With a bit more time and effort, you can grow pothos into a very beautiful plant, and you need not worry about what kinds of problems may arise while growing pothos, what kinds of diseases may appear, and so on.