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Pothos usually appears in homes as a potted plant. It likes warm, humid environments, and because pothos can absorb benzene and formaldehyde from the air, it is widely used as a green decoration in home life. So how do you grow pothos? What are the precautions? Now let the editor introduce them to you one by one.

How do you grow pothos?

1. In spring, summer and autumn, pothos can be placed near an east- or north-facing windowsill, while in winter it can be placed by a south-facing window

If it is kept for a long time in an environment with too little light, it will not only cause the trailing stems to grow leggy, the internodes to lengthen and the plant shape to become sparse, but also the yellow-white striped markings on the leaves will become smaller and paler, and may even disappear completely and fade to green. If grown outdoors, pay attention to shading, especially in summer, and take even more care to prevent direct strong light, otherwise new leaves will become smaller, leaf color will be dull, and leaf edges will easily be scorched. The suitable temperature for pothos growth is 20°C-30°C, and in winter the room temperature should not be lower than 15°C.

2. Pothos likes moisture

During the growing season, watering should keep the potting soil moist most of the time, and the potting soil must never be allowed to dry out, otherwise it easily causes yellow leaves and a poor plant shape. If too much water is given and water accumulates in the pot, it easily causes root rot and withered leaves, especially when winter room temperatures are low, when watering must be controlled even more carefully. In summer, while watering thoroughly, also pay attention to spraying water on the leaves frequently. In winter, when the climate is dry, it is also necessary to spray and wash the leaves once every 4-5 days with warm water to wash away dust on the leaf surface, which helps keep the leaves glossy and emerald green.

3. For potted pothos, choose fertile, loose, well-drained leaf mold soil

Slightly acidic soil is best. Pothos is extremely shade-tolerant and can be placed indoors in a sunny spot all year round. In dimly lit rooms, 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 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 sprayed with water frequently to raise air humidity and favor the growth of aerial roots. Pothos is usually propagated by layering and stem burying. In late spring and early summer, choose a robust pothos vine, cut a 15 cm to 30 cm stem section, remove the leaves from 1 to 2 nodes at the base, taking care not to damage the aerial roots, then insert it into plain sand or coal cinder to a depth of 1/3 of the cutting, water it thoroughly and place it in a shaded spot, spray water on the leaves every day or cover with plastic film to retain moisture; as long as the environment is kept no lower than 20°C, the survival rate is always above 90%.

What are the precautions for growing pothos?

1. Temperature

In winter, pothos can overwinter safely above 10°C, and generally grows normally above 20°C. Therefore, the ordinary home environment is quite suitable for pothos growth. The original growing conditions of pothos are in forests shaded by towering trees, so its positive phototropism is not strong. But in the north in autumn and winter, to make up for the lack of temperature and photosynthesis, its light exposure should be increased. The method is to place pothos in the brightest spot indoors, or move it to a sealed balcony to sunbathe at noon. At the same time, when temperatures are low, open windows as little as possible, because leaves can be frostbitten in a very short time.

2. Light

Pothos does not have strong positive phototropism, so when growing it, place it in a spot indoors with better light, and at noon it can be put in the sun for a while. In the north, with a room temperature above 10°C, pothos can overwinter safely, and with a room temperature above 20°C, pothos can grow normally. Ordinary homes generally have no problem reaching this temperature; note that excessive temperature differences should be avoided, and also take care that the leaves do not come close to heating equipment.

3. Water

When growing pothos, do not water too much; you can spray water at the rooting area, which can reduce the evaporation rate of water. Water every day to keep the soil moist, but there must be no water accumulation that breeds mosquitoes. In autumn and winter, the amount of watering should be strictly controlled according to room temperature. Before heating begins, temperatures are lower, the plant's soil evaporates more slowly, so watering should be reduced, with the amount controlled to between 1/4-1/2 of the original. Even after heating begins, watering should not be too frequent; when watering, pour less into the pot, and let water seep through the coir. In addition, water should also be sprayed at the places where aerial roots grow on the coir pole, to reduce insufficient root water uptake caused by too-rapid evaporation. In winter, water that has been left to stand for a day is better for watering; water that is too cold easily damages the roots.

4. Fertilizer

For fertilizing pothos leaves, because ordinary inorganic fertilizers are hard to absorb, a special fertilizer needs to be used. In the autumn and winter seasons in the north, plants mostly grow slowly or even stop growing, so fertilization should be reduced. Before winter begins, mainly apply liquid inorganic fertilizer by watering or spraying, about once every 15 days. After winter begins, fertilization is mainly by foliar spraying, mainly through the stomata on the leaf surface; fertilizer is absorbed through the stomata on the leaf surface, and the fertilizer effect can act directly on the leaf surface. Special fertilizer should be used for foliar fertilizer; ordinary inorganic fertilizer is not easily absorbed by the leaf surface. Beidahuahushen series and Japan-made Hua Yifan, etc. can all be used as foliar fertilizer.

The above is an introduction to the growing methods and precautions for pothos. You can go to the home potted plant market and pick one you like to take home, adding a touch of green scenery to your home.