How to Grow Pothos? A Complete Guide to Practical Care Methods

As a green vine plant, pothos (Epipremnum aureum) has leaves that stay green all year round and is very popular. Many homes and offices grow this plant, and it has the ability to absorb carbon dioxide and purify the air. So, how do you grow pothos? What are the care methods for pothos?

Pothos has thick, smooth, glossy leaves, and the leaf surface bears irregular yellow patches of varying sizes, making it very attractive. Its aerial roots are well developed, and it often attaches to walls or trees as it grows. Pothos can be grown as a potted plant for hanging display, or a brown wooden pole can be placed in the pot to let it climb and grow. It is highly shade tolerant, and when placed indoors it can make the room look full of life.

Pothos is robust by nature and relatively easy to cultivate. As long as you maintain a sufficient water supply during the growing season, keep the soil constantly moist, and spray water on the leaves and surrounding area to maintain relatively high environmental humidity, it will do fine. During the peak growing period, it is best to apply cake fertilizer 1-2 times per month. It has a wide tolerance for light, and can grow well both in shady spots and in spring and autumn sunlight, while in stronger light the yellow patches on the leaves become vivid and attractive. However, because the light is too strong in midsummer, shading should be provided, maintaining 50%-70% light transmission, and in other seasons it should receive as much light as possible. In environments that are too shady for a long time or that have excessive nitrogen fertilizer, its yellow patches will become less obvious, reducing its ornamental value, so this should be avoided.

When growing in pots, to maintain a good plant shape, overly long stems and vines and messy branches should be cut back, so that the stems and vines have an attractive mix of lengths and the top of the pot is appropriately dense and sparse. For plants grown as climbers, pay attention to tying and adjusting the stems and vines so the plant shape becomes more perfect.

This plant is mainly propagated by cuttings, and cuttings taken during the growing season all root easily. Also commonly cultivated in the same genus is the large-leaf pothos, with leaves 15-25 cm long and 12-18 cm wide, vining in habit, suitable for decorating and arranging large and medium-sized halls. Cultivation and management are the same as for pothos.

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