When a pothos stops growing leaves, find the cause and adjust its care to help it recover

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a common foliage plant in homes and offices. Its leaves are emerald green and its vines are soft; it is usually easy to care for and grows fairly quickly. If you notice that it has not put out new leaves for a long time and its vines are becoming sparser and sparser, it most likely means something is wrong with its growing environment, and you need to check and adjust it promptly.

Insufficient light is the most common reason pothos does not grow leaves. Although pothos is shade-tolerant, if it is kept for a long time in a corner that is too dark, photosynthesis weakens, and the plant does not have enough nutrients to sprout new leaves. In addition, temperatures that are too low will make pothos grow slowly or even stop growing, so pay special attention to keeping it warm in winter.

Nutrients and root condition are equally crucial. If you do not repot or fertilize for a long time, the soil nutrients are used up, and new leaves will naturally be small and few; and when overwatering causes root rot, the plant will also stop growing, and in severe cases the leaves will turn yellow and fall off. In this situation, you can first check whether the potting soil has been wet for a long time, and if necessary, take the plant out of the pot, trim the roots, and replace the soil with fresh, loose, breathable soil.

If you want your pothos to resume growing leaves, you can move it to a spot with bright, indirect light, avoiding direct sunlight; during the growing season, supplement appropriately with diluted foliage fertilizer, and follow the principle of watering only when the soil is dry and watering thoroughly when you do. Pothos also has a fairly high success rate with cuttings: cut a stem with aerial roots and insert it into water or soil, and you can grow a new plant, making the whole pot look fuller and more lush.