Pothos is one of the easiest houseplants to keep alive, and it grows best in bright, indirect light with watering whenever the top 2 inches of potting mix are dry. It tolerates low light, but in a dim room the vines stretch out with long bare stems and small leaves, and variegated types fade to plain green. To fix leggy vines, move the plant to brighter light, cut the long stems back just above a leaf node, and root the cuttings to fill out the pot. Overwatering is the main way people kill pothos. Pothos is toxic to cats and dogs, so keep the vines where pets cannot chew them.
Light
Pothos handles a wide range of light, which is why it shows up in offices and dorm rooms. For full, bushy growth with large leaves, give it bright, indirect light, such as a spot a few feet from an east or west window or near a bright north window. A little gentle morning sun is fine, but strong afternoon sun through glass can bleach or scorch the leaves. Strongly variegated types need more light than solid green types to keep their pattern.
In low light, pothos survives but grows slowly and sparsely. If your room is dim, a grow light on a timer for 12 hours a day makes a large difference.
🌱 Get Personalized Plant Picks
Answer a few quick questions and we’ll match plants to your exact yard conditions.
Find My Plants →Watering
Shop trailing plant supplies on Amazon
Ceiling hooks to hang trailing vines out of reach of pets, a glass propagation station for rooting cuttings, and a soil moisture meter for watering by reading. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Amazon · Ceiling plant hooks Amazon · Propagation station Amazon · Soil moisture meter
Water when the top 2 inches of the mix are dry, then water thoroughly until it runs from the drainage holes and empty the saucer. In bright, warm conditions that might be every week; in a cool, dim room it might be every two to three weeks. Pothos gives a clear signal when thirsty: the leaves soften and droop slightly, then perk up within hours of watering. Yellow leaves with constantly damp mix mean too much water. Brown, crispy edges mean the plant dried out too far or sat in very dry air.
Fixing leggy vines
Long vines with bare stems between leaves are the most common complaint. The vines will not fill back in on their own, so pruning is the fix.
- Move the plant to brighter light so new growth comes in tighter.
- Cut stems back by a third to a half, snipping just above a node, the small bump where a leaf meets the stem.
- New shoots sprout from the nodes below the cut, making the plant fuller.
- Root the cuttings in water or moist mix, then plant them back in the same pot for a fuller look.
Each cutting needs at least one node, since roots form there. Roots usually appear in water within two to three weeks in a warm, bright spot. Pot them up once the roots are 1 to 2 inches long.
Potting mix, feeding, and repotting
Use a standard indoor potting mix with some perlite for drainage, in a pot with a hole. Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength about once a month while the plant is actively growing, and stop when growth slows in the darker months. Repot only when roots circle the pot or poke out the bottom, moving up just 1 to 2 inches in diameter.
Common problems
- Yellow leaves: usually overwatering. Let the mix dry more between drinks.
- Brown spots with yellow halos: often a sign of soggy roots or a leaf spot problem. Remove affected leaves and water less.
- Small new leaves: too little light or a long time without feeding.
- Pests: check under leaves for mealybugs and spider mites, especially in dry heated rooms.
Safety: pothos and pets
The ASPCA lists pothos as toxic to cats and dogs. The leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which cause mouth irritation, drooling, pawing at the mouth, and sometimes vomiting. Hang pothos from the ceiling or set it on a high shelf, and pick up fallen leaves. If a pet chews this plant, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. For a child, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Bottom line
Give pothos bright, indirect light, water only when the top 2 inches dry, and prune long vines above a node. Root the cuttings to fill the pot, and keep the plant out of reach of pets.
Related reading
- Is pothos safe for cats?
- Is pothos safe for dogs?
- Trailing plants for shelves and mantels
- How to propagate houseplants from cuttings
- Philodendron care: light, water, and yellow leaves
Ready to match plants to your location? Try the PlantWise Plant Finder →