Pothos, an easy-care climbing plant for everyone

Pothos is a tropical climbing plant that originates from the South Seas (probably from the island of Mo'orea in French Polynesia), but has spread all over the world. Golden pothos is one of the easiest plants to care for indoors. It survives almost everything and thrives with most people, with minimal care.

 The English name 'Pothos' is the same plant that we in Sweden call golden vine, or 'gullranka'. It is easy to succeed with, fast growing, looks good in a hanging basket, pot, or as a plant curtain. In other words: a wonderful, climbing houseplant for both beginners and experienced growers.

Care: how to care for your goldenrod

Light: Golden pothos can handle both sun and shade, and can even be kept in the dark a bit inside the room. However, if you want it to retain its beautiful patterns (especially the yellow or white variegated varieties), you should give it light but not direct sun.

Water: Water only when the top of the soil has dried out. The pothos's leaves will start to droop a little when it needs water. But don't wait until they become dry and brittle!

Soil: Use regular potting soil for pothos with good drainage, or even better, an airy aroid mix.

Humidity: The Epipremnum aureum likes humid air but does well in regular indoor air. If you want to pamper it, you can shower the leaves occasionally or place it near other plants to create a more humid microclimate. By showering the leaves or washing them with a damp cloth, you also reduce the risk of pests on the golden vine.

Nutrition: During spring and summer, give a weak dose of plant nutrition about once a month. It is not a must and the Epipremnum can also do without extra nutrition. However, it often grows a little faster with the right plant nutrition.

How fast does goldenrod grow?

In the right light and with proper care, a pothos can grow 30–45 cm per month. This means you can quickly have a large golden vine that covers an entire wall, a window, or winds along a plant support.

Attach and climb, the Epipremnum can get big leaves!

Pothos is a natural climber and loves to have something to hold on to. Use a plant support, moss stake or let it cling along strings or netting. You can also let it hang freely from a hanging basket or shelf, then you will get the classic tendrils that wind downwards. However, pothos will not get its characteristic large leaves if it does not have a support to grow on!

Cuttings and propagation of Epipremnum

 Propagating pothos is super easy.

Cut a cutting just below a leaf node and place it in water. After a week or two, roots will form. When the roots are a few centimeters long, you can plant the cutting in soil, or let it continue to grow in water.

Common problems

Yellow leaves: One or two yellow leaves is completely normal, but many yellow leaves can be due to overwatering, poor drainage (in the pot or soil) or the plant being in too much darkness.

Losing leaves: If the plant is losing leaves, first check if it is too dry, e.g. above a radiator or drafty by a window. It could also be because the roots have become cramped, in which case it is time to repot in a larger pot.

Pothos: different varieties

There are many stylish variations! Some favorites:

• 'Marble Queen' – white variegated leaves, requires a little more light

• 'Neon' – lime green leaves that really light up the room

• 'N'Joy' – small, white patterns

• 'Manjula' – rounder leaves with white and green variegated pattern

• 'Golden Pothos' – the classic with yellow-green leaves

They are all easy to care for and go well together, so why not create a plant curtain with several varieties?

FAQs:

Does pothos bloom?

In the wild, yes – but indoors it almost never flowers. Cultivated Epipremnums have a genetic mutation that means they almost never flower, so we have to make do with the beautiful leaves.

Is pothos poisonous to cats?

Yes, unfortunately. Like many other plants in the arum family, it contains substances that can irritate the mouth and stomach of both cats and dogs. Make sure it is out of reach of curious animals.

With a little love, a plant support and maybe a few cuttings in water, you'll soon have a little jungle indoors! Read more about our other growing tips or click on to go directly to our selection of Golden pothos