Pothos Care Guide
The ultimate starter plant. Nearly impossible to kill, and so easy to propagate you'll be giving them away.
I put my first pothos in direct afternoon sun and burned every single leaf. They like INDIRECT light, people.
Why Pothos is the Perfect First Plant
If you can only have one plant, make it a pothos. I'm serious. This is the plant that convinced me I wasn't actually cursed. After killing three succulents (yes, three), my sister handed me a golden pothos cutting in a jar of water and said, "just don't dump this out."
Three weeks later, it had roots. I was a plant parent.
Light Requirements
Pothos are incredibly flexible with light. They'll survive in low light (that dark corner of your apartment), but they'll thrive in bright, indirect light. The more light, the more variegation you'll see on golden and marble queen varieties.
What to avoid: Direct sun. It burns the leaves. I learned this one personally.
Watering
This is where most people go wrong with plants in general. Pothos like to dry out a bit between waterings. Stick your finger in the soil — if the top inch is dry, water it. If it's still moist, leave it alone.
Signs you're overwatering: Yellow leaves, mushy stems, sad vibes.
Signs you're underwatering: Droopy, wilting leaves. But here's the magic — give it water and it'll perk back up within hours. Pothos are dramatic but forgiving.
Propagation (The Fun Part)
This is where pothos really shine. See those little brown bumps on the stem? Those are nodes, and that's where roots will grow.
- Cut a stem below a node
- Remove the leaf closest to the cut
- Put it in water — just make sure the node is submerged
- Wait 2-3 weeks for roots
- Plant in soil when roots are 2-3 inches long
I started with one pothos. I now have seven, all from cuttings. I've given away at least twenty more.
Common Varieties
- Golden Pothos — The classic. Green with yellow variegation.
- Marble Queen — White and green. Needs more light for the white to pop.
- Neon Pothos — Bright chartreuse. A real mood booster.
- Jade Pothos — Solid green. The most tolerant of low light.
The Bottom Line
If you think you can't keep a plant alive, try a pothos. It's the plant that turned my black thumb green, and it might just do the same for you.
Pothos love Charlotte's humidity. In summer they'll grow like crazy on a covered porch. Bring inside when temps drop below 50°F.