Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), also referred to as golden pothos, money vine, or devil’s ivy, is the arum family’s hardy indoor foliage plant (Araceae), native to southeast Asia. It matches and is therefore often mistaken for the common philodendron. Plant Pothos is a tropical tree with dense, waxy, green, heart-shaped leaves with yellow splatters. As a potted plant, it is widely cultivated as a hanging plant. Furthermore, since it’s an outdoor plant, it grows several times bigger than houseplants.
Although it’s a flowering plant, it seldom flowers. Its heart-shaped greenish-yellow-marbled foliage exhibits an attractive appearance. It’s an ascending vine with an average length of 40 feet and spreads about 3-6 feet outdoors. However, they grow to a maximum length of 10 feet. Golden Pothos is known to be one the easiest houseplants as they nearly need no attention.
Aerial Roots
Aerial roots are always above ground and help the plant to anchor steadfastly and assimilate water and nutrients. Due to their aerial roots, they’re worthy of hanging in baskets, growing in bowls, or hanging on trellis and lattices.
Sunlight
The basic treatment of pothos is straightforward since it enjoys a large variety of habitats. They do well in bright indirect light and low light and can be raised in dry areas or water vases. While it can also grow in soil that’s high in nutrients, it does just as well in soil low in nutrients. Since they can withstand low light, Pothos plants make a perfect addition to your bathroom or office. While pothos enjoy a wide range of light situations, they don’t do well in the bright sun.
Soil
For ideal growth, a mixture of peat moss and sand should be used in the drainable pot. Sand retains water and keeps the roots moist. A drainable pot is preferred because it disposes of extra water and provides the ideal soil-mixture for growth.
Watering
It’s dependent upon the location. In lower light areas, it should be watered less, and vice versa. The general rule is to water it once every 1-2 weeks when the top of the soil is dry between 2-4 cm. It is suggested that roots should remain misty rather than soggy. It’s advised to avoid abrupt changes in the location and medium of growth.
The fact that the plant thrives in water or dry soil makes Pothos very common. Cuttings may be extracted from a parent plant and planted as a houseplant in water. This is especially useful when you want to place your plant in a jug of water. On the other hand, you can also grow it in soil and the plant will do well even after reasonable intervals of dryness. Do note that you should not make drastic changes while it’s growing. For instance, a pothos plant rooted in soil will have difficulty adjusting to water and vice versa.
Temperature
The optimal temperature is between 18℃-26℃. Their temperate origin allows them to endure mild-high spells of high and low temperatures. Still, there’s a possibility of retarded growth. If in the pot, they should be relocated according to ideal temperature needs.
Humidity
Due to their tropic nature, they can grow well in higher humidity. They can thrive in any humidity level. Whether low or high, these can endure almost any level. Pothos can adjust the humidity factor; this is one reason it’s a great household plant.
Plant Nutrition
Pothos are not heavy feeders, but as most potted soils have no nutrients, you should fertilize the plant every month, or twice a month, with any balanced houseplant fertilizer.
Toxicity
The foliage of pothos contains calcium oxalates. If ingested, this can cause vomiting, stomach and breath issues in adults. Moreover, it can prove fatal for children and pets. Therefore, careful supervision is required.
Air Purifying
Golden pothos is among one of the best natural air purifiers that remove toxins. It eliminates volatile organic compounds such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene, etc. These VOCs can cause serious issues, including the growth of cancerous cells and nervous disorders. It also has a calming effect.
Repotting
Once the roots have grown to the pot’s full extent, it can be repotted into another bigger sized pot. Repotting is usually required after 2-3 years when it shows symptoms such as drooping of leaves and retarded growth.
Additional Care
They don’t require any additional care. Basic care about light, temperature, soil, and watering is enough. If any problems occur in the foliage, they’re usually because of negligence in these factors. Relocating is strictly not advised.
Common Issues
- Over and under-watering (yellowing and drying)
- Excessive light (drying and sunburn)
- Infestations (leaf spots)
- Poorly drained soil (root rot)
All of these can be sorted out quickly as they become visible on the leaves of the plant.
Diseases
- Physiological (loss of variegation, discolored leaves, small leaves, decaying roots)
- Bacterial ( bacterial leaf spot, cutting soft root)
- Fungal ( Pythium root rot, Rhizoctonia foot rot, southern blight)
- Insects ( caterpillars, mealybugs, mites, scales, thrips)
Final Thoughts
Golden pothos is the easiest and low maintenance houseplant. It not only adds to the beauty but also proves useful against VOCs. Its ability to purify the air, particularly indoors, makes it potentially the best houseplant.
