How to Grow Pothos Indoors (Epipremnum spp.): Care, Cultivars, and Common Problems

Quick Guide to Growing Pothos

Native Range: China, India, Southeast Asia
Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light
Water: Allow the soil to dry completely before watering
Humidity: Prefers 50% to 70%
Temperature: 60°F to 70°F nights, 70°F to 85° F days

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum): Indoor Growth and General Characteristics

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) and related species are among the most popular houseplants. They are easy to care for, have great ornamental value, and come in many varieties.

Pothos is native to China, India, and some parts of Southeast Asia. Its natural habitat is warm and tropical, where the plant receives dappled sunlight and high humidity.

How Big Do Pothos Plants Get?

Pothos is a vining plant that typically wraps around tree trunks in nature; this can be emulated at home with a moss pole or a wooden rod. Growing the plant this way will allow it to:

• Showcase climbing habit
• Produce large leaves
• Develop ornamental holes in their leaves (variety dependent)

However, pothos can also be grown in hanging baskets and will do so beautifully with regular pruning.

Ornamental Features of Pothos Houseplants

When growing in its natural habitat, pothos leaves can get up to 3 feet long with holes along the middle of the leaves.

As a houseplant, the leaves are typically a few inches long and stay whole. The leaves are slightly heart-shaped and shiny, and the vines will fill a pot to create a bushy look.

Most varieties are variegated and come in many colors and patterns, from emerald-green pothos to some that are almost entirely white.

Best Conditions for Growing Pothos Plants

Best Temperature Range for Growing Pothos Indoors

Pothos prefer a warm room, between 60°F to 70°F at night and 70 °F to 85°F during the day.

Keep them away from air conditioning vents in the summer and from windowsills and heating vents in the winter, as hot and cold air can cause the leaves to dry out and damage plant cells.

Best Light Conditions for Pothos Houseplants

Pothos prefer bright, indirect light but will tolerate lower lighting conditions.

However, lower light may cause variegated varieties to lose some of their coloring.

Best Soil and Repotting Practices for Pothos

Plants should be potted in an airy, well-draining soil mix.

Repot pothos plants when:

• Roots visible through drainage holes
• Plant becomes overcrowded and root-bound

Most plants can be repotted once every year or two, depending on their growth rate.

For more information, see HGIC 1450, Indoor Plants – Cleaning, Fertilizing, Containers and Light Requirements.

Pothos Propagation

Stem cuttings can be easily rooted when placed in soil or water, but they should have at least one node to root properly.

Water and Hukmidity Needs for Pothos Plants

Soil should be allowed to dry between each watering. Make sure to thoroughly water the plant so that water will reach all the roots.

Pothos humidity notes:

• Preferred range: 50 to 70%
• Average home range: 30 to 60%

Pothos will tolerate these low humidity levels, but humidity can also be supplemented with a humidifier.

For more information, see HGIC 1459, Indoor Plants – Watering.

Pothos Pest and Disease Issues

Common Diseases and Nutrient Problems in Pothos

• Root rot: Common houseplant issue caused by overwatering or poorly draining soil. Using a well-draining soil mix and proper watering practices will help prevent root rot.
• Yellow leaves: Often caused by overwatering or low fertility. Correct by fertilizing with a houseplant fertilizer every other month during the spring and summer.
• Leaf Scorch and tip dieback: Often caused by low humidity or intense light. Ensure the plant is getting bright, indirect light and high humidity.

Common Pests of Pothos Plants

Pothos are generally pest-free when kept indoors, but may be affected by common houseplant pests such as spider mites and mealybugs.

For more information, see HGIC 2252, Common Houseplant Insects and Related Pests.

Is Pothos Toxic to Pets and Children?

All parts of a pothos are mildly toxic if ingested.

They contain calcium oxalate crystals that can cause:

• Mouth and throat irritation
• Vomiting
• Difficulty swallowing

For that reason, keep pothos out of the reach of children and pets.

Pothos Species and Cultivars

Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

This pothos has large, wide leaves with yellow variegation. In the wild, it’s an understory vine that climbs up trees for sunlight.

It is easy to find in most garden centers and nurseries, often under the name ‘Devil’s Ivy’ or ‘Hunter’s Robe.’

Cultivars of Epipremnum aureum

Cultivars of Epipremnum aureum vary widely in leaf color, variegation patterns, growth habit, and light tolerance, making this species especially diverse for indoor use.

Marble Queen Pothos (E. aureum ‘Marble Queen’):

• Requires more light than other varieties
• Striking white or cream variegation
• Pointed leaves
• Often confused with the Snow Queen cultivar, but grows faster and has more green on its leave

Pearls and Jade Pothos (E. aureum ‘Pearls and Jade’):

• Light and dark green speckled leaves with large white spots
• Teardrop-shaped leaves, smaller than other cultivars
• Requires lots of light to maintain its intense coloring

Snow Queen Pothos (E. aureum ‘Snow Queen’):

• Needs lots of bright, indirect light to ensure adequate growth
• Predominantly white leaves speckled with green
• Unlike Marble Queen, it has no large green spots and clearer white variegation

Neon Pothos (E. aureum ‘Neon’):

• Bright, lime-green foliage
• Slender, thinner leaves than other cultivars
• Grows quickly
• Hardy pothos
• Tolerates lower light conditions

Jessenia Pothos (E. aureum ‘Jessenia’):

• Dark green leaves with bright green and yellow variegations
• Similar to Golden Pothos, but has more slender leaves
• Tolerates lower light conditions than ‘Snow Queen’ and ‘Marble Queen’

Manjula Pothos (E. aureum ‘Manjula’):

• Similar coloring to the Pearls and Jade pothos
• Broad, upright leaves that have pointed tips
• Slower growing than other cultivars
• Bushy growth habit
• Will not vine as well as other cultivars

Shangri La Pothos (E. aureum ‘Shangri La’):

• Interesting pothos with dark green leaves that curl and point inward
• Resembles cooked spinach
• Slow-growing cultivar
• Prefers slightly more humidity than other cultivars

Dragon-Tail Pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum)

These pothos have large leaves with more fenestrations (small openings in the leaf) than E. aureum.

Care requirements are similar to those of E. aureum, but a moss pole or wooden rod may be needed to allow the plant to grow large enough to develop its signature fenestrated leaves.

Cultivars of Epipremnum pinnatum

Cultivars of Epipremnum pinnatum differ in leaf shape, coloration, and degree of fenestration, with many showing their most distinctive features when grown vertically.

Cebu Blue Pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Cebu Blue’):

• Most popular E. pinnatum cultivar
• Found in many nurseries and garden stores
• Slender, pointed leaves with outstanding silvery-blue foliage
• Smallest E. pinnatum cultivar
• Small fenestrations in its leaves

Albo Pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum albo variegata):

• Large, deep green leaves with cream-colored variegation
• Not as striking color-wise as Marble Queen or Pearls and Jade Pothos
• Deep fenestrations that add significant interest to the plant

Skeleton Key Pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Skeleton Key’):

• Interesting growth habit
• Light green leaves mature into an elongated, key-like shape
• Grow on a moss pole for leaves to exhibit their unique shape
• Needs less light than other E. pinnatum cultivars
• No variegation

Silver Streak Pothos (Epipremnum amplissimum)

Fast-growing, easy-care species.

E. amplissimum has long, blade-like leaves with a silver sheen to them. Mature leaves have a pointed tip that may start to curl downwards.

When grown with a moss pole, this species will grow faster than E. aureum.

Houseplants Commonly Confused with Pothos

Other houseplants resemble pothos and are often confused with it.

Philodendrons, pothos, and scindapsus are all part of the arum (Araceae) family.

See HGIC 1509, Philodendron, for more information about philodendrons and their care.

Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)

Both the heartleaf philodendron and pothos plants are vines with heart-shaped leaves.

Leaf petioles: grooved vs smooth

The main difference is that the leaf petioles on pothos are grooved, while those on philodendrons are smooth.

Leaf texture: softer and thinner

Heartleaf philodendron leaves are softer and thinner than pothos leaves.

Leaf shape: deeper central groove

Heartleaf philodendrons will also often have a deeper groove in the center of the leaf.

Scindapsus Species (Scindapsus pictus)

Typically called the satin pothos, although it’s not a true pothos, this plant has silvery, shiny leaves and comes in many varieties.

It has broader leaves than most pothos and grows much more slowly.

Scindapsus are also more challenging to grow as they are more prone to pests and disease and less tolerant of overwatering than pothos.

Silver Lady Scindapsus (Scindapsus pictus ‘Silver Lady’)

• One of the most common varieties of Scindapsus
• Often incorrectly referred to as satin pothos

Originally published 1/26