Those looking for a house plant that can actually offer decorative appeal and interest to their home will frequently prefer one that grows quickly. The way you care for the plant will decide how rapidly it grows and how impressive it is. Continue reading to find 6 techniques to help Pothos grow faster:
Use A Nutritional Growing Medium From The Start
It’s crucial to get your new home plant off to a good start. The plant will most likely arrive young and in a small pot when you initially receive it. The plant will need to be repotted as it grows.
It’s worth noting that while Pothos can be cultivated in jars of water, when they’re potted in soil and overwatered, their roots respond unfavorably. Pothos cultivated in water will grow, although not as swiftly as Pothos grown in soil.
Choose a basic, well-draining potting soil for the fastest growth. This is a fantastic Pothos potting mix that will keep your plant alive and well. Pothos prefer a soil pH of 6.1 to 6.5, although they won’t mind if the pH is a bit higher or lower.
Take the time to find a planter with adequate drainage when planting your Pothos. Any houseplant, not just Devil’s Ivy, will benefit from healthy soil with a high nutritional value and good drainage.
Provide Sufficient Bright, Indirect Sunlight
Devil’s Ivy necessitates a delicate light balance. While they require intense light, they cannot be exposed to direct sunshine for lengthy periods of time since the leaves burn readily.
The optimum location for the plant is near a window, where it will receive bright, indirect light. The leaves will lose their variegation if the plant is kept in a dark room or corner, and the plant’s growth and health will suffer.
If the leaves begin to become pale, it could be a sign that they have been exposed to too much sunshine.
Keep Room Temperature Between 70°F And 90°F
Because Devil’s Ivy is endemic to the Solomon Islands, it thrives in extreme humidity and temperatures ranging from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure the temperature in the room where your house plant is located is within this range.
They will thrive and develop more quickly in these temps. The plant can endure temperatures as low as 55°F, but any lower than that will result in stunted development and blackened leaves on your houseplant.
Don’t Overwater Only Water When The Soil Has Dried Out
Pothos plants need just the proper amount of moisture to thrive. Watering your house plant on a schedule will help you prevent overwatering or drowning it. If you give your plants too much water, they will become weak and withered. It’s possible that the leaves will turn yellow.
Because the plant is prone to root rot when left to languish in damp soil, these alterations occur. Allowing the plant to drain after watering and then emptying the saucer beneath the pot is one way to reduce the risk of root rot.
A lack of water might also have a negative impact. The leaves may curl and eventually become limp as a result of this. It’s also possible that the leaves will fall off.
This plant like the soil to dry out in between waterings. Although the roots should be kept moist, they should not be allowed to become soaked in between waterings. You can consider about watering the plant again after the top 2 inches of soil have turned dry.
Feed The Plant With A Balanced Fertilizer Every 2-3 Months
Your Pothos plant will thrive even if it isn’t fertilized, especially if it is potted in good soil. Fertilizing your Pothos every 2-3 months during the growing season, on the other hand, will maximize growth rates and guarantee that your plant matures as rapidly as possible.
It’s best to use a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer. This fertilizer, which I use for my indoor plants, has given me excellent results. It has outstanding quality and is simple to use. It won’t double the growth of your plants overnight, but it accomplishes the job extremely effectively.
You can test your soil if you’re not sure if it requires fertilizer. Home soil testing kits are available at most gardening stores and can reveal exactly what nutrients are present or absent in the soil.
To thrive and grow, most plants require 16 nutrients. Potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus are the most important nutrients. Boron, cobalt, iron, zinc, molybdenum, copper, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur are secondary and micronutrients required. All of these ingredients are found in most good fertilizers.
Inorganic fertilizers, it’s worth noting, provide a quick nutrient boost to the soil, promoting Pothos growth practically immediately. Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, take longer to enhance plant development but provide a better growing medium in the long run.
Of course, regardless of which fertilizer you choose, you’ll need to check the fertilizer’s packaging instructions to make sure you’re using the correct quantity for the container that your plant is in.
Grow Pothos Faster By Keeping Pests At Bay
When a Pothos is attacked by pests, it might suffer slowed development or damage to the delicate structure of its leaves, just like any other house plant. Pest infestation is uncommon with these home plants, so don’t be too concerned about them.
Caterpillars, scales, thrips, mites, and mealybugs are among the bugs that occasionally attack Pothos.
If your plant appears to have been infected by bugs or insects, you must act promptly. Wipe down the plant with a mild mix of rubbing alcohol and water to eliminate each bug.
An pesticide can also be used to get rid of pests, insects, and eggs on a plant. Mix 1 teaspoon of ordinary dishwashing liquid detergent with 1 liter of water to make an environmentally friendly pesticide. Use a spray bottle to apply this solution to the entire plant or wipe it down with it. For additional information, see my article on how to naturally get rid of houseplant bugs.
Do Pothos like coffee grounds?
If used correctly, coffee grounds can be beneficial to pothos. Because of their high nitrogen content, coffee grinds can significantly aid in the growth and protection of your pothos plant.
What kind of soil do Pothos like?
- Select a container with a drainage hole in the bottom. Pothos plants dislike sitting in moist soil because they decay quickly.
- Pothos should be planted in a well-draining potting mix (or a soilless mix). To improve the drainage capacity of your potting mix, add a few handfuls of perlite or coco coir if you have it on hand.
- Pothos looks great in a hanging basket with the vines showing off, or in a standard pot on a plant stand. Although their aerial rootswhich they employ to attach themselves to surfaces such as trees or other vertical structuresmay peel paint, they can be permitted to grow up walls.
Do Pothos like tea?
Yes, you can use discarded tea leaves in Pothos plants. The soil pH of Pothos is neutral to acidic. The tea leaves, on the other hand, contain tannic acid, which decomposes and lowers the pH of the soil, increasing its acidity. As a result, tea leaves work better on acidic soils, such as pothos, to make the soil more fruitful.
Furthermore, simply providing water is insufficient for Pothos plants to get healthier and greener.
Fertilizers are necessary, and nothing beats organic and handmade fertilizers! Tea leaves can be used as a fertilizer once a month to keep the soil fertile. We may not utilize it as much as we would like because it can alter the pH of the soil.
When it comes to taking care of plants, we need to be aware of their needs as well as the fertilizer’s effect.
How do you make Pothos greener?
If you want to turn your thin, stringy Golden Pothos into the rich, green beauty it deserves, I have excellent news for you: this transformation is simple! Also, if you’re seeking to acquire more Pothos (I have a lot!) and want a Golden Pothos glow right now, follow these simple guidelines.
Choose Wisely!
When shopping for Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), treat it as if it were produce. Look for plants that are strong, full, and have a lot of cuttings the more cuttings in the pot, the better! Plants with glossy, green leaves that are sharp to the touch, as well as robust, firm green stems, are ideal (or brown and stiff this means the plant is older). It’s also critical to look for plants with dryish soil; Golden Pothos despise soggy soil, so if they’ve been exposed to too much moisture for who knows how long, you’re buying a potential problem.
Give Your Pothos the Light It Needs
Move your Pothos if it’s basking in the midday sun! Pothos despise direct light, therefore you’ll notice a significant difference if you place your plant in a location with medium to brilliant indirect light. Pothos thrives in low-light environments, but for the fastest and greatest growth, place your Pothos in a location that provides at least four hours of indirect sunlight per day. Long vines will occasionally make their way under furniture and into dark places; this is acceptable, but keep in mind that darkness creates fewer leaves.
It’s the Climb!
If you want your Pothos’ leaves to develop really huge, get a trellis, support, or stake. Golden Pothos begin as below-canopy plants with smaller leaves in their natural habitats, and when they climb up trees and acquire access to more indirect light, the plant grows larger leaves to catch more of the sun’s nutrients. Fun fact: with the correct amount of indirect light, the Pothos may mature with Monstera-like lobes!
Prune your Plant!
Pruning, contrary to popular belief, fosters new development and, as a result, a fuller plant since the plant will sprout new growth from each cut. Because indoor Pothos plants seem to thrive all year, grooming them at any time is a good idea. Start a Pothos pruning program, just like your regular haircut sessions, so you don’t forget!
Limit the Water
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: your Pothos despises moist soil, so let it dry out between waterings. When it is time to water, soak the entire surface of the soil (not just one location) and continue to water until drainage begins to emerge from the bottom.
Taking Care of Those Bald Spots
If your plant’s top is bald, try the bobby pin method, which involves pinning long vines to the bare regions. The vines will root and fill in the plant’s head over time. You can also use floral pins.
Fertilize!
Golden Pothos enjoy being fed on a regular basis, but only in modest amounts. When your plant is vigorously putting out new growth, I recommend using a whole 1/4-strength liquid fertilizer every time you water it. In the spring, apply a top dressing of organic fertilizer of your choosing. If you have top-dressed your plant, you can use a liquid fertilizer. Tip It’s best to water your plants shortly before fertilizing them; the water will help prevent the leaves and roots from being burned.
Do pothos like to be bottom watered?
Pothos are one of the most simple houseplants to maintain: they flourish in any light condition and don’t care what kind of water or soil you use. Many plant parents are surprised when pothos die in their care because they have a reputation for being low-maintenance plants that can grow in any environment.
I killed a golden pothos that was already three feet long and had been living in a windowless office for almost two years under a flourescent light. It died after a month of being entrusted to my care! My marble queen pothos developed root rot within the first month of purchase, but I was able to preserve it, and it is now a healthy and lush marble queen pothos plant.
To avoid making the same mistakes I did, follow the recommendations below on how to properly provide water, light, and soil for your pothos, and I guarantee your pothos will produce lush leaves and long, healthy vines, regardless of the variety.
Light
Pothos may grow in a wide range of lighting conditions, from low light to high indirect light. However, depending on our location and circumstances, what low light, moderate light, or indirect bright light signifies is different for each of us.
Fortunately for pothos, as long as it’s in an area with adequate natural or artificial light, it’ll be fine. Even for pothos, low light does not mean no light.
If you’re keeping your pothos in a room with no windows, just make sure it’s close to or under a lamp or light source for 8 to 12 hours every day, and it’ll be fine. While it is ideal to grow pothos under a grow light, it is not required; pothos can grow into a robust, attractive plant even under a fluorescent light.
If you’re hanging it from the ceiling or wall, or setting it on top of a shelf, make sure light reaches the entire plant, not just the trails. Your pothos will go “bald” if there isn’t enough light on top. Because pothos dislike being overwatered, a lack of light will cause them to retain water for longer, especially if they are in a plastic planter.
If you have a variegated pothos and wish to keep or encourage additional variegation in your plant, you should give it more light, preferably moderate to indirect strong light to prevent the plant from becoming green. When it doesn’t get enough light to photosynthesize, variegated pothos, like any other variegated plant, will revert to green.
We like white variegations, but they don’t assist the plant photosynthesize. To compensate, the pothos will become green again, allowing it to photosynthesize even in low light.
Variegated pothos are hard because they require light, yet too much light will burn the leaves, particularly the white sections. Furthermore, because white variegation cannot photosynthesize, they will yellow or brown sooner and have a shorter life cycle, regardless of the quantity of light we provide, and this is something we cannot control.
We can stimulate and sustain variegation by providing more light, while reducing leaf burns by rotating the pothos on a regular basis. If they’re near a south or west-facing window, move them back a foot or two, especially in the summer.
Water
If you remember only one lesson from this, don’t overwater your pothos. Overwatering is the most common cause of pothos death.
Pothos can endure, and even like, being submerged, and can recover from a brief drought, but it does not recover quickly from overwatering. Overwatering for even a month can cause root rot, which is difficult to recover from.
Pothos is watered on average 7 to 10 days during the summer and 12 to 16 days during the winter in the northern parts. However, the easiest approach to tell if your pothos needs watering is to check the moisture content of its soil rather than counting days between waterings.
When watering pothos, the golden rule is to wait until the soil is fully dry before watering. You can check if the soil is dry by sticking your finger in it, but depending on the size of your pot, you may only be able to reach the top two or three inches of soil.
You can also inspect the drainage holes at this point. Even if the top two or three inches of soil are dry, wait a few more days before watering if you can still see wetness or moist soil through them.
You may also check the moisture level in the pot if your pothos is in a terra cotta pot. The soil is still not dry if you can see a darker shade of terra cotta on the bottom half of the pot, or if the bottom half of the pot feels cooler to the touch and damp than the top half of the pot.
If you’re using a plastic pot, the soil will be totally dry when the edge dirt separates from the container. This isn’t always the case in larger pots, but it’s always a good sign in pots under 6″.
The leaves of some pothos types can serve as extra indicators of when it’s time to water.
When I look on top of my neon pothos, I can see the dirt easily from the top even without moving around the leaves, thus I know it needs water. It is not necessary to water the plant after the leaves have completely covered the soil.
Before watering the scindapsus pictus argyreus, I wait until some of the top leaves are curling. It’s time to water philodendrons when the entire foliage, not individual leaves, looks limp, comparable to your hair when it’s flat and lacking volume.
Because the foliage of variegated pothos, such as marble queen, manjula, and pearls and jade, doesn’t actually indicate whether they need water or not, I only water them when the soil is entirely dry.
Wait a few days if you’re not sure if the earth is entirely dry. Pothos can resist being submerged, however it is prone to root rot if it is overwatered even once or twice.
When it comes to pothos, it’s not only about how often you water it; it’s also about how much water you feed it.
Do not overwater plants in self-watering planters; instead, trust that they are designed to provide enough water. These self-watering containers do not have drainage, thus they will overwater if there is too much water in them. For example, I have a wally eco planter with a philodendron brasil in it, and I only fill it up to the line on the back panel where I’m meant to put water, and I don’t add any more water after the pothos sucks up the water.
Bottom watering guarantees that most pothos get just the right amount of water. It takes some time to bottom water, but it allows pothos to absorb the exact amount of water it requires and saves water waste. Bottom watering involves placing your pothos in a tray or container that is larger than the pot of your pothos, filling the tray with water to about an inch high or so, depending on the width of the tray and the size of your pothos’ pot, and watering it until the top soil of your pothos is moist.
Mineral buildup in the soil is a concern with bottom watering. Pothos aren’t finicky about what kind of water they drink, and using tap water to bottom water my pothos hasn’t resulted in any mineral buildup in the soil or on the leaves.
However, water quality varies by region, and if you’re concerned about mineral buildup, you may top water to flush out the soil minerals, but I don’t think that works in draining anything out of the soil. When you top water, soil particles are normally forced out of the pot, but this does not mean that undesirable minerals or soil buildup are washed out as well.
Overwatering can result from top watering, especially if the pothos is given more water than it requires and the water is not drained correctly and thoroughly.
After watering, give your pothos additional light, such as by placing it near to a sunny window sill, to help dry up moisture in the top soil and avoid mold and fungus growth.
SOIL
We adore pothos for its vines and the indoor jungle vibe they provide our area, so when something goes wrong with it, we try to remedy what’s above the soil rather than figuring out what’s going on beneath the dirt. The quality of the leaves and the amount of growth we may expect from our pothos are determined by the roots. We must first take care of the roots if we want luscious foliage and lengthy trailing vines.
Pothos aren’t fussy about their soil, and the soil that comes with them when you buy them at a big box store or nursery is usually fine. They do not require rapid repotting as long as they are not super root bound or show any evidence of insect pressures or root rot. In fact, they can stay in the soil they came in for as long as they keep growing and showing no signs of illness.
If you do need to repot your pothos, choose a well-draining soil to ensure that the roots have access to the free oxygen they require to metabolize the nutrients and minerals they require to flourish and grow.
Any indoor potting mix that indicates suitable for indoor potting can be used as a well-draining soil for pothos. Don’t worry about the brand of soil or if it’s organic; as long as it says suitable for indoor potting, you can use it. Perlite added to your indoor potting mix will aid with soil aeration and drainage if you are a heavy waterer.
It’s critical to repot your pothos in a container with drainage holes. Any container with drainage will suffice, although terra cotta pots, especially for pothos that require an eight-inch pot or larger, are preferred to avoid trapping excess moisture that could lead to bacterial development or oxygen deprivation, both of which are major causes of root rot.
When repotting, ensure sure the dirt is packed tightly enough to hold the pothos in place, but not so tightly that the roots are suffocated. Pothos, like most houseplants, need oxygen that is found between soil particles rather than the oxygen they produce from water.
But how can you tell when it’s time to repot? Pothos can be kept in the same pot and soil for years if they continue to grow and appear healthy. Pothos don’t need to be repotted very often, which is why they make excellent hanging plants.
Pothos tend to be a little rootbound, but if you can see roots coming out of the drainage holes and more roots wrapped around the plant than actual dirt when you take it from its pot, it’s time to repot. If you haven’t noticed new growth in months and are watering more frequently than usual, the pothos will most likely need to be repotted in a larger container.
However, as previously stated, repotting should be a last resort and ultimate solution for your pothos, so if you’re having problems with your pothos, repotting should be your last resort and final remedy.
Unnecessary and frequent repotting will only cause your pothos to be disturbed and shocked, resulting in failure rather than success.
If you follow these simple instructions for providing your pothos water, light, and soil, and avoid typical pothos plant care blunders, pothos can be highly tolerant of new plant parent mistakes and will bounce back.
The essential lessons are to: 1.) allow your soil dry fully before watering, 2.) provide adequate light for your pothos; low light does not equal no light, and 3.) only repot when absolutely required and as a last resort when troubleshooting your pothos.
The best way to enable your pothos to grow lush leaves and long vines is to give it a strong and healthy foundation, which begins with not overwatering it, providing it with free oxygen through a well-draining soil, and providing enough light to help it not retain excess moisture for too long.
How do I keep my pothos happy?
Learn how to look after your Pothos!
- Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Water every 1-2 weeks. Watering should be done more frequently in better light and less frequently in lower light.
How do I make my pothos grow thicker?
Pothos don’t need fertilizer and aren’t heavy feeders, but if you want them to develop faster, you’ll need to give them a boost. Consider this option first if you’ve been growing it in the same pot for years.
Fertilize the soil at least once or twice a month with compost or liquid seaweed solution. This will increase the plant’s foliage growth and make it appear heavier and fuller.
Use a hand trowel to lightly mix in the necessary amount of solid fertilizer on top of the soil. To activate the fertilizer, water the plant.
If you’re using a liquid fertilizer, combine the fertilizer and water in a watering can, then pour the solution into the pot as if you were watering it. To avoid burning the plant, dilute it to about half strength.
If you have a Pothos plant that grows in water, I don’t advocate fertilizing it. It could cause the plant to decay by attracting algae development. Rather, refilling the water once a week will suffice.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that too much fertilizer can harm the plant. You can take the plant from the soil and replant it with new soil if you detect fertilizer build-up in the soil. You can alternatively saturate the soil with water and let it drain as an option.
How do you make pothos variegated?
Enhance the quantity of sunshine your pothos receives to increase the amount of variegation. If you do this, make careful to gradually increase the amount of light you use.
The leaves will be burned if they are exposed to too much sunlight. If given optimal sunshine circumstances, a Golden Pothos, for example, can produce totally yellow leaves.
You might also try propagating a few variegated stems and growing an altogether new plant.
You can increase the chances of the new plant producing predominantly variegated leaves by propagating variegated-dominate stems with nodes.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee is not only a necessary part of the day, but the grounds also supply crucial nutrients to your plants.
Coffee grounds have a higher nitrogen content than potassium and phosphorus, making them more acidic. Combine coffee with compost or liquid plant fertilizer to get a balanced ratio.
NOTE: During the dormant stage (winter), some pothos lovers sprinkle a little amount of coffee grounds on the plant to guarantee it is ready for spring.
Only attempt this if you have a lot of expertise with pothos plants.
Compost
For individuals who don’t like the scent of good compost, inorganic fertilizers are usually the most popular. Organic plant lovers, on the other hand, may be hesitant to use them.
Compost is a great source of nutrients for plants, but the release of nutrients isn’t evenly distributed.
It’s fine to enrich indoor Pothos with a little compost. However, it should not be used in place of a balanced-release fertilizer.
Granular Fertilizer
Granular fertilizer is intended for use with plants in the outdoors. These granular fertilizers come in the form of pellets that you place directly in the soil.
They discharge all of its nutrients at once, which is bad for an indoor plant like pothos.
This form of fertilizer is best avoided for plants in a hanging basket or tiny container.
Liquid Fertilizer
The most common type of fertilizer for pothos is liquid. It’s simple to dilute and apply liquid houseplant fertilizer when watering.
Liquid fertilizers should be diluted by 1/4 to 1/2 the specified directions, whether purchased as a liquid or powder. Use a diluted solution. Pothos chemical burns can occur if the concentration is too high inside.
How Often To Fertilize Pothos Plants?
During the growing season, apply this sort of fertilizer to potted plants once a month. For a pothos, it is by far the most effective solution.
Our choice for the finest fertilizer for pothos is a balanced liquid fertilizer.
Slow-Release Fertilizer
During each watering, it has an unique coating that releases a little amount of nutrients.
If you feed a plant in the early spring, it will continue to acquire nutrients every time you water it.
Sadly, it’s just another awful choice for pothos. The NPK release ratio is unbalanced.