Don’t Make These 9 Pothos Care Mistakes

From overwatering to growing in a low-light area, there are a lot of mistakes you can make when caring for a pothos houseplant. Thankfully, they recover quickly and easily so their elongated, verdant vines can add an attractive vertical element to almost any room in your home or office.

Although these are among the easiest houseplants to care for, they are not without issues. A few care mistakes can significantly reduce growth and even kill your pothos plant. Here’s how to identify and fix them.

9 Common Pothos Care Mistakes and How to Fix Them

If your pothos vine looks yellow, brown, sickly, or stunted, here are some likely causes of its poor performance. Correcting these common care mistakes can rapidly revitalize this hardy houseplant.

Overwatering

Excess moisture is the most common reason for problems with tropical houseplants. It’s best to keep the soil on the dryer side to ensure that this houseplant does not become overburdened with too much moisture. Many beginners accidentally over-love their plants by pouring large amounts of water in their containers on a regular basis. The water builds up in the upper layers of the pot and fails to dry out enough before the next irrigation session. 

Pothos originate in tropical areas where water drains very quickly through the soil. They cannot sit in soggy conditions for long without succumbing to fungal diseases like root and stem rot. 

Unfortunately, overwatering sometimes looks like underwatering. The leaves may turn yellow and droop, causing confused houseplant growers to think that their pothos needs water. To check the moisture and prevent issues, wait until the upper few inches of dirt dry out completely before watering again. If a finger stuck in the pot comes out mucky, refrain from irrigating until it dries out again.

Root Rot

Root rot is a common pothos care mistake linked to overwatering. These two issues often occur simultaneously. If vines appear wilted and yellow, or a foul smell comes from the roots, it could be a sign that root rot fungus has taken hold. Pothos dislike “wet feet,” which means they struggle when their roots are exposed to too much water.

The extra moist soil creates conditions for pathogenic (disease-causing) fungi to colonize the roots and rot them. They gradually turn into mush, preventing the plant from uptaking water, which leads to wilted foliage. This is why overwatering and root rot are sometimes confused with underwatering.

The best solution is to remove your pothos from its pot and prune away rotten root pieces. Use sharp, sanitized scissors or pruners to ensure you don’t spread the fungus. Throw away the old soil and prepare a new container with fresh, well-drained mix. After the mushy pieces are pruned away, place the root ball in its new pot at the same soil level where it previously sat.

Poorly Drained Soil

These first three care mistakes have one common thread—they all suffocate pothos roots. Poorly drained soil exacerbates the issues of overwatering and root rot. You never want to grow these tropical houseplants in heavy or clunky soil because it is easily waterlogged and can drown the roots. 

If you notice symptoms like yellowing, wilted leaves, mushy roots, and soggy-feeling soil, you should re-pot the pothos immediately. Ensure that the new container has a large drainage hole and a fluffy, aerated blend of soil mix. Ideal mixtures include peat moss, coco coir, vermiculite, and perlite to promote faster water drainage. Look for a bag labeled “cactus mix” or “tropical houseplant blend.” 

Low Sunlight

This is one of many houseplants that thrive in low light. However, extra dark rooms don’t provide enough light for these vines to thrive. The most obvious symptoms include pale or yellow leaves and spindly, leggy vines with long spaces between the leaf nodes. This shows that the plant is reaching for more light and failing to sustain sufficient photosynthesis to hold onto all of its leaves. 

While these vines can grow in north-facing windows or areas with indirect light, they do best in brighter areas of your home. At the very least, they require a few hours of dappled sunlight or four to five hours of artificial lighting. This will provide enough light to fuel photosynthesis and keep the vines green and growing.

Excess Sunlight

While all plants need sunshine, there can be too much of a good thing. It is a common mistake to grow pothos right next to a bright, south-facing window. Excess light causes sunscald or scorched foliage that turns brownish-black. Instead, these tropical vines are better suited to an area receiving partial or dappled sunlight, such as the interior of a room or a shelf that is several feet away from a direct sunshine window. 

If you notice yellow and brown, crispy leaves, move your houseplant away from the light source and prune away any dead foliage. Wait a few weeks to see if it recovers.

Planting Too Deep

When transplanting these vines, it’s very important not to bury them too deep. The center crown of the plant can easily rot and decay if it is buried under soil and water.

Instead, keep the soil level the same when moving from one pot to another. If you bury it too shallow, roots may float above the surface, but if you plant too deep, the crown and stems can rot.

Forgetting to Prune

Bushy, overflowing hanging baskets don’t just grow on their own. Pruning is essential to maintain the attractive shape of a hanging plant, particularly pothos. Neglecting to prune can result in long, winding vines that are great for training along walls, but not as suitable for bushy dangling baskets.

Use sharp, sanitized pruners to tip the vines and cut back any stems that become skinny or weak. This will trigger the plant to grow more foliage close to the base rather than sending out long, leafless vines. Pruning is also vital for preventing disease and overcrowding in old specimens. Luckily, you can use the clipped stem pieces as new cuttings to expand your collection. 

Cold Temperatures

Pothos are tropical plants that can’t survive temperatures below 32°F (0°C). Ideally, they should grow between 65 to 85°F (18-29°C) at room temperature in a home or building. They are super sensitive to cold and should be kept away from cold windows and drafts. If you move your plant outside in the summer, remember to bring it back into your home for the fall and winter. 

Lack of Humidity

Most tropical houseplants prefer moderate to high humidity, but some can tolerate dry air. A lack of humidity can lead to issues with some varieties of pothos, while others—like ‘N’Joy’ golden pothos—don’t mind dryness. Still, extremely low humidity can severely dry out the leaves and lead to shriveled pothos plants.