MONEY PLANT

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

 is one of the easiest houseplants to care for and an excellent choice for beginning growers. It's a tropical vine native to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific easily trained to climb a support or trail from a pot or hanging basket. Adaptability and minimum maintenance make it a great plant for any houseplant collection.

Pothos are fast-growing plants often adding 12 to 18 inches of length in a month. Draping vines feature pointed, heart-shaped green leaves that may be variegated with white, yellow, or pale green striations. Be aware that pothos plants are toxic to pets.

Light

Pothos likes sun or shade and can grow in low-light areas or those with only fluorescent lighting. Grown indoors, it prefers bright but indirect light. Too much shade causes variegated plants to lose their leaf pattern and revert to all-green foliage. Moving them to brighter conditions usually restores the variegation. Suddenly pale-looking leaves mean the plant is receiving too much direct sun.

Soil

Pothos plants thrive in ordinary, well-draining potting soil on the dry side and do just as well in coarse, chunky planting media. Neutral to slightly acidic soil is tolerated with a preferred soil pH from 6.1 to 6.8.

Water

Expect to water every one to two weeks; more often during the growing season and less often over winter. Let soil dry out completely between waterings. Left in continually damp soil, roots will rot. Black spots on leaves (or the sudden collapse of the plant) indicate soil has been kept too wet.3

Pothos droops when it needs water. Don’t wait until the leaves start to shrivel or the plant will lose some leaves. Dry, brown edges mean the plant was kept dry for too long.

Temperature and Humidity

Keep pothos at temperatures consistently above 50°F. and preferably between 65°F and 75°F. They grow best in high humidity, but adapt to low-humidity conditions. You can increase humidity around the plant by keeping it in a typically humid area of the home, such as a bathroom, or by grouping it with other tropical houseplants to create a humid microclimate.

Fertilizer

Pothos plants are not heavy feeders, but benefit from occasional fertilizing during the growing season. Feed with a balanced houseplant fertilizer once per month during spring and summer. Avoid fertilizing in winter when the plant goes dormant.