Plant care guide

Pothos

Epipremnum aureum, E. pinnatumFamily Araceae

Also known as Golden pothos, devil's ivy

The perfect first plant. It grows fast, forgives forgetfulness, and trails gracefully from any shelf. It comes in gold, jade green, neon and almost white.

LightLow to bright indirect
WaterWhen the top 1–2 inches are dry
HumidityNormal indoor
Temperature65–86 °F (18–30 °C)
PetsToxic to dogs and cats (irritates the mouth)
DifficultyVery easy

Varieties we grow

Golden: The classic; green leaves with golden-yellow streaks and splashes.
Hawaiian: Similar to Golden, with larger leaves and bolder yellow; one of the fastest growers.
Jade: Solid glossy deep green with no variegation; very tough and fast-growing.
Neon: Solid lime green, almost glowing yellow, with no streaks; the most sun-sensitive.
Marble Queen: Green leaves marbled with creamy white; grows a little slower.
Snow Queen: Like Marble Queen, but with far more white than green.
Happy Leaf: Also sold as Manjula; nearly white leaves with green patches and slightly wavy edges.
Baltic Blue: A different species, Epipremnum pinnatum: broad blue-green leaves that split even when young; best on a trellis or in a basket.

Light

It copes with dim corners, but it looks its best in medium to bright indirect light. In low light the leaves lose their colored streaks and the vines stretch out with more space between leaves. The whitest varieties (Marble Queen, Snow Queen, Happy Leaf) need more brightness, and Neon scorches easily, so keep them out of direct sun.

Watering

Water when the top 1–2 inches of soil are dry. It will tell you when it's thirsty — the leaves droop, then perk back up a few hours after watering. It handles drought well, so underwatering is safer than overwatering.

Soil and pot

Any all-purpose potting mix with a little perlite for drainage works, in a pot with drainage holes. If the vines get too long, trim them just above a node and root the cuttings in water for new plants.

Humidity and temperature

Normal indoor humidity is fine. Warmth is what drives its growth most, and it speeds up as temperatures rise to about 86 °F (30 °C). Keep it out of direct air conditioning and away from spots below 59 °F (15 °C).

In the Dominican Republic

It grows vigorously here, even outdoors in the shade. Planted in the ground next to a tree it will climb and spread a lot, so it's best kept in a pot. During the rainy season, make sure the pot drains well.

Also known as

Potus: Common Spanish name
Pothos: Common Spanish name
Poto: Spain
Hiedra del diablo: Common Spanish name
Golden pothos: Common English name
Devil's ivy: Common English name
Money plant: Common English name (India)

Common problems

Yellow leavesUsually overwatering; let the soil dry out more between waterings.
Leaves losing their colored streaksNot enough light; move it closer to a bright window.
Brown scorch marks on the white or yellow areasToo much light or direct sun; move it to filtered light.
Long vines with few leavesLow light; trim the vines and move the plant.