Pothos care
Golden Pothos
Pothos is the forgiving, trailing friend that thrives on neglect. Low light, irregular water, and the occasional trim — it'll happily vine across your shelf for years.
Heads up — Pothos is toxic to cats and dogs per ASPCA data. Keep it out of reach of pets, and check our toxicity checker for pet-safe alternatives.
Light
Pothos is famously flexible. It's happy in low to medium light, but it grows fastest and keeps its variegation brightest in bright, indirect light.
Keep it out of direct sun — that scorches the leaves. A north or east window, or set back from a bright south window, is ideal.
Water
Let the top 2 inches of soil dry out before watering. Pothos would rather be a little dry than soggy — overwatering is the number one way people lose one.
In winter it grows slower and needs less water. When in doubt, wait a couple more days.
Soil & pot
Any well-draining houseplant mix works. The non-negotiable is a pot with a drainage hole — pothos roots rot fast in standing water.
Humidity & temperature
Average home humidity is fine. It enjoys a bit more if you can give it, but it won't sulk in normal rooms.
Keep it between 65–85°F and away from cold drafts.
Propagation
Stupidly easy. Snip a stem just below a node (the bump where a leaf meets the stem), put it in water, and wait a couple weeks for roots. That's the whole trick.
Not sure? Ask Thumbs about your Pothos →
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Common pothos problems
Something off with your pothos? Jump to the symptom — or just ask Thumbs.