Pothos is ridiculously easy.
Chances are you’ve seen devil’s ivy, also known as pothos, in many homes.
So if you didn’t inherit a green thumb, this one might be for you.
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Just be warned that it throws its inhibitions to the wind when taken outdoors.
Devil’s ivy leaves tend to grow to about 4 inches long indoors.
With support, the vines will scramble up poles, over shelves, or across walls on hooks.
This houseplant will also toleratelow-light situations, even artificial lighting in an office.
The plant will grow slower and may become spindly or fade in very low light.
Variegated plants can lose their coloring.
Hot, direct sunlight will scorch the leaves.
Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth from time to time to remove dust.
Soil
Use a lightweight, well-draining potting mix for your pothos.
They do well in nutrient-rich potting mix that includes compost or slow-release fertilizer.
Water
Pothos prefers its soil lightly moist.
Allow the top inch or two of potting mix to dry out between waterings.
The plants do not do well in soggy soil and can develop root rot.
The plant thrives in temperatures between 70 and 90 F and high humidity.
However, devil’s ivy will tolerate indoor conditions in low humidity.
Fertilizer
Fertilize your planttwice a year with a liquid houseplant fertilizer according to package directions.
Avoid fertilizing in winter, when devil’s ivy isn’t actively growing.
Pruning also leads to bushier growth and provides free cuttings that you could plant.
Use sterile snips or pruners to avoid spreading disease.
Fill the bottom with fresh, lightweight potting mix that drains well and contains some organic matter.
Place the plant in the center, then fill around it with potting mix.
Lightly tamp down and water.
Keep an eye on your plant as it grows.
Once nighttime temperatures start to dip below 60 in fall or winter, bring the plant back indoors.
Keep in mind that you have exposed yourhouseplant to pests.
Isolate your pothos from other indoor plants until you are sure any pests have been eliminated.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Scale and mealybugs may infest devil’s ivy along with other houseplants.
Scale looks like brown bumps on leaves and stems,while mealybugslook like tiny tufts of cotton.
Scale may be controlled with neem oil, but sometimes plants have to be discarded.
Root rot can develop with overwatering and eventually cause the plant to wither away.
The flower spikes are hooded by a spadix and are creamy or greenish-white.
Devil’s ivy rarely blooms indoors because it is in an immature form.
However,yellow leavesoften are a sign of overwatering.
Low light can make the problem worse.
Yellow leaves eventually fall off and leave bare spots on the vine, so prune as desired.
Black Spots Or Tips
Black spots or patches on leaves are a sign of overwatering.
If the leaf tips turn brown or black, this can indicate under-watering or too much sun.
Adjust your watering schedule and move to a more protected location if needed.
Fertilizer can cause salts to build up in the soil and turn leaf margins black.
Wilting Leaves
Wilting can be tricky as it is a sign of under or overwatering.
If you’ve been watering regularly, let your plant dry out more between waterings.
Move your plant a little closer to a window or into a brighter room.
Also, mutations are common with new growth on pothos plants.
Remove stems that don’t sport the desired color, as they could eventually take over.
This is an opportunity to take cuttings and grow a new devil’s ivy plant.
The general consensus is that golden pothos got the name devil’s ivy from being hard to kill.
It survives in low light and hangs on in poor conditions, then creeps and leaps with better care.
New leaves emerge from a waxy sheath and may have a brownish tint.
New growth on a pothos plant emerges from beneath existing leaves.
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