Pothos
Pothos is a vegetable in the Araceae family. It grows best in part shade to full shade with dry to medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 10-12.
Varieties
1 · sorted by days to maturity▸Pothos
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Tropical houseplant (cuttings) (not in original seed catalog). Use: Near-indestructible trailing foliage. Note: Toxic to pets if chewed.
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is the classic beginner houseplant, a forgiving trailing aroid that thrives in low light and roots easily from cuttings in water.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum|Hardiness zones: 10-12|Propagation: cutting|Light: Low to bright indirect light|Water: Low to medium|Mature size: trailing 6-10 feet
Plan your pothos planting
Add pothos to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.
Start your free plan →Pothos care at a glance
Anything from low to bright indirect light — the definitive easy-care range. Variegated types (golden, marble queen) need brighter light to keep their patterning.
Water thoroughly when the top inch or two has dried; leaves droop subtly when thirsty and recover fast.
Entirely unfussy about household humidity.
Keep above 55°F — cold damage starts below that.
Any well-draining potting mix.
Dilute balanced fertilizer monthly in the growing season — it honestly barely needs it.
In winter: Every 2–3 weeks is typical in winter; err dry.
Calcium oxalates — chewing causes oral burning, drooling, and vomiting in cats and dogs, and irritation in people. Hang or shelve the vines out of reach.
Pet listing per the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database.
How to propagate pothos
Stem cuttings in water
- Cut the vine into sections, each with a node (the brown bump opposite a leaf).
- Stand nodes in water on a bright sill.
- Roots appear in 1–3 weeks; the classic first propagation project.
- Plant several rooted cuttings together for a full pot.
Common pothos problems
Why are my pothos leaves turning yellow?
Likely cause: Overwatering is the number-one cause — constantly damp soil suffocates roots and older leaves yellow in batches. (One or two old leaves a month is normal.)
Fix: Let the top couple of inches dry before rewatering, empty the cachepot after watering, and if the soil stays wet for a week-plus, repot into a draining mix.
Why is my pothos losing its variegation?
Likely cause: Low light — the plant reverts to efficient plain green when photons are scarce.
Fix: Move it to brighter indirect light and trim the all-green vines; new growth re-variegates in good light.
Why are my pothos' leaf tips brown and crispy?
Likely cause: Long dry spells between waterings, very dry air, or salt buildup.
Fix: Steady the watering rhythm, flush the pot occasionally, and trim the tips; it's cosmetic.
Why is my pothos long and leggy with bare stems?
Likely cause: Dim light stretches the vines — big gaps, small leaves.
Fix: Cut the vines back hard (they branch from the cuts), root the trimmings, and give the pot brighter light.
Care profile compiled from extension and horticultural society guidance and the ASPCA toxic-plants list. Conditions vary by home — treat ranges as starting points.
At a glance
Storing & preserving
Most keep best refrigerated; storage crops prefer a cool, dry spot.
- Freeze: Blanch briefly, cool, then freeze — keeps color and texture.
- Can: Pressure-can low-acid vegetables; water-bath only pickled/acidified ones.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting
No curated care & troubleshooting advice for pothos yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.