🌿 Pothos - The Complete Guide to the Houseplant That's Almost Impossible to Kill
📋 Quick summary - everything you need to know at a glance
Suitable for all light conditions!
Indirect light to almost full shade
When the ground dries up
Once a week or two
Home / Office / Bathroom
Perfect for hanging!
Very easy!
Ideal for beginners
18-29°C
Not less than 15°C
🌱 Getting to know the Photus
Naming and identification
- Hebrew name: Photus, ivy
- Scientific name: Epipremnum aureum
- Common names: Devil's Ivy, Devil's Vine, Golden Philodendron
- Family: Araceae
Origin and climate
The Pothos is native to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific and French Polynesia. In the natural forest it climbs trees and can develop huge leaves! At home it remains more modest and spreads with beautiful stems.
Why does everyone love potted plants?
- 💪 Almost impossible to kill: forgives neglect and mistakes
- 🌑 Survives in the shade: Grows even in dark corners
- 🌬️ Air purifier: Filter formaldehyde and toxins
- ✂️ Easy to propagate: cuttings in water within days!
- 🎨 Variety of varieties: different colors and shades
- 💚 Grows fast: long, beautiful stems
Special features
- Growth type: climbing/spreading
- Stem length: up to several meters!
- Leaves: Cordate, 10-20 cm, shiny
- Flowering: Doesn't bloom indoors (and that's okay!)
🌤️ Growing conditions - the key to success
☀️ Light
The great advantage of the photophilous: it adapts to almost any light condition - from bright light to dark corners!
Ideal light: Medium to bright indirect light. Near a window with a curtain or 1-2 meters away from a window.
Stable growth, healthy leaves, preserved diversity (in diverse varieties)
Slow growth, small leaves, loss of variegation (becoming uniformly green)
💡 Tip: Photus can also grow in artificial light! Perfect for windowless offices or bathrooms.
⚠️ Please note: Strong direct sunlight may burn the leaves. In a south-facing window - move it away or provide shade.
💧 Irrigation
Guiding principle: The Photus prefers to dry out a bit between waterings. It forgives forgetfulness but does not like "wet feet"!
Frequency by season:
- 🌞 Summer: Once a week (depending on heat and light)
- 🍂 Spring/Fall: Every 7-10 days
- ❄️ Winter: Every one to two weeks
How to check if watering is needed?
Stick your finger into the soil - if it is dry at a depth of 2-3 cm, it's time to water. You can also lift the pot - if it is light, it needs water!
Yellow leaves, rotten roots, bad smell from the soil
Wilted and wrinkled leaves (will recover after watering!)
💡 Tip: The Photus "tells" when it is thirsty - the leaves become a little limp. Water and they will recover within hours!
🌡️ Temperature and humidity
Ideal range: 18-29°C (65-85°F)
Minimum: not lower than 15°C - Photus does not like cold!
- Humidity: 50-70% ideal, but also does well in low humidity
- Air conditioner: Do not place in direct current!
- Heating: Keep away from radiators
💡 Great location: Bathroom! The high humidity is perfect for Pothos and it will add greenery to the space.
🪴 Substrate and drainage
Recommended substrate type: Light, aerated, well-drained soil. Photus is not picky!
Simple recipe:
- 70% regular potting soil
- 30% perlite (for drainage)
Drainage: Important to prevent rot!
- ✅ Flower pot with drainage hole
- ✅ Do not leave water at the bottom
- ✅ You can also grow in water only! (Hydroponics)
🏺 Potting and Repotting
When to move a flowerpot?
- Every 1-2 years, or when the roots come out of the drainage
- When growth has stopped despite proper treatment
- Best in spring or summer
💡 Tip: Pothos actually likes to be a little "crowded" in the pot - don't rush to move!
Recommended types of pots:
- 🪴 Hanging bowl - perfect for spilled stems!
- 🪴 Flowerpot on a high shelf
- 🪴 Flowerpot with climbing rod (for larger leaves)
- 🪴 Glass bottle with water (hydroponic)
🧪 Fertilization
Photus is not particularly voracious, but moderate fertilization will encourage rapid growth and larger, healthier leaves.
When to fertilize?
- 🌸 Spring-Summer: Once a month to every two weeks
- 🍂 Autumn: Once a month or two
- ❄️ Winter: No need to fertilize
Which fertilizer is suitable?
- Balanced liquid fertilizer: 20-20-20, diluted in half
- Fertilizer for leafy plants: rich in nitrogen
- For growing in water: very diluted hydroponic fertilizer
- Overfertilization - brown tips, "burning" roots
- Fertilizing on dry soil - always water first!
✂️ Pruning and shaping
Guiding principle: Pruning the potted plant encourages denser growth and prevents a "sparse" and "splayed" appearance.
When to prune?
- When the stems get too long
- When the plant looks thin at the top
- To remove yellow or brown leaves
- To produce cuttings!
How to prune correctly?
- Cut above a joint (the point where a leaf emerges)
- Use clean scissors.
- Plant the parts you pruned as seedlings!
🔄 Plant propagation - the easiest way!
Pothos is one of the easiest plants to propagate. Simply cut it and put it in water - that's it!
💧 Method 1: Cutting in water (the easiest!)
- Cut: A 10-20 cm long section with 2-4 leaves
- Place of cut: below the joint (the point where a leaf emerges)
- Remove: Lower leaves that will be underwater
- Place: in a glass container with clean water
- Change: Water once a week
- Wait: roots will appear within 1-2 weeks!
- Optional: Plant in soil with roots 5-7 cm, or leave in water permanently!
💡 Tip: If there is an aerial root (brown spot on the stem) - cut below it for faster roots!
🌱 Method 2: Direct cutting in the ground
- Cut a section with 2-4 leaves (as in the previous method)
- Remove lower leaves
- Plant directly into moist soil.
- Maintain constant humidity (not too wet!)
- Roots will develop within 2-4 weeks.
🌊 Hydroponic growing (only in water!)
Yes, Pothos can only grow in water for very long periods!
- Use beautiful glassware.
- Change water every week
- Add diluted hydroponic fertilizer once a month.
- Make sure only the roots are in the water, not the leaves!
⚠️ Mosquito prevention: Change water regularly or plug the bottle opening with a sponge around the stem.
🐛 Pests and diseases
The pothos plant is very resistant to pests, but can sometimes be attacked - especially in suboptimal conditions.
🐜 Aphids
Signs: Small green/black insects on the underside of the leaves, sticky liquid
Treatment: Wash with a strong jet of water, spray with potassium soap or neem.
🕷️ Spider Mites
Signs: Tiny yellow dots, thin webs, mottled leaves
Treatment: Increase humidity, wash leaves, spray neem or soap
🐛 Mealybugs
Signs: White "cotton" at the nodes and base of the leaves
Treatment: Remove with an alcohol swab, spray with neem.
🍄 Root rot
Signs: Yellow leaves, soft, black roots, bad smell
Treatment: Remove from soil, cut off rotten roots, replant, reduce watering!
🔧 Troubleshooting common problems
| problem | Possible cause | solution |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow leaves | Overwatering (most common!) | Reduce watering, ensure drainage, check roots |
| Brown edges | Low humidity / salts in water / excessive fertilization | Spray water, use filtered water |
| Wilted leaves | Thirsty! (mostly) | Water it - it will recover within hours! |
| Loss of diversity (going green) | Lack of light | Move to a brighter place |
| Slow growth | Lack of light / lack of fertilization / winter | Move to a bright place, water it. |
| Long, thin stems | Lack of light, needs pruning | Prune and repot, move to light. |
| Small leaves | Lack of light / lack of fertilization | More light, we pedaled, weighed a climbing pole |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Photus can grow in water for very long periods. Just change the water weekly and add diluted hydroponic fertilizer.
Lack of light! Variegated varieties need good light to maintain their colors. Move to a brighter location and the variegation will return in the new leaves.
Every 1-2 years, or when the roots come out of the drainage. Pothos actually likes to be a little crowded!
Yes! NASA research found that the Photus filters pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene from the air.
Let it climb! Use a coconut pole or support. When the potted plant climbs, the leaves grow significantly!
Yes, but only in nature. Under home conditions, the Photus almost never blooms - and that's okay, the leaves are the star!
They look similar but are different species! Photus has thicker leaves with a waxy texture, while Philodendron has softer leaves with a more pronounced heart shape.
🌟 Professional secrets and tips
🧽 Water you used to wash rice
Water you cooked or washed rice in contains starch and minerals - excellent for watering potted plants!
🪵 Climbing pole = giant leaves
Want bigger leaves? Let the potted plant climb a coconut pole or wall. This mimics nature and the leaves will grow!
✂️ Trimmed = Fuller
Trim the ends of the stems regularly. This encourages branching and gives a denser, fuller plant!
💧 The "Lift" Trick
Not sure whether to water? Lift the pot - if it's light, the pot is thirsty. If it's heavy, there's still water in the soil!
📚 Interesting facts
- The pothos is called "Devil's Ivy" because it is almost impossible to kill!
- In nature, the Photus climbs trees and can develop leaves measuring 90 cm!
- NASA included the Photus in its list of air-purifying plants
- Photus can live for decades with proper care.
🇮🇱 Adaptation to the Israeli climate
☀️ Israeli summer
- Watering: Once a week, more in extreme heat
- Location: Keep out of direct sun!
- Air conditioner: not direct current
- Humidity: Spray occasionally, or put in the bath
❄️ Israeli winter
- Watering: Less! Every week or two
- Cold: Photus does not like temperatures below 15°C.
- Bring it in: from the balcony into the house if it's cold
- Fertilization: Stop or minimize
📍 Recommended locations in the Israeli house
- 🛁 Bathroom: Perfect! High humidity and even low light are suitable
- 🍳 Kitchen: Great above cabinets or on a shelf
- 📚 Living room: on a high shelf or as a wall hanging
- 💼 Office: Even in artificial light!
- 🪜 Staircase: Spreads beautifully downstairs
🛒 Purchase and recommended products
How to choose a healthy potted plant?
- ✅ Shiny green leaves, without brown or yellow spots
- ✅ Strong stems and not limp
- ✅ No signs of pests (check the underside of the leaves!)
- ✅ Soil that is not too soggy
- ✅ In diverse varieties - clear and beautiful diversity
🛍️ Recommended products from Deco Garden
Hanging bowl
Perfect for spilled stems
Coconut stick
For climbing and large leaves
glassware
For cuttings and hydroponic growing
Fertilizer for leafy plants
For healthy growth
Water sprayer
To increase humidity
Pruning shears
For pruning and cutting
📊 Summary table - all information in one place
| category | Details |
|---|---|
| ☀️ Light | Suitable for almost any light condition! Bright indirect to shade |
| 💧 Irrigation | When the soil dries out. Once a week or two. |
| 🌡️ Temperature | 18-29°C. Minimum: 15°C |
| 💨 Humidity | 50-70% is ideal, but lower is also fine. |
| 🪴 Substrate | Light and well-drained. Potting soil + perlite, or water! |
| 🧪 Fertilization | Once a month in spring-summer |
| 🔄 Transfer | Every 1-2 years |
| 🌱 Multiplication | Very easy! Cuttings in water or soil |
| 📏 Size | Stems up to several meters long! |
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The guide was written by the Deco Garden team of experts.