Pothos Care Guide: How to Identify and Grow Devil's Ivy

The trailing vine that forgives low light and missed waterings

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Pothos is a trailing vine from the Society Islands of French Polynesia, and one of the most forgiving houseplants there is. It copes with lower light, bounces back from a missed watering, and roots easily from cuttings in a glass of water.

Common varieties include Golden (green streaked with yellow), Marble Queen (heavily white-variegated), Neon (bright chartreuse) and N'Joy (small leaves with crisp white patches).

Pothos at a glance

Water: When the top half is dry
Light: Low to bright indirect
Humidity: Average household
Temperature: 15–29 °C (60–85 °F)
Difficulty: Easy

How to identify a Pothos

Thick, waxy, heart-shaped leaves, often slightly asymmetrical, on trailing or climbing stems.

Each new leaf unfurls along a raised ridge, with no papery sheath at its base.

Short, stubby brown aerial roots at each node along the vine.

Often sold as, or confused with, Heartleaf Philodendron, whose leaves are thinner, softer and more evenly heart-shaped.

Close-up of waxy, heart-shaped pothos leaves — Thick, waxy leaves, often a little lopsided at the base.

Light and water

Low to bright indirect light. Variegated types lose their color and grow leggy in low light; avoid hot direct sun.

When the top half of the soil is dry, about every 1 to 2 weeks. Drooping leaves are a reliable sign it's thirsty.

Humidity and temperature

Average household humidity is fine.

15 to 29 °C (60 to 85 °F). Keep above 10 °C (50 °F).

Watering a hanging pothos from a white watering can — Water once the top half of the soil has dried out.

Is a Pothos safe for cats and dogs?

Toxic to cats and dogs. The leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and stomach.

Tips for a healthy Pothos

Pinch or trim long vines just above a leaf to make the plant bushier, and root the cuttings to fill out the pot.

Let it climb a pole and the leaves get noticeably larger.

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a diluted balanced fertilizer.

A pothos cutting rooting in a glass of water — Cuttings root in a glass of water in a few weeks.

Common Pothos problems

Yellow leaves: Usually overwatering, particularly if several leaves yellow at once and the soil stays wet.

Long bare vines with small leaves: Not enough light. Move it brighter and trim the leggy vines.

Brown leaf tips: Uneven watering, dry air or salt build-up from fertilizer.

Wilting: Often thirst, which a good drink fixes within hours. If the soil is already wet, suspect the roots.

A pothos with one yellowing leaf among green ones — A yellowing leaf: check the soil before you water again.

Pothos questions

Can Pothos grow in low light?+

It tolerates low light better than most houseplants, but it grows slowly, gets leggy and loses variegation there. Bright, indirect light keeps it full and colorful.

How do I make my Pothos fuller?+

Trim long vines just above a leaf node, root the cuttings in water, and plant them back into the same pot. Pruning also encourages new shoots from the base.

Is Pothos toxic to pets?+

Yes. Pothos contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals and is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed.

Identify it with a photo

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