Plant profile
Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Also known as devil's ivy, golden pothos, golden pothos plant, money plant, Epipremnum aureum.
Pothos is a tropical climber grown for glossy heart-shaped leaves. It can trail from a shelf or climb a support, where the leaves can become much larger.
- Grows well in
- Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate
- Lifecycle
- Evergreen climbing aroid perennial
- Light
- Part shade, Shade
- Mature size
- Usually kept as a trailing houseplant, but outdoor vines in warm climates can climb many metres and make much larger mature leaves.
- Spacing
- One or several cuttings per pot for a fuller indoor plant. Outdoors, allow enough room for the vine to climb its support.
- Growth habit
- Trailing or climbing vine that roots at nodes and climbs with aerial roots.
- Native range
- Society Islands in French Polynesia, including Mo'orea
- Natural habitat
- Wet tropical forest, where it climbs tree trunks and roots along the forest floor.
When to plant
Tropical
February–November
Subtropical
September–April
Temperate
October–March
Arid inland
September–April
Mediterranean
September–April
Repot or propagate during warm active growth. In warm frost-free areas, outdoor plants establish fastest once nights are reliably mild.
Planting
Use a free-draining potting mix and a pot with drainage. Give climbing plants a pole, board or rough support so the stems can attach and the leaves can size up.
Position and light
Bright filtered light gives dense growth and stronger variegation. It tolerates lower light indoors, but stems stretch and variegation can fade. Avoid sudden harsh afternoon sun.
Soil
Use a quality airy potting mix that drains freely while holding some moisture. Outdoors, grow in fertile but drained soil.
Watering
Water thoroughly, then let the top layer of mix dry before watering again. Yellow soft leaves and constantly wet mix usually point to too much water.
Feeding
Feed lightly every month or two during active growth. Reduce feeding when indoor growth slows in winter.
Pruning
Cut long bare stems back above a node to encourage branching. Keep outdoor vines from rooting along the ground or climbing into surrounding vegetation.
Propagation
Stem cuttings root readily in water or potting mix. Each cutting needs at least one node.
Common problems
Overwatering causes yellow leaves and root rot. Low light creates long gaps between leaves. Mealybugs, scale and spider mites can occur indoors.
Safety notes
All parts contain needle-like calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing can cause intense mouth pain, swelling and difficulty swallowing in people and pets; sap can irritate skin and eyes.
Worth knowing
When pothos climbs, the leaves can become much larger than they are on trailing stems. Good filtered light also helps patterned forms hold their colour.
Featured In
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