Care guide
Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Heart-shaped leaves on stems that trail or climb for metres — arguably the easiest fast grower in the house. This guide covers Epipremnum aureum cultivars, including the Neon Pothos currently linked.
At a glance
tap for detail ↓Just arrived?
Welcome home! A little settling-in is completely normal — here’s what to know in week one.
- A dropped leaf or a little droop in the first week is just travel shock — give it a calm, bright spot and time.
- Don’t repot for at least 4 weeks. It ships happy in its nursery pot — just sit that inside your decorative cover.
- Check the plant-specific watering guidance below before giving it a drink — different plants prefer very different levels of dryness.
Light
Bright, indirect light keeps the variegation crisp — the more cream or gold in the leaf (Marble Queen, Golden, Neon), the more light it wants. Plain-green Jade is the most shade-tolerant. None want direct midday sun; in low light, variegated types drift towards green.
Watering
Check weekly and water when the top few centimetres have dried. Pothos wilts slightly when thirsty and perks up within hours of a drink — an honest, forgiving communicator.
Humidity & temperature
Any normal room humidity works. Comfortable anywhere from 15–28°C — genuinely one of the least fussy plants sold.
Feeding
Monthly balanced feed through spring and summer keeps the metres coming.
Repotting & size
Repot each spring or two as roots fill the pot, one size up, in standard peat-free mix. Let it trail from a shelf, or give it a moss pole — the climbing form produces noticeably bigger leaves as it ascends.
Something wrong?
Most problems are fixable — find the symptom below.
Variegation dulling to green
Cause
Not enough light to hold the cream, gold or lime markings.
Fix
Brighter (indirect) light re-brightens new growth; plain-green Jade won’t revert, that’s just its colour.
Wilting
Cause
Thirst.
Fix
Water and it recovers within hours; if it’s wilting while wet, check the roots for rot.
Yellow leaves
Cause
Overwatering.
Fix
Let the top dry properly between drinks.
Long bare stems
Cause
Trailing habit plus low light.
Fix
Trim back — every cutting roots in water — and give it more light.
Brown crispy tips
Cause
Very dry air or missed waterings.
Fix
A steadier routine fixes it; damage is cosmetic.
Small leaves
Cause
Normal when trailing; light or hunger if extreme.
Fix
Feed through the season, or train it upward — climbing pothos leaves can double in size.
Meet the plant
About Pothos
Common names include: pothos, devil's ivy, golden pothos, money plant.
- Pothos is nicknamed devil’s ivy because it’s so hard to kill — it keeps going in dim corners others refuse. Note it’s toxic to pets if chewed.
- Cuttings root readily in water, usually within a few weeks, making it the classic 'pass it on' plant.
- Climbing changes it: given a pole, leaves grow dramatically larger than the same plant left trailing — and the highly variegated cultivars all share identical care.
Shop this plant
Seasonal care tips, four times a year
What to change as the light changes — no spam, ever.
