The Cascading Pothos, also known as simply Pothos or Devil’s Ivy, is one of the easiest plants out there to care for, and a great plant for beginners. Learn the basics of Pothos plant care including light requirements, watering frequency, and how to troubleshoot common problems you may encounter along the way.

How much light does a Pothos need?

Pothos prefer bright indirect light, though they can easily survive in low-light environments. Keep your plant out of harsh direct sunlight as their leaves will quickly burn.

How to water your Pothos

Let your plant dry out between waterings. Water thoroughly when topsoil is dry, usually once a week.

• Avoid overwatering, and note that your watering schedule may be less frequent during winter months or if the plant is getting little light.

How fast does a Pothos grow?

In prime conditions, the Pothos is an incredibly fast grower and its tendrils can grow over 10 feet long! Fertilize your plant 1-2 times per month in the spring and summer with indoor plant food, or foliar feed year round.

Pothos leaves turning yellow

Are your Pothos’ leaves yellow? Pothos have many leaves and if it’s just one or two and the rest of the plant looks healthy, most likely those leaves are just on their way out. You should be able to easily pluck them off. This is totally normal and nothing to worry about!

If you notice many yellow leaves on your Pothos, it could be a sign of overwatering. Check the soil and make sure it dries out before watering again.

Pothos leaves wilting or drooping

If your Pothos looks droopy or the leaves are wilting, most likely your plant is under-watered. This is easy to check by simply touching the soil, or checking the weight of the plant (lift it up— does it feel very light? If so, it needs a good drink!). Sometimes Pothos become so dry that when you water it, the water just drains right through. If this seems to be the case, let your plant sit in water for a few hours (no more than one day) to drink as much as it needs from the bottom up.

RESTORATIVE PLANT CARE ESSENTIALS

Keep your (plant’s) medicine cabinet fully stocked. Our complete set of natural vitamins and pest solutions is the ultimate curative remedy for plants undergoing stress due to common ailments such as fungus or infestation.

Heal Your Pothos

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How to maintain a beautiful and healthy Pothos

Take care of your Pothos and it will take care of you! Below are simple tips to continue caring for your Pothos over time.

• Pruning your pothos - Remove yellow leaves all year round, and prune often if you’d like a fuller, bushier look. Simply cut the tendrils just below the node.

• Cleaning your pothos - With so much foliage, the Pothos can be annoying to clean! Mist regularly to keep dust off, and once ever few months use a damp cloth to clean each leaf and reveal a healthy shine (also helps the plant soak in more light!).

• Repotting your pothos - Houseplants grow much slower than they would in the wild. Depending on the size of your plant and the density of the roots, this is nice to do every 2-3 years to provide fresh nutrients and encourage new growth.

  • When to repot - Pothos are incredibly hardy plants and can live in the same pot for years. If you want your Pothos to grow very large, repot every 2-3 years.

  • Pot sizing - if you want your plant to grow bushier, find a nursery pot that’s 2” in diameter larger than the current pot. If you want your plant to stay the same height, you can reuse the same pot and simply change the soil.

  • Get your hands dirty - spread out newspaper on the floor, remove the plant from the pot and shake off as much of the old soil as possible so that you have clean roots. Place the plant in the center of the pot, add new soil and pat down firmly. Water the soil thoroughly and place the plant in an area with bright indirect light. Your plant will take 2-4 weeks to settle from the shock and adjust to its new home.

• Staking your pothos - Some Pothos owners like to stake their plant to encourage vertical growth. You can do this by simply inserting a moss totem and attaching the stems of the plant to it with prongs.

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How to propagate a Pothos

Whether you want to recycle your Pothos cuttings after pruning or you simply want to create a new plant, know that the Pothos, thanks to its aerial roots, is one of the easiest plants to propagate. Though there are many ways to do this, water propagation is generally the easiest way to go about it. Follow these instructions to propagate your Pothos:

• Select a stem to propagate - Using a clean blade, cut an inch or two below an aerial root. You don’t have to propagate with an aerial root, but this is a guaranteed way of propagation success!

• Place in water - Find a clear glass and fill with water. Make sure only the stem is submerged, and no leaves are sitting in the water.

• Place in a bright area and wait! - Avoid any direct sun. It usually takes just a week or so for the root to start growing.

• Transfer to soil - After a couple weeks, transfer to indoor potting soil. A small pot is best — no larger than 6” in diameter.

• Keep hydrated - During the first few weeks, or until your plant feels firmly rooted in its soil, regularly water and drain your new Pothos. The soil should be just barely moist to the touch at all times until the plant is thoroughly rooted in the soil, at which point you can water every time the soil dries out.

Illustrations by our talented plant stylist, Kailie Barnes.

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Cascading Pothos

A popular, attractive, and truly easy-care plant, the Cascading Pothos has smooth and leathery heart-shaped leaves and is adaptable to virtually any environment.

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When it comes to houseplants, it doesn’t get any more classic than the Cascading Pothos, also known as Devil’s Ivy, Golden Pothos, Money Plant, and (erroneously) philodendron. This trailing plant is by far one of the easiest to care for and is a great option for beginners. If you’re eyeing one of these no-fuss beauties, read up on it first so you can be sure it’s the right fit!

The Pothos Plant: What Makes It So Easy To Care For?

The Pothos (epipremnum aureum) is known for its hardiness and ease of care. That’s because unlike other houseplants, it can survive and thrive in a wide variety of conditions. From bright light to low light, high humidity to extremely dry air, the Pothos is not a picky plant.

How fast does the Pothos grow?

Pothos are fast growers through and through. With proper care, this plant can grow up to a foot each month during the spring and summer. Of course, Pothos plants are great for low light spaces, and as with any plant, it will grow more slowly in low light.

What kind of light do pothos require?

Pothos are very flexible in terms of light. Anything from low light to bright light will do. Avoid direct sunlight with this plant as its leaves may burn.

It’s important not to overwater your Pothos

Pothos like to have their roots dry out in between waterings. As such, always check the soil before watering and don’t water unless it feels dry.

In fact, the Pothos is a great plant for beginners because it communicates when it’s thirsty: when Pothos start to droop, that’s when you know you need to water.

Pothos are great air purifiers

Looking for an excellent air-purifying plant? Look no further. In a NASA clean air study, the Pothos showed effectiveness in clearing the air of common toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, carbon monoxide and xylene. While it’s true that one Pothos in a large living room may not make a big dent, anything helps!

Propagating Pothos is SO easy!

Pothos plants are by far some of the easiest out there to propagate. If you are not familiar with propagation, it is essentially making multiple new plants from one! How to propagate a Pothos? Simply snip a stem below the node and place in water. Once roots have sprouted, you can plant in potting soil and watch it grow! Not sure what a node is? Read our full guide on propagation here.

are pothos plants safe for pets?

Unfortunately the Pothos plant is mildly toxic for cats and dogs. That said, given its trailing nature, you can easily place it out of reach of curious pets and thus enjoy its beauty alongside your furry companions.

How many pothos varieties are there?

The short answer: so many! Some of the most popular Pothos varieties include the Golden Pothos, Cascading Pothos, Neon Pothos, N’Joy Pothos, Satin Pothos, Marble Queen Pothos and Jade Pothos. All Pothos varieties are easy to care for and great for beginners.

EXPLORE THE BEAUTIFUL CASCADING POTHOS

A lush and trailing houseplant, perfect for beginners and seasoned plant parents alike!

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Photo courtesy Mod Musings

Incorporating hanging plants in your home decor has so many benefits: living greenery is the ultimate luscious accessory. It’s also scientifically proven to boost your environment by purifying the air, and to soothe stress! But living plants can also take up space that may be in short supply, and that’s when it’s time for hanging plants to shine! There are a few special characteristics that make some plant varieties perfect options for hanging, and we’ll go into those here, along with everything else you need to know before you buy a hanging plant! 

What varieties make perfect hanging plants?  

There are a variety of beautiful options to choose from when you’re ready to select a new hanging plant. Our favorites are plant varieties that grow in luxurious tendrils, like Cascading Pothos, Jade Pothos, Philodendron Brasil and Bird’s Nest Fern. Other popular varieties include the String of Pearls, or Curio rowleyanus, and Staghorn Fern. 

The Cascading Pothos is a gorgeous option for a stunning hanging plant.

How do you water a hanging plant?

The most convenient way to water your hanging plant will be through a method called bottom watering. Bottom watering is virtually foolproof, because the plant itself decides how much water to soak up, so the risk of overwatering is low- and it also won’t cause water to spill all over your floor, which is a risk if you’re watering your plant in its hanger.

To bottom water your plant, remove the plant from its hanging container, but keep it in its plastic nursery pot, which should have drainage holes in the bottom. Place the plant in a sink, bathtub or tray that has been filled with 1-2 inches of water. Allow your plant to sit in the water for 15 minutes, then take a look at its soil. If it is not yet moist to the touch, give it another 15 minutes. Once it is sufficiently moist, remove the plant from its bath and allow it to sit and drain for ten minutes or so before returning it to its hanging container.

Bottom watering is a great practice to get in the habit of, and it allows the plant to soak up exactly the amount of moisture that it needs. For a helpful tool that will alert you when your plant’s soil is dry and ready for water, consider a moisture meter.

Staghorn Ferns are a natural choice for a gorgeous hanging plant, and have luxuriously velvety leaves.

Hanging plants are great for homes with pets!

If you’re familiar with indoor plants, you probably already know that many of them have varying degrees of toxic compounds in their leaves or stems, which can be dangerous when ingested. It’s a bit inconvenient, we know, but it’s just evolution at work: many indoor plants are tropical varieties that evolved to protect themselves from being eaten by animals. This can make it tricky to choose the perfect plant for your home if you share your space with curious pets or kids. But hanging plants offer an amazing workaround! If you assess your space and hang your plant at a height out of reach of mischief, you can enjoy the beauty of an indoor plant that you might otherwise need to pass on due to its toxicity. 

Hanging plants love a good misting 

Most plant varieties that make great hanging plants are native to humid environments and appreciate a moist atmosphere. You can boost the humidity level of your hanging plant by misting it regularly (about two to three times a week) with plain water, or a mixture of water and a nutrient-rich foliar feed. Just be sure to follow the instructions on the bottle when diluting the foliar feed into your watering can. 

What kind of light will a hanging plant need?

The light requirements of your plant will vary by their species, so it is important to get to know the plant you’re buying before you hang it. Many indoor plants are tropical varieties that cannot withstand strong, direct light, which can scorch their leaves. (Essentially, direct light can cause a plant sunburn.) If you’re planning on hanging your new plant directly in a window, it’s important to be extra careful: the air next to windows can get quite hot from the sun’s reflection, and that combination of strong, direct light and heat is not appropriate for all plants.

Remember that your plant is a plant of its species first, and a hanging plant second. Its care will need to be tailored to its specific requirements. 

Who wouldn’t want a sweet tumble of heart-shaped leaves? The foliage of Philodendron Brasils grows into a waterfall effect over time, making this plant a perfect option for a hanging plant.

What kind of container should you use for a hanging plant?

You have more gorgeous options than ever when choosing a container to house your hanging plant. Why? Because hanging plants are in style, and the market knows it! So whether you are seeking a streamlined, modern cylinder hanger or an earthy macrame style, the perfect container is out there just waiting for you. With that in mind, it’s time to consider the less exciting, but still necessary, aspects of practicality. A good container for a hanging plant will not be extremely heavy, unless you have super-strong ceilings and know your way around mounting hardware and tools! It will also provide an even distribution of support for your plant and its plastic nursery pot, and will not obstruct your plant’s natural growth direction. 

Tips and tricks for hanging plants

There are plenty of ways to incorporate hanging plants in your home, even if you do not have the tools necessary to hang your container directly from your ceiling. Sun-loving plants can be hung from curtain rods, often to great effect! And if your ceilings or walls cannot support heavy weight, air plants are, well, light as air! They’re a wonderful option for a lightweight hanging plant because they do not require soil, which accounts for most of the weight of hanging plants. If you long for the look of hanging plants but are wary of the process of hanging them, trailing plant varieties like Pothos and many Philodendrons are gorgeous on elevated pedestals, and Staghorn Ferns are beautiful when mounted on wooden planks, then hung on walls just like a piece of art. Staghorn Ferns are also lightweight, because they do not require soil. 

Finally, experiment with your foliage! If your hanging plant features tendrils of trailing foliage, they can be secured to grow along walls or to spread out in lush waterfalls. Hanging plants have the potential to be incredibly sculptural, and you can encourage them to grow in specific directions or patterns. 

Where to place your hanging plant

If you already have a spot where you know you want to place your hanging plant, it’s simple: you just need to buy a plant variety that will be happy with the light and temperature that space receives. But if you’re on the other side of the equation: you know what plant you’d like to buy, but not where to hang it, there are a few things to consider. Use a light guide to determine the kind of light your space receives overall, and to identify the ideal area in your home for your new plant.

How to select a thriving, gorgeous hanging plant

There are always a few things to check up on as you shop to make sure you pick the perfect plant specimen for your home. Begin by carefully inspecting the plant’s overall foliage. Healthy plants for hanging will have vibrantly colored leaves and foliage, without significant yellowing leaves or discoloration. Additionally, the leaves, stems and trunks of healthy plants will have a firm texture and strong limbs, and will not appear floppy or exhausted. 

The definition of #hangingplant goals! Photo courtesy The Spruce.

Avoid purchasing your hanging plant from a garden center

It’s not just advisable: it is essential to buy any living plant from a premium grower. Garden centers and home improvement stores often appear to offer low prices and convenience, but we ultimately find that purchasing plants of a sub-par quality results in a higher cost and less convenient experience overall. There are a few reasons for this.  

Garden centers and home improvement stores tend to provide the same kind of care to all of their plants, regardless of the specific needs of the plants’ species. This means that many plants are overwatered during their time at these stores, and are often receiving light that’s inappropriate for their particular requirements. 

It is almost impossible to know the plant care routines that these businesses have in place from the outset, but it’s highly common for garden centers to use a one-size-fits-all approach with their plants, and although it saves time for these businesses, treating all plants in the same way is just not conducive to their health. 

Purchasing your new hanging plant from a premium grower will help ensure that it has been kept in appropriate light and watered correctly. There is also the issue of insects to consider. Insects have a habit of hopping from plant to plant, and funguses and viruses tend to spread- so if you cannot guarantee that the business you’re buying your new hanging plant from treats pests and plant diseases both prophylactically and as needed, there is a chance of bringing a pest or disease-ridden plant into your space, where those issues can (and often do!) spread to other plants in their vicinity. 

And finally, there is the issue of transport. Plants are resilient and strong, but no living plant loves the experience of transportation or significant environmental shifts. And there are so many factors at play when it comes to moving a plant from Point A to Point B: fluctuations in light, the risk of structural and foliage damage, and the risk of stress from temperature changes and forced air from A.Cs. Going to the extra mile to ensure the safe transit of your new hanging plant will pay dividends over time. By purchasing your plant from a business that offers doorstep delivery, and/or ships using packaging that is custom-engineered for plants, you can simply rest easy and enjoy the confidence of knowing that your plant has been amply protected and well cared for. 

Even the healthiest hanging plant can experience stress from time to time

IEven with the best care, stumbles can happen on any plant parenthood journey. The good news? Every plant purchased from Léon & George comes with lifelong access to our Plant Doctor service: a team of expert horticulturalists, here to offer assessments, tips and adjustments, and to generally support you as you care for your plants. There’s no catch! No fees are required to enjoy this service. Free, lifelong access to the Plant Doctor service is just one of the ways that we work together to support plant owners as we green up the world together.

We’ve compiled a list of common problems that common hanging plant varieties can face, as well as helpful guidance for assessing your plant’s health. Informed and supported plant parents are the key to our success! Click here to learn more about how to care for and grow your new hanging plant. 

The Leafy and Lovely Cascading Pothos from Léon & George

Simply the best: gorgeous, low-maintenance, with a cascading waterfall of vibrant foliage. The Cascading Pothos is ideal for hanging. Its easy care disposition and rapid growth meants that this Pothos variety is a gift that will keep on giving. Just give it light, love and a little water!

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