Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the most popular and forgiving houseplants out there. Whether you're a first-time plant parent or a seasoned collector, Pothos is a must-have for any indoor space. With dozens of stunning varieties ranging from neon yellow to deep silver, there's a Pothos for every style.
☀️ Light
Pothos are incredibly adaptable — they thrive in low to bright indirect light. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight which can bleach or scorch the leaves.
- ✅ Best: Bright indirect light (fastest growth, best color and variegation)
- ⚠️ Tolerable: Low light (growth slows; variegated varieties may revert to green)
- ❌ Avoid: Direct afternoon sun
💧 Watering
Water when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry — typically every 1–2 weeks. Pothos are drought-tolerant and will forgive the occasional missed watering.
- Yellow leaves are usually a sign of overwatering, not underwatering
- Wilting or very dark green leaves usually signal it’s time to water
- Always use a pot with drainage holes
💦 Humidity
Pothos are happy in average household humidity (40–50%) but will grow faster and produce larger leaves with a little extra moisture in the air. Occasional misting is appreciated but not required.
🌡️ Temperature
They prefer temperatures between 60–85°F (15–29°C). Keep away from cold drafts and air conditioning vents.
🪴 Soil & Potting
Use a standard well-draining potting mix. Repot every 1–2 years or when roots start coming out of the drainage holes. Pothos are fast growers and may need repotting annually in good conditions.
✂️ Propagation
Pothos are one of the easiest plants to propagate! Simply cut a stem just below a node, place it in water, and roots will appear within 2–4 weeks. Then pot up in soil.
⚠️ Common Issues
- Yellow leaves — overwatering or too little light
- Brown tips — low humidity or inconsistent watering
- Leggy, sparse growth — needs more light
- Variegation fading to solid green — insufficient light; move to a brighter spot
🚫🐾 Pet Safety ⚠️
Pothos are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested — keep out of reach of pets.
🌿 Variety Care Specifics
- Pothos Golden — the classic; green leaves with golden-yellow variegation. One of the most low-light tolerant varieties. Follows the general guide above.
- Pothos Neon — bright chartreuse-yellow leaves; needs brighter light to maintain its vivid color. Follows the general guide above.
- Pothos Satin — silvery sheen on dark green leaves; slightly more sensitive to overwatering. Allow soil to dry a bit more between waterings.
- Pothos N’joy — white and green variegation with distinct patches; needs bright indirect light to maintain variegation.
- Pothos Marble Queen — heavily variegated white and green; slower growing. Needs bright indirect light to maintain its marbling.
- Pothos Green Queen — lush, solid deep green; very tolerant of lower light. Follows the general guide above.
- Pothos Silver Splash — silver-splashed leaves; bright indirect light enhances the silver pattern. Follows the general guide above.
- Pothos Cebu Blue — narrow blue-green leaves that develop fenestrations as they mature. Needs bright indirect light for best color and leaf development.
- Pothos Manjula — wavy, heart-shaped leaves with white, cream, and green variegation. Needs bright indirect light; one of the slower-growing varieties.
- Pothos Mutant Manjula — rare sport of Manjula with more irregular variegation. Same care as Manjula; bright indirect light essential.
- Pothos Neon Queen — neon marbled variegation; bright indirect light needed to maintain the pattern. Follows the general guide above.
- Pothos Global Green — two-toned green variegation (light center, dark edges); bright indirect light recommended. Follows the general guide above.
- Pothos Silver Streak — silver streaking on green leaves; bright indirect light enhances the silver. Follows the general guide above.
- Pothos Silver Streak Variegated — more pronounced silver and white variegation; needs brighter light than the standard Silver Streak.
- Pothos Albo Variegata — bold white variegation; needs bright indirect light. Variegated sections are more sensitive to overwatering.
- Pothos Jade Satin — deep green satin-sheen leaves; tolerant of lower light. Follows the general guide above.
- Pothos Jade Satin Albo — white-variegated version of Jade Satin; needs bright indirect light to maintain variegation.
- Pothos Skeleton Key — uniquely shaped leaves with a distinctive notch; a rare collector variety. Follows the general guide above.
- Pothos Shangri La — curled, cupped leaves give it a sculptural look; bright indirect light recommended. Follows the general guide above.
- Pothos Lemon Top — lemon-yellow new growth that matures to green; bright light maintains the yellow tones. Follows the general guide above.
- Pothos Lemon Meringue — creamy yellow and green variegation; bright indirect light needed to hold the color. Follows the general guide above.