How to care for pothos (devil's ivy)

Also known as Ceylon creeper, hunter’s robe, ivy arum, money plant and taro vine, pothos is found growing up the trunks of trees in tropical forests in the wild. It can reach 20m tall but it's only likely to reach about 2m in the average home.

Pothos is also fantastic at cleaning the air – in the 1989 landmark NASA study into air purifying plants, the lead scientist named it as his favourite air purifier.

Pothos is toxic to humans and animals if ingested, so keep out of reach of pets and children. Its sap can be a skin and eye irritant, so wear gloves when handling.

How to grow pothos

Pothos is very easy to grow, in any bright or shaded spot – just keep out of direct sun. For the best results water only when the compost is beginning to dry out and feed once a month in spring and summer.

More on growing pothos:

• 15 of the best trailing house plants

Pothos: jump links

• Planting pothos
• Caring for pothos
• Propagating pothos
• Growing pothos: problem-solving
• Buying pothos
• Best pothos to grow

Where to grow pothos

Pothos will be happy in any room that has a temperature between 10-24°C. It does best in bright, indirect light, out of direct sun, but will also be fine in light or even deeper shade. Bear in mind that deep shade may mean that your pothos loses its variegation.

Pothos can be trained up a moss or coir pole, and looks beautiful hanging from a shelf or mantelpiece, or cascading from a hanging basket.

How to repot pothos

Repot your pothis in soil-based or house plant compost, in a pot that neatly fits the rootball. If you're growing pothos as a climber, tie the stems to a moss pole or train them along wires up a wall, using twine or house plant ties.

Caring for pothos

From spring to autumn, allow the compost to dry out between waterings – pothos is drought tolerant, and too much water will kill it. Water sparingly in winter.

Feed monthly with a house plant feed in spring and summer. Repot every couple of years into a slightly larger pot.

Cut back the stems if they are growing too long or straggly.

Wipe the leaves if dust builds up on them – this will keep them looking shiny and will help them breathe.

How to propagate pothos

Pothos are very easy to propagate from cuttings. Follow these simple steps to propagate pothos:

1. Cut off a stem that has a node (lump) on it
2. Place it in a glass filled with a few inches of water
3. Once roots have formed, pot up the cutting in a small pot and water in well.

Growing pothos: problem solving

If your pothos plant looks a little flat and lacklustre, it probably needs watering. A good soak will perk it up.

Yellow or withered leaves on pothos are a sign of underwatering – water gently over a period of a few days to revive it.

Wilted pothos leaves can be a sign of underwatering or overwatering – so check your care regime and adjust accordingly.

If your plant looks leggy, with sparse foliage, trim it back to encourage bushiness. You can use the trimmings for cuttings.

Loss of variegation means your plant is in too shady a spot – move it somewhere brighter. Pale leaves mean it is probably getting too much sun – move it somewhere shadier.

Varieties of pothos to grow

Epipremnum aureum – the most widely available variety, with large, glossy leaves with cream and yellow streaks.
Height x Spread: 2m x 75cm

Epipremnum aureum 'Neon' (Neon pothos) – vibrant chartreuse leaves that almost look fluorescent.
H x S: 1.2m x 50cm

Epipremnum pictum 'Argyraeus' (Satin pothos) – heart-shaped, matte leaves with a silver pattern.
H x S: 1.2m x 50cm

Epipremnum N'joy – attractive leaves that are variegated with cream.
H x S: 1m x 30cm