Pothos is a common houseplant that’s popular for its easy-care nature and ability to grow in harsh conditions. It’s also known as devil’s ivy and money plant, among other names.
However, pothos can be challenging to keep healthy if you don’t know what it needs: namely, well-drained soil with good nutrients, adequate moisture, and good air circulation.
That’s where this article comes in! We’ll discuss the best soil for pothos and how you can create it yourself.
So, let’s get started!
What Is the Best Type of Soil for a Pothos?
When planting pothos, it’s important to make sure that you provide it with the right soil. Here are some of the elements you need in your pothos soil:
1 – A Clean Container
The first step in creating good pothos soil is preparing its container. This means cleaning out any old potting mix or other debris from inside the container before adding new materials.
You can easily do this by washing out the container with water. After that, use an old toothbrush to scrub away any dirt or grime that may be stuck on the sides or bottom.
2 – Sufficient Air Circulation
If you have too much soil for the size of your house plants’ containers, your pothos may be at risk.
The roots need room to breathe, so make sure you keep the soil loose enough to allow airflow from the bottom up through the entire root system.
The best way to do this is to use a potting mix that includes perlite or vermiculite, which are lightweight materials that help aerate your plant’s soil.
3 – Good Drainage
Pothos is a tropical plant that loves being kept moist but not too wet. If you don’t have proper drainage in your pot or container, the plant will stay soaked for too long and start to rot.
If you’re using a pot that doesn’t have a drain, you can make one yourself! Start by drilling a few small holes in the bottom of the pot with one of the small drill bits you have.
Better yet, you can just buy pots with pre-drilled drainage holes! Moreover, you can mix organic matter like shredded leaves or compost to improve drainage.
4 – Nutrients
There are certain nutrients that your pothos needs to stay healthy and happy.
For example, a soil pot rich in organic material, such as compost or peat moss, is ideal for growing pothos plants.
Also, you may need to add some fertilizer to your potting soil. A balanced fertilizer will at least provide nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
To get your plants off to a good start, it’s essential that these nutrients are present in sufficient quantities in your potting mix.
So, if you remember these four elements and apply them to your pothos plant’s soil, you’ll have the best-growing environment!
Do Pothos Need Soil?
Pothos plants don’t need soil to grow, but you can plant them in soil if you choose. The plant itself will grow with or without soil as long as you provide it with water.
Pothos is a very hardy plant and can survive in many different conditions. The plant is so versatile, in fact, that it’s often used in aquariums and terrariums because of its ability to thrive in those environments!
You can also grow it in soil pots or water-filled containers—it doesn’t matter! All you have to do is find the right conditions for your pothos plant, and it’ll thrive.
However, if you plant pothos in soil, it can become accustomed to its environment and may not thrive well if moved to water.
How Long for Pothos to Root in Soil?
Pothos plants are relatively easy to root in the soil, but it does take a little time. For most pothos varieties, you’ll need to wait about 4 to 6 weeks for your plant to start rooting.
Once your plant has rooted, you can transplant it into a pot or move it directly into your garden.
You might also want to consider growing pothos on a trellis or hanging basket! This way, they can grow upward instead of taking up all of your space on the ground.
The best way to get a pothos plant started is by gently pulling off some of its stems. Then you’ll need to place them in a jar of water with some nutrients added.
You’ll want to keep the water level high enough to cover the stems, but not so high that the leaves are completely submerged.
Keep them in the jar until they show signs of root growth (usually after two weeks). At this point, you can transplant them into some potting soil and watch them grow!
Can I Use Cactus Soil for Pothos?
Unfortunately, cacti soil won’t work for your pothos. Cacti need very little water and nutrients, so their soil is created to meet those demands.
Their soil has poor moisture retention and drains water too rapidly. This is the complete opposite of pothos needs!
You want to provide your pothos plants with soil that retains enough water to keep the roots from wilting, but not so much that they deteriorate.
However, there is a way for you to use the cactus soil for pothos! Simply add organic material like peat moss or coconut coir to the soil so it doesn’t drain water too quickly.
These materials have excellent moisture-retaining properties, which help the plant grow.
Can I Use Loam Soil for Pothos?
Yes, you can use loam soil for pothos. It’s a great choice for pothos because it’s an excellent medium for water retention and drainage, which are two important factors for growing healthy pothos plants.
A good way to test a soil’s drainage and water retention capabilities is to take some of the soil and put it into a container.
Then, fill up the container with water until it starts to overflow, then let it sit overnight.
If there’s still water left in the bottom of the container in the morning, then your potting soil has good drainage capabilities—you can use it!
Do Pothos Like Acidic Soil?
Compared to other houseplants, pothos prefers acidic soils with a low pH. They grow best in potting soil with a pH level of 6.1 to 6.8, which is slightly acidic.
This means that they won’t thrive in soil with a pH of 7.0-7.5, which is neutral, or anything above 7.5, which is slightly alkaline (also known as basic).
You can tell if your soil is too acidic for your pothos by testing its pH with a kit from your local hardware store (or online).
Just take a sample of the top layer of the pot with a trowel and mix it together with some water until it forms a paste. Then, apply this paste to one end of a test strip.
Wait for about five minutes, then compare the color on your strip against the color chart provided by the manufacturer of your kit (or on their website).
Are Coffee Grounds Good for Pothos?
If you’re looking for a way to give your pothos a little boost, coffee grounds may be the answer!
Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium—four essential elements for healthy plant growth. In addition, coffee is acidic, something that pothos plants adore!
When added to your plant’s soil or used as a top dressing, coffee grounds will help it thrive by giving it a boost of nutrients.
You can also use coffee grounds as an alternative source of fertilizer if you’re running low on chemical fertilizers or have limited access to these products.
Are Eggshells Good for Pothos?
As a matter of fact, eggshells make excellent an fertilizer for many different plants, including pothos. This is because they’re rich in calcium and other nutrients that help promote healthy growth.
The best way to use eggshells as fertilizer for pothos is to crush them up into small pieces and mix them with water until they are thoroughly blended together.
Then, simply pour the mixture into your potting soil and gently blend it in. The nutrients from the eggshells will help feed your plant as it grows, leading to bigger leaves and better overall health over time.
To get the best results from using eggshells, remove any egg residue and thoroughly clean the shells before using them.
Plus, it takes a couple of months for the shells to break down entirely in the soil, so don’t expect results early or add too much at once!
3 Important Signs of Poor Pothos Growth
Sometimes pothos plants can get a little droopy, instead of healthy and lush. Here are three signs your plant isn’t getting the care it needs.
1 – Yellow Leaves
One indication that your pothos isn’t thriving is when its leaves start turning yellow or brown around the edges. This is usually a sign that something is wrong with your plant’s water supply.
You could be watering too much or too little, or your plant needs more nutrients in its soil.
If this happens, try to adjust your watering schedule so that it gets less water than usual for two weeks. Also, make sure that the soil has dried out between each watering session.
Then, go back to normal watering after those two weeks are up! It should help brighten up those yellow leaves!
2 – Wilting
Another sign that something is wrong with your pothos is if it starts wilting even though you’re sticking to your watering schedule.
This may indicate that there’s something wrong with the light source in your home— or it might be too hot or too cold for the plant’s liking.
Pothos plants love bright, indirect light. So, if your plant is wilting because it’s not getting enough sunlight, try moving it to another location in your home that gets more sun.
Pothos plants prefer a temperature range of 70 and 90°F, with high humidity. If they’re exposed to temperatures far outside this range, the plants may start to wilt.
3 – Slow Growth (Or None at All)
This can occur if the plant has been neglected or if there are other issues with its environment.
It may also happen if you’re using too much fertilizer or water on the plant, which can overwhelm its roots and make them too wet and soggy.
To solve this problem, follow a schedule for watering or fertilizing, and make sure it’s getting enough indirect sunlight.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, it’s pretty easy to take care of a pothos plant. The best soil for pothos is one that’s acidic, full of nutrients, and well-drained.
Plus, if you add in some eggshells or coffee grounds, you’re adding even more nutrients to the soil.
So now that you know how to care for a pothos plant, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start growing!
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.