Are you taking a step into the vast world of plant parenting? Well, Pothos is an excellent choice to start with, especially for beginners.
As a beginner-friendly plant, Pothos is rather easy to raise. The evergreen plant also provides quite the aesthetic with its heart-shaped leaves.
However, it’s important to know when it’s time to repot them, just like with any other plant. Those small baby pots may not hold them well once they start growing and branching out.
Having your own scene of greenery indoors or outdoors can be pretty therapeutic. With that said, let’s dive right into how repotting Pothos works and what else you should know.
All About Pothos
Pothos are popular indoor plants in North America, though the plant originates from southeastern Asia. The plant can reach great heights due to its aerial roots, making it ideal as a hanging plant.
Be careful in handling Pothos, as its sap can cause skin irritation and mouth burning if ingested. Some other names this plant is commonly known for include:
- Devil’s Ivy
- Golden Pothos
- Money plant
- Hunter’s Rove
While it may be scary to hear the name “Devil’s Ivy,” the plant’s not as dangerous as it sounds. As long as you handle it with care, you’ll be rewarded with an aesthetically pleasing plant that’s good for your environment.
Benefits of Growing Pothos in Your Indoor Garden
Don’t be intimidated by the devil’s ivy! This easy-to-grow plant comes with a lot of benefits you’d love to have in your indoor garden.
Some of the great benefits of having a Pothos plant include:
Beginner-Friendly and Low Maintenance
Did you know that the Pothos plant can thrive with independence? Yup, even if you leave the plant under difficult light conditions with occasional watering.
Light conditions affect how the plant’s appearance will develop, though. For best results, indirect sunlight will do just fine.
As for watering, you only need to do it when the Pothos soil feels dry to the touch. That’s if you decide to put the plant in soil (yes, Pothos can grow with just water).
Works Well as an Air Purifier
Is your house a victim of indoor toxins from the outside world? The Pothos plant can purify that for you!
Pothos is known as one of the best air purifying plants, capable of removing pollutants such as:
- Benzene
- Toluene
- Xylene
- Carbon monoxide
- Toluene
Now, that’s a breath of fresh air!
A Sight to Behold
Look no further if you’re looking for a pleasant touch of nature for your indoor decoration. Pothos can give that vineyard aesthetic that’s relaxing to the eyes.
This beautiful plant can grow on almost anything. We’ll say yes to our walls and furniture being trailed by those roots filled with heart-shaped leaves.
How to Repot Pothos
As we’ve mentioned, Pothos plants are quite low maintenance. Even repotting them can be done with just a few quick and simple steps.
Once your Pothos are ready for repotting, go ahead and follow these steps:
Step 1: Remove the Pothos From its Old Pot
Start by removing the Pothos plant from its old nursery pot. Tilt the pot sidewards or upside down while pressing around the nursery pot.
Let the Pothos plant slide from the pot and avoid pulling the plant by force. This might ruin and damage some stems or the plant altogether.
If your Pothos plant isn’t sliding down, use a small rubber spatula to loosen the edges of the soil from the nursery pot.
Step 2: Prepare the New Pot
Prepare the new pot you’re going to place the Pothos in. The pot’s size depends on how big you want your Pothos to grow, but it definitely should be bigger than its nursery pot.
Fill the new pot with your choice of soil to make up for the added space. One or two inches of soil should be enough to distance the bottom of the pot from the roots of your Pothos.
If you’re worried about where to place your Pothos while you prepare the new pot, a big enough bowl or glass filled with water should suffice.
Step 3: Place the Pothos in the New Pot
Once the new pot is ready, simply place your Pothos upright and center. This should allow you to measure how much soil to add to fill the extra space.
Just like with the bottom of the pot, leave one or two inches of space at the top free from soil. Avoid overcrowding the pot with soil so that the roots of the Pothos plant have room to grow and breathe.
Step 4: Water the Newly Potted Pothos
Got your Pothos settled in a bigger and better pot? All that’s left now is to water it up.
Give your newly-potted Pothos some generous watering until the water runs out the bottom of the pot. Once the soil settles after watering, you can add some extra soil on top to fill up the space if needed.
Do Pothos Like to Be Root-Bound?
As much as Pothos plants are quite the survivors, they don’t enjoy being root-bound. They’d rather have plenty of room to grow and branch out their stems and leaves.
Check your Pothos during repotting. You can tell the plant’s root-bound if the roots are circling the outer parts of the soil, taking after the pot’s shape.
Pothos plants have a great growth capacity which will be stunted if they’re root-bound. Other signs of Pothos being root-bound include:
- The leaves start to curl and have yellow patches or become light green.
- Roots start to grow out of the pot, especially at the bottom.
- The soil surrounding the plant becomes too dry to sustain the number of roots.
- The stems of the plant may appear leggy and unhealthy.
- The growth rate of the plant starts to slow down.
Once your Pothos plant shows signs of being root-bound, it may be time to give these babies a new home (by repotting).
When to Repot Pothos
Pothos plants will appreciate some repotting every once in a while.
Since container plants tend to outgrow the pot they’re in, it puts them at risk for a lot of plant health issues. That’s why repotting is a great way of keeping your Pothos and other plants happy and healthy!
There are several ways to tell when your Pothos needs some repotting. Some of them include:
- Outgrowing its nursery pot: Pothos can only grow as much as their housing allows them.
- Soil starts to look dry and bad: Repotting is needed if the soil mix starts to look bad or gets infested with pests.
- The plant becomes root-bound: Pothos don’t enjoy being root-bound which could lead to poor plant health.
- Removal of plant parts due to root rotting: Root rotting can cause some serious issues to your plant. It’s best to repot your Pothos to remove the affected soil and plant parts.
- Repotting for better decoration: If you found a more aesthetically-pleasing pot that will fit your home better, why not?
Regardless of the reason, repotting will make your Pothos healthier and happier. Even without the said conditions, it’s still a good idea to repot your Pothos at least once every two to three years after their initial repotting.
Final Thoughts
Any laid-back or beginner plant parent would appreciate taking care of the undemanding Pothos plant. You barely have to do anything, yet the plant can still thrive and grow beautifully.
However, a bit of effort from time to time can bring the best out of the Pothos plant. That tiny bit of effort is nothing compared to taking care of other high-maintenance plants.
Be that as it may, tending to your plant’s needs is still a commitment you should fulfill. No worries, repotting Pothos is hardly any work compared to seeing them healthily grow in bright green!
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.