According to a study by the University of Florida, pothos is one of the most commonly reported houseplants with issues, with over 50% of owners experiencing problems at some point. Phytophthora root rot is the most common disease infecting pothos, frequently introduced via imported propagative cuttings.1
From yellowing leaves to pesky pests, pothos can face various challenges. Here are the eight common issues to watch for when growing an indoor pothos.
1. Yellowing Leaves
One of the most common issues pothos owners face is yellowing leaves. Various factors, including overwatering, underwatering, lack of light, or nutrient imbalance, can cause this.
If you notice multiple older leaves turning yellow at once, your pothos may be underwatered. On the other hand, if many leaves (both new and old) are yellowing all over the plant, overwatering could be the culprit.
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To prevent yellowing leaves:
- Water your pothos only when the top inch of soil is dry
- Ensure your pot has drainage holes to avoid soggy soil
- Place your plant in a spot with bright, indirect sunlight
- Fertilize every 4-6 weeks during the growing season with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to maintain nutrient balance
2. Brown Spots or Edges
Another common issue is the browning of pothos leaves or tips. This can be caused by overwatering, which leads to root rot, or underwatering, which dries out the leaves. Direct sunlight can also scorch the leaves, causing brown spots. Additionally, chemicals in tap water, like fluoride and chlorine, can build up in the soil and cause toxicity.
To tackle brown spots or edges:
- Maintain a consistent watering schedule, allowing the soil to dry out partially between waterings
- Position your pothos in a spot with indirect sunlight
- If possible, use filtered, settled tap water or rainwater for watering
- If tap water is your only option, let it sit overnight before using it to allow some chemicals to evaporate
3. Curling Leaves
Pothos leaves may curl due to irregular watering, low light, or direct sunlight exposure. Inconsistent watering causes stress, while insufficient light leads to energy conservation, manifesting as curled leaves.
To prevent curling leaves:
- Provide your pothos with regular watering, ensuring the soil is evenly moist but not waterlogged
- Choose a well-lit location with indirect sunlight
- If the plant is near a bright window, use sheer curtains to diffuse the light
4. Pests & Diseases
Pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and diseases can cause spotted leaves and plant stress. These pests suck sap from the leaves, weakening the plant. Regularly inspect your pothos for signs of infestation, such as webbing, cottony masses, or tiny insects.
To control pests:
- Isolate the affected plant to prevent the spread to other houseplants
- Use a soft, clean cloth to remove visible pests
- Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap in cases of severe infestation
- Maintain proper watering and provide adequate light to keep your pothos healthy and less susceptible to pests and diseases
5. Leggy or Elongated Vines
If your once bushy pothos now has more vines than leaves, it could be due to insufficient light, a desire to climb, or overfertilization. In low-light conditions, pothos stretch out for more light, prioritizing stem growth over leaf growth.
To address leggy growth:
- Ensure your pothos receive bright, indirect light
- If natural light is limited, consider using a grow light to supplement
- Provide a moss pole or trellis for the vines to attach to, as pothos naturally seek support to climb
- If overfertilization is the issue, reduce the frequency of feeding and flush the soil with water to remove excess nutrients
6. Loss of Variegation
Some pothos varieties, like ‘Golden Pothos’ or ‘Marble Queen,’ are prized for their variegated leaves. However, if your pothos starts to lose its variegation, it could be due to low light conditions. Variegated plants require more light than their solid-colored counterparts to maintain their unique foliage.
To preserve variegation:
- Place your pothos in a spot with bright, indirect light
- If the variegation has already started to fade, remove the reverted leaves to prevent them from taking over the plant
- Consider switching to distilled or rainwater if you suspect the minerals in your tap water are affecting the variegation
7. Root Rot
Overwatering is the most common cause of root rot in pothos plants. When the roots sit in waterlogged soil for too long, they become damaged and unable to absorb water and nutrients effectively.
Signs of root rot include yellowing leaves, wilting, and a foul odor from the soil.
To prevent root rot:
- Ensure your pothos is planted in well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes
- Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry
- Avoid letting your plant sit in standing water
- If you suspect root rot, remove the plant from its pot and inspect the roots
- Trim away any black, mushy roots and repot the plant in fresh, well-draining soil
8. Drooping or Wilting Leaves
Pothos leaves drooping or wilting are signs the plant is stressed, often by a lack of water. If the soil is dry and the pot feels light when lifted, your pothos is likely underwatered.
Give your plant a thorough watering, allowing the water to run through the drainage holes, and monitor the soil moisture going forward.
However, drooping leaves can also be a symptom of root rot caused by overwatering. To determine the cause of the drooping:
- Check the soil moisture
- Inspect the roots
- Adjust your watering schedule accordingly
- Ensure proper drainage to prevent future issues
By observing these common issues and taking appropriate action, you can ensure that your indoor pothos remain healthy and vibrant.
Source:
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.