Pothos Light Requirements: All You Need to Know
Pothos plants are valued for their lush vines and low-maintenance nature, which makes growing them a pleasure. Knowing the precise Pothos light requirements will help you keep these beautiful indoor plants thriving, healthy, and looking gorgeous.
How much light do Pothos need? Find out in our concise guide.
About Pothos Plants
Pothos plants are tropical vines with glossy, heart-shaped leaves. Also known as Devil’s Ivy for its resilience and ability to thrive in neglect, Pothos is a low-maintenance, easy-to-propagate plant. It adapts to a variety of different growing conditions and is none the worse for being occasionally ignored by busy plant owners. This air-purifying plant is the perfect plant for beginners.
Pothos plants originally come from Southeast Asia, and these tough vines thrive outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10-12. Pothos can be grown as a beautiful climber supported by a trellis or as a hanging plant. It should be kept out of pets’ reach as its foliage contains calcium oxalate crystals, which are toxic if ingested. Pothos symbolizes determination and prosperity.
Pothos varieties often have stunning foliage, from the lime green Neon Pothos to the cream-speckled Pothos Marble Queen.
Do Pothos Need a Lot of Light?
Pothos plants don’t necessarily need a lot of light to grow well. It can survive in low-lit rooms and even adapts to artificial light, which makes it a popular plant for office desks. But Pothos does need regular exposure to sufficient light each day to develop abundant leaves and look its best.
What Kind of Light Do Pothos Need?
Pothos plants need bright but indirect light to thrive. Place your plant near an east-facing window in your living space or several feet away from a west or south-facing window for the best light conditions.
How Much Sunlight Does a Pothos Need?
Ideally, Pothos should receive from 6 to 8 hours of bright to medium indirect sunlight daily. Supply this beauty with artificial lighting if needed in the fall and winter if the room you keep it in is on the dark side.
Pothos Light Requirements: Troubleshooting Problems
These plants adapt well to a range of lighting conditions, from moderately low-lit to brightly lit spaces, so it's not hard to meet your Pothos light needs. However, correct light is important for Pothos plants, as a lack of sufficient light can lead to various issues.
Can a Pothos Survive in Low Light?
Do Pothos do well in low light? These hardy plants can survive in low light, but growing them in insufficient light slows their growth considerably and leads to smaller leaves. Variegated varieties may not tolerate low light that well, reverting to green foliage and essentially losing their variegation.
How Do I Know If My Pothos Is Getting Enough Light?
If you notice your Pothos plant struggling, incorrect light may be the problem. Here’s how to tell if a Pothos needs more light:
- Slow or stunted growth
- Leggy stems and few leaves with large gaps between them
- Small leaves
- Loss of variegation (in multicolored varieties)
- Pale foliage
- Soil that stays moist too long
Too Little Light: How to Make a Pothos Happy
So, how do you resolve Pothos problems caused by insufficient light? First, provide your Pothos with the sunlight it needs. Move it closer to a window, or get a grow light to supplement insufficient lighting in dimly lit spaces. Choose a full-spectrum LED grow light for Pothos and position it about 20-25 inches above the plant.
Do Pothos Like Direct Sunlight?
Will Pothos tolerate full sun? Although Pothos can adapt to bright indirect sunlight if accustomed to it gradually, placing your Pothos in direct sunlight will likely scorch its leaves. That said, Pothos can tolerate gentle morning sun, which is why one of the best places to put it is an east-facing window. So, can a Pothos get too much sun? Yes, Pothos should never be exposed to direct sun for the entire day.
How to Tell If a Pothos Is Getting Too Much Sun
To prevent scorching, you need to shield your Pothos from afternoon sun. Here’s how to tell that your Pothos is getting more sun than it needs:
- Bleached spots on the leaves
- Brown, crisp burns on the leaves and leaf tips
- Drooping foliage or leaves curling inwards
- Leaf drop
- Soil that gets parched too quickly
Can Pothos Recover From Sun Damage?
Your Pothos can fully recover from sun damage if you move it to a more favorable location. However, individual leaves that got scorched won’t recover. Cut any severely affected leaves off to promote the growth of new, healthy leaves.
How to Care for Pothos
Wondering how to care for a Pothos plant? It’s very easy. Here’s what you need to know to keep your plant flourishing.
How Often to Water Pothos
Water when the top few inches of the soil are dry. Depending on your home’s environment, Pothos plants should be watered every 7-14 days.
Pothos: Temperature Tolerance & Humidity
Pothos grows best in temperatures between 65°F and 85°F. Avoid sudden temperature drops or cold drafts.
Do Pothos like humidity? While average indoor humidity is usually sufficient, your plant will appreciate regular misting or a pebble tray to keep humidity high in dry conditions.
When & How to Repot Pothos
Repot your Pothos plant every 1-2 years once it outgrows its current container. Always use loose, well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes to prevent root rot. It’s best to repot in spring.
How to Prune Pothos
Prune your Pothos in spring to ensure lush and full foliage. To encourage bushier growth, trim the vine tips to the nearest leaf node. If you want your Pothos to produce larger leaves, train it up a moss pole; climbing plants have larger leaves than trailing Pothos plants.
Explore More Pothos Plants
Pothos Plant Light Requirements: FAQs
Q: How far away from a window can a Pothos be?
A: Placing a Pothos 5 ft. away from a sunny window will ensure that its foliage isn’t scorched by the sun. But you can also place it right next to a north-facing window or protect your pothos with a sheer curtain.
Q: Which Pothos is best for low light?
A: Jade Pothos is ideal for low light because of its green-colored foliage. Variegated varieties may lose their colors, reverting to plain green, in low-light spaces.
Q: Can a Pothos survive in a windowless room?
A: Pothos plants can’t survive without light, but they can adapt if placed in a windowless room as long as you provide them with adequate artificial lighting.
Q: How hot is too hot for Pothos?
A: Temperatures over 85°F will stress the plant. Move it to a location with partial shade or in a bedroom with medium light, and mist often to help it adjust to extreme heat.
Q: Where is the best place to put a Pothos?
A: Place your Pothos near a north or east-facing window. It will also appreciate rooms with higher humidity, like kitchens or bathrooms. Pothos plants are great low-maintenance choices for the office, as well. You can either let them trail or provide them with a trellis or moss pole for climbing.
Conclusion
Easy-care and versatile, Pothos plants are a great choice for novice plant owners and experienced gardeners alike. Suitable for medium to brightly lit spaces, Pothos plants require little maintenance to grow stunning foliage. Knowing the basic Pothos sunlight requirements will help you keep your Pothos looking its best.
Grow these beautiful indoor vines to add instant jungle greenery to any interior!
Great companion plants for Pothos are their look-alikes - the trailing Philodendrons, Spider plants, and some fern varieties that require similar growing conditions
