How often to water a pothos
Water a pothos roughly every 7–10 days — but the calendar is a starting point, not the rule. The real signal is the soil: stick a finger in, and if the top inch is dry, water it thoroughly until it drains out the bottom. If it’s still damp, wait.
In winter, or in a low-light spot, it drinks less — stretch to every two weeks. In a bright window in summer, it may want water every 5–6 days. A pothos would rather be a touch too dry than too wet, so when in doubt, wait a day.
Light
Bright, indirect light is the sweet spot — near a window, but out of direct midday sun, which scorches the leaves. The good news is pothos tolerates low light better than almost anything; it just grows slower and the variegation (the cream-and-green marbling) fades toward plain green.
If the vines get long and sparse with big gaps between leaves, that’s “leggy” — it’s reaching for light. Move it brighter and the new growth tightens up.
Why is my pothos dying?
Yellow leaves are almost always overwatering. The instinct when a plant looks sad is to give it more water; with pothos, that’s usually the thing that’s hurting it. Let it dry out properly and the yellowing stops.
Brown, crispy tips point the other way — underwatering, or very dry air. Crispy edges on an otherwise green leaf means it got too thirsty at some point.
Limp, mushy stems at the soil line are root rot, the one genuinely dangerous problem, and it comes from sitting in soggy soil. Pothos forgives a missed watering; it does not forgive a pot with no drainage hole.
Keeping it alive when you share a home
Here’s the thing nobody warns you about: pothos is so easy that everyone in the house assumes someone else is handling it. It limps along on neglect for weeks — which is exactly how it ends up dead. The failure mode isn’t a hard plant; it’s “I thought you watered it.”
The fix is boring and it works: one person owns it, or you agree out loud who waters on which day. A shared note, a shared reminder, anything that turns “someone should” into “you, Thursday.” (This is the whole reason Family Greenhouse exists, but a whiteboard works too.)
The honest bit
If you have killed every plant you’ve ever owned, start here and only here. A pothos cutting in a glass of water will grow roots on a windowsill with zero soil and zero expertise — it’s the closest thing to a confidence cheat code in houseplants.
My one real opinion: skip the moisture meter. For a pothos it’s a gadget solving a problem your finger already solves for free. Save the money for a second plant.
Pothos FAQ
- How often should I water a pothos?
- About every 7–10 days, when the top inch of soil is dry. Less in winter or low light (every two weeks); more in a bright window in summer. When unsure, wait a day — it prefers slightly dry over soggy.
- Why are my pothos leaves turning yellow?
- Almost always overwatering. Let the soil dry out properly between waterings and make sure the pot drains. Yellowing from underwatering is rarer and usually comes with crispy brown edges.
- Is pothos toxic to cats and dogs?
- Yes — pothos contains calcium oxalate crystals that are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, causing mouth irritation and drooling. Keep it out of reach of pets that nibble.
- Can pothos survive in low light?
- Yes, better than most houseplants. It just grows more slowly and the variegation fades toward solid green. Bright indirect light keeps it fuller and more colourful.