How Long Can A Pothos Plant Live? [ Find Out The Age Here ]

Pothos or devil’s ivy is a tropical vine. But it is famous as a houseplant worldwide for its robust nature. Any beginner or pro indoor gardener prefers this vine because it needs minimal care.

Watering once a week or whenever necessary is probably the only requirement pothos have. Can any green lover dislike this minimalistic houseplant? No, right?

Expert horticulturists consider Epipremnum aureum or pothos ivy as an evergreen houseplant.

You can notice green, pointy, and minimum thirty inches long waxy leaves in healthy pothos. You can also see yellow and white leaves in some varieties of pothos. The vine can live up to ten years if you take care of it properly.

So, any gardener would think it great of having a houseplant for ten years with some basic demands. The lifespan of pothos depends on bacteria, pests, and other environmental factors; having pothos is budget-friendly and hassle-free at the same time.

How long can a pothos plant live?

A pothos plant can live with a range of a minimum of five years to a maximum of ten years. Devil’s ivy is one of the sturdiest house plants due to some basic demands. Irrespective of being a tropical vine, it can withstand any temperature and does not require much humidity.

So this is the reason any indoor gardener prefers pothos. If you miss some nurturing steps because of a hectic schedule, your vine will not mind it. You still see your pothos as green and sturdy as it was before.

But, some environmental factors can disrupt the life of a pothos. Pest infestation or fungal infection can disturb the growth of pothos. Rotting can be an issue too for this vine, as this can even lead to the death of pothos.

So we will suggest avoiding neglecting your pothos for a very long time. Though it is a sturdy plant and can grow both in soil and water, abandoning it for an extended period will damage it permanently. If you want a stunning and thriving plant, you can do some basics for it.

Related:

Different types of pothos: Learn all of them here

Factors that can impact the life of a pothos plant

In an apt environment, a pothos thrives quickly. For being a tropical vine, this plant grows fast in between December and May.

This rapid growth is the reason for which pothos are always in demand. Pothos, unlike other houseplants, can grow up to forty feet high and six feet wide if the environment is quintessential.

And this suitable environment includes bright but indirect sunlight and temperature between seventy to ninety degrees Fahrenheit. Pothos is probably the best indoor plant to adjust to any soil.

This vine can endure dry, rocky, drought, and shallow soil. You can plant pothos in poor quality soil, but still, it will need the minimum supplemental fertilization. Pothos has all the characteristics of a robust plant. The soil of the pothos must have good drainage to lengthen the life of this vine.

While keeping it indoors, you can water pothos once in a week or two. But if you are thinking of planting your vine outdoors, pothos will need the minimum water.

In the open air, pothos becomes extremely drought and temperature tolerant. If you are planning to place your pothos pot outside, you must strictly avoid over-watering your plant.

Excessive watering adds unwanted moisture in pothos plants that leads to root rotting, leaf damage, and even the death of your houseplant. So, always check whether the soil is dry or not before watering.

Though this vine adapts to any adverse environmental factors, soggy and moist soil enhances its growth. If you want your pothos to thrive swiftly and stay healthy for years, you must keep the plant in swampy or muggy soil, especially during the growing seasons.

Throughout winter, pothos ivy prefers minimal watering and sometimes no watering at all. Just remembering these facts can give you a chance to enjoy the beauty of your vine for at least a decade.

But in some conditions, the lifespan of your pothos can decrease. If you identify these situations earlier, the greater the chance you will save your pothos from dying. Below we have mentioned some of these adverse situations so that you will be aware before time.

1. Bacterial blight disease

Every year innumerable pothos ivy dies because of bacterial problems. You can identify bacterial infections by noticing water-soaked bruises all over the damaged leaf, especially around the leaf margins.

Soft rots on leaves and stems can result from bacteria and cause the roots of your pothos to become soft and soggy, which releases a foul odor.

As over-watering enhances the chance of a bacterial outbreak in your pothos, always check the moistness in the plant’s soil before watering.

Try to avoid direct sprinkling on the pothos leaves since it makes your plant prone to get infected easily. A little watering on the soil of the pothos will do the best for your house plant.

2. Fungi

Fungi is also a result of over-watering. The soil with poor drainage, soggy roots escalates the chance of fungal diseases in your pothos plants. Pythium root decay, Rhizoctonia radicle crumble, and Southern infestation is some famous fungus that can reduce the lifespan of your pothos ivy.

There can be various symptoms of fungus infestation in your pothos. The most common ones are rotting roots and stems, soggy or yellowed leaves. Even in some rare cases, you will see a branching fungi filament in your pothos. Fungus infection often forms reddish-brown mycelia in devil’s ivy.

However, you can prevent fungal infestation in your pothos ivy by spraying some fungicide all over it. It averts the rots in the plant. You may place your pothos pot in an environment where it can get adequate air. Improper drainage also enhances the chances of fungal infection.

3. Pests infestation

Pest infestation is an intense difficulty for the pothos health. Though pothos is one of the sturdiest houseplants, adverse conditions make it prone to get easily attacked by insects.

Devil’s ivy has the potential to resist tiny insect invasion problems. But a large pest infestation can lead to the death of your treasured plant. Most of the time, the gardener neglects the primary symptoms of insect infestation in the pothos.

However, you will find a standard insecticide anytime in the market. So, if you notice any bug in your healthy pothos, it will be wise to remove the bug manually.

Pesticides should be applied if there is any severe damage in the pothos. The caregiver needs to be aware of the insects like caterpillars, mites, scales, etc. You can use concentrated neem oil or neem oil mixed spray as an insect repellent.

Can pothos live forever?

Yes, if not forever, proper care and maintenance can make the pothos live longer than ten years. Many indoor gardeners have shared their experiences of having pothos for more than a decade.

A friendly environment and apt nursing provide pothos a prolonged life. Here we have shared some tips for nurturing a pothos plant, in case you wonder how to take care of your devil’s ivy.

Placement- With indoor plants, placement is a significant factor. Try to place your pothos near a window that allows bright sunlight.
Temperature and humidity- The lifespan of pothos partially depends on these two factors. The temperature between sixty to eighty degrees Fahrenheit is perfect for this vine. Though pothos love humidity, over-moistness can damage the plant.
Watering- You should avoid over-watering if you want the plant to live forever. Only water your pothos when the soil seems dry.
Type of soil- A high-quality soil extends the lifespan of pothos. Watch out whether the soil has a proper drainage system. Else excessive moisture can damage the root. Pothos prefers the soil with an acidic value from 6.1 to 6.5.
Type of tub- The tub where you put your pothos must be 1 to 2 inches broader than the root ball. A drainage hole at the bottom is a must while choosing a pot for your pothos.
Fertilizing is a must- For being a robust houseplant, pothos does not require much. Still, a perfect amount of fertilization can do wonders for healthy pothos. You can also apply a liquid houseplant fertilizer not more than once in two months.
Cleaning is so underrated- Many indoor gardeners neglect cleaning pothos. But if you wipe the pothos leaves with a damp cloth, the stomata can breathe uninterruptedly.

Sometimes you may notice blackened leaves or stems, which can result from over-watering. In addition to this, lack of daylight might turn the leaves of your pothos yellow.

Final Words

Pothos plant lives more than a decade if it gets adequate care and favorable environmental factors. Since convenient environmental factors in ambiance extend the life of pothos, you may cherish the beauty of your houseplant forever if you follow the tips we have shared above.