The health of your plant depends a lot on how you water it. One of the main reasons behind the death of plants is improper watering. Sometimes it can be due to over-watering, while at times, under-watering can also be the hidden cause.
Pothos is one of the easiest houseplants to grow and an excellent addition to your household.
A typical pothos plant will have a robust, flexible stem and green-heart-shaped leaves with yellow, white, and pale-green hues.
This little tropical vine strives best in harsh conditions. But, you have to be careful while when you are watering them.
So, if the question, “how often should I water pothos?” comes to your mind, this article will help.
How Often Should I Water Pothos?
You should water pothos every 5 – 8 days. However, instead of focusing on a schedule, keep looking at the soil. If you see dryness, immediately water them thoroughly so that it reaches to the root of the pothos plant.
Also read:
- Reasons why you see dripping water from a pothos plant
- Some Golden pothos companion plants you can see
Now, we will also cover all the necessary details that will enable you to take proper care of your plant in the following section.
How often should I water Pothos?
It would be best not to have a timing fixed for watering your Pothos. Water it only when your plant needs it. The best way to figure out when your plant needs water is by checking the soil’s moisture level.
If the soil is still moist, do not give it more water. Over-watering could cause your plant to die. Only water your plants when the soil is dry.
Ideally, you can water your Pothos once every five to seven days. It will give sufficient time for the soil to dry up. The frequency, however, increases or decreases depending on the season.
Here are a few tricks to help you have a healthier-looking plant.
- Check the surface of the soil to 1 inch. Water only if the soil is dry.
- Give sufficient water to the plant. It will enable the root ball to receive the desired moisture.
- To prevent excess water from being in the soil, have draining facilities.
- You can also spray some water on the leaves to hydrate the plant.
How much water does Pothos need?
While it may be true that most plants prefer water, it is not quite the same for a Pothos plant. The requirement of water mainly depends on the climatic condition.
In summers, the weather is hot and the Pothos will require more water. While in winters, with less heat around, your plant will need less water.
If your Pothos is in a small pot, it will require less water, around one or two cups. But if it is in a relatively larger pot, three or four cups should be enough.
Another major factor that affects how much water your Pothos will need is the soil mix.
In the case of aerated soil, you can pamper your plant with more water. To avoid suffocating the soil, make sure your pots have proper draining outlets.
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How much water Pothos need in summer?
A Pothos plant grows the best in summers. The scorching heat of the sun facilitates speedy growth and increases the nutrient requirement of the plant.
If the rays of the sun directly hit the plant, the soil will dry up quickly. You will then have to water the plant frequently.
Poke the soil to a few inches to confirm the dryness before watering. It usually is advisable to water a Pothos once a week in the summers.
But the soil is likely to lose moisture faster in case of low humidity and high temperature. So the best bet is to check the soil properly to avoid improper watering.
How much water Pothos need in winter?
A Pothos plant will rarely grow in the winter months. The sun rays are weak, and the days are shorter, giving the soil more time to remain moist.
You can easily go without watering the plant. Just make sure to check the soil and water it once every two weeks.
The amount of time the soil can retain the water also depends on where it is in the house. If the plant is kept near a heat source or under forced air, the soil will dry faster.
But if you live in a freezing climate, you can skip it and treat your plant accordingly.
Be cautious not to overwater it. You will be good to go if you allow the plant to soak the moisture and mist the leaves once every seven days.
How do I know when my Pothos needs water?
Like any usual plant, your Pothos will also give you indications when it needs water. Here are a few things that will help you understand it better.
Moisture Meter – If you are not very confident whether or not you should water your plant, take the help of a moisture meter.
They are easy to use and come in extremely handy. You need to put it inside the soil, and it will read the moisture level for you. If the meter reading shows 2 or 3, feel free to water your plant.
Finger/ Skewer – Take a skewer, or you can also use your finger. Dip it inside the soil to up to 2 or 3 inches.
Pull it out and look for any soil that may remain stuck to it. If the skewer’s surface is clean, the soil is dry, and you can water the plant.
Wet Pot – Try to grow your Pothos in a terracotta pot. It is the easiest way to check the soil’s moisture level without directly contacting it.
You have to touch the bottom of it. If there is even a slight hint of wetness on the pot’s surface, the soil is not dry.
Another way is to check the color of the terracotta pot. The dark color indicates that the soil has enough water in it.
Lifting Pot – If your plant is in a small pot, a lifting pot may be a suitable option for you. Just lift the pot that has the plant in it, and observe the weight difference.
It will help you determine whether you need to water your plant or can skip it. But if you are new to planthood, it might not be a suitable method for you.
Factors that can impact the water requirement
A Pothos does not demand much care and attention from you.
All you need to understand is when your plant requires water. It is not very difficult to decode as there are only a few factors that can impact the water requirement.
Light – For a Pothos to grow appropriately and have new leaves, it requires proper exposure to light. Whether the light source for your plant is natural or artificial, be careful with its intensity.
Make sure it does not damage the leaves or burn them. If your plant is in direct contact with any harsh heat source, it will get thirsty frequently.
To avoid saturation in the soil, you must give sufficient time in between waterings. But in case your plant lacks intense indirect contact to light, the soil will take time to dry.
It can delay the watering process to up to two weeks.
Do not let the inner parent in you overpower you to water them, no matter how intense the desire is. You will feel that the plant needs water, while you will be causing more harm in reality.
Humidity – A lot of people consider humidity to be a water replacement. We already know that Pothos requires high humidity to grow well, but humidity alone is not enough.
It will require water to absorb the necessary nutrients from the soil to grow.
The best way to maintain the humidity level of the plant is by misting it once a week. But if the plant is in an environment with high humidity, you will have to water it less.
Temperature – Places with high temperatures, especially around 75 degrees Fahrenheit or more, are ideal for Pothos’ growth.
If you maintain a high temperature, you will have to water the plant more frequently.
But if the temperature is low, the water requirement of the plant will also be less. Avoid keeping the plant at any temperature below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It will prove to be fatal.
Root System – A Pothos’s root system is small and does not run too deep. It is essential to water them properly and see the drainage of the excess water in the pots.
If your plant is healthy, root-bound, and gets the necessary nutrients from the soil, you will have to water it more.
But if it has unhealthy roots, it cannot absorb water quickly from the soil. You have to be aware of the health of the root. Otherwise, you will water it more and cause it to rot.
Soil – A soil that has well-draining properties will require more water. While in the case of potting mix that is heavy, the need to water the plant will be less.
The reason is simple. A well-draining soil drains the extra water fast, as it facilitates aeration. It also helps absorb the water better, as there is easy airflow in the root system.
An inferior quality soil will delay the process of water absorption and give rise to lumps in the soil.
Limited aeration in the roots will cause suffocation for the root and the soil. You can avoid this situation by reducing the watering frequency or by changing the soil mix.
Pot Type – It is essential to consider the pot type while deciding on the watering frequency of your plant. Pothos in plastic pots requires less water.
These pots lack draining holes, which slows down the process of soil drying. On the contrary, ceramic pots will absorb water faster, and you will have to water the plant more often.
The best choice, however, will be terracotta pots.
They help in the proper draining of the extra water and also dry the soil evenly. The frequency of watering will be the most in this case.
What are the signs of underwatering Pothos?
If your Pothos shows any of these symptoms, then it is an indication that you have been underwatering it.
- The leap tips are dry and dead.
- The leaves have become brown.
- The leaves will start drooping.
- The soil is arid.
- The growth of your plant is slow.
- The foliage is wilting.
- You can spot footprints on the soil.
What are the signs of overwatering Pothos?
In case of overwatering, look out for these symptoms.
- Mealybugs will appear on the Pothos.
- The leaves will change their color to brown or yellow.
- The leaves will start falling.
- There will be swellings in different parts.
- The root of the plant will start to rot.
- The growth of the plant will become slow.
- The shoots will become stagnant and floppy.
Conclusion
It is needless to say that Pothos is a low-maintenance plant.
Whether you have been into gardening for years or are just planning to begin with it, this little vine is a perfect choice. You need to hack these minute requirements of the plant, and you are good to go.
Here’s an interesting video that you might find useful.