How To Grow Lush, Full Pothos Plants With Long Vines
Looking to enhance the beauty of your indoor garden with lush, full pothos plants? You’re in the right place! These popular houseplants are not only super easy to care for but also thrive in various indoor conditions. If you’re eager to see your pothos grow and trail quickly, there are several friendly tips you can follow.
This beautiful vining plant is one of the easiest indoor plants. There are many pothos varieties on the market now. Some grow longer trails than others, so if you want a long one, make sure you have the right variety. No matter which one you choose, this applies to all of them.
Now, I will share practical tips to help you encourage your pothos to flourish and create stunning, cascading greenery in your home.
1. Provide Adequate Light
Pothos love bright, indirect light. In low light conditions, this beautiful vining plant will grow slower, the stems will get leggy, and the leaves will be smaller.
Make sure they get enough light to stay healthy, grow well, and look lush.
2. Regular Watering
Pothos have low to moderate water requirements. Water when the top few inches feel dry to the touch. I live in a warm, sunny climate and water mine every seven days in summer and every ten to fourteen days in winter.
Make sure the pot has drain holes so the excess water can flow out. To avoid root rot, don’t keep the soil soggy or let the plant sit in water.
Here’s a guide to watering indoor plants.
3. Proper Pot Size
Make sure your pothos is in a properly sized pot. A pot that’s too small can stunt its growth, while one that’s too large might hold on to too much moisture.
If the plant looks stressed or the roots are growing out of the drainage holes, it’s time for repotting. The best pot is just one size larger than the current one.
Here’s a guide to repotting pothos.
4. Fertilize the Plant
To keep your plants happy and healthy, use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer formulated for houseplants every 4-6 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer).
Find more info on fertilizing houseplants.
5. Provide Healthy Soil
Use a well-draining potting mix. I use a mix of potting soil (formulated for houseplants) with a couple of handfuls each of coco chips, coco fiber, and pumice added in to increase drainage and aeration. I add a handful or two of compost/worm compost for nourishment.
This ensures that your plants are less likely to suffer from over-watering or poor drainage.
Read about the best soil & amendments for houseplants here.
6. Pruning Your Pothos
Regular pruning will encourage bushier growth and result in full pothos plants. Snip the vines just above a leaf node, and you’ll see new growth in no time!
Pruning your pothos at the right time can make a world of difference in its growth and overall health. The best time to prune is during the spring and summer months, which is the plant’s active growing season. During these warmer months, your pothos will recover quickly and produce new growth in response to pruning.
Avoid pruning during the fall and winter when the plant’s growth naturally slows down, as this can stress the plant and hinder its development.
Pothos with bare stems are common. This is usually due to inadequate light, too much water, or lack of pruning. Yours might need tip pruning or a harder prune to get it back or keep it in shape. You want to prune directly below a leaf node, making a cut straight across.
You can read more about pruning & propagating pothos here.
7. Humidity
Pothos love higher humidity levels! Try misting the leaves regularly or running a small humidifier to keep them happy. This will also help prevent their leaf tips from turning brown and crispy.
8. Training the Vines
Gently guide and train the vines to grow in the direction you want. You can use trellises, hooks, or other supports to help them trail along nicely. Get creative with it and see what works best for your space!
Propagating Your Pothos
This isn’t how you get your pothos vines to grow long, but it’s a result of that. Pothos propagation is a snap! You can easily propagate your pothos by using the vine cuttings.
Simply take a cutting just below a leaf node and place it in water or moist soil until roots develop. In the warmer season, roots will appear in 7 to 14 days. Those stem cuttings will produce a brand new pothos plant in no time.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you can have full pothos plants that grow and trail faster. Remember to be patient and keep an eye on your plant’s growth. With the right care, including enough light and proper watering, your pothos will reward you with lush new growth that will beautify any space!
Happy gardening,
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If you want to learn more about caring for pothos, check out the following care guides:
- Getting Started with Pothos Plant Care
- Neon Pothos Care
- Golden Pothos Care
- Pothos N’ Joy Pothos Care
- Marble Queen Pothos Care
If you want to see my beautiful trailing pothos, watch the video below!
- About the Author
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Nell, the founder of Joy Us garden, was born into a gardening family and grew up in Connecticut’s countryside. After living in Boston, New York, San Francisco, & Santa Barbara, she now calls the Arizona desert home. She studied horticulture & garden design, working in the field all her life. Nell is a gardener, designer, blogger, Youtube creator, & author. She’s been gardening for a very long time & wants to share what she’s learned with you.
