A happy , thrive Scindapsus aureus is exactly what any houseplant devotee want in their collection . But what do you do if your pothos plant is not growing ?

Pothos are light to care for , and they can develop in a variety of different surround so it ’s easy to see why they ’re democratic . However , like any indoor plant , issue can arise which may slow down its outgrowth – to the point where there even is n’t any new growth at all .

In this article , we will discuss some common reasons why your Epipremnum aureum may not be growing and provide tips on how to get it back on course !

leaves from a pothos not growing

Table of Contents

Easy Pothos Care Guide 💚

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pothos not growing due to it being too hot

💧 pee : Water when the top inch of soil find dry . Pothos are forgive and tolerate periodic drying out but do n’t get the soil rest waterlogged .

🌱 Soil : Use a well - draining pot mix -I personally usethis potting mix . This standard indoor one go bully , especially with its added perlite for aeration .

☀ ️Light : shiny , indirect lightness is best , but Pothos can accommodate to turn down light condition . avert prolong direct sunlight , as it can singe the leave .

top of a pothos plant

🌡 ️Temperature : Pothos fly high in temperatures between 65 - 85 ° F ( 18 - 29 ° speed of light ) . Keep them away from frigid drafts and sudden temperature changes .

🌿 Fertilizer : Feed with a balanced , water - soluble fertilizer ( my top nibble isthis Miracle - Gro one ) once a calendar month during spring and summer . Skip feeding in fall and winter .

Why is mypothos not growing?

You may experience like a speculative plant parent if your golden pothos plant life is sluggish to arise . But this take place to even the dear nurseryman !

As you ’ll see below , there are a variety of reasons why your pothos may not be growing , most of which are fairly prosperous to fix .

1. It’s too cold

In the wild , pothos plant life are used to warm up tropical climates . If the temperature in your home is below 60 degree Fahrenheit , then your Epipremnum aureum is n’t getting the warmth it needs to grow .

you could figure out this trouble bymoving your plant to a warm location or by investing in a heat lamp . you could alsomove it off from areas that have draftssuch as doors or windows that are ofttimes open or close .

2. It’s too hot

On the other handwriting , if a ivy arum industrial plant is exposed to too much heat , it will wilt and lose moisture from its leaves . In add-on to grow more slowly , you may notice the flora has become wilt , dry out , or even sunburnt .

curb the temperature in your place is one of the best ways to get your pothos into the idealistic temperature chain for growth . render preserve the temperature in your home below 85 stage , 90 grade at most . Make indisputable your industrial plant is out of direct sunshine , which could also cause it to overheat .

3. The pothos is overwatered

If you ’re watering your plant too frequently , the tooth root may not have a chance to dry out wholly between waterings . This could cause the works to become rootbound or experience fungal outgrowth . While the flora is going through this stress , it will focus its zip on solve these problems rather than growing bigger .

Toavoid overwatering your Epipremnum aureum , control the soil before watering it . The top of the soil should be dry to the touch before you water it again . If you ’re not sure how often to water your pothos , err on the side of too little rather than too much or piddle it once every two weeks .

4. The pothos is underwatered

While pothos plants can tolerate periods of clip without water , they are n’t drouth resistant . They may look fine if you skip watering for several weeks , but their rate of ontogenesis will dramatically lessen .

With fourth dimension , other sign ofunderwatering in your pothoswill seem . These include wilting , yellow leaves , and dry , crispy leaves . If you see these signs , get going watering your pothos more frequently until it recovers .

5. It’s the dormant season

One reason that pothos plants may not be growing is that it ’s the dormant season . This typically pass in later fall or early wintertime when the days are shorter and the temperature is coolheaded .

During this meter , pothos plants will stop uprise and concentre their DOE on surviving the colder months . This is something that you demand to have longanimity with . The industrial plant will take less watering and fertilizing overall during this time .

6. Your pothos needs nutrients

If there is a want of a specific nutrient , it will stunt your Scindapsus aureus plant ’s growth . If you ’re using old territory for an lengthened full point of time , it may not have any more nutrients to give to the works .

If your plant is older and has n’t been fertilized in several years , this is another reasonableness why it may be deprive of food . ivy arum plants need a blend of N , morning star , and potassium to produce decent .

Find out more : Best Pothos Fertilizer for Your Plant to Thrive

pothos not growing due to getting too much light

7. You’re over-fertilizing your pothos

Conversely , if you ’re adding too much plant food to your pothos plant , this could “ burn ” the plant and stop it from growing . If you see brown or yellow leave of absence , this is a signal that you ’re over - fertilizing your pothos .

Stop fertilizing your industrial plant for several weeks and see if the problem improves . If not , hear using a different fertilizer or diluting the one you ’re presently using . Avoid fertilise your works as frequently ( or at all ) when it ’s in dormancy .

8. Your plant needs more light

Many pothos plant can survive in low lightsome conditions , but this will sure slow the growth of the plant . It may also stop the plant from producing large busy leaves and have it to be leggy , which mean that the offshoot reduce out and extend for light .

Epipremnum aureum plants like lustrous collateral sunshine , since these emulate the natural condition that the plant would experience in the wilderness as they grow alongside tropical trees .

9. The pothos is root bound

Apothos becomes source boundwhen its container does n’t give the roots enough way to grow . This can cause the industrial plant to stop develop or even die . you could assure when your pothos is rootbound when you see roots come out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the heap or cracks in the pot itself .

This reach it hard for the plant life to absorb water and nutrients , so it will grow much ho-hum than usual . The longer it is allow in this condition , the slower the works will formulate .

10. Your plant has root rot

A pothos not growing quickly may be a sign of root rot . Root rot in your pothoshappens when the roots are overwatered and they lead off to decay . This can happen if the batch does n’t have drain holes or if you ’re overwatering your works .

It ’s stimulate by a fungal infection , and it ’s one of the most uncouth problems that ivy arum plant face . If you think your plant has ascendant decomposition , the unspoiled trend of action is to transfer it from its pot and check the roots . If they ’re gentle or mushy , then they ’ve been feign by stem molder and ask to be prune and disinfected .

11. There’s a pest or microbial infestation

emergence can be kibosh in its lead if your golden pothos plant is infested with pests or microbes . These can let in aphid , whitefly , spider soupcon , mealybug , and graduated table . All of these pesterer will feed on the leaves of your plant and eventually weaken it .

Pests can also introduce disease to your Scindapsus aureus plant that will further stunt its ontogenesis . These let in fungous infections like powdery mildew and root rot .

12. You’re not pruning your pothos

Pruning is an important part of plant precaution , and it ’s especially crucial for pothos plants . Pruning will help to stimulate new growth and will aim emergence towards healthy areas of the plant life . It will also help to keep the flora respectable and detached of dead or dying farewell .

If you don’tprune your pothosregularly , it wo n’t achieve the bushy , full growing that you ’re probably hoping for .

How do I stimulate my pothos’ growth?

Now that you know all of the reasons why a pothos industrial plant may dillydally in growth , here are some of the unspoiled ways to stimulate growth :

1. Give your pothos the right nutrients

As we observe before , golden pothos plant need a residuum of N , phosphorus , and potassium to grow by rights . These are typically found in most all - intent fertiliser . you may also get specific plant food for each of these nutrients .

If you supply new soil each time you move your Scindapsus aureus into a big container , this should also provide an adequate amount of fertilizer to the plants . Compost is also a great born means to revive the growing rate of your golden pothos works .

2. Give it more light

This is by far the best way to perk up the increment of your pothos plant . This plant loves brilliant indirect lightness that wo n’t burn its parting but will stir its growth . This is specially true if you have a vary version of the plant that has pale folio because it ca n’t take in as much chlorophyl as a fleeceable pothos works such as theJade pothos .

The more light that the works gets , the more it will farm . If you do n’t have enough visible radiation in your home plate , you could expend a works grow Inner Light to make indisputable your golden pothos get the light source it needs . go forth it on for 12 to 14 hours each daylight and ensure it is at least 8 column inch out from the parting to prevent scorching .

3. Create the right temperature conditions

As mentioned above , Scindapsus aureus plant life flourish between the tropical range of 60 to 80 level Fahrenheit . If the temperature in your home beat much cooler than this , the emergence of your plant life will slow down down significantly .

you’re able to use a quad hummer to create a fond topographic point for your Scindapsus aureus or move it closer to a radiator if you ’re having trouble keeping the temperature up in your household . you’re able to also bring your pothos out of doors during the affectionate calendar month but verify to bring it back at bottom before the temperature fell at night .

4. Dust and mist your plant occasionally

The leaves of your pothos plant need to be uncontaminating and dust free for catch one’s breath and meet sunlight . Support them by on a regular basis dust them with a piano cloth and misting them with water once a calendar week , which can give a short term boost to yourpothos ’ humidness level .

Do this especially if you live in a dry climate or if your home has central heating as this can make the gentle wind very dry . Misting will also help to preclude spider pinch from infest your works , as long as you do n’t overdo it .

5. Keep an eye out for pests

Pests can be backbreaking to see to it , no matter how well you take care of your ivy arum plant . Because of this , your best line of defense is to regularly look into the leaves for sign of pest such as webbing , orchis , or larvae .

If you do discover pests on your pothos flora , you may remove them by hand or use a pesticide specifically design for plants . Be certain to follow the instructions on the pesticide recording label and only use it as a last resort hotel since it can be harmful to your plant .

6. Repot your pothos every two years

If you do n’t regularly repot your golden pothos plant life , it will become origin bound . Unfortunately , ivy arum plant are raw to this , so they postulate to be repot every two years to keep them from becoming stunted in growth .

When you dorepot your pothos , verify to choose a pot that is only one size large than the current mountain , about 1 to 2 inches prominent . You should also use refreshed potting mix and be careful not to damage the roots when you transmit the industrial plant .

Related:6 Easy Steps to rick Your Large Pothos into a Giant

hanging pothos trailing from a pot

7. Add drainage to the soil

If your grunge drains well , you will secure that your pothos plant does n’t sit in H2O and become oversaturated . This can leave to problems such as root hogwash , so it ’s important to make trusted yourpothos has appropriate drainagethrough its pot having drainage holes in the bottom . you’re able to add together drainage holes with a power practice or by using a shrill tongue .

you may also improve the drain of your soil by adding perlite , sand , or vermiculite to it . Additionally , it ’s good to add a layer of gravel or rock to the bottom of the pot before total the soil . This will help to keep the rootage dry and help them to take up strain easy .

8. Prune your pothos regularly

Pruning a pothos plant every 2 to 3 months ( or whenever you see yellow leaves ) will help to encourage young growth . When you rationalize your plant , switch off the stalk about an in below a leaf node . This is where new leave of absence will stock from , so it ’s significant not to curve too far down .

Pruning also helps to keep yourpothos plant from becoming too long or leggyand forestall it from taking over the pot . It ’s a good melodic theme to crop your plant even if you do n’t see any yellow leaves , as this will serve it to grow full and healthier .

9. Set up a watering schedule

for avoid overwatering or underwatering your pothos works , the best thing you may do is to set up a lacrimation agenda . This mean you irrigate your plant on the same days each week and do n’t permit the soil dry out completely between waterings .

In term ofhow often to water your pothos plant , every two week is a well bet . Choose a day of the week and determine a admonisher so you do n’t forget to water it . It ’s also a good idea to see to it the filth before you water to make certain it ’s actually dry .

Are pothos slow growers?

No , golden pothos plants tend to grow cursorily ! Since they are vining plants , they are meant to spread out quickly so that they can batten down themselves to support . This is why you often see them rise up on trellises or along walls . It ’s a great plant for someone who wants to see speedy results and grow a plant tight .

To encourage your golden pothos to arise quickly , verify it is getting enough Christ Within and water . you could also fertilize your plant life every few calendar week with a half - strength plant food to give it a rise . Remember , too much fertiliser can incinerate the plant , so do n’t go crazy on this or do it during the torpid season .

The rate of ontogeny will look on the variety of pothos you have . Some varieties , such as theMarble Queen Epipremnum aureum , maturate a little slower than others . Variegated Scindapsus aureus plants in general farm a act slower because they do n’t have as much chlorophyl in them , which is what help the plant to photosynthesize .

pothos not growing due to not getting enough light

That being said , even slow growers will outpace most other houseplants ! So if you ’re looking for a plant that will quickly make full up a place , pothos is a great alternative .

Related : How tight Does Pothos Grow ( and How to Make it Grow Faster ) ?

Why do pothos take so long to grow?

If your Scindapsus aureus is call for a tenacious time to grow , there are several potential understanding . One vulgar one is that the works is n’t engender enough light . Pothos need bright , indirect light so as to grow quickly . If your plant life is sitting in a gloomy street corner , it ’s no admiration it ’s not growing very fast .

Another possibility is that the plant is getting too much water . Overwatering can lead to root rot , which can stunt the plant life ’s growth . ensure you ’re allowing the soil to dry out all between waterings and that the pot has drainage hollow in the bottom .

Finally , it could be that the plant is not get enough nutrients . Fertilizing your golden pothos every few week with a half - strength fertiliser can help to promote growth . Just be careful not to overdo it , as too much plant food can burn the plant life .

glasses next to a pothos that’s not growing

Some other ingredient affect the growth rate of the flora , such as its container , soil , the temperature of the room it ’s growing in , and the humidity . Examine these factors one by one to see what is the cause of your dull pothos development .

How long does it take for a pothos plant to grow?

In an idealistic climate and with the best status , a pothos industrial plant can produce up to 18 to 24 inch each calendar month . However , this is in the wild . Indoor pothos plants in excellent shape can turn as promptly as 12 to 18 inches per month .

Different miscellany of the pothos plant will have dissimilar growth rates . Many variegated or half moon varieties of the Epipremnum aureum plants have slower growth rates because they do n’t absorb sunlight at the same rate as other ones .

sunshine is the crowing factor when it comes to the growing speed of your pothos plant . It can also be temperature , the quality of the ground , and whether or not the plant life is fertilized . All these conditions can help the plant to farm at dissimilar speeds .

pothos vines

You may also be interested:6 bare Steps to Grow Pothos in Water Successfully

When is pothos growing season?

Pothos plants develop rapidly during the spring and summertime months when they are endanger to more sunshine . However , they will carry on to grow throughout the year if they are maintain in a ardent surround with shiny , collateral light . If you live in a colder climate , your Scindapsus aureus plant life may go dormant during the wintertime month .

you could help oneself to foreshorten or reduce the quiescence flow by using a full spectrum grow light that mime the industrial plant ’s natural condition . In the tropics , the pothos plant has a very even growth design throughout the year . However , if you live in an surface area with clear-cut seasons , a grow sparkle could be a big help .

During the growing season , the pothos answer the best to pruning , lacrimation , and fertilizer . These are the honest months to give your pothos a growth encouragement .

pothos growing in water

How do you make pothos grow faster in water?

Overall , Epipremnum aureum plants rise more easy in water than they do in land . This is because they are not able to get at food as well when they are growing in body of water . However , the best way to make a pothos plant grow faster in pee is to modify the urine regularly and give it plenty of light .

Pothos plant that are growing in water should be given a impertinent supply of water every week . The old water should be dumped out and replace with wise , clean-living water . Using distilled or purified water may aid the plant to grow more quickly , as it will not have to filter out impurities from the water system .

A rooting hormone may also help the industrial plant to grow more quickly in water . This is because it will encourage the industrial plant to produce more roots , which will aid it to absorb nutrients more efficaciously .

Epipremnum aureum plant that are growing in water can also be fertilized with a half - strength fluid fertilizer every calendar month . This will aid the works to get to the food it needs to rise more quickly .