Skip to main content

This is how much water your pothos plant needs to thrive

When it comes to houseplants, the pothos has a reputation for being virtually unkillable. Its waxy, heart-shaped leaves manage to push out prolifically, even in less-than-ideal lighting and feeding conditions. And perhaps, on top of it all, the pothos is known to be a great companion for forgetful plant parents who might skip a watering or two. While the pothos plant doesn’t necessarily need consistent watering, that doesn’t mean it can thrive on no water. It should be no surprise that the pothos does best when watered properly. If you’re wondering how to best water your pothos for lush vines, read ahead.

Potted golden pothos
ArtBackground / Shutterstock

What kind of soil does my pothos need?

To consider the watering needs of your pothos, we have to discuss its soil requirements. The pothos isn’t a very picky plant when it comes to a growing medium. You only want to make sure it’s in a well-draining and well-aerated potting mix. If your soil is too absorbent, this can easily drown your roots and lead to root rot. And without aeration, your soil can become too compact, which means the plant won’t get the water it needs.

A standard potting mix should be sufficient, but you can add orchid bark or cactus soil for drainage and perlite or vermiculite for aeration. Try not to use a cactus mix by itself, as your growing medium should hold on to some moisture. (Side note: you can actually grow pothos hydroponically for a very long time, so a potting mix isn’t strictly necessary.)

How do I know when my pothos needs water?

There are a few signs to look for to gauge when it’s time to water your pothos. The soil will feel dry to the touch, and your planter will feel light. The leaves, typically firm and waxy when watered well, will look a little droopy. As soon as you water your plant, the leaves should perk up within a few hours.

Be mindful that pothos leaves might also droop when overwatered — the wilting leaves may be yellow or have black spots on them. If damaged by overwatering, the leaves, unfortunately, won’t make a comeback. Remember, the pothos is always more forgiving of underwatering than overwatering.

A golden pothos hanging in a container on a wooden wall
Gogonian / Shutterstock

How often should I water my pothos? 

It’s entirely possible to keep a pothos happy watering it by feel without a set schedule. However, establishing a watering routine can be useful for checkups on your pothos. So you might ask yourself: Should I water my pothos once a week? Once every two weeks? There’s no set answer, but a consistent checkup cadence; say once a week, can be helpful.

How often to water pothos plants depends on a wide range of factors, from how much light you give it to what kind of soil it has. The best course of action is to gauge how long it takes to dry out and establish a cadence from there. The pothos likes to be watered after its soil dries out completely, which may be a week in the summer, but perhaps a few weeks in the winter. During the spring and summer, you can add a few pumps of all-purpose liquid fertilizer throughout every watering session or two.

How long should pothos be watered? 

How long it takes to water your pothos depends on how big it is and what kind of watering method you use. A large plant will, of course, take longer to water than a small plant. If you’re simply pouring water from the top, it may take less time than bottom watering your plant.

After top watering, check for excess water in your cachepot or saucer — dump out this extra water to prevent root rot. If you’re bottom watering your plant, let it sit in a tray of water for about 15 to 20 minutes or whenever the top of the soil feels evenly moist. This latter method ensures you’re not overwatering your plant, but many people can get by with top watering. Whichever watering style you choose, make sure your pothos is thoroughly watered.

Person misting a pothos
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Do pothos like being misted? 

If you want to mist your pothos, it may be because you want to amp up the humidity. The pothos is a tropical plant, so it appreciates extra humidity. That said, it’s very tolerant of low humidity. There’s no need to mist it or invest in a humidifier, but you can do so if you live in a dry environment.

Misting may also be helpful for the aerial roots. Over time, the pothos develops thick aerial roots above the soil surface. If you have pothos with aerial roots climbing up a pole, it may be useful to mist them to help them climb and uptake some nutrients.  

It’s fact that misting is a topic of contention in the plant community. Some people believe it amps up humidity, while others think it can spread pathogens and pests without meaningfully increasing the humidity. For humidity-increasing alternatives, consider leaving your plant on a tray of wet pebbles or keeping a humidifier nearby. 

Tolerant of neglect as it may be, the pothos plant flourishes best when watered correctly. Luckily, the pothos makes it clear when it needs watering and is often forgiving when underwatered. With an established checkup schedule for your plant, as well as a bit of fertilizer during the growing season, you’ll be able to enjoy this easy-care plant’s prolific vining leaves.

Stacey Nguyen
Stacey's work has appeared on sites such as POPSUGAR, HelloGiggles, Buzzfeed, The Balance, TripSavvy, and more. When she's…
Your guide to growing the Monstera adansonii, aka the Swiss cheese plant
Everything you need to know for lush, fast-growing vines
Monstera adansonii

There is a time in every plant lover's journey where they want to take the leap and invest in a plant that might not be beginner level but isn't going to break the bank if it dies on their first attempt. The monstera adansonii — also known as the Swiss cheese plant — is an ideal plant to test your growing abilities without putting too much money on the line. While they're often more expensive than pothos or ZZ plants, they are affordable plants with an exotic look. Let's dive into how to care for these lovely plants, so you don't end up with a crispy mess.

What is the Swiss cheese plant?
The monstera adansonii is native to tropical forests and is also commonly known as the Swiss cheese plant. This is because of its holey leaves that look like Swiss cheese. Its cousin, the monstera deliciosa plant, often gets the limelight in Instagram posts. However, we think it's time the adansonii had its time to shine. It's a much smaller and more delicate plant than the deliciosa and can fit in smaller spaces. It can grow up to 5 feet tall as a houseplant but can reach 13 feet or higher in its natural environment.

Read more
10 beautiful dracaena plants to add to your houseplant collection
Identify common dracaena plants and learn how to care for them
A small potted dracaena marginata

Chances are you've encountered the dracaena plant at your local nursery. You've also probably noticed arching dracaenas feature some of the lushest growth patterns and variegation in the plant world. Whether they’re single-stemmed shrubs or trees, these plants make exquisite additions to any home or office. Plus, they’re pretty low-maintenance plants — all they need is indirect light and non-fluoridated water to thrive. Below, we've rounded up our favorite types of dracaena plants. Let's take a look.
1. Gold dust dracaena (Dracaena surculosa)

The beautiful gold dust dracaena features arching branches that push out lanced-shaped leaves with a dark green color and cream speckles. It grows relatively slowly and can handle neglect — that is, low-light conditions and periods of drought. That said, you’ll be rewarded with more variegation with bright indirect light.
2. Cornstalk plant (Dracaena deremensis)

Read more
Coleus plant care: How to grow it indoors and outdoors
Growing and caring for coleus plants
A coleus plant with orange and red leaves

When you think of plants to add color to your home or garden, your first thought might be flowers. Did you know that there are plenty of colorful foliage plants as well? Coleus is one such plant, with leaves that come in a variety of striking colors and patterns. From bright red or pink to dark purple, and even some multicolored varieties. If coleus sounds like an ideal plant to you, then this guide to coleus plant care will help you start growing your own.
Planting coleus

Whether your coleus is an indoor or an outdoor plant, make sure to plant it in rich, well-draining soil. For potted coleus plants, choose a container that has adequate drainage holes to avoid waterlogged soil. You can start indoor coleus plants any time, but for the outdoors, wait until the weather is warm. Coleus are tropical plants, and they are sensitive to cold weather and frost.

Read more