We all dream of the full, healthy, and bushy pothos plants pictured in all the best indoor gardening magazines. Fortunately, a happy and thriving plant is achievable–it just takes a little time and effort. While the most important thing to remember with growing plants is patience, there are a number of tips and tricks that will help your plant along the way.
Caring for your indoor plants can be difficult, especially since there are so many varieties. Pothos is generally known as one of the easier options because of its drought tolerant, fast-growing nature, but you may be wondering how to keep it looking lush and full all year long.
Fortunately, this guide on how to make your pothos plants fuller is here to help. We'll fill you in on the tools you'll need as well as the best tips and tricks. By the end, your plants will be as happy and healthy as ever.
Tools You Will Need
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While the tools and materials you need will depend on the method you choose, this basic list consists of many items most indoor gardeners own. If not, consider one of the other methods listed below first!
- Pruning shears
- Gardening gloves
- Hand trowel
- Trellis or stake
- Fertilizer for indoor plants
- Small glass or propagation tube
- Watering can
- Grow lights or a sunny windowsill
- Larger pot
Tips for Making Your Pothos Fuller
Tip 1: Pruning Pothos
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Pruning your pothos plant (as well as many other houseplants) is one of the most important factors in helping it thrive. Pruning should be done twice a year in the spring and fall respectively. To prune, simply use your garden sheers to remove long and leggy vines as well as smaller leaves.
This will stimulate new growth, but it will also remove the leaves and vines that make the plant seem less full. If the stems have nodes, you can also put them back in the soil and water thoroughly. In a few weeks, they should form roots and begin new vines, in turn making the plant appear more full.
Tip 2: Fertilizing Pothos
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Fertilizing pothos is another great way to stimulate growth, helping the plant become more full. It's definitely not a necessary option, but adding compost or indoor plant fertilizer to the soil following the directions for the specific option should effectively help the plant grow.
Tip 3: Trellis or Stake
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One thing that many newbie plant parents don't know is that pothos is a climbing plant. This means that allowing your pothos to climb on a trellis, stake, or moss pole is an excellent way to stimulate growth and help the plant become more full. Whether you want to opt for a DIY trellis or a store-bought option, the process is really quite simple.
To start, insert the bottom of the trellis into the soil. Then, gently drape the vines over the curves and angles of the trellis. Over time, the plant will train itself to grow on the trellis and attach itself to the material. This will also help the plant become fuller.
Tip 4: Propagating Pothos
Combining plants or adding propagated cuttings is a great way to make your plant fuller. In this case, there are really two simple options. First, you can take cuttings from the plant, allow them to grow roots in water, and then plant them back into the mother plant. Second, you can take another scraggly plant and plant the two in the same pot, making one fuller plant.
To propagate, follow these simple instructions:
- Clip off a 4-6 inch stem at a 45-degree angle
- Ensure there is a node on the stem and remove the leaf closest to the end that is cut off
- Submerge the stem and node in a container of water
- Place in a location that gets plenty of bright, indirect light
- Once it has developed a solid root system, plant it with the mother plant
Tip 5: Proper Watering Schedule
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Watering indoor plants can be tricky, especially since there's a fine line between overwatering and underwatering. Thankfully, pothos plants are one of the more drought tolerant options, but they do require a proper watering schedule to truly thrive. To properly water a pothos, ensure that the top inch of soil is dry using your finger or a moisture meter.
If the leaves of a pothos begin to wilt, it's usually a sign that it needs to be watered. Don't let this happen too often though, as underwatering can cause a plant to die. Once you've got the watering schedule down pat, your plant should begin to develop more leaves and stems and become fuller.
Tip 6: More Light
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Pothos plants prefer bright, indirect light. So, while you may have heard that they can survive in low-light conditions, they may not exactly thrive. If your plant isn't producing many new leaves or stems despite the fact that you've tried other tricks outlined in this list, it may need a sunnier spot.
If you don't have access to more sun, consider a grow light. This will stimulate photosynthesis, helping the plant grow and thrive. Avoid placing pothos in direct sunlight.
Tip 7: Repot the Pothos if Necessary
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Sometimes pothos and other houseplants seem to be at a stand-still with growth because they are root bound. To check, simply look at the bottom of the pot where the drainage hole is or remove the plant from the pot. If there are more roots than soil, it's time to repot!
To repot, simply choose a pot that is about an inch larger. Add some soil to the bottom, loosen the roots on the plant, and submerge it in the pot. Add extra soil on top and pack it tightly. Give it a good watering and you should see new growth in a few weeks!
In Summary
There are plenty of ways to improve the state of your pothos plant, transforming your limp, lifeless, and stringy plant into something that is lush, full, and vibrant. Proper care is the most important factor, though. If your plant is under or overwatered, in a pot that is too small or goes unpruned for too long, it won't grow and fill out as quickly.
For the best results, try combining all of the tips outlined in this guide. Have you tried any on your pothos plants? Let us know down below!