Epipremnum aureum commonly known as golden pothos has a reputation of being one of the easiest houseplants to take care of. She is also such a special plant to have indoors because it has the capability to purify the air. This article is going to be a complete guide on golden pothos care.

What  is a Golden Pothos/ A little about Golden Pothos

The golden pothos actually comes from South Asia, so it is a tropical plant. This plant is actually known for its leaves. The leaves have the shape of a heart. And they have some golden tones to them. So you see some green and then some gold. Hence the name.

Golden Pothos Quick Care & Info

Origin	South Asia
Botanical Name	Epipremnum aureum
Nickname	Golden Pothos, Devils Vine, Devils Ivy, Taro Vine, Silver Vine, Hunters Robe, Ceylon Creeper
Height	Up to about 10 feet or more
Air Purifying	Yes
Light	Medium to bright indirect light but can tolerate low light
Water	Water when top 2-3 inches of soil becomes dry
Temperature	Average to warm probably about 65-85°F
Humidity	50% +
Soil	All-purpose houseplant potting mix
Toxicity	Toxic to cats, dogs and horses
Where to grow	Bright indoors, shaded outdoors
Maintenace Level	Low maintenance

Epipremnum Aureum Care: Golden pothos best grows in medium to bright indirect light with a temperature ranges from 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit. 50-60% humidity is perfect for them and use an all-purpose houseplant potting soil making sure that the pot has drainage holes. Water your golden pothos when topsoil of your pot becomes dry. You can fertilize them once or twice a month in the growing season which is from spring to summer.

Golden Pothos Light Requirements

One important factor with the golden pothos is light. Remember, golden pothos don’t need so much sunlight. I find that they’re happy with medium or low light levels. Avoid bright direct sunlight because this may burn the leaves. The only lighting conditions they can’t tolerate are full, direct sun and complete darkness.

So for example, with ours, we have them in our bedroom. Our bedroom actually has a north-west facing window, which is perfect for her because she gets afternoon sunlight but really indirectly. 

Golden Pothos Watering

Golden pothos like low to moderate watering. We don’t want to give too much water to our plant because we don’t want to overwater her.

So the way that you can check if your plant needs water is with your finger. You put your finger inside the soil until the second knuckle or until the end of your finger. And once you feel that the soil is dry, then you can water them.

And the method that I use of course is the bottom watering method. I love this method, because it helps me get the water into the roots from below and then once I’m done I actually let the water drain down through the drainage holes. That way the soil is moist but not super wet. 

In the winter, you will notice that the soil takes longer to dry out. So cut back on water. Remember, we want to let the soil dry  in between waterings. So we don’t over water your plants.

In short, you may water every 1-2 weeks, allowing soil to dry out between waterings.

Golden Pothos Temperature Requirements

In terms of temperature, this plant will be very happy in normal household temperatures. So keep her a room that is between 15 to 29 degrees celsius. They will not flourish when too hot or too cold. They can withstand temperatures around ten degrees but not less than that. Below ten degrees, the plant may die.

Golden Pothos Humidity Requirements

This is a tropical plant, so they would like humidity. They don’t need as much humidity as the Calatheas, for example, that in my experience need about 60% humidity. I think normal levels of humidity should be okay. If you find that in the winter the air in your place is super dry and you see that the edges of your leaf are browning, your plant may need a bit more humidity. So place her with other tropical plants, on a humidity tray, or close to a humidifier.

Best Soil for Golden Pothos

In terms of potting mix, this plant is super adaptable. The soil should be well-draining, but hold on to enough water to remain moist in between watering (they don’t like super dry soil). So you can use a standard houseplant potting mix. If you want to make your own, I would recommend that you add seven parts of coconut coir, two parts of worm castings, and two parts of perlite.

Fertilizer for Golden Potho

In terms of fertilizer, Golden pothos is quite hardy and they can survive without fertilizer for months. But for maximum growth you can fertilize them during the growing season, which is from spring to summer with a balanced houseplant fertilizer (20-20-20) once in every one to two month.

Fertilize them during the growing season from spring to summer and avoid fertilizing during the winter months.​

I use organic fertilizer. And organic fertilizers tend to be less concentrated than synthetic fertilizers. But of course, even if you have an organic fertilizer, I strongly recommend that you check the instructions on the package. That way you make sure that you don’t  over-feed your plant.

Golden Pothos Repotting

When to repot golden pothos? Your Golden pothos may require repotting if you see following conditions:

• plant looks too big for its pot
• the roots are coming out from the drainage holes in the bottom
• the soil looks like it’s getting calcified at the top or it dries out quickly

When this happens, re-pot your plant in a one size larger pot, then water thoroughly. Don’t repot your plant in a super large pot.

Golden Pothos Propagation

So, how to propagate golden pothos? Propagating golden pothos is very easy and this plant has a very high propagation success rate. You can simply take a stem cutting from the tip. Place it into soil, where it will start growing roots and begin life as a whole new plant. Or you can cut a section of the plant off of the parent and submerge the cut ends in water for about two weeks. When roots form, transfer it to a container for growing.

Golden Pothos Pruning/Grooming

It is very essential to groom your  golden pothos so that it looks absolutely beautiful also to control its shape over the year. If you see any yellow leaves simply pull it off and Prune out dead and dying stems. This plant grows so quickly that you can prune back heavily to reshape your plant according to your choice.

Golden Pothos Toxicity

In terms of toxicity, unfortunately this plant is toxic to humans, as well as dogs and cats. They contain insoluble calcium oxalates and if ingested they can harm us. When we prune our plant there may be some sap coming out of the stem. This sap can be irritating to the skin. So just be careful.

Golden Pothos Common Problems

Golden pothos leaves turning yellow: I always heard this question, Why do my golden pothos have yellow leaves? The simple answer is, overwatering! You don’t need to water them until the soil is dry and you may use your fingers to check whether your soil is dry or not. Remember, 90% of the plants died because of overwatering.

Golden pothos stems rotting: This problem may happen to your plant either by overwatering or a sudden drop in temperature. If temperature is the problem then cut away the rotting stems and transfer it in a more stable and suitable temperature. If overwatering is the cause of this problem, you should also check for root rot and only water when your plant soil becomes dry.

Brown tips: For this problem you will find the room is too dry and that usually indicates a humidity problem.  Increase humidity by misting the plant with a fine water spray every other day. You may place her with other tropical plants, on a humidity tray, or close to a humidifier. I hope this problem will be solved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are golden pothos toxic to cats and dogs?

Unfortunately golden pothos are toxic to humans, as well as dogs and cats. They contain insoluble calcium oxalates.  If ingested, it may cause vomiting, oral irritation and difficulty swallowing. So best advice is always to keep your plants out of reach of small children and your loving pets.

How often to water golden pothos?

Golden Pothos have a shallow root system that means that less actually is more when watering them. They don’t like to be over watered. So water them when you find the soil is dry and you may use your fingers to check whether your soil is actually dry or not. 

How fast does golden pothos grow?

The golden pothos are fast growers. It can grow up to 12 inches in the months between December and May. They prefer medium to bright indirect light and grow best at 15 to 29 degrees celsius.

Can golden pothos grow in water?

Answer is yes, golden pothos grow in water. You need to remember one thing that most plants don’t absolutely need soil to thrive. They need water and nutrients which they get from the soil. So, as long as you can provide those to your plant, you don’t really need to root your golden pothos cuttings in soil. They grow easily in water as long as you provide them with sufficient nutrients and sunlight.

This was all about golden pothos care. If I miss anything about golden pothos care or if you have any questions, feel free to ask.