Why Golden Pothos Is the Perfect Plant for Beginner Gardeners

This plant is super low-maintenance and forgiving.

The golden pothos, or Epipremnum aureum, belongs to a family of plants that are easy to grow and require very little maintenance. According to the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), the golden pathos is originally from a tropical island. The plant climbs up tree trunks, creates ground cover, and can grow up to 40 feet, making it a show-stopping piece of greenery. It's known for creating an abundance of marbled leaves and stretching out into your space.

potted golden pothos next to window on sill

Ryan Mcenaney of Bailey Nurseries notes that pothos grow incredibly well indoors year-round. "In the right circumstances, it can grow over a foot per year, giving you a beautifully vining structure. Since it can grow to 10 feet and longer, placing it on a bookshelf, mantle, desk, or wall-mounted pot will let the plant showcase its best attributes and add some green to your living space."

When thinking about plant care it is best to start with the soil. "Because they're so readily adaptable, you can plant pothos in most well-drained potting mix. Most potting mixes don't have long-lasting fertilizer in them, and while pothos doesn't need a lot of food to thrive, giving them a shot of houseplant fertilizer every month or two will help them continue to perform at their best" says McEnaney. The NYBG suggests re-potting your growing golden pothos each year—specifically, re-potting annually in the spring, to a container one size larger with an oil-based potting mixture. Like any good plant parent, it's important to choose a vessel with drainage holes on the bottom.

Your pothos will thrive under many circumstances but they do not like to be overwatered. According to Mcenaney, the pothos would rather have its soil dry out between waterings. "Let the leaves start to wilt a bit and then give it a drink. Don't let the leaves start to shrivel, but just follow the lead of your plant: When you see it start to droop, it's time to water," he explains. Since the golden pothos is from a tropical climate, you may want to pay attention to the humidity. Average household humidity should be enough, but if the room is on the warm side, particularly if it is above 65 degrees in the winter, you will need some supplemental humidity. The NYBG says to mist the plant daily if the leaf tips begin to turn brown.

Mcenaney suggests keeping your pothos out of direct light. "Pothos do best in bright, indirect light. This means that you want the sun's rays to touch the pothos' leaves, but you don't want the light to directly hit the plant through your windows", says Mcenaney. What makes the golden pothos great for novice plant owners is that if you neglect any of the previous steps your plant can still thrive. "While there are best-case settings for pathos, you can break those 'rules' and still keep it alive," he says.