Hi, I'm Judy Mirro, a UVM Extension Master Gardener
coming to you from the University of Vermont Greenhouse.
I'm here to help you become a houseplant hero
by providing some guidance on caring for your houseplants.
Today our focus is on Epipremnum aureum.
It's common names are devil's ivy and Pothos.
It's a low maintenance, easy to grow houseplant hailing
from Southeast Asia
where you'll find it growing as a ground cover.
The leaves are three to four inches wide
and unmistakably heart shaped.
Take a look at this.
They are just beautiful.
The leaves are often variegated
with green and gold, green and cream
and some varieties are just all gold or just all green.
I love the Pothos for it's forgiving nature
and glossy leaf no matter which variety you choose.
This one is the golden Pothos.
Given the opportunity, Pothos' vines can grow as long
as 40 feet on long cascading stems.
So if you're looking
for a really easy to grow hanging house plant,
Pothos is the plant for you.
They climb and gently adhere
to things by using their aerial roots.
The Pothos prefers a well-lit area, but no direct sunlight.
It can tolerate long periods in low light.
This is an excellent plant for the kitchen or bathroom
where humidity levels tend to be a little higher.
But they'll do fine if you keep their leaves free
of dust and mist them every once in a while.
Use a soft cloth to dust them off.
Plant them in a well-drained potting soil
and allow them to dry out between watering.
Be sure your pot has lots
of drainage holes and has a flat bottom.
And don't forget the saucer to capture that excess water
because you wouldn't wanna ruin your furniture.
No need to fertilize the Pothos in winter
but pick it up again in the spring through fall.
They don't require a lot of fertilizer to keep them happy.
So half strength fertilizer every other week
in the growing season is sufficient
or just fertilize them once a month
with regular strength houseplant fertilizer.
Any will do.
Over time, leaves will age and yellow and fall off.
You'll end up with most
of the leaves at the end of the stems.
Not a problem.
Just prune the stems back to maintain a full
and bushy plant.
If you are frustrated with the look of your Pothos,
go ahead and cut it back.
And I mean, way back.
Just leave at least two inches
of the plant from the soil line to regenerate.
It's that hardy.
And the best part, the Pothos' vines easily root
in a glass of water in just a few weeks.
You'll end up with so many plants,
you won't know what to do with them.
Pothos has few pests and problems,
but it's occasionally affected by some insects and diseases.
Root rot is the Pothos nemesis.
Over loving this plant will be the death of it.
Best to under water the Pothos than over water it.
If you see blackening of the leaf margins or tips,
your Pothos is telling you that you've
either over watered, water too little,
or you've given it too much fertilizer.
Remember that by providing your plants with the conditions
and care they need, you too can be a houseplant hero.
For more information on house plants or home gardens,
visit the UVM Extension Master Garden website
and visit our garden resources page.
Or contact an Extension Master Gardener volunteer
at the helpline.
The phone number is on the screen.
This is Extension Master Gardener, Judy Mirro,
wishing you happy gardening.