How often should I water it?

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Does it need direct sunlight?

It prefers bright, indirect light but tolerates low light conditions well.

Plant guide

Golden Pothos.

Epipremnum aureum

Pronounced eh-pee-PREM-num AW-ree-um

Also known as Devil's Ivy, Golden pothos, Silver Vine, Money Plant, Devil's Ivy, Solomon Islands' Ivy, Hunter's robe, Ivy arum, Taro vine, Devil's vine, Ivy-arum, Marble Queen, Silver Vine, Taro vine, Tonga Vine, devil's-ivy

Epipremnum aureum — Photo by Jenny Saito (CC BY) via gbif

The Golden Pothos is a classic, trailing vine known for its heart shaped leaves splashed with yellow variegation. It is incredibly hardy and adapts well to many indoor conditions. You will love how quickly it grows to fill a space.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Evergreen vine
Light: Bright indirect light is best, though it tolerates lower light.
Indoor light: Medium light
Water: Every 7 to 10 days
Mature size: Up to 2 meters indoors
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Rarely flowers in cultivation

Care

Keep the soil slightly moist but allow the top inch to dry out between waterings. Watch for drooping leaves as a sign the plant needs a drink. Wipe the leaves occasionally to keep them dust free and healthy.

Watering: Water when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim back long stems to encourage a fuller, bushier appearance.
Repotting: Move to a slightly larger pot when roots begin to circle the bottom.
Soil: Well draining potting mix
Soil pH: 6.1 to 6.5
Temperature: 15 to 29°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years or more.
Deer and rabbits: Low

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot
Stunted growth

Safety

People: The plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause irritation and swelling of the mouth and throat if chewed.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant out of reach of children as the leaves are toxic if swallowed and can cause severe mouth pain.
Contact allergens: The sap can cause skin irritation or rashes in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There is no significant risk of respiratory allergy from this plant.
Edibility: This plant is toxic if ingested and should never be consumed by humans or pets.

How to identify it

Heart shaped green leaves
Yellow or cream variegation
Trailing vine growth habit
Waxy leaf texture

Height: 1.8 to 24m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.9m
Leaves: green, yellow, white, evergreen
Flowers: white, green, 5 to 10cm
Fruit: green, rare

Problems to watch for

Brown Leaf EdgesCommon
Root RotCommon
Scale InsectsCommon
Fungus GnatsUncommon
MealybugsUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Check your golden pothos from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: cuttings
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Keep the plant away from cold drafts and heaters during winter. Reduce watering as growth slows down in cooler months.
In containers: It is excellent for containers and hanging baskets, needing only a pot with good drainage holes.

Stem cuttings

1. Cut a healthy stem just below a node.
2. Place the cutting in a jar of water.
3. Change the water weekly until roots appear.
4. Pot the rooted cutting in fresh soil.

Group plants with similar water needs together to make maintenance easier.

Grows well with

Peace Lily — They share similar light and humidity requirements.
Philodendron — They thrive in the same indoor environments and look great together.

Similar species

Heartleaf Philodendron — It has a similar vining growth habit but with heart shaped leaves.

Science

Family: Araceae
Genus: Epipremnum
Order: Alismatales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: French Polynesia
Conservation: It is considered invasive in many tropical regions where it has escaped cultivation.

In the wild, it climbs trees using aerial roots to reach higher light levels in the rainforest canopy.

Value to wildlife: provides dense cover
Pollinators: bees
Uses: indoor houseplant, hanging basket, vertical green wall

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 3/9
Salinity: 2/9
Nutrients: 4/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How often should I water it?: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Does it need direct sunlight?: It prefers bright, indirect light but tolerates low light conditions well.

Where the name comes from

The name Epipremnum comes from Greek words meaning upon and trunk, referring to its climbing habit. Aureum means golden, describing the yellow variegation on the leaves.

Good to know

It is one of the most popular houseplants in the world.
The leaves can grow to be over 30 inches long in the wild.
It helps remove indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde.
It is a member of the Araceae family.

Also in

Keep your golden pothos growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.