Golden Pothos

Golden pothos is the plant that turns people into plant people. It grows quickly, tells you clearly what it needs, and bounces back from most mistakes. The heart-shaped leaves are bright green marbled with gold, and the vines trail from a shelf or climb a support if you give them one.

Every pothos we sell is grown from cuttings taken in our own greenhouse, three or four rooted vines to a pot, so it arrives full rather than leggy.

At a glance

• Light: medium to bright indirect light. It tolerates dim rooms but loses some of its gold.
• Water: when the top inch or two of soil is dry, roughly weekly in summer.
• Size: vines about 12 inches long on arrival, growing several feet a year in good light.
• Pets: toxic to cats and dogs if chewed.
• Price: $22 for the 6-inch size.

Light

Pothos is one of the most adaptable plants we grow, and it earns its place among our plants for dim rooms. The trade-off is color: in poor light new leaves come in plainer green and smaller, with longer gaps along the vine. A few feet from a bright window, out of hot direct sun, it grows fastest and keeps its marbling.

Watering

Pothos is good at telling you when it is thirsty. The leaves go slightly soft and the vines droop, and within hours of a drink they lift again. Water thoroughly, let the excess drain away, and wait until the top of the soil has dried before watering again. Yellow leaves near the base usually mean the soil has stayed wet too long.

Growing it

Long vines can be trimmed at any time, which also makes the plant bushier. Every piece you cut can be rooted: our propagation guide shows how to turn trimmings into new plants in a glass of water. If you would rather let it trail, a hanging planter shows the vines off well and keeps them out of reach of pets.

Pets

Golden pothos is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Keep it out of reach, and call your vet if a pet eats any of it.