Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular and easy-care houseplant with trailing vines and beautiful heart-shaped leaves. In nature, it grows as a climbing liana high up in trees. Indoors, we use its lush, cascading growth habit decoratively – for example, you can let the vines hang freely from a hanging basket or a shelf, or guide them around a window as a living green curtain. Golden pothos very rarely flowers as a potted plant, but in return it offers year-round greenery and air-purifying foliage.
There are several different varieties of golden pothos that vary in leaf colour and pattern. The most common types have green leaves with yellow-green or white variegation, but there are also varieties with completely lime-green leaves. Regardless of variety, the care is the same. Golden pothos is hardy, fast-growing and forgiving of most beginner mistakes – a perfect plant for those who may not have much experience with growing plants. It thrives in most homes and provides beautiful, low-maintenance greenery all year round.
How to plant
Planting or repotting a golden pothos is easy. Choose a pot with drainage holes in the bottom so excess water can drain away. Fill it with a porous, nutrient-rich potting soil of good quality – golden pothos thrives in standard houseplant compost that is preferably slightly airy. If you have just bought a plant, you can let it remain in its original pot for a few weeks to acclimatise, but after that it is a good idea to repot it if the roots start to become crowded.
Repot your golden pothos approximately every other year, preferably in spring when the light returns and the plant begins to grow actively again. Gently remove the plant from its old pot and place it in a slightly larger pot if the roots have filled the previous one. Older and larger specimens can often stay in the same pot for longer, as the root system of golden pothos is quite fine and does not require repotting every year. Firm the soil lightly around the roots and water thoroughly after repotting.
Golden pothos can easily be propagated using cuttings. Cut off shoot tips or vine sections with a couple of leaves and plant them directly in moist soil, or allow them to develop roots in water first. Preferably plant several cuttings together in one pot to achieve a fuller, bushier plant. Place the newly planted cutting in a bright location (but not in strong sunlight) and keep the soil slightly moist until new leaves begin to grow.
Care and placement
Light: Golden pothos thrives best in a bright indoor location, but without direct strong sunlight. Too much intense sunlight can bleach or scorch the leaves, while a placement that is too shady causes the beautiful variegated leaves to become more uniformly green and the plant to grow more slowly. A position slightly inside the room or near a window with filtered daylight is ideal. Golden pothos adapts to light conditions – it will also survive some distance from a window, but with sparser foliage and slower growth.
Temperature: Normal room temperature (around 18–24 °C) suits golden pothos perfectly all year round. Avoid exposing it to temperatures below approximately 15 °C for extended periods, as it is a tropical plant that dislikes cold. Draughty windows in winter or cold air from air conditioning can stress the plant, so protect it from cold draughts.
Watering: Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Golden pothos prefers even, light moisture but does not tolerate sitting in waterlogged soil. Check the soil by inserting a finger a few centimetres down – if it feels dry, it is time to water. Water thoroughly, but pour away excess water that collects in the outer pot or saucer so the roots do not sit in water (which can lead to oxygen deficiency and root rot). During winter, you can water more sparingly, as the plant consumes less water when growth is slower.
Fertiliser: Feed your golden pothos during its main growing period. In spring and summer, you can add a weak dose of liquid houseplant fertiliser about once a month (or according to the product instructions). This helps the plant produce new leaves and stay green and healthy. In autumn and winter, less fertiliser is needed – fertilising very sparingly, for example once every other month or not at all, is sufficient. Do not over-fertilise; golden pothos usually thrives with modest feeding.
Humidity: Golden pothos appreciates a humid environment but also tolerates normal dry indoor air without issues. If you want to pamper your plant, you can mist or spray the leaves lightly with lukewarm water from time to time, especially during winter when indoor air is drier. This increases humidity around the plant and keeps the leaves free from dust. Cleaner leaves absorb light more efficiently and facilitate photosynthesis, resulting in a more vigorous plant. Regular misting can also help prevent common pests that thrive in dry air.
Placement & support: You can place your golden pothos in many creative ways around the home. It is beautiful as a trailing plant – for example in a hanging basket from the ceiling, on a shelf or atop a tall cabinet – allowing the long vines to cascade freely and create vertical greenery. If you prefer the plant to climb upwards, you can provide a support such as a moss pole or coconut coir pole for it to twine around. When the vines are allowed to climb on a support, the leaves may grow larger and the plant will resemble its natural growth habit more closely. Keep in mind that the small aerial roots of golden pothos can attach themselves to surfaces; if the vines climb directly on painted walls or wallpaper, they may leave small marks. It is usually better to guide the vines along a string, stick or other support rather than directly on the wall. With the right placement – not too dark, not too sunny – and something to hang from or climb on, your golden pothos will thrive and become a beautiful feature in the room.
Tips and frequently asked questions
How do you propagate golden pothos? – Golden pothos is very easy to propagate using cuttings. Cut off a vine (approximately 10–15 cm long) with at least a couple of leaves. Place the cutting in water until it develops roots a few centimetres long, or plant it directly in a small pot with moist soil. Golden pothos readily forms roots, especially at the small nodes along the stem. For a fuller plant, plant several rooted cuttings together in the same pot. Care for the cuttings as you would an adult plant, but keep the soil slightly moist initially so the roots can establish themselves.
Can you prune golden pothos? – Yes, golden pothos tolerates pruning very well, and it can even encourage denser growth. If the vines become very long or sparse, you can cut them back to the desired length. Use clean scissors or secateurs and cut just above a leaf on the vine. New shoots usually emerge from the cut point or from other dormant buds along the vine. Note that golden pothos does not branch extensively on its own; for a bushier plant, a good tip is to insert the cut vine pieces as cuttings into the same pot. This way, you create more stems growing simultaneously in the pot.
Why does golden pothos get yellow leaves? – Yellow leaves on golden pothos can have several causes. A single older leaf turning yellow and falling off is usually natural – the plant sheds older foliage. However, if many leaves turn yellow, it may be due to improper watering or lighting. Overwatering is a common cause, as the roots can suffer from oxygen deficiency and begin to deteriorate. Ensure the soil is not constantly wet and allow it to dry slightly between waterings. Underwatering can also cause yellow, drooping leaves, so water when the soil feels dry deeper down. Placement also matters: if the plant is kept in very low light, the leaves may yellow and drop due to lack of light. In that case, move the golden pothos to a brighter location (but without strong direct sunlight). Remove yellow or wilted leaves gradually so the plant can focus its energy on producing new, healthy foliage.
Is golden pothos toxic? – Golden pothos is mildly toxic if ingested. Like many other green houseplants (such as peace lily and monstera), it contains plant sap with substances that can irritate the mouth and throat. If a pet or child chews on the leaves, it may cause discomfort such as burning in the mouth, drooling or digestive upset. Therefore, it is wise to place your golden pothos out of reach of curious cats, dogs and small children. Fortunately, the plant is usually not attractive to eat due to its strong, irritating taste. As long as golden pothos is treated as an ornamental plant and not a snack, it is completely safe to handle – you can comfortably care for it and touch the leaves without risk.
When does golden pothos grow best
Golden pothos grows best during the bright part of the year, mainly spring and summer. During this time, the combination of increased light and higher temperatures promotes rapid growth of new leaves and vines. In spring, you will often notice the plant accelerating its growth, with many new leaves emerging as daylight becomes stronger. During autumn and winter, when light levels are lower, golden pothos enters a resting phase with significantly slower growth. Indoors at room temperature, it does not stop growing completely, but it may remain almost dormant during the darkest winter months. The best approach is to adjust care according to the season: provide more water and fertiliser during spring and summer when the plant is active, and allow it to rest with drier soil and minimal feeding during winter. If you wish to encourage year-round growth, supplemental grow lighting during winter can help, but it is also perfectly normal for golden pothos to pause and conserve energy until the light returns. Then, the following spring, it will reward you with fresh, vibrant greenery once again.
Author: Emma Vogiatzi
Fact-checked by: Erik Hoekstra
Last updated: 2025-12-12