How Often Should You Water a Pothos?

The short answer: water your Pothos when the potting mix has dried out partway, not on a set day. Pothos generally like a little drying time between drinks, but don't enjoy staying bone dry for long. How quickly the mix dries depends on pot size, soil, light, temperature, humidity and the season.

How often should you water a Pothos?

There's no exact number of days that suits every Pothos. Most are happy when the mix dries partway before the next drink.

Your Pothos may need water more often with:

• More light
• Warmer temperatures
• A smaller pot
• A faster-draining potting mix
• A larger, trailing plant with lots of leaves

It may need water less often in:

• Winter or cooler conditions
• Lower light

Why there isn't one fixed watering schedule

Pothos grow happily in lots of different spots, from bright living rooms to dimmer corners, and each spot changes how fast they use water. Seasons shift things again. Checking the moisture in the potting mix helps you match watering to what your plant actually needs.

Signs your Pothos needs water

• Potting mix that feels dry partway down
• A pot that feels noticeably lighter
• Leaves starting to droop or look a little limp

Drooping can have other causes too, so it's worth checking the soil before reaching for the watering can.

How to check the potting mix

The top of the soil can look dry while moisture remains deeper in the pot. Check below the surface, near the roots, or feel the weight of the pot for a more reliable picture than a quick look at the top.

How to avoid overwatering and underwatering

• Water thoroughly when the mix has dried partway, then let excess drain away
• Empty any water left in the saucer or cover pot
• Use a pot with drainage holes
• Don't leave it bone dry for long stretches, especially in warm weather
• Check more often after changes in season or position

Common Pothos watering mistakes

• Watering on a fixed schedule
• Watering again while the potting mix is still wet
• Leaving it dry for too long
• Letting the pot sit in water
• Only checking the surface of the soil
• Ignoring changes in light, temperature and season

Yellowing leaves and soil that stays soggy can be associated with overwatering, while crispy brown edges can point to the plant drying out too much. These symptoms can have other causes too, so look at the whole picture.

Can Sustee help with Pothos watering?

Sustee is a simple moisture indicator that sits in your plant's potting mix. It changes colour according to the moisture level around the indicator:

It helps you find the sweet spot between too wet and too dry, which is handy for a plant that's happiest somewhere in the middle.

SHOP SUSTEE

The simple way to water your Pothos

Your Pothos doesn't need a strict watering schedule. Check the moisture in the potting mix, water thoroughly when it has dried partway, and let excess water drain away.

SHOP SUSTEE