Money Plant (Pothos) Care Guide: Watering, Light & Growth

Money plant care is simple and rewarding, making it one of the most popular indoor plants for homes and offices. Also known as Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), this beautiful trailing plant is loved for its heart-shaped green leaves, air-purifying qualities, and low-maintenance nature. In this complete guide, you’ll learn everything about money plant care, including watering, sunlight, soil, fertilizing, propagation, and how to solve common growing problems.

The money plant, commonly known as Pothos, is a tropical evergreen vine native to the Solomon Islands. It is one of the easiest indoor plants to grow because it adapts well to different lighting conditions and requires very little maintenance. Its trailing vines and glossy green leaves make it a popular choice for homes, offices, and indoor gardens around the world.

Quick Facts

• Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum
• Common Names: Money Plant, Pothos, Devil’s Ivy
• Plant Type: Evergreen Vine
• Difficulty Level: Easy
• Best For: Homes, offices, balconies, beginners

A money plant is more than just a decorative houseplant. It is appreciated for its low-maintenance nature, fast growth, and ability to adapt to different indoor environments. Whether you’re decorating your home, improving your workspace, or starting your indoor gardening journey, money plant care is simple enough for beginners while still being rewarding for experienced plant enthusiasts.

Benefits

• 🌿 Easy to Grow: Requires minimal care and thrives in most indoor environments.
• 🌞 Adaptable to Different Light Conditions: Grows well in bright, indirect light and can tolerate lower light levels.
• 💧 Low Water Requirements: Doesn’t need frequent watering, making it perfect for busy lifestyles.
• 🏡 Perfect for Homes and Offices: Adds natural beauty to living spaces with its elegant trailing vines.
• 🌱 Can Be Grown in Soil or Water: Suitable for decorative pots, hanging baskets, or glass containers.
• 📈 Fast Growing: Produces healthy vines quickly when provided with proper care.

Quick Tips

• Money plants grow best in bright, indirect sunlight.
• Water only when the top layer of soil feels dry.
• Rotate the pot every few weeks for even growth.
• Clean the leaves regularly to keep them healthy and shiny.

Providing the right amount of light is one of the most important parts of money plant care. A money plant grows best in bright, indirect sunlight, where it receives plenty of natural light without being exposed to harsh afternoon sun. While it can tolerate low-light conditions, its growth may slow down, and the leaves may become smaller or lose some of their vibrant color.

Best Lighting Conditions

• ☀️ Bright, indirect sunlight is ideal.
• 🌤️ Morning sunlight is safe and beneficial.
• Avoid strong afternoon sunlight, which can burn the leaves.
• The plant can survive in low light, but growth may slow down.
• 🔄 Rotate the pot every 2-3 weeks for balanced growth.

Quick Tips

• Keep your money plant in bright, indirect light for the healthiest growth.
• Avoid placing it under intense afternoon sunlight.
• Rotate the pot regularly for even foliage growth.
• Clean the leaves with a soft, damp cloth to help them absorb more light.

Proper watering is one of the most important parts of money plant care. A money plant prefers slightly moist soil but should never sit in water for long periods. Before watering, always check the top 1-2 inches of soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. Overwatering is one of the most common reasons why money plants develop yellow leaves and root rot.

How Often Should You Water?

The watering schedule depends on the season, indoor temperature, humidity, and the size of the pot. Instead of watering on a fixed schedule, always let the soil guide you.

Watering Guide

• 🌸 Spring & Summer: Water every 7-10 days, or when the top soil becomes dry.
• 🍂 Autumn: Water every 10-14 days.
• ❄️ Winter: Water every 2-3 weeks, as the plant grows more slowly.

Signs of Overwatering

• Yellow leaves
• Soft or mushy stems
• Root rot
• Wet soil for several days
• Foul smell from the pot

Signs of Underwatering

• Drooping leaves
• Dry or crispy leaf edges
• Slow growth
• Very dry soil pulling away from the pot

Quick Tips:

• Always check the soil before watering.
• Use a pot with drainage holes.
• Empty excess water from the saucer after watering.
• Reduce watering during winter.

Choosing the right soil is an essential part of money plant care. A money plant grows best in a well-draining potting mix that retains enough moisture for healthy roots while allowing excess water to drain away easily. Heavy garden soil should be avoided because it holds too much water, which can lead to root rot and poor plant growth.

What is the Best Soil Mix?

A high-quality indoor potting mix works well for most money plants. For even better drainage, you can improve the soil by adding ingredients that keep it light and airy.

Recommended Soil Mix:

• 50% Quality Potting Soil: Provides nutrients and supports healthy root growth.
• 25% Coco Peat: Helps retain the right amount of moisture.
• 15% Perlite: Improves drainage and prevents compacted soil.
• 10% Compost or Organic Matter: Supplies slow-release nutrients for healthy growth.

Choosing the Right Pot

Always choose a pot with drainage holes to allow excess water to escape. Terracotta pots are a great option because they absorb extra moisture, while plastic pots retain water for a longer period. Select a pot that is only 1-2 inches larger than the current root ball to avoid overwatering problems caused by excess soil.

When Should You Repot a Money Plant?

Repot your money plant every 2-3 years, or sooner if you notice roots growing out of the drainage holes, slow growth, or the soil drying out much faster than usual. Fresh potting mix provides new nutrients and gives the roots more space to grow.

Quick Tips

• Use a well-draining potting mix for healthy roots.
• Always choose a pot with drainage holes.
• Avoid heavy garden soil indoors.
• Repot every 2–3 years or when the plant becomes root-bound.

Maintaining the right temperature and humidity is another important part of money plant care. A money plant grows best in warm indoor conditions and adapts well to the average humidity found in most homes. Protecting the plant from extreme temperatures helps it stay healthy and encourages steady growth throughout the year.

Best Growing Conditions:

• Maintain a temperature between 18°C and 30°C.
• Normal indoor humidity is usually sufficient.
• Keep the plant away from air conditioners, heaters, and cold drafts.
• Increase humidity by placing the pot near other indoor plants if the air is very dry.
• Avoid placing the plant directly against extremely hot or cold windows.

Ideal Temperature:

The ideal temperature for a money plant is between 18°C and 30°C (65°F-86°F). It enjoys warm conditions and should be protected from sudden temperature changes. Avoid exposing the plant to temperatures below 10°C (50°F), as cold weather can slow growth and damage the leaves.

Humidity Requirements:

Money plants prefer moderate to high humidity, but they can also adapt well to normal indoor humidity. If the air becomes very dry, especially during winter or in air-conditioned rooms, the leaf tips may start turning brown.

Quick Tips:

• Keep your money plant in a warm room throughout the year.
• Protect it from sudden temperature changes.
• Avoid placing it near heaters or air conditioners.
• Maintain moderate humidity for healthier, greener leaves.

Feeding your money plant with the right fertilizer helps promote healthy foliage, strong roots, and faster growth. Although money plant care is fairly simple, occasional fertilizing during the growing season provides the nutrients needed to produce lush green leaves and vigorous vines.

Which Fertilizer Is Best?

A balanced liquid fertilizer formulated for indoor plants works well for a money plant. You can also use organic compost, vermicompost, or seaweed fertilizer for slow, natural nourishment. Always follow the instructions on the fertilizer label and avoid using more than the recommended amount.

How Often should You Fertilize?

Fertilize your money plant once every 4-6 weeks during spring and summer, when the plant is actively growing. Reduce feeding during autumn and stop fertilizing in winter, as growth naturally slows during the colder months.

Signs of Overfertilizing

• Brown or burnt leaf tips
• Yellowing leaves
• White salt deposits on the soil surface
• Weak or slow new growth
• Wilting despite proper watering

Quick Tips

• Fertilize only during the active growing season.
• Always water the soil before applying liquid fertilizer.
• Avoid overfertilizing, as too much fertilizer can damage the roots.
• Organic fertilizers are a great choice for long-term plant health.

One of the best things about money plant care is how easy it is to grow new plants from an existing one. Money plants can be propagated in both water and soil, making them an excellent choice for beginners. With just a healthy stem cutting and a little patience, you can grow a brand-new plant in just a few weeks.

Propagation in Water

Water propagation is the easiest and most popular method. It allows you to watch the roots develop, making it a fun and rewarding experience for beginners.

Steps

1. ✂️ Select a healthy stem with at least 2-3 leaves.
2. 🌿 Cut just below a node, where new roots will grow.
3. 💧 Place the cutting in a clean glass of water, ensuring the node remains submerged.
4. ☀️ Keep the glass in bright, indirect sunlight.
5. 🔄 Change the water every 5-7 days.
6. 🌱 Once the roots reach about 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) in length, transfer the cutting to a pot with well-draining soil.

Propagation in Soil

You can also grow a money plant directly in soil. This method encourages the roots to adapt to the soil from the beginning and reduces transplant shock.

Steps

1. Take a healthy stem cutting with at least one node.
2. Fill a small pot with a well-draining potting mix.
3. Insert the node gently into the soil.
4. Water lightly to keep the soil slightly moist.
5. Place the pot in bright, indirect light.
6. New growth usually appears within 3-6 weeks.

Common Propagation Mistakes:

• Using unhealthy or damaged cuttings.
• Forgetting to change the water regularly.
• Placing the cutting in direct sunlight.
• Overwatering newly planted cuttings.
• Burying the leaves instead of the node.

Quick Tips:

• Always cut below a healthy node.
• Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears.
• Change the water every 5-7 days.
• Keep new cuttings in bright, indirect sunlight until they establish roots.

Even with proper money plant care, your plant may occasionally develop problems such as yellow leaves, brown leaf tips, slow growth, or drooping vines. The good news is that most of these issues are easy to identify and fix. Understanding the cause will help your money plant recover quickly and continue growing healthy.

1. Root Rot

Possible Causes:

• Constantly wet soil
• Poor drainage

Solution:

Remove the affected roots, replace the old soil with a fresh, well-draining potting mix, and reduce watering until the plant recovers.

2. Yellow Leaves

Possible Causes:

• Over watering
• Insufficient sunlight
• Poor drainage

Solution:

Allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry before watering again. Move the plant to a location with bright, indirect sunlight and always use a pot with drainage holes.

3. Brown Leaf Tips

Possible Causes:

• Dry indoor air
• Underwatering
• Excess fertilizer

Solution:

Increase humidity if the air is very dry, water the plant when the soil becomes dry, and avoid applying fertilizer more often than recommended.

4. Slow Growth

Possible Causes:

• Low Light
• Root-bound plant
• Nutrient deficiency

Solution:

Place the plant in bright, indirect light, fertilize during the growing season, and repot it if the roots have outgrown the container.

5. Dropping Leaves

Possible Causes:

• Too little water
• Temperature stress
• Root problems

Solution:

Check the soil moisture before watering, keep the plant away from extreme temperatures, and inspect the roots if the problem continues.

Quick Tips

• Check the soil before every watering.
• Keep your money plant in bright, indirect sunlight.
• Clean the leaves regularly to remove dust.
• Inspect your plant every week for early signs of pests or disease.

Verdovia Pro Tip

Healthy plants are easier to maintain than stressed ones. Instead of following a fixed watering schedule, observe your money plant’s leaves, soil, and overall growth. Small adjustments based on your home’s light, temperature, and humidity will often produce better results than watering or fertilizing on a strict routine.