Epipremnum aureum

How Often to Water a Pothos

Pothos is forgiving, which makes it easy to get lazy with. It tells you when it is thirsty by drooping, then recovers within hours of a drink. The bigger risk is the opposite: soil that never dries between waterings.

Your pothos

Your answer

Water when the soil reaches this point

How it shifts through the year

Thirsty signs

  • Leaves droop and look limp, then perk up after watering
  • Leaf edges turn crispy and brown
  • Soil shrinks away from the pot edge

Overwatered signs

  • Leaves turn yellow, often starting with the older ones
  • Stems feel soft or mushy near the soil
  • Soil smells sour or stays wet for more than a week

Watering tips for pothos

Common questions

Why is my pothos drooping?

Drooping is most often thirst, but overwatered roots that cannot take up water look the same. Feel the soil first. If it is dry, water. If it is wet, let it dry and check the roots.

Can I water pothos on a fixed schedule?

A schedule gives a starting point, but light and season change how fast the soil dries. Use the interval to decide when to check, then water only when the top inch or two is dry.

Tools that help

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Related guides

Estimates use rules of thumb. Always confirm with your finger: push it about an inch into the soil before you water.