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Indoor plant care

Golden Pothos

Epipremnum aureum

• LightGolden Pothos prefers bright, indirect light between 150…
• WaterLet Golden Pothos become almost dry before watering. Test…
• ToxicityToxic to pets
• Mature sizeIts eventual spread is 2 to 3 ft / 0

Golden Pothos is a flexible climbing or trailing houseplant with glossy, heart-shaped foliage. Its green leaves are usually streaked or splashed with yellow and cream. The vines can hang from a shelf or climb a support, making the plant useful in many room layouts. It tolerates some missed care, but brighter filtered light keeps growth fuller and preserves the colorful leaf pattern.

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Care data checked 25 September 2026 · Dany · A-Z Plants

Light requirements

Golden Pothos prefers bright, indirect light between 150 and 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹.

• Position it around 5 ft / 1.5m from a south, west or east-facing window.
• Avoid a location with a direct view of the sky. Use a sheer curtain where sunlight would otherwise fall on the leaves.
• Too much direct sun can scorch or bleach the foliage. Too little light causes slower growth and less variegation.
• A PAR meter or PAR meter app can check photosynthetically active radiation as PPFD in μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹.

Watering

Let Golden Pothos become almost dry before watering. Test more than the top layer because moisture can remain deeper in the pot. A knitting needle or chopstick will reveal damp mix at different depths.

• Use room temperature rainwater, distilled water or reverse osmosis water.
• Water thoroughly until the drainage holes release water. Let all excess drain before placing the container on a saucer or inside a decorative planter.
• A pot with drainage holes is essential. Constant wetness can cause root rot, yellow leaves and soft stems.
• Water considerably less during winter, when growth is slower. Leaving it dry for too long may cause wilting and brown, crisp leaf edges.

Soil

Golden Pothos needs an airy mix with both moisture retention and fast drainage. Combine 2 parts organic all-purpose potting mix with 1 part bark and 1 part biochar.

• DIY mix: use 1 part coir, 1 part pumice, 1 part bark and 1 part biochar.
• Top dress the finished mix with worm castings.

Feeding

Feed Golden Pothos with an organic all-purpose fertiliser every 2 to 4 weeks from March to October. Apply it according to the label and only when the soil is damp. Avoid excessive feeding, and stop the regular schedule during winter.

Temperature & humidity

Golden Pothos prefers 65 to 85 °F / 18 to 29 °C. Maintain humidity between 40 and 60%. It handles ordinary indoor conditions within this range. Keep the vines away from cold drafts, heaters and abrupt temperature changes.

What to expect

Golden Pothos may take 5 to 10 years to mature, so long vines develop gradually. When allowed to climb, it can reach up to 10 ft / 3 m or more. Its eventual spread is 2 to 3 ft / 0.6 to 1 m.

Varieties & cultivars

• Epipremnum aureum ‘Marble Queen’: Green and white markings create a marbled leaf pattern.
• Epipremnum aureum ‘Neon’: The leaves are a bright lime green.
• Epipremnum aureum ‘Jade’: Produces solid green foliage without variegation.
• Epipremnum aureum ‘Snow Queen’: White and green leaves contain more white than green.
• Epipremnum aureum ‘Manjula’: Curled leaves display mixed areas of green, yellow and cream.