Do Pothos Need Drainage

Do Pothos Need Drainage? 4 Important Factors

The pothos vine may be one of the top houseplants for improving the air quality of your home, but caring for one properly begs the question: do pothos need drainage?

A pothos plant does need drainage. Without being potted on a surface that allows water to drain from the plant, the pothos roots will rot and ultimately the pothos will die.

To ensure your pothos vine thrives in your home, it’s essential to understand the importance of proper drainage for this popular houseplant; without it, your pothos could quickly become a victim of root rot and die.

So there you have it! A pothos plant must be drained carefully, or else you run the risk of losing your devil’s ivy. In this article, we’ll make sure to cover how to drain your pothos and several frequently asked questions about the best ways to care for your pothos ivy.

Do Pothos Need Drainage?

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Yes, pothos need drainage! A plant’s health is largely determined by how well its roots are doing in their environment.

 Human beings need food, water, and air to survive. Many plants, including pothos, require these same elements.

Pothos plants are popular because they aren’t picky when it comes to the climate they can handle. However, even though pothos can survive in wet environments, like the humidity found in tropical regions, it is still possible to drown the roots if drainage isn’t provided for your ivy.

A pothos suffering from a lack of oxygen due to standing water will usually show signs of root rot, like wilting leaves and mushy, yellowed stems.

What is Drainage?

Ivy like pothos requires water to survive. When we water our plants, it’s essential to remember that they can only take so much. 

Drainage for plants usually just refers to making sure there are holes in the bottom of your pothos’ pot so that any extra water you might give the pothos doesn’t sit in the bottom, submerging the roots of the plant.

This is necessary because if the water in the bottom of the pot remains, oxygen can’t get to the pothos’ roots. However, draining the water that your pothos plant doesn’t absorb isn’t the only way to get rid of excess moisture. Another tactic is to use a draining potting mix.

How to Drain Pothos

We know the answer to the question: “do pothos need drainage?” Now it is time to examine the methods for draining your pothos plant. Below are some of the best methods to accomplish draining.

  • Use a Tray With Rocks
  • Use a Potting Mix That Drains Well
  • Repot Pothos When Necessary
  • Choose the Best Drainage Pot

Let’s take an even closer look at these methods so that you can make sure your pothos gets the care it needs to flourish!

1. Use a Tray With Rocks

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A pebble tray is one of the most useful tools in helping your pothos plant to survive excess water. Simply find a tray or a shallow bowl and fill the bottom with gravel, small rocks, or pebbles.

The rocks you use can be as decorative as you like, ranging from river stones to colored gravel. The main idea is to make sure the very tops of the layer of rocks are out of the water you give to your plant. 

A tray with rocks provides support for your pothos’ root system, giving the roots something to rest on just above the surface so that they aren’t constantly submerged while excess water naturally evaporates. 

2. Use a Potting Mix That Drains Well

If you decide not to use a tray with rocks to drain your pothos, you can still find an ally in using a potting mix that drains well. 

Potting mixes are often used to promote health in the root environment for plants. They do this by being made up of healthy combinations of compostable organic ingredients like moss and pine bark. 

Nearly all potting mixes have ingredients that are porous, which just means they don’t allow excess moisture to sit around roots. 

Instead, a potting mix that drains well is designed to hang on to just enough water for your pothos to still have access to oxygen without keeping the plant from drinking.

One of the best potting mixes that drains well for pothos plants is called FoxFarm Ocean Forest Organic Garden Potting Soil. 

3. Repot Pothos When Necessary

When your pothos plant has been overwatered, or sitting in a moist environment for too long, it will start to look pretty sickly. The leaves may wilt and change from green to yellow, and in addition to being droopy, the pothos stems will become soggy and squishy instead of firm.

The best way to promote drainage from then on is to start fresh; repot your pothos! Check out the list below to learn how to repot your pothos:

Take the pothos out of its pot – gentleness is key here! Don’t yank on your pothos vine or you may break it’s stems. Instead, turn the pot on one side and carefully work the plant from side to side as you pull it free from the pot and soil.

Plant the pothos in a new pot – before your pothos settles into it’s new home, rinse its roots and make sure at least an inch of potting mix is in the bottom of the clean pot. After the pothos is settled and in an upright position, pack soil mix around the sides of the stem while leaving two inches of space from the top of the pot.

Water your pothos – Even if you are repotting your pothos due to overwatering and root rot, the plant still needs water after being placed in dry potting mix. Pour water around the base of the pothos unil it begins draining out of the bottom of the pot.

4. Choose the Best Drainage Pot

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Speaking of draining out of the bottom of the pot: the simplest way to ensure your pothos is getting the drainage it needs is to choose the best pot!

Pots that provide enough drainage for a pothos plant will have holes in the bottom. Sometimes these holes come in a grid pattern, or they are thin cuts across the whole surface of the pot. 

If you know you’re the type to overwater, that’s quite all right! A clay pot is the pot for you. Clay is a naturally porous material, so many plant owners select it because it tends to soak up extra moisture. 

On the other hand, a plastic pot tends to have the opposite benefits to a clay pot. Plastic pots retain water much longer, so if you tend to be sparing with your pothos’ drinks, a plastic pot may be better for you.

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Outro

So, do pothos need drainage? Yes, a pothos plant will be at its healthiest when given the proper drainage, preventing root rot and allowing oxygen to reach the pothos. 

You can help drainage along by making sure your pothos has the correct environment, combining a pot featuring holes in the bottom with porous potting mixes, or using a tray with rocks to support the pothos root system. 

If your pothos plant starts to look overwatered or shows signs of root rot, never fear! You can always re-pot the plant and improve your pothos’ environment, making sure that your pothos has plenty of the drainage it needs to thrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions that any pothos owner may find hepful when caring for their ivy!

Do Pothos Need a Drainage Hole?

Although pothos are plants well-accustomed to moisture in the air, their roots are still prone to rot if left in standing water. Therefore, a pothos plant definitely needs a drainage hole in the bottom of the pot!

Do Pothos Need Well-Draining Soil?

Pothos do need well-draining soil. Excess moisture will cause the pothos’ roots to become very unhealthy. Be sure to plant your pothos in a potting mix that is made to promote drainage.

What Potted Plants Don’t Need Drainage?

Pothos may need drainage, but there are several plant options that don’t require the same level of care. These include options like the snake plant, oleander plant, croton, dumbcane, and Chinese evergreen!

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