Money Plant Or Golden Pothos – The Ultimate Guide To Lush, Cascading

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Have you ever walked into a friend’s home or a bright café and seen those gorgeous, heart-shaped leaves spilling effortlessly from a bookshelf or hanging basket? There’s a good chance you were admiring the incredibly popular and resilient money plant or golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum).

It’s a plant that seems to thrive on pure enthusiasm, making any space feel more alive and green. You might think that achieving such lush, trailing vines requires a secret gardening handshake or years of experience. I’m here to tell you it doesn’t.

I promise that by the end of this guide, you’ll have all the confidence and knowledge you need to not just keep your pothos alive, but to help it truly flourish. We’re going to dive deep into everything you need to know, from the perfect watering rhythm to simple propagation and troubleshooting those pesky yellow leaves.

So, grab a cup of tea, and let’s get ready to turn your home into the green oasis you’ve been dreaming of. This is your complete money plant or golden pothos guide.

Why Every Gardener Should Own a Money Plant or Golden Pothos

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of care, let’s talk about why this plant is a must-have. If you’re new to houseplants, this is your perfect starting companion. And if you’re a seasoned pro, its easy-going nature gives you a beautiful reward with minimal fuss. Don’t worry—these plants are perfect for beginners!

The benefits of money plant or golden pothos go far beyond its good looks. It’s a true workhorse in the plant world.

  • Nearly Indestructible: This plant is famously forgiving. It can tolerate a wide range of lighting conditions, infrequent watering, and general neglect better than almost any other houseplant. It practically wants to grow for you!
  • Air-Purifying Powerhouse: Pothos is one of the top plants recommended by NASA’s Clean Air Study for its ability to remove indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene. It’s a natural, beautiful air filter.
  • Aesthetic Versatility: Whether you want a plant to trail down a cabinet, climb up a wall, or sit prettily on your desk, the pothos fits the bill. Its vibrant green and yellow variegation brightens any corner.
  • Incredibly Easy to Propagate: Want more plants for free? The golden pothos is ridiculously easy to propagate from cuttings. You can fill your home with them or share them with friends in no time.

The Ultimate Money Plant or Golden Pothos Care Guide

Alright, let’s get down to business. Following these simple best practices will ensure your pothos doesn’t just survive—it thrives. This is the core of our money plant or golden pothos care guide.

Finding the Perfect Light

Golden pothos is famous for its adaptability to light, but its ideal spot is in bright, indirect light. Think of a spot near an east-facing window or a few feet back from a sunny south or west-facing window.

While it can survive in low-light conditions (which is why you see it in offices and malls), its growth will slow, and the beautiful golden variegation on its leaves may fade to a solid green. Too much direct sun, on the other hand, can scorch its leaves, leaving brown, crispy spots.

The Art of Watering

This is the number one area where new plant parents go wrong. The golden rule for pothos is: it’s better to underwater than to overwater. These plants absolutely hate sitting in soggy soil, which can lead to root rot—the most common killer.

Instead of watering on a strict schedule, check the soil first. Stick your finger about an inch or two deep. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to water. If it’s still moist, wait a few more days. When you do water, give it a thorough soak until water drains from the bottom of the pot, then discard the excess water.

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The Right Soil and Potting Mix

Your pothos needs a potting mix that drains well. A standard, high-quality indoor potting mix will work just fine. To give it an extra boost and improve drainage, you can create your own simple mix:

Combine one part standard potting soil with one part perlite or orchid bark. This creates a lighter, airier mix that helps prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged, keeping the roots happy and healthy.

Feeding for Lush Growth

One of the best money plant or golden pothos tips is to be gentle with fertilizer. These plants are not heavy feeders. During the growing season (spring and summer), you can feed your pothos with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength once a month.

In the fall and winter, when growth naturally slows down, you can stop fertilizing altogether. Over-fertilizing can burn the roots and do more harm than good.

Pruning for a Fuller, Bushier Plant

Is your pothos getting a bit long and “leggy,” with long stretches of bare vine? Don’t be afraid to give it a haircut! Pruning is the secret to a full, bushy plant. Simply snip off any long, trailing stems right after a leaf node (the little bump where a leaf grows from the stem).

This encourages the plant to send out new shoots from the pruned area, resulting in a much denser plant. And the best part? You can use those cuttings to grow new plants!

How to Money Plant or Golden Pothos: Propagation Made Simple

Learning how to money plant or golden pothos through propagation is one of the most rewarding parts of owning one. It feels like magic, and it’s incredibly simple. The most common method is water propagation.

  1. Take a Cutting: Using clean scissors or pruning shears, cut a piece of healthy vine that is at least 4-6 inches long. Make sure your cutting has at least 3-4 leaves and several nodes on the stem.
  2. Prepare the Cutting: Remove the leaf closest to the cut end of the stem. This is important because the new roots will grow from that submerged node, and you don’t want the leaf to rot in the water.
  3. Place in Water: Put the cutting in a glass jar or vase filled with room-temperature water. Ensure at least one node is fully submerged, but try to keep the remaining leaves out of the water.
  4. Wait and Watch: Place the jar in a spot with bright, indirect light. Change the water every few days to keep it fresh. In a week or two, you should start to see small white roots emerging from the node.
  5. Plant Your New Pothos: Once the roots are about an inch or two long, you can carefully transplant your new baby pothos into a small pot with fresh potting soil. Water it well and care for it as you would a mature plant.

Troubleshooting Common Problems with Money Plant or Golden Pothos

Even the toughest plants can have an off day. Here’s a quick rundown of the most common problems with money plant or golden pothos and how to fix them.

Why are the leaves turning yellow?

Yellow leaves are the most frequent issue, and it’s usually a sign of a watering problem. Overwatering is the most likely culprit. The leaves will often feel soft and turn yellow before falling off. If you suspect this, let the soil dry out completely before watering again.

Less commonly, yellow leaves can be a sign of underwatering, in which case they’ll often be crispy and yellow. It can also be a sign of a nutrient deficiency, so if your watering is perfect, consider a light feeding.

Why is my plant drooping?

A sad, droopy pothos is almost always thirsty. Give it a good, deep watering, and it should perk right back up within a few hours. It’s the plant’s dramatic way of telling you it needs a drink!

What are these tiny bugs on my plant?

Pothos are quite pest-resistant, but they can occasionally attract mealybugs or spider mites. If you see tiny white cottony spots (mealybugs) or fine webbing (spider mites), isolate the plant and treat it by wiping the leaves with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol or spraying it with an insecticidal soap or neem oil solution. These are great eco-friendly money plant or golden pothos solutions.

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Sustainable Money Plant or Golden Pothos Practices

Being a green thumb can also mean being green for the planet. Embracing sustainable money plant or golden pothos care is easy and rewarding.

  • Use Peat-Free Soil: Peat moss harvesting is environmentally destructive. Opt for sustainable alternatives like coco coir or compost-based potting mixes.
  • Repurpose Containers: Get creative with planters! Old mugs, cans, or jars can make beautiful and unique homes for your pothos cuttings (just be sure to add drainage holes if needed).
  • Make Your Own Fertilizer: Use natural, homemade fertilizers like compost tea or diluted water from boiling vegetables to give your plants a gentle, eco-friendly nutrient boost.
  • Share, Don’t Shop: The easiest way to get a new plant sustainably is to trade cuttings with friends and neighbors. It’s free, fun, and reduces the environmental impact of commercial growing and shipping.

Frequently Asked Questions About Money Plant or Golden Pothos

Is the money plant or golden pothos toxic to pets?

Yes, it is. The leaves and stems contain calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause irritation, swelling of the mouth, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing in cats and dogs if ingested. It’s best to keep this plant out of reach of curious pets.

Why is it called a “Money Plant”?

The name “Money Plant” is tied to Feng Shui, where it’s believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and positive energy to its owner. Its round, flat leaves were thought to resemble coins. While we can’t guarantee it’ll make you rich, it will certainly enrich your home with beauty!

How fast does a golden pothos grow?

In ideal conditions (bright, indirect light, proper watering, and warmth), a golden pothos can grow very quickly, with vines extending 12 to 18 inches per month during the growing season. In lower light, its growth will be much slower.

Can I grow my pothos in water forever?

You can! A pothos cutting can live happily in a vase of water for a very long time. However, it won’t grow as large or as full as it would in soil. If you choose to keep it in water, be sure to change the water weekly and add a very small drop of liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks to provide nutrients.

Go Forth and Grow!

There you have it—everything you need to become a confident and successful pothos parent. The money plant or golden pothos truly is one of nature’s most generous gifts to the indoor gardener: beautiful, resilient, and always eager to grow.

Remember the core money plant or golden pothos best practices: provide bright, indirect light and be careful not to overwater. If you do just those two things, you’re already 90% of the way there.

So go ahead, find a bright spot in your home, and let this wonderful plant bring a little bit of the outdoors in. Happy gardening!

Rimon Chowdhury
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