Beginning the indoor planting journey should have you compiling a list of plants to grow. Your list should include plants that are easy to grow and propagate. Like the Marble queen pothos and House plants like Bromeliads.
This will give you smooth sail through your first indoor planting experience. Although many people have a list of plants to grow, they seldom put ease into consideration. Devil’s ivy plant should be among the first plants on your list. This is because it is easy to grow, in fact, one of the easiest plants to grow.
It is often said that if you cannot grow the devil’s ivy aka pothos plant, you might need to give up on gardening.
Table of Contents
Pothos (Devil’s Ivy) Plant Background
| Common name | Devil’s Ivy, Pothos, Devil’s Vine, etc. |
| Scientific name | Epipremnum Aureum. |
| Temperature | 60 to 85 degrees F. |
| Soil type | Well-draining potting mix. |
| Light | Bright, indirect sun. |
| Water | Average. |
| Native | French Polynesia. |
| Toxicity | Toxic. |
The Devil’s ivy is a species of flowering plant from the Araceae family. This plant is a popular houseplant all over the world, it is native to Mo’orea, Polynesia, Australia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Island, etc. The name devil’s ivy is attributed to its inability to die, and how it is impossible to kill.
The plant is also known for other names such as pothos, Solomon Islands ivy, devil’s vine, hunter’s robe, etc. it is often mistaken with its relative, the philodendron.
The devil’s ivy is a vining plant with shiny, heart-shaped leaves with yellow, pale green, whitish spots on it. The plant is a climber that can grow to about 10 inches or longer. This makes it perfect for hanging baskets. Devil’s ivy plant is a fast grower and can be grown under any condition, including a dark room.
The devil’s ivy grows old and beautiful regardless of how it is treated.
Apart from being easy to grow, one other reason the devil’s ivy should be on your list is that according to NASA Clean air study, the devil’s ivy is one of the plants known to clean the air off pollutants and improve its quality. Amazing right? We will be helping you with the best guide on how to properly care for your devil’s ivy.
Devil’s Ivy Plant Environment Requirements
Although the devil’s ivy will tolerate whatever provide, it is ideal to give it your best. This will prepare you for other plants. The following are the care requirements your plant desires.
1. Light
The devil’s ivy plant thrives in bright, indirect sunlight. However, unlike some other plants, the plant is tolerant and will do excellently well when placed in low light. The only light condition that it cannot tolerate is full sun and utter darkness.
The plant will develop yellow spots on it when placed in bright light, and have slow growth when placed in darkness. Apart from these, the plant will also lose its variegation if it is not exposed to light.
2. Water
The devil’s ivy has a shallow root; Hence you only need little water to get to its root. The plant should be watered often and thoroughly during its growing months, allow its topsoil or two inches’ down to get dry before watering again. Ensure you do not soak the soil completely.
Devil’s ivy is drought tolerant, which means it will still be fine when you forget to water it. This is especially good for new plant owners, who might forget that they have a responsibility now.
Cut back on watering during winter.
3. Humidity
Pothos prefers a slightly high humidity room, this includes spaces like the kitchen, bathroom, etc. if you live in a dry climate, you can provide humidity for your plant, via other means such as peddle tray, humidifier, misting, etc.
4. Temperature
To keep the devil’s ivy healthy, place it at a temperature between 60 to 85 degrees F. it can also go as low as 50 degrees F, however, placing it below this will kill it.
5. Soil
When grown outside, the plant can survive a range of soil conditions. However, for indoor planting, the most important soil criteria for the devil’s ivy is that it must be well-draining soil. A standard house-plant potting mix is right for it. The soil should also be able to retain water, to stay moist.
6. Fertilizer
The devil’s ivy will develop properly without fertilizer for a very long time, this is attributed to its not being a heavy feeder. However, you can feed the plant with liquid houseplant fertilizer.
Feed them once or twice during the growing season, and avoid fertilizing during the winter. Ensure you dilute the fertilizer to have its strength before applying and follow the instructions on the fertilizer you purchase.
7. Location
Outdoor, devil’s ivy can be planted close to a wall or fence, it can hang on them as it grows. They can be grown in a hanging basket or large containers indoor.
Devil’s Ivy Propagation Steps
Everyone loves plants that can be propagated easily, and the devil’s ivy is one. This is probably the reason you need to include it in your plant lists. Follow the steps below to propagate your plant.
- Make a stem cutting of about 3 to 6 inches and cut off the lower leaf.
- Put the stem base inside the water and leave for two weeks.
- In no time, the roots will begin to develop. Once the roots become noticeable, transfer to the soil for the plant to grow properly. Easy!
How To Care For Your Devil’s Ivy A.K.A Pothos Plant
Luckily Pothos plants are easy going and easy to take care of. Just follow these few steps.
- You must trim the devil’s ivy stem to keep it from going overboard.
- Overwatering your plant can make it develop yellow leaves, make sure to check your watering schedule and cut back on the water for a while.
- The devil’s ivy is known to be resilient to diseases and pests. However, soil problems can affect the plant. i.e. Root rot, a bacterial and fungal infection.
- A drop in temperature can result in stem rotting. Ensure the temperature is not below 50 degrees F.
- The devil’s ivy is very toxic to both humans and animals. They should be kept out of reach. Also, you should make use of gloves when pruning the plant to prevent an allergy reaction.
Pothos Plant FAQ
Why Are My Pothos Leaves Curling?
Although devil’s ivy (pothos) is an undemanding plant, curling leaves indicate that your plant is unhealthy and needs your attention. A lot of factors can contribute to curling leaves, ranging from under watering, overwatering, overfeeding, temperature stress, root rot, exposure to direct light, infection. You must observe your plant and the care routine to determine what is wrong.
Can I Use Tap Water For My Pothos?
Yes, unlike many other houseplants, the devil’s ivy is okay with just tap water. The water contains some minerals that are helpful to the plant’s growth.
Why Are My Pothos Leaves Turning Yellow?
A very common reason your pothos plant is turning yellow is overwatering. The soil should be damp but not soggy or wet. With low humidity, improper lighting, the pest can also cause yellowing of leaves. If the affected leaves are older and if they are at the bottom of the leaves, then you can rest assured because that is natural. Pay attention to your plant’s care routine to identify the cause of the problem.
My Devil’s Ivy Plant Is Growing Too Big, What Do I Do With All The Vines?
The best thing to do when your vines are growing beyond what you want is to prune them. Regularly cut back part of the vine to keep it in control. You can also wrap the vines, or you place them elsewhere so they can spread properly.
Does Devil’s Ivy Grow Better In Water or Soil?
The devil’s ivy will grow well, both in soil and water. However, the plant will not grow as fast as it should when place in water. The best method of growing pothos is in soil. The plant will benefit from the nutrient provided by the soil.
How Often Should You Water Devil’s Ivy Indoor?
Devil’s ivy should be watered when the topsoil is dry, this can be once a week. You should cut back on watering to once in two weeks during the winter.
Can Pothos Cause Skin Rash?
Yes, Devil’s ivy is quite toxic to both humans and animals. Contacts with it can lead to a wide range of reactions, including skin rash.
Final Thoughts
If you ever thought, you could not succeed with gardening then you should try growing the devil’s ivy. You can be certain that you will get it right this time, because of how easy it is. your plant will live though you do not water or fertilize it for a while.
The devil’s ivy will also clean your environment of toxic substances and provide clean air.
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