Humble plant has lessons for gardeners

Pothos is the kind of plant that people bring to the office to make the fluorescent lighting and cubicles feel a little more welcoming. It’s also a popular choice for folks who are interested in growing plants for the first time as well as those trying to dress up that corner of the living room that just needs … something.
Why is pothos the go-to plant for all of these situations? First and foremost, it’s hard to kill. That’s not to say it’s impossible — but pothos is notoriously forgiving. And for such a low-maintenance plant, it is remarkably attractive, offering tropical flair with its heart-shaped leaves and vining stems.
Pothos can teach us a lot, too. Ideal for beginners who need to hone the fundamentals of plant care, it can eventually inspire confidence to branch out to other plants. Its ease of propagation makes it a perfect vehicle to learn how to start new plants from cuttings.
And, if you feel that you’ve already graduated beyond pothos with your gardening abilities, or if the plant seems a bit too pedestrian for your taste, consider the wide variety of cultivars out there. Each brings unique colors and variegated patterns; maybe it’s time to try a different one.
For the uninitiated, pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a vine that likes to climb and uses aerial roots for support. Also known as pothos ivy, devil’s ivy and money plant, it is native to French Polynesia and has become naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.
Although it can live outdoors in warm weather, we typically see pothos grown as a containerized houseplant. (Note that all parts of pothos are toxic, so keep it away from children and pets.) It can live for several years, sometimes decades — and indefinitely through cuttings!
One of the most recognizable pothos cultivars is Golden, which is flecked with yellow. Others include solid dark green Jade, solid lime-green Neon and subtly variegated Global Green. Pearls and Jade, Marble Queen and Njoy all have white variegations.
Pothos needs little in the way of special care, explaining its popularity with gardening rookies and in offices and other places where people are busy with more pressing matters. It prefers bright, indirect light, but some cultivars can get by with lower levels of light. Direct, intense sunlight tends to scorch the leaves.
As with all plants that are grown in containers, it’s important to water pothos regularly — but not excessively. Water only when the top inch of the potting mix feels dry to the touch.
You can train pothos to climb onto trellises, moss poles, walls and other means of support. Or you can let its vines cascade downward and trail over the edges of the pot and perhaps even the shelf it’s sitting on.
With time, pothos vines can become quite long and get in the way. Periodic trimming can tidy things up while providing material for propagation.
To start new plants from cuttings, use clean, sharp pruners to clip off a healthy, vigorously growing vine. Next, cut the vine into smaller sections. Each cutting needs to have at least one leaf and root node (the bump on the stem opposite the leaf and where new roots will emerge).
Cuttings with a few nodes have better odds of rooting. Remove the lower leaves, keeping just one or two at the top, to make it easier to plant. You can stick cuttings directly into potting mix, either in new containers or in an existing container of pothos to create a fuller look.
Or you can water propagate by placing your cuttings in a cup, jar or other vessel of water and allowing them to develop roots before transplanting. Change the water when it gets cloudy. You should see roots begin to grow within a few days. Wait until the roots are at least 1 to 2 inches long, which could take a few weeks, before transplanting into potting mix.
With either approach, keep the cuttings near indirect light, and make sure the root nodes stay below the potting mix or water surface. Not every cutting will make it, but that’s OK.
This propagation method works for many houseplants. But first, give it a try with pothos — an excellent, patient teacher — to get the hang of it.