Why is My Pothos Dying? The Answer!

Sharing is caring!

Owing to its hard-won reputation, as a plant that is nearly impossible to kill, the question, “why is my Pothos dying?” is fraught with possibilities.

Again, the reputation out there is that this plant will survive just about anything, so if you are still managing to kill the poor thing then something is seriously amiss.

Obviously, I would be the last person to suggest someone harboring serial killer-like tendencies towards plants, but is there a chance that that might be a possibility?

Again, obviously, no judgment, but these are some sturdy plants that adapt to just about every condition so let’s start by figuring out what, absent an obvious serial killer, might be killing that Pothos.

Why is My Pothos Dying?

Your Pothos plant can be dying because of an incorrect watering regimen. Pothos plants are highly susceptible to root rot, which will quickly kill the plant if not managed properly. Other reasons include inadequate temperatures and humidity, and failure to meet lighting needs.

Allow Your Pothos to Indicate When Thirsty

Although hailing from tropical climes, natives of the Solomon Islands as they are, Pothos have a particular desire to have their soil become completely dry between watering as opposed to being allowed to constantly sit in damp water.

If you suspect your Pothos is dying and you notice dark blight and black spots on the leaves, or the plant looks like it has feinted in upon itself, these are signs that that plant is probably a victim of overwatering.

As a rule, you let your plant tell you when it is ready for watering. When it is time for a drink, your Pothos will let you know with droopy leaves.

Note, that if you wait too long, however, the leaves may begin to shrivel, and turn brown along their edges.

Average Temperature and High Humidity

These plants thrive in temperatures over 50 degrees and prefer a temperature range that hovers in the 65-degree to 75-degree Fahrenheit range.

For this reason, Pothos do very well in the house as this happens to be a temperature range that people enjoy as well.

Perhaps owing to its Southern Pacific heritage, Pothos really like high humidity. Towards that end, many people consider placing this plant in a high-humidity section of the house such as the bathroom.

If placed high enough in the room, the family kitchen is also a favorite haunt of the Pothos plant.

Should your Pothos prove unhappy, moving the pot to one of these two areas will help its overall disposition.

Keep in mind however that Pothos plants are extremely tolerant and can even succeed in a low-humidity environment, so don’t think that you need to resort to any heroic measures like buying a humidifier.

Issues of Lighting

Pothos plants prefer to have bright and indirect sunlight, but the plant will still do well with lower lighting levels, and these plants even thrive under fluorescent lighting, which makes them such a favorite fan of people living in a home with little available natural light.

To better understand lighting on the Pothos plant we should first explore some of the common varieties of the plant, which will bear clues to the alert houseplant owner when assessing the amount of lighting the plant receives.

Leaf variegations vary with different varieties of the plant, with some requiring more light than others.

Let’s look at four of the most popular types of Pothos in your home:

• Marble Queen—is a plant with beautiful variegations displaying a white-and-green color that will prefer a brighter setting in order to maintain these unique colors.
• Pearls and Jade—offer a color scheme similar to the “marble queen,” but rather than stripes of white, this plant displays white dots across its green background. Again, owing to its unique coloration, Pearls and Jade varieties also prefer a sunnier site.
• Neon—is an ideal plant for darker corners of the house since it does not need that much light to thrive.
• Silver Satin—offers thick grey leaves that are extraordinarily well adapted to low lighting and drought conditions.

Pothos varieties that require more sun should be placed on the sunnier side of the house, but all varieties will succeed wherever you place them in your house.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding How to Save Your Dying Pothos

How can I help my dying pothos?

Your best bet in saving your dying Pothos plant is to immediately check the soil moisture. These plants prefer that the soil be completely dried out between watering. It is recommended that you move the plant towards a sunnier section of the house to help dry out the soil and make sure that your pot is adequately drained to eliminate standing water.

How long do Pothos live?

These plants will live five to ten years depending on their environment. Keep an eye out for any parasites or diseases that can shorten the plant’s life such as things like insects, fungi, or bacteria.

Trying to Keep Your Pothos Alive

Colloquially known as “The Devil’s Ivy” for its near inability to be killed by the negligent gardener, if you are managing to do in this hearty plant through negligence, you may wish to consider a career as an exorcist.

That said however if you are still managing to kill your Pothos plant, pay attention to its watering regimen as a possible culprit in your plant’s problems.