Pothos Plant Care: How to Revive a Dying Pothos Plant

Pothos plants are a popular choice for many homeowners. They’re easy to care for and come in a variety of different colors, which makes them perfect as an indoor plant. However, sometimes they get neglected and die out because their owner doesn’t know how to revive them when the time comes. This blog post will teach you everything you need to know about caring for your pothos plant so that it thrives!

What You Need To know About Pothos Plant

Pothos plants are simple indoor houseplants that most people will recognize. They thrive in indirect sunlight, so they’re perfect for those living in apartments or homes with less natural light. Pothos like water but don’t need to be watered as often as other plants because they’ll wilt and die if you overdo it.

Why Your Pothos Plant is Dying

A Pothos Plant is Dying If…

The Roots are Swollen

If your pothos plant roots are swollen and you’ve been watering them often, the cause of this could be over-watering. You need to stop watering your plant for a few days until they’re normal again. If that doesn’t work, then there might be an issue with drainage in the pot or soil so make sure to check those!

The Leaves are Turning Brown or Black

One of the first signs of a dying pothos plant is that its leaves will start turning brown and black. If this happens, you should stop watering your plant immediately because it’s likely been over-watered for too long. The best way to fix this problem is by pruning the brown leaves away and try to rehydrate your pothos plant.

The Leaves are Dropping Off

If you’ve been watering your pothos regularly but it suddenly starts dropping its leaves, this could be a sign of too much light exposure from either natural or artificial windows in your home. You should move the plant into partial shade and keep an eye on it to make sure the leaves don’t start wilting.

The Leaves are Curling Upwards

If your pothos plant’s leaves have started curling up, this could be a sign of root rot or bacteria that has infected them. To fix this problem you need to cut off all of the affected areas and clean the pot or tray that it’s in.

The Bottom Leaves are Browning

If your pothos plant has leaves at the top and bottom of its stem, but only the bottom ones are browning, this could be a sign of overwatering since these plants thrive on indirect sunlight. If you stop watering them for a few days, they should recover and you can resume watering.

The Plant has Mold on it or is Rotting in the Pot

If your plant looks like mold or is rotting at the base of its stem, then this could be a sign that there’s too much water around it. This might also happen if you’ve over-watered your pothos and the pot doesn’t have drainage holes. You need to stop watering it until you can get those fixed or else your plant will die soon.

The Plant is Wilting but there are no Other Signs of Nutrient Deficiency

If your pothos plant wilts on its own without any other signs, then this might be a sign of dry air. To fix this, you can mist the plant’s leaves with water or increase humidity in your home by using a humidifier or running a pot of water close to it on low heat so that it creates steam.

Overwating

Sometimes when a pothos plant is dying, it’s because the person watering it has been overwatering. Pothos plants thrive best with roomy pots that are only watered once every other week and don’t need more water than any other indoor plant during their growing season. If you can feel how moist the soil feels after watering, then you’ve watered the plant enough.

Sunburn

Pothos plants thrive when they’re planted in a window that receives plenty of sun throughout the day. If you notice your pothos plant turning brown, it may be experiencing sunburn; this is usually caused by a lack of water or excessive cold drafts.

Drainage

Pothos plants need a high level of drainage to thrive. If you plant your pothos in potting soil, try mixing it with sand so that the roots don’t rot over time from sitting in water. Make sure there’s space between the plant and its container for extra airflow as well! If this is not possible (for example, if you’ve planted your pothos in a planter or outdoor garden), make sure that the soil is completely dry before watering again.

Stunted Growth

The first sign that your pothos plant may need some help is stunted growth. If you’re noticing new leaves are not forming, it’s likely because the root system isn’t getting enough water or nutrients. The best way to fix this problem is by watering the soil more frequently and fertilizing with a weak liquid fertilizer once every couple of weeks.

Soil Foul odor

If you notice a foul odor coming from the soil, it’s likely due to poor drainage. Drainage is important for pothos plants because they don’t like sitting in water. Add more perlite or sand and make sure the pot isn’t overfilled with soil so that there are plenty of air pockets available.

Yellow Leaves

If your plant’s leaves turn yellow, that is typically a sign of dehydration. The best way to combat this problem is by watering them with cold water at least one time per week. You can also add a pinch of fertilizer as well every other day and place it in an area where the sunlight shines through for 20 minutes out of the day.

Droopy Leaves

If your pothos plant’s leaves are drooping, that means the plant is thirsty. The first thing you want to do for a dehydrated pothos plant is giving it clean water until the soil has some moisture again.

Insects

The most common cause of a pothos plant’s death is due to insects. If you notice your leaves start to yellow and fall off, chances are that they have been eaten by some sort of bug (flies love these plants!). The best thing you can do in this situation is to prune away the damaged parts of the branch while also removing the bugs. This will keep your plant looking healthy and vibrant for a long time!

How to Revive a Dying Pothos Plant:

First Step:

Once you know the root of your pothos plant’s problem, take appropriate action right away!

For instance, if it has been under-watered then make sure that you water it at least once per day. If you’ve overwatered, then you’ll need to monitor it closely and make sure that the soil is always moist.

If your plant has been in a location with too much heat or not enough sunlight for long periods of time, then give it some sunnier window space until its leaves return to their normal coloration and shape.

Finally, if your plant is infested with insects then spray it heavily with insecticide. Before moving the plant back indoors to its usual location, make sure that you wash off all of the chemicals and thoroughly inspect for any remaining pests.

Second Step:

If your pothos plant has been neglected for a long period of time, it might be best to start over with new soil. This will give the roots an opportunity to grow and strengthen before they’re subject to any more stressors.

Mix up some potting soil using compost or aged manure mixed in with gravel, sand, peat moss, and perlite. Fill up the pot with the new soil mix so that it’s a few inches from the top of the pot.

You can also try planting your pothos in bark mulch or gravel to give it some texture on its roots without needing any more soil added.

It’s important to use good quality pots and soil for your pothos plant to thrive.

If you are using a pot, make sure it has good drainage holes and is at least six inches deep with the diameter of the pot being two to three times that of its height.

Choose pots made from clay or terracotta because they retain water better than plastic containers.

Third Step:

You’ll need to monitor its progress closely. If it’s not responding well or begins showing signs of wilting again then contact an expert for more advice and take appropriate action.

If you are using a pot, make sure to provide your plant with plenty of different types of soil so that it has what it needs for healthy growth.

Pothos plants need acidic and well-draining soil or they can’t thrive and will become stunted in size over time. You’ll also want to use as many as six-inch deep containers so that it can thrive and grow.

Forth Step:

Pothos plants require an acidic soil or they won’t be able to thrive; also, make sure the pots have good drainage holes in order for your plant to absorb enough water.

If you’re using a potting mix with bark mulch or gravel without other types of soil then you’ll want to use as many as six-inch deep pots because this will provide more room for growth.

Choose terracotta clay pots over plastic containers if possible!

Once all these requirements are fulfilled, give your pothos some consistent care by watering it regularly and provide a location with plenty of indirect sunlight.

As long as it’s not wilting, then your pothos plant should eventually return to its healthy state!

Fifth Step:

Once you have followed all the steps in how to revive your pothos plant, make sure that you continue giving it consistent care by watering regularly and providing it with lots of sunnier window space if possible.

It may take a while before you see any signs of improvement but don’t be discouraged; this is just part of the process for healing sick plants back into their normal states so patience will also help out here too! If at any time there are still issues or the plant is wilting, contact a professional ASAP for some advice and assistance.

Tips on how to care for your Pothos Plant:

Water Regularly

Be sure to water your plant regularly. This means a lot of the time, not just once or twice. Make sure that you are watering it enough so that the soil is moist but never wet.

Feed

Feed plants with liquid fertilizer monthly during their growing season and every other month in their dormant period. Pay close attention to how much food each type of plant needs by consulting our care guide on fertilizing indoor plants for more information!

Location

Place the pothos plant near a window where it gets plenty of light and consistently at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Try to avoid direct exposure to sunlight as they may scorch leaves if grown too close together or when placed under heat lamps which dry out air causing leaves to drop.

Pruning

Give your plants a cut every few weeks to keep them shorter, and trim off any dead leaves or stems that may be present.

Conclusion

I hope this blog post has taught you what to do when your pothos plant is dying. You don’t have to be an expert in plants to revive one and the steps are pretty simple! All it takes is a bit of time, care, and love from you.