Pothos are sturdy and easy to grow, and as long as their environment suits them, they’ll keep extending their vines without hesitation.
It’s no wonder they’re often chosen as gifts. But have you ever experienced a situation where your pothos grew a bit too much while you were taking care of them?
My pothos is thriving, vigorously stretching its vines every day.
Initially, I was excited to see the vines grow quickly but worried about what to do if they grew too long.
I’ve learned how to handle the long vines and gained enough skill to create a pothos tower.
So, in this post, I’d like to share some simple tips on managing overgrown pothos.
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What Should You Do With an Overgrown Pothos?
Pothos vines can grow rapidly before you even realize it. It’s no surprise since Pothos is a climbing plant.
If left unchecked, the plant’s vines will continue growing and may look a bit unkempt. Let’s look at some ways to deal with overgrown pothos.
Method 1 – Cutting Pothos Vines And Placing Them in Water
You can trim the overgrown vines of your pothos to keep them in shape. The best time to do this is during the plant’s growing season, spring to fall. Use a clean pair of scissors to cut the overgrown sections.
As pothos vines grow, aerial roots become more prominent, like the ones circled in pink in the image.
New roots will grow from these aerial roots, so I’ve decided to cut the vine above (closer to the root) the red-circled area and place it in water.
This time, I cut the vine by hand instead of scissors. There’s no problem using clean scissors, but if they aren’t well-maintained, bacteria and other contaminants on the scissors might transfer to the cut on the pothos, potentially causing diseases.
I opted for a safer approach to avoid this risk, especially since pothos vines can be easily cut by hand.
Depending on the variety, pothos can have beautiful cream-colored markings, like the ones seen in the picture. However, these markings may fade if the plant is grown without sunlight for an extended period.
I’m using a vase I purchased from IKEA for water propagation.
To make placing the vine in water easier, I’ll cut the stem at the pink line to adjust its length.
And with that, the pothos water propagation is complete. The process is straightforward.
All you need to do is replace the water every 2 to 3 days (or ideally every day), and strong roots will grow from the aerial roots, allowing the plant to thrive.
After pruning, continue to care for your pothos in a well-ventilated, semi-shaded area.
Reusing The Pruned Stems in Water
You can enjoy the pruned stems by placing them in water. Especially between spring and fall, it’s easy for the stems to take root so you can grow them hydroponically.
Keeping pothos stems in water makes it easy to maintain them indoors, which is a great option.
Pothos plants don’t need a lot of sunlight, so they’re ideal for growing inside your home. Plus, they look refreshing and fashionable.
When the roots have grown this much in the water, they become ” water-absorbing” (see photo above).
Transplanting them directly into the soil at this point may not result in successful growth. If you want to plant them in soil, it’s best to do so when the roots have just emerged.
Method 2- Use a Support Structure
Another way to utilize the overgrown vines of your pothos is by setting up a support structure for them to climb.
Various support structures are available, such as simple poles sold at dollar stores, natural materials that the pothos can easily wrap around, or mesh materials that the vines can easily cling to.
Choosing a support structure that suits your preferences can be a fun process.
Natural material supports blend in well and look great with pothos. Mesh supports are perfect for creating a pothos tower, as the vines can easily wrap around them.
Method 3- Use Additional Pots to Grow More Pothos
If your pothos has grown too much, the pot may be full of roots, causing root binding. If you see roots sticking out of the bottom of the pot, it’s a sign of root binding.
Root-bound plants can struggle to grow properly. So, after pruning your pothos, think about dividing the plant into smaller sections and placing each in a separate pot as you repot them.
The best time for this is during the warmer months of spring to fall. Avoid doing this in winter, as the cold can stress the pothos and potentially lead to damage or death.
Steps for dividing overgrown pothos:
- Trim the overgrown vines and shape the plant.
- Gently remove the plant from the pot, loosen the root ball, and divide it into two.
- Plant each half in a separate pot with drainage stones and well-draining soil.
- Continue caring for the plants in a well-ventilated, semi-shaded area.
Key Takeaways
Pothos are easy to grow, even for gardening beginners, and they love to extend their vines rapidly.
You can choose various ways to enjoy your overgrown pothos, such as cutting and propagating them or letting the vines wrap around a support structure.
While pruning your pothos can help neaten their appearance, don’t hesitate to use the overgrown vines for cuttings or to place them in water.
Here are the three main methods for handling overgrown pothos:
- Prune the vines.
- Use a support structure.
- Divide the plant and create more pots (after pruning).
Remember, performing these methods during the pothos’ growing season, the warmer months of spring to fall is best.