Pothos can die after repotting if they are not getting enough water, if the pot is too large, poor soil, pest attack or too much water. To successfully repot a pothos and avoid plant death, water the plant regularly in the first week, use premium potting soil and chose a pot 2 inches larger than the original.
Pothos are hardy vines but need some care when you are repotting them to avoid problems. If you have repotted your pothos and it looks like it is dying this article can help you to save it.
Check out the top reasons why pothos die after repotting and solutions to each problem.
Why pothos die after repotting – Quick Guide
| Why pothos die after repotting | Solution |
| Not enough water | Thoroughly wet the soil allowing it to drain and water every 3 days for the first week. |
| Pot is too large | Remove the plant and place it in a pot that is only 3 inches wider and deeper than the pot it was originally in. |
| Poor soil | Repot the pothos with premium potting soil. |
| Spider mites or scale | Take the pothos outside and spray with water. Treat with neem oil if pests persist. |
| Too much water | Test the soil and only add water when the soil feels dry 1 inch below the sol surface. |
Top causes of pothos death after repotting and solutions
Here are the top causes of pothos death after repotting and how you can solve each problem. I have experienced each of these and managed to save my pothos using these easy tips.
1. Not enough water
Pothos can die off fairly quickly when they are re-potted if they are not getting enough water. Pothos from garden centers or those grown from cuttings will be sensitive to a lack of water when they are repotted.
Pothos need to be watered regularly when the are small as they soil will dry out quickly. Pothos that are suffering from a lack of water will have dry leaf edges, tips that go brown and this can extend to the stems.
Solution
Take your pothos to the sink and water it thoroughly. You can also take it outside and use the sprayer nozzle on your hose. Water the pothos until you see water coming out of the drainage holes. Allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes to drain well.
Repeat this again in 3 days and add some seaweed solution when you water if you have some. This will help to revive the roots. Within a week your pothos should show signs of growing new leaves. Trim off any damaged leaves and continue to water regularly, around once per week.
2. Pot is too large
Moving a pothos into a pot that is too large can cause plant death. Pothos roots can become too cold and rot if there is too much soil added. Avoid moving the pothos into a pot that is more than 2 inches larger than its previous pot.
Solution
Choose a new pot that is 2 inches wider and deeper than the pot that you are moving it from. I like to plant my pothos into a plastic pot with drainage holes which can be placed within any indoor pot. I can then move the inside pot to a new outer pot for a new look.
3. Poor soil
Repotting pothos into poor soil can cause plant death. Using old potting mix or a poor quality mix can cause the plant to suffer due to lack of nutrients or poor water holding capacity. Old potting soil can become hydrophobic and the water can drain through too quickly without being absorbed.
Solution
The easy solution if you have already repotted your pothos into a new pot with poor soil is to repot it again with good quality soil. Pothos can recover quickly when repotted. Choose a premium potting soil with slow release fertilizer that is an all purpose soil or one made for indoor plants.
4. Spider mites or scale
Pothos that have been repotted can be vulnerable to pest attack after they have been first moved. Spider mite, aphids or even scale can attack your newly potted pothos.
Solution
To solve this problem I like to first try to remove any visible pests with a garden hose. Take your pothos outside and gently spray the leaves and stems to try to remove these pests. After this the plant can be treated with neem or horticultural oils to remove the pests.
5. Too much water
Too much water given to a pothos that has been repotted is the final reason why pothos can die. Pothos are hardy but too much water can wash nutrients out of the soil, cause root rot and kill the plant. You will usually notice drooping, yellowing leaves and soggy soil. The soil can even grow mold.
Solution
The solution to this problem is to slow down your watering schedule and only water when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry. Make sure you allow the time for the water to drain out of the pot before placing it back in the outer pot or on a pot try.
Place the pothos near a bright window which can help to dry the soil out and only water in the morning so the plant has the rest of the day to dry and the soil will not stay too wet overnight.
Pothos dying after repotting | Summary
Pothos can die after repotting if they get too much water, are planted in poor soil or are suffering due to a move to a pot that is too large. Give them a dash of seaweed solution to recover mixed through your next watering can and add a dash of liquid nitrogen fertilizer after a few weeks to give them an extra boost.
Your pothos should show signs of recovery within a week and this will happen rapidly over the growing seasons of spring and summer. It may take longer to see signs of recovery in the winter but as long as you don’t see any more leaf damage then your plant is on its way to recovery.
Happy growing.
I am an accredited practicing dietitian, experienced gardener and a dedicated cook. I love writing and sharing my experience so you can learn from my successes and mistakes.