Pothos will thrive in winter if they are placed near a bright window, are given slow release fertilizer in fall and are watered once every 4 weeks. Repot large pothos before winter so they have time to establish their roots. Keep the temperature above 50 degrees Fahrenheit indoors over winter to help them to thrive.
This article will explore 8 easy tips to help your pothos survive and thrive in winter.
8 Ways to care for your pothos in winter
Here are my 8 easy tips for caring for pothos indoor and outdoors in winter.
1. Move them near a bright window
Move your pothos plants to a position near a bright window. Aim to keep them around 3 feet away from the glass. This will allow them to photosynthesize and continue to produce food over the winter.
This will also help to keep the variegation in the leaves of your Golden or Marble Queen Pothos varieties. My Golden pothos plants that are closest to the window in winter have developed color than those further away.
2. Fertilize before the cold arrives
Fertilizing your pothos plant before winter is important to help it to strengthen its roots, stems and leaves before the weather turns cold. Apply a slow release fertilizer in Fall so that the plant has time to absorb the nutrients before it slows its growth in winter.
3. Repot your pothos ready for winter
Pothos can be repotted before winter to set it up to grow rapidly in spring. Before fall ends, take your pothos out of its current pot, repot it using premium potting soil in a pot that is 1-2 inches wider and deeper than its current pot.
Pothos can be repotted every 2-3 years to keep it growing large and strong.
4. Water pothos once per month in winter
Slow down your watering schedule for pothos to around once per month. The soil will take longer to dry out and can be overwatered. Water the pothos over the sink and let any excess water drain out of the bottom.
If the soil stays wet for too long and the roots of the pothos can rot. If you notice the plant starting to wilt or turn yellow the plant could be too wet.
Place the plant near a bright window to dry out and avoid adding water again until the top 1 inch of the soil is dry.
If your pothos is near a fireplace or heater then it can still dry out. Check the soil to see if it needs more water and move it away from direct heat. This will keep the pothos happy and can help to avoid any leaf damage.
5. Water with seaweed solution
Seaweed solution is perfect for your pothos as it is a mild root conditioner. It will strengthen the plant and make it more resistant to colder weather and rapid temperature changes. Seaweed solution can be added to your watering can every month over fall ready for winter.
6. Pot out your pothos cuttings before winter arrives
If you are raising pothos cuttings in water it is best to plant them out before winter arrives. Wait until the pothos roots have grown 3-4 inches long or small white roots have formed on aerial roots. This usually takes 4 weeks before this happens if you are taking cuttings in fall.
Pothos will slow its growth in winter and you may not see any new leaves appear until spring. Don’t worry this is completely normal and you should see new leaves and inches of growth when the weather starts to warm.
Check out this quick video for more on planting out pothos cuttings in winter.
7. Trim off any old leaves
Use sharp scissors or secateurs to snip off any brown or yellowing leaves at the base of the stem. These damaged leaves will not recover and make the plant look messy.
While your pothos will slow down its growth in winter they will look green and neat for around 3 months without any other attention.
8. Avoid lots of misting
To keep the pothos leaves healthy during the winter months it can be best to reduce the amount of misting on the leaves. During spring and summer misting the pothos plant can be a great way to temporarily increase the humidity for the plant it can keep the leaves wet for too long in winter.
If the leaves on the pothos stay wet for too long fungus can grow and it can cause problems. Misting is great in summer and spring but it can be better to water at the base of the plant.
Can pothos survive winter?
Pothos plants will survive winter if you prepare them with some slow release fertilizer in Fall, move them near a bright window indoors and water once every 4 weeks. They are a hardy plant that will green up a dull space indoors over winter.
To keep variegated pothos happy in winter make sure they get plenty of light so they can still photosynthesize. This is important for white pothos like ‘super white’.
How cold is too cold for pothos?
Pothos love a temperate climate somewhere between 55 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit indoors. Avoid letting the temperature drop between 50 degrees to help pothos survive a cold winter. This should be easy to achieve indoors but an outdoor pothos may need to be brought indoors if it gets too cold.
How do you water pothos in the winter?
Water pothos once per month in the winter. The soil will stay moist for longer and it is easy to overwater them. Check the soil with your finger 2 inches down if you are not sure and if it is dry you can deep water the pothos. This should keep it moist for another 4 weeks when the weather is cool.
Pothos Winter Care | Summary
Pothos are hardy plant that will easily survive a temperate winter. Bring pothos indoors if you have outdoor pothos and very cold winter. Move indoor pothos near a bright window and water them every 4 weeks. Pothos are my favorite indoor plant that will survive easily if they are watered well.
For more on watering pothos check out my previous article here: How long pothos can go without water? | Tips for 3 weeks without water
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.