Pothos and Philodendron are the reason so many people think they have a 'green thumb' — they tolerate neglect, lower light, and the occasional missed watering while still trailing beautifully. This handbook covers the popular varieties and how to keep them full and leafy.
What's Inside
Golden Pothos
Heartleaf Philodendron
Marble Queen Pothos
Pink Princess Philodendron
General Care Principles
Frequently Asked Questions
Golden Pothos — Epipremnum aureum
Yellow leaves mean too much sun; pale ones mean too little.
Care at a glance: light: low to bright indirect light; keep it out of hot, direct sun; water deeply every ~14 days (far less in winter); a standard peat-free houseplant mix; happiest around 60-85F; propagate by a stem cutting left to callus then rooted; keep it away from cats and dogs.
Quick facts
Light: low to bright indirect light; keep it out of hot, direct sun.
Water: deeply every ~14 days, far less in winter.
Temperature: 60-85F (16-29C).
Humidity: average home humidity is fine.
Soil: a standard peat-free houseplant mix.
Propagate: a stem cutting left to callus then rooted.
Pet: keep away from cats and dogs.
It is listed by NASA among the best indoor air cleaners.
Heartleaf Philodendron — Philodendron hederaceum
Trailing or climbing; pin it to a moss pole to grow huge leaves.
Care at a glance: light: low to bright indirect light; keep it out of hot, direct sun; water deeply every ~14 days (far less in winter); a standard peat-free houseplant mix; happiest around 60-85F; propagate by a stem cutting left to callus then rooted; keep it away from cats and dogs.
Quick facts
Light: low to bright indirect light; keep it out of hot, direct sun.
Water: deeply every ~14 days, far less in winter.
Temperature: 60-85F (16-29C).
Humidity: average home humidity is fine.
Soil: a standard peat-free houseplant mix.
Propagate: a stem cutting left to callus then rooted.
Pet: keep away from cats and dogs.
It is one of the most widely grown houseplants in the world.
Marble Queen Pothos — Epipremnum aureum
The white variegation needs brighter light than the plain green type.
Care at a glance: light: bright indirect light, with a little gentle morning or evening sun; water deeply every ~14 days (far less in winter); a standard peat-free houseplant mix; happiest around 60-85F; propagate by a stem cutting left to callus then rooted; keep it away from cats and dogs.
Quick facts
Light: bright indirect light, with a little gentle morning or evening sun.
Water: deeply every ~14 days, far less in winter.
Temperature: 60-85F (16-29C).
Humidity: average home humidity is fine.
Soil: a standard peat-free houseplant mix.
Propagate: a stem cutting left to callus then rooted.
Pet: keep away from cats and dogs.
Each leaf is uniquely marbled -- no two are alike.
Pink patches need bright indirect light or they revert to green.
Care at a glance: light: bright indirect light, with a little gentle morning or evening sun; water deeply every ~14 days (far less in winter); a standard peat-free houseplant mix; happiest around 60-85F; propagate by a stem cutting left to callus then rooted; keep it away from cats and dogs.
Quick facts
Light: bright indirect light, with a little gentle morning or evening sun.
Water: deeply every ~14 days, far less in winter.
Temperature: 60-85F (16-29C).
Humidity: average home humidity is fine.
Soil: a standard peat-free houseplant mix.
Propagate: a stem cutting left to callus then rooted.
Pet: keep away from cats and dogs.
The pink is random splashes on each leaf.
General Care Principles
No matter the species in this handbook, a handful of principles carry most of the weight. Get these right and the individual notes above become fine-tuning.
Match the plant to the light: sun-lovers go in the brightest window or under a grow light; shade-lovers go in east or north light. Wrong light is the single most common cause of failure.
Water on the plant's schedule, not the calendar. Soak thoroughly, then let the soil dry before the next drink. In winter, ease right off — most of these plants want a cool, dry rest.
Use the right soil and a draining pot. Free-draining for succulents, moisture-retentive but aerated for ferns and foliage. A drainage hole is non-negotiable.
Propagate to multiply. Almost every plant here can be cloned from a leaf, offset, division, or cutting — see each species for its best method.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I really water?
Forget frequent sips. Soak the soil completely, then let it dry out fully before the next drink. In winter most of these plants want a long, dry rest. The lift test (light pot = dry) beats any calendar.
My plant is stretching and pale — what does that mean?
It wants more light. Move it to a brighter window or add a full-spectrum LED grow light. New growth will be compact and colourful; the stretched part will not undo itself, so behead and re-root the top if you like.
What soil should I use?
A free-draining mix is non-negotiable. For succulents that means gritty, sandy soil in a pot with a real drainage hole. For leafy types a peat-free houseplant mix is fine. Sitting in wet soil is the fastest route to rot.
Is this plant safe around my pets?
We note pet safety per species in this guide. 'Pet-safe' means it is not on the usual toxic lists, but no plant is food — keep curious cats and dogs from chewing leaves, and call a vet if you are worried.