The Golden Pothos is a popular houseplant whose flower is not appealing to the eyes, but the foliage makes up for it.
Look below for the complete guide on making the Golden Pothos bloom.
Table of Contents Show
How Often Does the Golden Pothos Flower?
Golden Pothos is an evergreen perennial plant that does not produce flowers in colder regions, and if you keep your plant indoors.
In any other regions and locations, your plant may flower.
To have any chance at Golden Pothos flowering, these plants must be at least 35-40 feet tall and should be planted in good ground soil.
These plants usually flower because of the activation of gibberellin, a group of plant hormones responsible for flowering.
Generally, you don’t need to look after the blooms of Golden Pothos as they are short-lived and do not require much care.
Other Pothos varieties have a greater chance of blooming than the Golden Pothos.
Golden Pothos Flower Overview
According to research conducted by NASA, Golden Pothos removes the harmful VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and formaldehyde from the air.
Let’s look at what a Pothos flower looks like.
| Structure | Inflorescences with a long spadix and a spathe surrounding it |
| Size | Up to 23 cm (~9 inches) in length |
| Color | Cream-colored Spathe Purple Spadix |
| Fragrance | No specific fragrance |
| Toxicity | Toxic to pets, kids, and adults |
| Lifespan | Only a few days |
| Fruits | Berries are formed in the spadix that turn orange to red when ripen |
| Blooming Season | Spring and summer |
Did you know? The Pothos flower was first observed in 1962 in the botanical gardens of Puerto Rico and Miami.
How to Make a Golden Pothos Plant Flower?
Let us consider what you must care for to make Golden Pothos Flower.
- If you want to make this plant flower, keep it outdoors.
- You need to provide the plant with well-draining soil. If the soil is too compacted, the roots cannot breathe.
- Golden Pothos needs to be at least 35 feet high to flower. Make the plant reach that height by properly taking care of it.
- When outdoors, place the plant somewhere it gets good shade. Excessive light may damage its foliage.
- Ensure you provide them with enough indirect light, as they need enough light to flower.
- Keep the temperature between 70°F to 90°F to give the plant its optimum temperature.
- You should water the plant only when the top two inches of the soil are dry. You can use your finger to do the finger-moisture test.
- Fertilize the plant monthly during spring and summer with well-balanced houseplant fertilizer. Fertilizer rich in phosphorus helps make the plants bloom.
You may encounter specific problems in your journey to make the plant flower. Let’s have a look at one of the most common problems.
Why is Golden Pothos Flowers Wilting?
The Golden Pothos plant is a hardy plant to grow indoors. However, it can grow to its full potential if you let the plant grow outdoors.
If your Pothos is losing their composure and making the flowers wilt, you need to be stressed and look at the problem in detail.
The leading cause of this phenomenon can be the lack of water in the soil.
To avoid this, water the plant every week during its growing season, i.e., spring and summer.
What Should you do with Golden Pothos Plant Flowers?
The plant hardly flowers, so there is no question of releasing the pollens.
Also, you must have done much hard work if you made this plant flower. You wouldn’t want to see your hard work go in vain.
But if you want a reason to cut the flowers off the plant, here are two.
- The flowers are hideous to look at. They do not contribute to any decorations and aesthetic charms.
- When the plant blooms, it directs its energy to the flowers. The energy distribution is then divided between the foliage and the bloom. The plant may get less energy in the process.
Whether to keep the flowers or get rid of them is your decision.
How to Cut the Golden Pothos Flower?
Follow the simple steps below to cut your flowers with precision and no complications.
- Gear up with scissors, pruning shears and goggles, gloves, etc.
- The best time of the day to cut the plant is early in the morning when the plant is fresh and full of moisture.
- Hold the flower’s spathe revealing the base, and cut a few inches above the base.
- Separating the flower from the plant using only hands is an option, but you may need to use a more significant force as the flower can be sturdy.
- Do the above process carefully, and do not hurt the neighboring foliage.
Toxicity of Golden Pothos Flower
According to ASPCA, Golden Pothos contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which makes it toxic to cats and dogs.
If your pets ever consume any part of the foliage of Golden Pothos, they will show symptoms like:
- Vomiting
- Hypersalivation
- Burning of the lips, mouth, and tongue
- Difficulty swallowing
- Oral irritation
In a list amassed by the University of California based on plants and their toxicity levels, Golden Pothos has 3,4 toxicity levels.
| Toxicity Class | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Major Toxicity | Cause serious illness or death. |
| 2. Minor Toxicity | Causes minor illness. |
| 3. Oxalates | The sap or juices of this plant contains calcium oxalates. |
| 4. Dermatitis | The juices or saps of these plants cause skin irritation. |
According to ABC’s website, all parts of the Golden Pothos are toxic, making the flowers of the Golden Pothos toxic as well.
Watch this video for greater detail,
If you or your pets ever encounter a problem caused by this plant and its flower, remember the following numbers.
- American Association of Poison Control Center (AAPCC) at (800) 222-1222.
- For pets, contact ASPCA Poison Center at (800) 426-4435.
Editor’s Note
Golden Pothos may be a great decoration to add to your home, but its flower is hideous.
You may still want to make the plant bloom as a challenge to yourself, and it’s wonderful if you’re going to. But you will have to go through a lot of considerations before that.
You have our back!
