Choosing Golden Pothos soil and fertilizer can be overwhelming. You may end with a severely wilted, crisped, or pale plant without the correct feed and substrate idea.
Continue reading the article to grow Golden Pothos without messing up its soil and fertilizer prerequisite.
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What Kind of Soil does a Golden Pothos Need?
Pothos is called Devil’s Ivy, a hardy plant that can revive even from difficult situations.
But it is wrong of you to expect your Pothos to thrive without maintaining the proper soil and fertilizer composition.
Heavy soil and off-season feeding in fall and winter can burn the leaves and roots of Golden Pothos.
Contrarily, low fertilization, and excessively porous soil can make the plant nutrient deficient by washing away all the minerals.
Hence, the soil you choose must have good texture, drainage, aeration, and water retention.
Additionally, you mustn’t overlook any physiological properties of the soil, like normal temperature range (55-90°F), steady pH, and nutrients.
Pothos Soil Mix Recipe
You can buy premium soil in online forums if you don’t want to risk your plant with homespun soil.
However, you can prepare a homemade potting mix for Golden Pothos using only a few ingredients.
A basic recipe is to blend 1 part standard potting soil, 1 part coco coir/ peat moss, 1/2 part organic perlite, 1/3 part compost, and 1/3 part coarse sand.
If using regular garden soil, disinfect it with a 1/2 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Moreover, you can add more peat moss to make the mix water retentive and increase the acidity.
To do this, mix 2 parts peat moss, 1 part perlite, 1/2 organic compost, 1/3 parts horticultural charcoal, and 1/3 part orchid bark.
Common Signs of Using the Wrong Soil
Despite being a tough and tenacious plant, the Golden Pothos cannot grow well in an unstable base.
A wrong potting mix is due to the improper blend of ingredients that can stunt the growth of Pothos.
Some common signs and their ultimate effect of using the wrong potting mix are as follows.
- Lack of oxygen to the roots, leaf drops, leaf curls, and yellowing due to compact soil
- Root rot and foul smell from the soil due to soggy soil conditions
- Fertilizer burns or leaf color changes due to enormous fertilizer application or lack of soil minerals
How Often to Fertilize Golden Pothos?
You must schedule seasonal fertilizer applications if you want your Golden Pothos to grow vigorous leaves and healthy vines.
Golden Pothos is not a voracious feeder but needs periodic fertilizer boosts for healthier growth.
Usually, Golden Pothos goes dormant in the fall and winter, so it’s not ideal for burdening the plant with fertilizers during cold spells.
Besides fall and winter, the plant needs minimal fertilizers to sustain its slow growth.
But, under-fertilization can cause nutritional deficiencies that will weaken the plant, decrease flower and leaf production and change the leaf color.
The “big three” minerals, nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K), are vital for Pothos flower, leaf, and root development.
However, other minerals like calcium, magnesium, and copper are secondary but vital requirements.
Tips to Fertilize Golden Pothos
- Water the plant thoroughly before fertilization which helps better absorption of nutrients.
- Dilute the fertilizer to 1/4 or 1/2 of its strength to prevent overfertilization.
- Don’t let the fertilizers get in contact with stems or leaves.
- Always apply fertilizer in the morning or evening to prevent fertilizer damage.
Homemade Fertilizer for Golden Pothos
Long-term use of synthetic fertilizer degrades the soil’s quality. But organic fertilizer promotes the growth of healthy soil microbes.
Try incorporating dried peels of vegetables and fruits in the potting soil to offer extra minerals for the plant.
Furthermore, you can also top a layer of cow dung on the mix to manage the acidity and supply nitrogen for the Pothos.
Water from the boiled chicken bones, banana and onion peels, coffee grounds, and egg shells can also supply the plant with additional nutrients.
Best Commercial Soil and Fertilizer for Golden Pothos
You can directly rely on and use any of the following premium soil and feed for your Pothos.
FAQs about Golden Pothos Soil and Fertilizer
Can I use Cacti and Succulent Mix for Golden Pothos?
Golden Pothos is a tropical plant that likes consistent moisture in the soil.
But, cacti and succulent mix are made to support quick drainage and hold less water, which can dehydrate the Pothos.
From Editorial Team
Pothos can also thrive with a granular fertilizer during the growing season to slowly release the nutrients in the soil over several watering bouts.
To apply, place a small stack of granular fertilizer about 2-6 inches away from the base of the plant in the potting soil.
