Pothos are often decorated in a trailing fashion, but they fail to enchant when the vines are not bushy or fuller due to inapt pruning.
Read until the end to find out the best Pothos hacks to enjoy fuller, luscious Pothos plants without much hassle.
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How Big do Pothos Plants Grow?
Pothos can extend their climbing vines for over 60 feet in their natural habitat and grow about 12 inches per month.
Likewise, the heart-shaped leaves of Pothos can get 4-8 inches long with a width of 6-8 inches under optimal care.
In addition to the Pothos species, the size of the Pothos depends on how proficient primary care they receive.
Thus, aim for the Pothos variety that is comparatively big and master the art of judicial pruning to make them fuller.
How to Make Pothos Fuller?
The juvenile Pothos are often small and not bushy from the get-go but gradually become fuller with age.
However, if the plant misses proper care, it might grow slowly and appear thin with leggy, sparse growth.
So, without further ado, let us make your Pothos healthier and fuller with the following in-depth Pothos care hack.
1. Regular Correct Pruning
Prompt pruning of the leggy, damaged or sick foliage is the most effective way to make Pothos luscious and fuller.
When Pothos are left without pruning, the climbing vines will go on growing with sparse, leggy, thin foliage.
That said, you must not haphazardly swing the pruners at your Pothos, as it can backfire and cause stunted growth.
Thus, you must learn the most effective ways to prune Pothos to encourage healthier, fuller Pothos.
- Take a clean, sharp scissor, wash it with soap and hot water or sterilize it with rubbing alcohol.
- Wear gardening gloves to avoid any skin irritation or allergies.
- Carefully inspect and look for damaged, discolored or dead foliage to prune.
- Mark the vines you want to cut and make a clean cut of the vine 1/4 inch above each leaf node. It accelerates the growth of new vines at each leaf node.
- Cut off any leafless vines or irregular stems heading downwards close to the plant crown.
- Save the snipped healthier stems for propagation purposes.
Remember, pruning over 1/3rd of the plant can heavily stress Pothos, so be wary of your pruning urge.
Note: Refrain from pruning Pothos in winter or fall as the plants are dormant and will not put out new growth.
2. Enough Light
Pothos thrives and unlocks their maximum potential with fuller foliage when provided with at least 12 to 14 hours of bright indirect sunlight.
The plant detests direct sunlight and often suffers when left for too long in direct sunlight.
Meanwhile, Pothos make a fuss and retaliate by exhibiting sparse, thin foliage with slow, stunted growth.
Thus, aim to place Pothos in an east window ensuring 1-2 hours of direct morning sunlight.
Alternatively, use artificial grow lights to meet the Pothos light requirements in winter.
3. Fertilizing Pothos
To make the Pothos fuller, give them a little push via proper fertilization once or twice a month.
Nitrous fertilizer is best suited for better foliage growth, but you can also use an all-purpose balanced 0nes.
Alternatively, you can resort to slow-release fertilizer every three months.
With that said, cut back fertilization in the winter season to avoid overfertilization issues like yellowing Pothos leaves.
4. Ideal Watering
Pathos is a water-sensitive plant, so it is essential to water the plant properly to make them fuller.
Overwatering and underwatering are harmful to the plant and can result in long-term problems.
Moreover, you can also check the moisture content present in the soil using a moisture meter or chopsticks before watering.
Remember, underwatered Pothos often have curling leaves with brown edges, while overwatered ones have squishy vines with rotten roots.
5. Right Temperature & Humidity
Being a tropical plant, Pothos thrives well in warmer temperatures of 65-85°F and humidity over 60%.
Likewise, do not expose Pothos to consistently low (<40%) or too high humidity levels as it negatively influences growth.
Thus, to keep Pothos happy, striving for fuller foliage, invest in a humidifier or leverage a pebble tray underneath the plant pot.
Furthermore, incorporate your Pothos in a bright kitchen or bathroom with the subtle warmth of the morning sun.
6. Staking for Vine Support
With proper staking, you can support the climbing vines of Pothos and encourage bigger foliage growth, making them fuller.
Meanwhile, you can facilitate bigger trees and walls to your outdoor Pothos for better support.
Staking prevents the weaker stems from breaking or dropping and encourages more robust vine growth, eventually making Pothos fuller in the long haul.
7. Group Planting
Another fast approach for making Pothos fuller is planting two or more plants in a single pot.
While planting two or three plants makes Pothos look bushier, it also facilitates a natural humidity boost.
Alternatively, plant healthy stem cutting from pruning in the same pot or clip the leaf node underneath the soil.
As multiple Pothos grow together in a container, they look bushier and fuller.
8. Correct Soil Mix
Pothos thrives well in light, well-draining, nutrient-rich, soil-free potting mix with a pH of 6.1 to 6.8.
Otherwise, rely on commercial products from reputed online stores to buy organic sterilized soil mix with moderate water retention.
Furthermore, aim for a right-sized ceramic or terracotta container that facilitates proper drainage via multiple drain holes.
From Editorial Team
Proper Pruning Does Not Harm Pothos!
Careful pruning or snipping off fewer new growths in the active growing season encourages better foliage growth and does not damage plants.
While pinching back growths, ensure to pinch off the growths above the leaf node as new branching sprouts out from the leaf node.
All The Best!
