Pothos is one of the most widely owned houseplants. Not only it is very beautiful, but also is easy to propagate and care for.
If you have propagated your pothos in water, have it in a beautiful transparent jar and your plant seems happy, you may be wondering if it is possible to leave it as it is.
Well, in this article, we will discuss if it is possible for pothos to live in the water forever and what can you do to make your green friend happy.
Since you came across this article, you must be wondering can pothos live in water forever? Well, turns out that it can.
Pothos can live in water and show off their beautiful roots. Watching the roots form and grow can be both interesting and amazing. As long as you give it proper care, pothos is able to live in the water forever.
However, to achieve this, you must know what to do, how to care, and what to avoid.
This Step-by-step guide will help you to do all this.
Can Pothos Live in Water Forever?
There are several houseplants that can grow in the water including lovely Orchids, Wax Plants, Philodendrons, and fiddle leaf figs. Normally, those plants just like can pothos live in water forever, actually live in the water as they grow?
Pothos can live in the water if it is provided with all essential nutrients and the perfect living environment is created. The care includes changing the water frequently, using appropriate fertilizers, cleaning the container, etcetera.
If your pothos plant keeps growing too large to fit in the container, you can prune it and this way, the growth will be limited. Pruning can be done by removing the leaves and some parts of the stem.
Typically, the life span of the pothos plant is from 5 to 10 years. Therefore it can live in the water this long.
The main challenge is to always watch out and maintain good conditions, so the plant does not die.
The main threat for pothos that is placed in the water is the fungus and other microorganisms which easily can be attracted if the water change is delayed, the container is not cleaned thoroughly, or if the plant gets weaker due to the lack of nutrients.
Unlike the ones that are placed in the soil, the care for the one that is in the water can be a little more difficult. However, it is much easier to start and root your pothos cutting in the water rather than in soil.
You will only need to cut the stem from a vigorous plant and place it in the fertilized, well-nutritioned water. Soon the plant’s root will appear. However, we will discuss pothos propagation steps further in this article.
How to Care for a Pothos in Water Only
Pothos that is placed in the water requires special care which includes several important things. The first and main thing is to keep the container where the plant is placed is clean.
Before every water change, it is essential to thoroughly clean the container with soap and fresh water.
The water and humid environment attract algae and other microorganisms that can harm the plant. therefore, on every water change, it is essential to make sure that the container is clean.
Look for the signs of algae and if you see any of them, clean the vessel and plant foliage right away.
You can do it by removing the plant, rinsing the leaves and roots, and deep cleaning containers. If your pothos plants overgrow, then you can stop or limit their growth by pruning the stems and leaves.
How do you Grow Pothos in Water?
Propagating pothos in water is relatively easy and if you give them what they need, will eventually receive a beautiful houseplant.
There are several things that need to be considered in advance and ready before actually starting the propagating process.
One of the first steps in preparation to propagate pothos is choosing the right container. You can take the glass jar. Make sure that the container does not leak.
Yes, it is beautiful, but the light also supports the growth of algae, therefore, you will have to be careful and watch out.
After that, you will have to get the pothos cut. for this purpose, choose the healthy stem of the plant. Observe and make sure that the cutting does not have yellow or brown leaves.
Pothos plants can withstand the shade and can survive in low light too. This will slow down the growth of your new plant.
Therefore, if you want your favorite green friend to grow fast, then move it to partial or indirect light. It will be best if you put them on the windowsill where it will get a good amount of indirect light.
In order to propagate pothos from a cutting you will have to start by filling the container with water. Then put the cuttings of your pothos plant.
Add some liquid fertilizer, preferably diluted so the essential nutrients for the root growth are provided.
Additionally, there must not be leaves submerged in the water because most likely they will rot and cause additional damage to the roots.
The root appearance process takes approximately a month. then you can either move it to the soil or leave it in the water.
What Water do I Need to Use?
Another most important thing in maintaining pothos plant in water is to have proper water provided. Clean water that is changed often is key to happy plants.
Change water every two to three weeks, this will help the plant to have fresh water and also provide a refreshed and oxygen-rich environment.
The tip from us is to avoid tap water. The best one for your little green friends is rainwater, and distilled water.
If you can not access either of them, you can leave the tap water out overnight and then use it after some harmful chemicals are evaporated.
Pothos plant that is in the water requires liquid fertilizer. unlike the soil, water does not give the plant essential nutrients and minerals.
Therefore, it is important to manually provide plants with food. liquid fertilizer has to be given in every 4 weeks. The fertilizer can be added to the water straight away.
The best one for pothos plants is NPK balanced liquid fertilizer with the ratios of 5:5:5. The detailed instruction of how much to give and how often can be found on the fertilizer packaging itself.
What are the Advantages of Growing Pothos in Water?
One of the major advantages of growing pothos in water is that you have the possibility to check its roots anytime to make sure they are okay.
Pothos plant can be pretty low maintenance in the water, however, it will grow slower. If you do not want your plant to become too big or unruly, then putting it in the water is a good potion.
The slow growth will require less pruning and cutting. Both soil and water can provide a good “home for the pothos plant” however, it is all dependent on the environment and the care that is provided.
If you give it enough water and nutrients, then most likely it will not have a problem in growing.
Additionally, when having a transparent jar and the roots are visible, it is aesthetically beautiful and will eventually be a good part of any household.
By having pothos in the water, you will avoid any complications such as overwatering or drying out for example. It does not need to be watered and therefore does not require the watering schedule.
Because it is always in the water and the roots are used to it, root rot is avoided if the plant is grown in the water.
Potting mixes can be pretty expensive, and choosing the right one for your plant can become quite a challenge. Therefore, if you choose to have your pothos in the water, the soil problems are avoided.
In conclusion, we can say that some benefits that having pothos in the water are that it is easy to care for, there is no need for potting mix, there is no problem regarding overwatering, and root rot is avoided.
What are the Disadvantages of Growing Pothos in Water?
When pothos plant is grown in the water and is placed in the glass jar, it can lead to some problems. If the glass gets exposed to the sunlight, the water is warming, the light gets in and as a result, there is a higher risk of algae.
In most cases, this is the issue connected to the plants that are in the water. To avoid the algae and unwanted microorganisms, you will have to often check the jar and make sure that there is no growth.
Also, that is why it is very important to wash and scrub the glass jar every once in a while.
Other than cleaning and monitoring, the solution to this problem can be the choice of dark-colored jars or containers.
Algae will still manage to build up, however, in this way, they will grow very slowly and buys you time to take appropriate care. Also, in a darker jar, it is a little harder to see and spot newly appeared algae.
Another disadvantage that comes with growing pothos plants in the water is the stunted growth.
The nutrition that is provided by the water is not enough, therefore it requires additional fertilizer and constant water change. If the care is delayed, then the pothos plant will struggle to grow and survive.
Additionally, the dosage of how much fertilizer should be given can be quite tricky and if done incorrectly, it can harm the plant.
So, sometimes, you will have to do some experiments to get exact measurements of fertilizer that is needed for plant stimulation and growth. Be careful not to give it too much, because it can result in burning the plant.
Sometimes, when the pothos is in the water, it can lead to some leaf problems. Well, that is affecting the pothos growing in any environment, but the ones that are in the water are at higher risk.
If exposed to too much sunlight or not a suitable amount of fertilizer, the foliage will often become yellow and brown. So, if this happens so, know that your plant has a problem.
To conclude, some of the most important disadvantages that come with having pothos plant in water is that first of all, it is very sensitive to Algae, it often has a student growth, measuring the fertilizer amount is hard, and if the plant is unhappy, it is shown in its foliage.
Can Pothos Grow Underwater?
We already answered the question of can pothos live in water forever. However, another thing that plant lovers wonder about is if they can grow underwater.
Even though the pothos plant has the ability to grow in the water, it can not survive if fully submerged. It is because the leaves and foliage are not designed to take nutrients from water similar to the aquatic plants.
The Pothos require to have some of its leaves to be out in the air, out of the water. Submerging the foliage in the water will result in shriveling up and the death of the plant.
Some people plant the pothos plants in aquariums and yes, it has some benefits for the aquatic environment that is manually created.
However, you will have to wait until the roots grow long enough, (approximately 4 to 5 inches) before transitioning into the aquarium.
This way, the roots will be settled in the substrate easily and will have the strength to hold the body. Similar to ivy plants, the pothos foliage will grow on the sides of the aquarium and drape over.
Final Thoughts
The answer to the main question of can pothos live in water forever is yes, it can. Pothos is one of the most low-maintenance and easy-to-care for house plants.
Its foliage is uniquely beautiful and makes the perfect addition to any home. Having a pothos plant in water forever is possible, however, it has to be cared for appropriately and all essential needed elements have to be provided.
It is aesthetically amazing to watch the roots grow and the plant thrive.
If you follow the instructions provided in this article carefully and consider the tips, then you will successfully have the pothos plant that will live in water for years to come. Happy gardening!