How to Divide Pothos Plants
The one things about Pothos plants is that they are so easy to divide! They are one of my favorite go-to houseplant and are the perfect beginner, low-light plant as well. If you keep them adequately watered, they respond by giving you lush trailing vines. If you forget to water them, they hang on as long as they can, and start dropping foliage and leaves, telling you you need to give them a drink. If you’ve ever wondered how to divide Pothos plants (this goes for Philodendrons and Devil’s Ivy too!). I have a few tips below and a video showing the process.
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You can check out the video here, and then see the rest of the post below.
You can find a Pothos plant here, but I really love grabbing some of the $9- $12 hanging plant baskets from the home improvement store. The best part is that normally you can get at least 3 -5 smaller divided plants out of them, and if you keep them watered enough, they grow so fast that you very quickly have some nice sized plants. This is also a great way to divide a root-bound plant.
If I can’t do this outside, I like to spread a large painter’s tarp over my surface. It can get pretty dirty. It’s better to let the baskets dry out just a tiny bit too. After pulling them out of their original basket, find a part where there seems to be a natural division in the leaves. Untangle any large plant’s leaves or vines. Using your thumbs, gently work your fingers in, loosening the dirt of the root ball. These are similar to dividing Sanseveria. The plant is considered toxic due to it’s calcium oxalate and can cause skin irritation so working with gloves is recommended.
Pull a section gently at the root ball, trying not to tear the roots They should separate fairly easily. it’s almost as if you are working them apart.
Once you have your plants sectioned, they are ready for re-potting! Use a good quality indoor plant potting soil with fertilizer in it, and water immediately. You’ll probably have some extra dirt left from the original container. I actually put this in a bag, or bin for my summer outdoor plants. Make sure your pot has drainage holes to avoid overwatering and causing root rot.
When you replant, keep them evenly watered in the planter for a while to promote growth, and remove any yellowed or dead leaves. If you have any pothos stem cuttings with a leaf or nodes on them, you can practice some plant pothos propagation! Place your pothos cuttings in water to grow roots. When they are about a quarter inch long, those pothos stems can also be planted in sterile potting soil. Pothos like bright, indirect light exposure and are a great plant to add a living green, trailing plant to your house. Due to the toxicity, keep them away from pets and kids.
See, that was so easy, right? Now you get to name your plants! What’s a good name for a Pothos? Patty? Penelope?
