Repotting guide

When & how to repot Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Also called devil’s ivy, golden pothos, money plant.

About Pothos

Epipremnum aureum · also called devil’s ivy, golden pothos · tropical

Pothos is a trailing aroid from the Solomon Islands and the most forgiving vine in the houseplant world. It tolerates low light, irregular watering, and a wide humidity range, making it the standard recommendation for first-time plant keepers. Toxic if chewed.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) originates in the tropical Pacific (the Society and Solomon Islands region), where it grows as a climbing vine that clings to rough bark with aerial rootlets and trails across the forest floor as ground cover.

NYBG recommends a soil-based potting mixture in pots that drain freely from the bottom, reflecting its preference for moist-but-airy rooting conditions rather than waterlogged soil.

Mature size: Vines reach 3-6 m indoors with a support

Watch for — Yellow lower leaves: Overwatering or pot-bound roots.

Sources: libguides.nybg.org, aspca.org, en.wikipedia.org

How to tell pothos needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For pothos, watch for these signs:

Roots poking out of the drainage holes or coiling visibly around the inside of the pot.
You are watering far more often than you used to because the rootball dries out within a day or two.
Water runs straight through and out the bottom without soaking in.
Top growth has slowed or new pothos leaves are noticeably smaller than older ones despite good light.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot pothos

Every 12–18 months — sooner if roots show fast. Pothos's growth habit — trailing or climbing evergreen vine — sets the pace. Pothos is a trailing aroid from the Solomon Islands and the most forgiving vine in the houseplant world. It tolerates low light, irregular watering, and a wide humidity range, making it the standard recommendation for first-time plant keepers. Toxic if chewed.

What size pot to step pothos up to

Step up one pot size — about 2–3 cm (an inch) wider. Pothos grows fast, so it will fill that space within a season, but jumping several sizes at once still backfires: the unused soil stays soggy and rots even a vigorous root system. One size at a time, every year or so, is the rhythm.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot pothos

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for pothos. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting pothos

Time it for spring. Repot pothos in early spring as growth restarts so it re-roots quickly into the fresh soil.
Choose one size up. Pick a pot about 2–3 cm wider with drainage holes. One step only — a much bigger pot stays soggy and rots roots.
Ease the plant out. Water lightly the day before, then tip pothos out and gently loosen any roots circling the bottom of the rootball.
Repot at the same depth. Put a layer of fresh standard potting compost with extra perlite in the new pot, set the plant so its soil line is unchanged, and backfill, firming lightly.
Water and pause feeding. Water once to settle the soil. Hold off fertiliser for about a month — fresh mix already has nutrients and feeding now burns new roots.

Aftercare

Water pothos once to settle the soil, then let the surface dry before watering again — fresh mix around the roots stays wetter than the old compacted ball, so the commonest post-repot mistake is overwatering. Keep it out of direct sun for a week or two while roots re-establish. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for pothos

Pothos wants standard potting compost with extra perlite. Any free-draining houseplant mix works. Refresh the top inch annually and repot when roots circle visibly. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting pothos — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot pothos?

Every 12–18 months — sooner if roots show fast for pothos. Repot pothos roughly every 12–18 months, in early spring as growth restarts. It grows fast and circles its pot quickly, so step up one size (about 2–3 cm wider) into fresh standard potting compost with extra perlite. Don't jump several sizes — that soggy excess soil is what rots vigorous roots.

What size pot does pothos need?

When is the best time of year to repot pothos?

Can you put pothos straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing pothos should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise pothos after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting pothos. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.