Soil & potting mix
Best soil for 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.
Preferred mix: Standard potting compost with extra perlite
Watch for — Yellow lower leaves: Overwatering or pot-bound roots.
Sources: libguides.nybg.org, aspca.org, en.wikipedia.org
Why pothos needs this mix
Pothos is a climbing rainforest aroid — it wants a chunky, bark-heavy mix full of air pockets, not a dense soil that packs around its thick roots.
- In the wild pothos climbs trees with thick, partly aerial roots that expect air as much as moisture — bark and perlite recreate that open structure.
- A chunky mix drains fast but the coir and compost still hold a steady reservoir between waterings, which suits its "moist then slightly dry" rhythm.
- The big air gaps stop the dense, fast-growing root mass from compacting and choking itself.
For the full picture on what makes up a good mix, see our guide to the main types of soil and potting media — it explains why each ingredient above behaves the way it does.
What goes wrong with the wrong mix
The wrong soil is one of the most common reasons pothos struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- Plain bagged compost packs tight around pothos's thick roots, holds water in the centre and triggers the yellow-leaf-then-mushy-stem rot pattern.
- A fine, peaty mix with no bark leaves the roots gasping — growth slows and new leaves come out small and without fenestration.
- Too much moss or water-retaining additive keeps the core permanently wet and invites fungus gnats.
Using ordinary potting soil with no bark or perlite. Pothos needs roughly half its volume as chunky, airy material — that single change fixes most "mystery decline".
pH — does it matter for pothos?
Pothos prefers a slightly acidic mix, around pH 5.5-6.5, which a peat-free compost-and-bark blend lands on naturally. It is not fussy enough to need testing in practice.
If you want to check or adjust it, the soil pH guide walks through testing and the safe ways to nudge a mix more acidic or more alkaline.
DIY mix vs a bagged one
Bagged "aroid mix" is now widely sold and is a fine shortcut for pothos, but check it actually contains visible bark and perlite — many are just rebranded compost. Mixing your own from the ratio above guarantees the structure.
Drainage and the pot
Any pot with a drainage hole works because the chunky mix does the draining. A pot only a little larger than the rootball avoids a wet, unused core; add a moss pole and the climbing roots will thank you.
Bark breaks down over time, so refresh the mix for pothos every 12-18 months even if the pot size is still fine — spent, sludgy bark is a common hidden cause of decline. When the time comes, our repotting guide for pothos covers the timing and technique step by step.
Pothos soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for pothos?
2 parts peat-free houseplant compost or coco coir : 2 parts orchid bark (fine-medium) : 1 part perlite : 1 part horticultural charcoal. In the wild pothos climbs trees with thick, partly aerial roots that expect air as much as moisture — bark and perlite recreate that open structure.
Can I use normal potting soil for pothos?
Plain bagged compost packs tight around pothos's thick roots, holds water in the centre and triggers the yellow-leaf-then-mushy-stem rot pattern. Bagged "aroid mix" is now widely sold and is a fine shortcut for pothos, but check it actually contains visible bark and perlite — many are just rebranded compost. Mixing your own from the ratio above guarantees the structure.
Does pothos need a special pH?
Pothos prefers a slightly acidic mix, around pH 5.5-6.5, which a peat-free compost-and-bark blend lands on naturally. It is not fussy enough to need testing in practice.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for pothos?
Bagged "aroid mix" is now widely sold and is a fine shortcut for pothos, but check it actually contains visible bark and perlite — many are just rebranded compost. Mixing your own from the ratio above guarantees the structure.
How often should I refresh the soil for pothos?
Bark breaks down over time, so refresh the mix for pothos every 12-18 months even if the pot size is still fine — spent, sludgy bark is a common hidden cause of decline. Any pot with a drainage hole works because the chunky mix does the draining. A pot only a little larger than the rootball avoids a wet, unused core; add a moss pole and the climbing roots will thank you.
Keep reading
- Pothos care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water pothos — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting pothos — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
- Overwatered plant — signs and recovery
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
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- Best soil for fiddle leaf fig
- Best soil for philodendron
- All 200 soil and potting-mix guides in the Growli library