Question
QUESTION: My mother gave me a plant that she's had for about 8 years now. We carried it with us where ever we moved with the military so I really want to save it. It grew well at first but never got huge. For the past year and half it has stopped growing and hardly ever requires water. I incorrectly listened to advice that said pothos didn't like a lot of water so I would only give it a little water when it was dry a couple of inches down. I recently repotted it to see if that was the problem and saw a huge salt ring around the inside. The roots are horrible-brown, weak and not holding any soil. The odd thing is the few small (not baby) leaves on it are a beautiful green with some marbling. There is no brown or yellow on the leaves even though I believe it has root rot from salt buildup. The plant doesn't grow and any cutting I take from it refuse to root. Is it possible for a pothos to die without the leaves turning color or is it just at a time when it's not growing?

ANSWER: Lynda,

From what you have said I suspect that you have the pothos in a pot without a drainage hole and a drain tray underneath it. That is why you have salts accumulating in the soil and if you went down a little further I'm sure the soil is very soggy constantly. That is what is causing the root rot. The plant never truly drys out, the roots are always in water at the bottom and a pothos is not a swamp plant so it is getting root rot and dying. But because it is a very strong plant it still has a very pwerful will to live and that is how it is maintaining those green leaves. You have to immediately repot what is left of it into a pot with a drainage hole. Put it in a slightly smaller pot than it is in now or than it was in before you repotted it before. This will allow it to dry out faster so it is not constantly wet. When you water it you need to empty any excess water out of the drain tray an hour later then do not water the plant again for at least a week or even 2 weeks, until the plant  feels noticeably lighter weight. It needs to be dry, not just dry down 2 inches. Also keep the plant in the sunniest location possible. Pothos plants love the sun. They can survive in less sun but it will recuperate much faster in lots of sun. Follow these instructions and I think it will come back. Good luck.

Darlene

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The pot I had it in had 5 wholes in the bottom since I have a black thumb I only pot in plastic pots. It's really not possible that the soil was soggy since I would go for weeks without watering it. Even forgetting about it at times! When I did water it, it was very little. Also there was nothing to indicate over watering on the leaves. They are a very bright green. I also am worried about that

I was never told that they loved sunlight-I kept them pretty far away from any light. Should they be near a window or can I leave them outside for a while? Maybe that is the problem and would help it start to grow again. Should I also pot it in a smaller pot?

Answer
Lynda,

You are one of the rare people that too little water is the problem. You really need to get in the habit of watering it once a week and give it enough water so all of the soil in the pot is moist. Move it close to an unshaded window. and it will do better.

Yes, you can move it outside if the night temperatures are above 50 degrees farenhit or 10 degrees centigrade where you are at. First put it under a shade tree so it doesn't get sunburned until it is used to the brighter conditions then you can move it to full sun.

The tiny leaves are happening because it is not getting enough water and the bright green is happening because it is not getting enough light. Good luck.

Darlene