Question
Hello, I have a 30 year plus old pothos that has been amazing up until a month or so ago.  It's a massive plant with vines that are 30 feet or so long.  About a month ago many of the long vines leaves starting wilting.  I hadn't watered it in about a week longer than usual which normallly would be a problem.  After  I gave it some water, the leaves got worse.  I have recently cut back many of the long vines.  The problem is that although I haven't watered it but a couple of times in the last two months, it seems like it could be overwatered.  I cut open some of the vines that I cut off and they seemed to be full of water.  The soil isn't dry, seems about right.  I haven't repotted in over 8 years because the plant is in a gigantic pot.  I also didn't feed it but a couple of times this year because when I did, many of the leaves went yellow and fell off.  I am really worried about the plant, I'd hate to lose it after all these years.  It also is pretty cold in my boston apartment, which might be a contributing factor.  All I really want to know is what should I do next.  Should I try some things, or just break open the pot and see if the roots are bound or suffering from something.  I'm just scared to open it up after all of these years, but at the same time I want to save it.  Just a few more things, there doesnt seem to be any salt build up on the top of the soil or rim of pot.  And the only vines that are ok now are the older ones which seems strange to me.  And lastly, all of the new vines that have new leaves on the verge of opening up, have been stuck closed.  That's the scary part.  Usually after a few days, the new leaves open up.  Right now its been a week and they are in the same position.  Any help would be very much appreciated, and thank you very much for reading.  Help!!!!!

Answer
Mike,

It sound like your pothos vine is in a pot without a drainage hole and a drain tray under it. This is a big problem that usually ends up with the plant being overwatered which sounds very much like the problem you have. I suspect that if you drill or break a hole in the bottom of the pot water will come pouring out. This overwatering has caused the roots to rot. You said that you watered it but a couple of times in the last two months but it seems like it could be overwatered. Without a drainge hole water build up in the bottom of the pot and I would bet that even though the surface of the soil feels fairly dry the pot is half full of water and the plant is drowning. The best way to tell if a plant needs watered is to pick it up or tilt it and see how heavy it is, if it is heavy, do not water it, if it is light, water it. Or at your grocery buy long bamboo skewers used for shish kabobs and insert one as deep into the soil as you can and still be able to pull it out. Pull it out when you feel the plant needs watered. If it is dry 3/4's of the way down water it, if it is wet do not water it.

At this point, if you can get a small hole in the bottom of the pot so you can drain as much water as possible as soon as possible you will help your plant the fastest. Transplanting it now will put it in shock and probably finish killing it. Do not water it until you are sure it is dry even if it takes 4-6 weeks to dry out. Pothos is very resilient. It may turn brown and you may have a lot of die-back but the roots will grow back and the plant will send out new shoots and regrow if it is getting enough sun and drying out well between waterings. The plant likes the sun more than most people think and will be healthier with more sun. Do not ever put it in a larger pot. It is in too large a pot now. If you do anything take cuttings and start some babies in swmaller pots so if you do loose the big one you will still have the babies.

If you have more questions feel free to write again. Good luck.

Darlene