Growing Pothos in Water: The Complete Guide to Soil-Free Success

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is famous for being nearly indestructible. Put it in a dark corner? Forget to water it? Accidentally break part off while you're trying to move it? (I'm guilty of that one). No matter what you throw at it, pothos is usually able to power through. That includes growing it with no soil at all.

Pothos is highly adaptable to "hydroculture," or living in nothing but water. As long as it gets supplemental nutrients, it'll be just fine. Here's how to grow a pothos in water only.

Getting Ready

All you need to start growing pothos in water is a healthy pothos vine, a glass container, and all-purpose liquid fertilizer.

Make sure you can get a cutting from your pothos that's 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cm) long if you cut just below a node, and has 3 to 4 leaves on it.

Your container should be deep enough that roots can comfortably develop in it. These cutting vases from Amazon work great. There's nothing wrong with using an opaque container, but you won't be able to see the roots developing, and that's half the fun!

Looking to get started? Costa Farms is selling 4 live pothos plants for $20 on Amazon right now!

How to Grow Pothos in Water

1. Cut a length of pothos vine with three or four nodes.
2. Remove the leaves on the lower part of the vine, since any leaves left under the water will rot.
3. Fill the container with water. Tap water is fine, but if your water is heavily chlorinated, let it sit out for a day or two before you add your cutting. This allows the chemicals to evaporate.
4. Add a few drops of liquid fertilizer to the water. Check the recommendations on the package to determine the mix, but remember that when it comes to fertilizer, too little is always better than too much.
5. Place the pothos vine in the water, making sure no leaves are submerged. Set it in a place with bright, indirect light. Do not put it in full sun!

Caring for Pothos in Water

Place the vine in bright, indirect light. Although pothos vines do well in relatively low light, too much intense sunlight can stunt growth or cause the leaves to turn brown or yellow.

Replace the water in the container every two to three weeks. Don't just top off the container – dump it out and replace it completely. Oxygen in water depletes over time, and this will give your pothos a much needed oxygen boost.

If algae develops on the glass, scrub it off with a cloth or old toothbrush. Add fertilizer to the water every four to six weeks. This fertilizer from Amazon is developed specifically for pothos vines.