Growing Jade Pothos: How To Care For Green Pothos

Jade Pothos plants are popular trailing indoor plants with waxy, heart-shaped leaves. Besides the brilliant green Jade, you’ll find other different types of Pothos plants like Golden Pothos and Marble Queen.

Native to the French Polynesian islands, these tropical plants are excellent at improving air quality.

All green Jade Pothos in a hanging potPin

It’s a great houseplant for beginners, making it a natural choice for hanging baskets and ledges in reception rooms and offices.

Pothos has quite a few nicknames, including:

  • Devil’s ivy
  • Money plant
  • Ceylon creeper
  • Hunter’s robe
  • Taro vine
  • Solomon Islands ivy

A member of the arum family Araceae, the Jade Pothos’s botanical name is Epipremnum aureum [ep-ih-PREM-num] [AW-re-um].



Nicknamed “The Devil’s Ivy” because it’s so hard to kill, Pothos is ideal for people without a natural green thumb.

However, keep these pothos away from children and pets because of their toxicity.

Epipremnum Aureum Quick Care Tips

  • Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum
  • Common Name(s): Jade Pothos, Green Pothos, Devil’s ivy, Money plant, Ceylon creeper, Hunter’s robe, Taro vine, Solomon Islands ivy
  • Synonyms: Devil’s Ivy, Money Plant
  • Pronunciation: ep-ih-PREM-num AW-re-um
  • Family & Origin: Araceae family, native to French Polynesian islands
  • Growability: Easy to grow
  • Grow Zone: 10-11
  • Size: Can grow up to 30′ feet tall
  • Flowering: Rarely flowers indoors
  • Light: Thrives in bright, indirect light but can tolerate medium-low light
  • Humidity: Prefers high humidity but can tolerate low humidity
  • Temperature: Thrives in temperatures between 65 – 85° degrees Fahrenheit
  • Soil: Well-draining potting soil
  • Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry, do not overwater
  • Fertilizer: Fertilize with a liquid general-purpose houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength monthly during spring and summer
  • Pests & Diseases: Susceptible to mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects. Can also be affected by root rot if overwatered.
  • Propagation: Propagate through stem cuttings in water or soil
  • Plant Uses: Popular indoor plant for its air-purifying qualities and easy care. Can be grown in hanging baskets or trained to climb a trellis or wall.

Jade Pothos Care

Although Jade Pothos is easy to care for, below are some tips to help you keep a green Jade healthy plant.

Size and Growth

Jade Pothos grows all year but may slow down during the winter months.

The solid green Pothos can grow up to about 30′ feet in length (and wild Pothos are much longer than that). But most plants will look best if kept at or below 6′-10′ feet.

Jade Pothos is generally kept indoors but does well as perennial outdoor plants in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. 

In cooler hardiness zones, bring outdoor plants indoors before the first frost.

Flowering and Fragrance

Although mature wild varieties of Pothos do flower in Southeast Asia’s jungles, most Pothos varieties in other areas do not.

Even so, the emerald green of the Jade Pothos brightens up dark or bland corners in your home or office.

However, this plant has no variegation, unlike other pothos varieties.

Light and Temperature

One of the things that makes Jade Pothos so versatile is its ability to withstand a variety of lighting conditions. But it prefers bright indirect light and does best near north or south-facing windows.

Keep your Pothos out of direct, harsh light. If the leaves start to turn yellow, your Pothos is getting too much light.

Jade Pothos does better than other Pothos in lower light conditions and usually does fine in medium to medium-low light. Small leaves mean the plant needs more light than it’s getting.

Pothos generally prefer typical room temperature and will thrive between 65 – 85° degrees Fahrenheit climates.

Tips On Watering Jade Pothos

Jade Pothos is forgiving of a sporadic watering schedule. Moreover, this is partly what makes it such a perfect starter plant.

You can simply watch this plant’s leaves, and you will know when it needs water. When you see wilting, it’s the easiest way to tell your plant needs watering.

Water your Pothos every week or two, and allow the top ½” inch to 2″ inches of soil to dry out between waterings, especially in low-light conditions. 

Let the soil dry out more when it’s cooler, less so when it’s warmer.

Wilted leaves mean your Pothos is overdue for watering. If you wait too long, the plant will start dropping leaves.

So ensure there are adequate drainage holes to allow excess water to flow freely and not sit at the bottom.

Create a regular watering schedule. When it comes down to over or underwatering, underwatering is the lesser of two evils. 

SeeWatering Pothos – How Often Should Pothos Be Watered?

Your Jade Pothos’s soil should be moist but not soggy. Soggy roots open the door to root rot.

NOTE: Water with rainwater or distilled water. Avoid using tap water or water from a water softener to avoid mineral buildup in the soil.

Moreover, this plant can tolerate low humidity, but higher levels will promote better growth.

Feeding Your Pothos

These popular houseplants usually get all the nutrients they need from their potting soil.

For lower-quality potting soil or signs of nutrient deficiencies, fertilize. Use a liquid general-purpose houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength monthly during spring and summer.

Keep an eye out for leaf burn caused by too much salt in the soil, often caused by over-fertilizing.

Soil and Transplanting

Jade Pothos aren’t too particular regarding soil and will thrive in well-draining potting soil. Soggy soil will lead to root rot. 

You can add organic matter like peat moss to provide the soil with excellent drainage.

See: The Best Pothos Soil Mix

When it’s time to repot your Pothos, choose a pot that’s one or two sizes larger than its current one. Spring and summer are generally the best times of year to repot.

Grooming and Maintenance

Regular pruning will keep longer tendrils from getting a “leggy” appearance. It also helps the plant maintain a fuller, bushier shape.

For best results, cut just below a node so leaves grow down to the newly formed tip.

Clean the foliage every month to remove dust and pests.

How To Propagate Jade Pothos

Jade Pothos are easy to propagate by placing cuttings into water or soil. In either case, take a cutting of about 6″ inches in length and remove the bottom leaves.

  • If propagating in water, place the cutting in a clean container of water in indirect light.
  • If propagating in soil, first dip the cutting into a rooting hormone.

You can also create new plants via divisions.

Our guide to propagating Pothos will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Jade Pothos Pests or Diseases

Jade Pothos isn’t especially prone to pests or diseases. The most common ones to watch out for are:

  • Root rot: caused by overwatering or inadequate drainage. Symptoms include black spots on leaves and the “collapse” of the plant.
  • Mealybugs on Pothos: are tiny white bugs that look like cotton. They will result in yellowed, wilted leaves and potentially mold. Get rid of mealybugs using natural pesticides like Neem oil or horticultural oil.

If you suspect another pest like mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites, or other diseases, take a look at our directory of common plant ailments and how to treat them.

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