The neon pothos is a fun spin on a classic, easy growing plant. The neon pothos varies from its all green counterpart, with its lemon-lime colored leaves. Not only is this plant known for its eye-catching foliage, neon pothos care is within reach of experts and beginners both. With the ability to survive in nearly any light conditions, the neon pothos plant is a great addition to any collection.
Neon Pothos Plant Care Guide
Epipremnum aureum ‘neon’, aka the neon pothos will thrive under any conditions. This pothos plant is drought resistant like many of its close relatives, and can survive in almost any light conditions. Neon pothos care can be considered easy by most plant parents.
This hardy plant is a great addition to your collection, while also being the perfect plant to gift to friends and family. Anyone who views the warm glow of these leaves will be left wishing they had a little piece to take home with them.
Neon Green Pothos Plant Care Overview
Type: Tropical
Light: Bright Indirect, bright light will produce variegated neon pothos leaves
Watering: Water when top half dry
Soil: Average, well-draining soil
Feeding: Use houseplant fertilizer every 2 weeks in spring and summer
Humidity: normal household humidity
Lighting
The pothos neon plant will thrive under almost any condition. But, this plant will do best in bright, indirect or filtered light.
In high light conditions the plant can begin to produce variegation, however it is rare. A highly variegated neon pothos is jaw-dropping with its mix of lime-green and white leaves.
This plant will also do well in low-light conditions or even under fluorescent lights. In these conditions the plant will lose some of its typical lemon-lime color and will instead produce much deeper green leaves, almost reverting to its more ‘plain’ cousins.
Watering
The neon green pothos is very forgiving when you forget to water it. It can go about 2 weeks without water in the summer months, and up to three weeks in the winter.
For best growth, water when the top half of the soil is dry. We suggest using your finger, a chopstick, or a moisture meter to see how much of the soil is still damp.
Remember to never water your plant while the soil is still wet – This can cause root rot and will cause the plants root systems to die.
Preferred Soil / Potting Medium
The neon pothos plant is not picky when it comes to soil type. Any soil that is well draining with the ability to retain moisture will suit this plant. Our suggested potting medium is two parts peat moss to one part perlite and one part bark fines.
Humidity Conditions
The epipremnum pothos plant is native to tropical forests and therefore does best with humidity ranging from 60-70%. Despite this, the neon pothos will do perfectly fine in normal household conditions. When the leaves appear curled inwards it might be worth increasing the humidity.
Neon Pothos Propagation Tips
The neon pothos is a very easy plant to propagate through stem cuttings. To propagate this plant, look for a node on a stem that is actively growing. Cut directly below the node and remove any leaves, allowing one or two to remain. After this step there are two options: water or soil.
To propagate neon pothos in soil:
Propagating pothos in soil is a preferred method for many experienced house plant lovers. Start by taking your prepared cutting and dip it in rooting hormone.
Place the cutting in prepared potting soil and water completely. Place the pot in bright, indirect light and keep the humidity high for the first week or two. Roots should form within three weeks.
To propagate neon pothos in water:
Propagating pothos in water is an easy way for beginners to learn about growing cuttings from indoor plants. To propagate in water, place the prepared cutting in room temperature water, making sure no leaves are in the water.
Place the container in a bright spot and change the water one time weekly until roots begin to form. Our rule of thumb for placing water cuttings in soil is “3×3” meaning your plant has at least 3 roots that are 3 inches or longer.
Is the Neon Pothos Plant Toxic?
The neon pothos plant, like all pothos plants, is toxic to both humans and animals. Ingestion can lead to vomiting, sore throat, and difficulty swallowing.
Common Problems With Neon Pothos
While neon pothos care is relatively simple, there are still some common pests and problems that you may run into or can proactively avoid.
Yellowing Leaves
Yellowing leaves can be normal as a plant ages, but pothos plants will commonly keep most of their leaves. If the yellowing continues, inspect your plant closely. Is it overwatered? Does it have pests?
Check the soil, is it wet or dry? If it is wet, the plant must dry out completely before watering again. However, yellowing leaves can be a sign of overwatering. If the soil is bone dry, you may need to water more.
If the soil is normal, try inspecting for pests. Look for webbing, small white and black specks, or bumps on leaves and stems and treat accordingly.
Pests
Mealybugs, spider mites, and fungus gnats are common for the pothos neon plant. If you find pests, you should look up the best way to attack them – This may be a combination of neem, mosquito bits, rubbing alcohol, or something more aggressive depending on the issue.
You can help to prevent pests in your neon pothos plant by showering it once per month, using sticky traps, using mosquito bit tea, or proactively spraying the plant and soil with neem oil.
Drooping
Drooping leaves without yellowing are almost always a sign of a dehydrated plant. When you notice that the leaves are drooping or curling on the neon pothos, you should give the plant a nice deep watering.
Brown Leaf Tips
If you notice that there are brown tips on your neon green pothos plant, you’re likely under watering. Check if the soil is dry and adjust your watering from there.
Neon Pothos: A Bright, Fun Plant for everyone
Here at Houseplant Hive we always swoon over any neon pothos, but especially the variegated neon pothos. This bright, warm plant will continue to surprise you with every new leaf.
Our favorite way to display our neon pothos is either trailing from a hanging pot in an east facing window, or climbing a trellis in a beautiful decorative pot. Whatever you decide, this plant will brighten up any space.
Houseplant Hive’s Neon Pothos
Have any tips or tricks for making your neon pothos grow long vines or throw out variegation? Let us know in the comments!
