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Pothos is a popular houseplant known for its ability to thrive in water. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, growing pothos in water can be an easy and rewarding experience. Here’s how to do it and ensure your pothos flourishes. 1. Selecting the Right Cutting When it comes to growing pothos in water it starts with acquiring a healthy cutting. Choose a pothos vine that has green, fresh looking leaves, and a node where the leaves and roots emerge from. For maximum results when rooting, it is recommended that at least one node of the cutting be under the water. To take the cutting, one has to use clean scissors or pruning shears. Trim it just below a node so that there should be a good place for roots to sprout out from. Ensure the cutting is as long as possible, and should be about 4-6 inches so that the roots can develop well. 2. Preparing the Water Container Place the cutting in a transparent glass container, such as a jar or vase. This allows you to see the roots grow. Fill the container with clean, room-temperature water. Submerge the cutting’s node, but keep the leaves above the waterline to avoid rot. Make sure the container isn’t too small for the growing roots. 3. Placing the Cutting in Water Now it’s time to place the cutting into the container. Position it so that the node is completely underwater, but the leaves are above the water line. The cutting should not be touching the water directly, as this could cause the leaves to rot. Place the container in a location with indirect sunlight. Pothos plants do best in bright, indirect light, and direct sunlight can burn their delicate leaves. 4. Changing the Water Regularly This is the same for pothos cutting; use fresh water and ensure that you change the water after every one to two weeks. This as a way reduces the growth of bacteria and flows which makes the water very fresh. In this case all that is needed is to pour out the previous water and replace it with fresh water at room temperature. In a little while you will begin to see the formation of roots from the node that has been submerged – this is a sign that the pothos is beginning to establish roots and grow. 5. Monitoring the Growth It will take roughly two weeks for a small white root to show out of the node which you will submerge. The rate of growth might differ, and, as a rule, pothos plants root well. After the roots attained a length of two to three inches, you can decide to transplant the cutting into another container containing water or leave it in the existing container. When your pothos is even bigger you will realize that new vines that your plant develops are longer and thicker. You can even trim the vines in order to increase the density of the plant or even take the cuttings and have further plants. 6. Troubleshooting Common Issues On rare occasions, some pothos plants develop minor problems while being grown in water. Here are some common problems and how to fix them: Yellowing Leaves: This is normally experienced where the fish has been subjected to excessive sunlight or is contained in water with low standard quality. Make sure the plant is not in direct sunlight and be sure to always change the water. Root Rot: Perhaps, you have soaked the cutting for too long, and now the water you see is brown or slimy, and that is the water your roots are in. Cut off the damaged roots and wash the cutting before putting it back in water. Slow Rooting: It may be that the roots are not growing properly or at all, and the water being used is not fresh enough. This process takes time, though if the water is changed more frequently, it will help complete this process with ease. 7. Nutrient Boosting It is important for you to know that as the pothos grows in water it may need other nutrients to supplement its needs. Once every 4-6 weeks it’s advisable to add water-soluble plant fertilizer. All you have to do is take half of the normal concentration of the fertilizer and add the mixture into the water. This makes sure that the plant is well fed just as it is supposed to be, without starving it to death. 8. Moving to the Soil (Optional) Although the pothos plant can go on germinating in a bowl of water for as long as the water is not contaminated, you may choose to transfer your plant in soil, once it has grown big enough. If you do this, simply transfer the plant from the water and plant it to a good drainage potting soil. Bury it in water and then carry on treating it just like any normal indoor plant. Conclusion: Propagating pothos is easy and fun if you decide to grow it in a glass of water. If properly cared for the cutting will root rapidly and grow into a very vibrant plant, a vine. All that is required is to maintain water purity, to place the plant in a favorable light, and wait while the root system emerges. Whether you place it in water or at some time transplant it to soil, your pothos plant will grow. For more plant care tips and tricks Click here. Visit my website for more tips on how best to care for your pothos and any other indoor plants that you may be having.