BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Houseplants Pothos (Devil's Ivy) Yellowing Leaves

I just started getting into houseplants and chose some easy-care one's such as a peace lilly (I will be transplanting into a large pot), a small snake plant and a medium-size pothos. I started watering both the lilly and the pothos once a week but not soaking. The lilly has done ok but the pothos is starting to show yellowing of the leaves in the middle part of the plant. It cannot be due to over watering if I am only watering once a week, can it? Should I remove these yellowing leaves?

I would remove the yellow leaves. I always think yellow leaves means they need more water. I pick the container up and if it feels light I always give more water. Or poke your finger in the dirt and see how it feels. If it feels dry give water.
With it being so hot outside and most my plants are in windows they need way more water than in the winter time.

I figured that but was not sure. Also, this is a new plant that is getting use to a newer environment and it could be that as well as older leaves getting ready to die. I read a good article in reagards to these plants and put me in a state of confusion though. It said that it is very important that the whole plant is watered thoroughly and that the rootball gets the water. But then it contradicts itself and says that that these plants cannot sit in water or the roots will more easily rot? So, how should I be watering my pothos? From the top or the bottom? Watering from the bottom allows the roots to get the water they need, but, when I water from the top, the soil runs over the top of the pot and makes a mess and really doesn't soak in. :(

Water from the top and be sure that the water is flowing freely from the holes in the bottom of the pot. This ensures that the entire rootball gets water, as the article you read described. After the water stops flowing from the pot, you may place a dish under it...just be sure that water doesn't sit in the dish. Dump any excess.

Once a month I like to put my potted plants in the tub and I water them. I pour pitchers of water in until the water covers the soil and the plant will bubble. I keep the soil covered until the bubbling stops. Then I get the spray bottle out and give it a good shower. That helps to keep the leaves clean. A layer of dust on the leaves of your houseplants will block sunlight and reduce the plant�s ability to photosynthesize. Photosynthesis is how the plant feeds itself.
deep watering plants