Money Plant
Epipremnum aureum
📖 About this plant
Money Plant (Epipremnum aureum), known as pothos, devils ivy, golden pothos, and (incorrectly) “money plant” in India, is an evergreen climbing or trailing vine in the Araceae (aroid) family — alongside philodendron, monstera, peace lily, and ZZ plant — and is one of the most popular and forgiving houseplants in the world. Native to Mo’orea in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, pothos has been introduced to tropical regions worldwide and has become naturalized in many places (it is considered invasive in some tropical forests). It is exceptionally tough — tolerating low light, irregular watering, neglect, and a wide range of temperatures — which has made it the go-to plant for beginners, offices, malls, and indoor spaces. In India, it is called “money plant” due to a folk belief that the plant brings prosperity and good fortune to the home (similar to the Chinese feng shui association of plants with wealth). The plant has heart-shaped glossy green leaves variegated with yellow, cream, or white (depending on cultivar — golden pothos has yellow variegation, marble queen has white, neon pothos is bright chartreuse, and the rare Manjula and Pearls & Jade have intricate cream-white patterns). The plant naturally trails from hanging baskets or climbs via aerial roots on a moss pole, trellis, or tree. In the wild, mature climbing plants can develop huge (30-45 cm) leaves with natural holes (fenestrations, like a monstera) and rare cream-white spathe flowers — but in home cultivation, leaves remain small (5-10 cm) and the plant rarely flowers. Pothos is one of NASAs top-ranked air-purifying plants — it removes formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, and other indoor pollutants. In traditional Indian and Southeast Asian culture, the money plant is associated with prosperity — the heart-shaped leaves are said to attract wealth, and the trailing stems are said to bring “trailing money” into the home.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Bright indirect light
Regular; allow topsoil to dry
Moderate (50-70%)
18-30°C
Well-draining potting mix; pH 6.0-7.0
Balanced liquid fertilizer monthly
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Moorea (Society Islands, French Polynesia)
- 📏 Max height
- 2-4 m (climbing) or trailing
- 📐 Spread
- Trailing stems to several meters
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Rarely flowers in cultivation (only on mature climbing plants)
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Cream-white spathe (like a peace lily — rare)
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Heart-shaped glossy leaves (green with yellow/white variegation)
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 5-10+ years (perennial)
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast — 30-60 cm per month
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Mild — contains calcium oxalate; chewing causes mouth irritation
- 🌱 Propagation
- Stem cuttings (root in water or soil)
🛡️ Health & Safety
Common issues
- Root rot from overwatering (most common — leaves yellow and drop)
- mealybugs
- spider mites in dry air
- scale insects
- fungal leaf spot
- bacterial leaf spot
- leaf yellowing from low light or nutrient deficiency
- loss of variegation in low light
💡 Care tips
- Plant in a well-draining potting mix (equal parts potting soil, perlite, and coco coir works well) in a pot with drainage holes.
- Place in bright indirect light — near an east or west window is ideal.
- The plant tolerates low light but grows slowly and loses variegation in dim conditions
- direct sun scorches the leaves.
- Water when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry — about once a week in summer, every 10-14 days in winter.
- Overwatering is the #1 killer (causes root rot).
- When in doubt, underwater rather than overwater — pothos tolerates drought far better than soggy soil.
- Maintain moderate humidity (50-70%) — average home humidity is fine, but the plant benefits from occasional misting or a pebble tray in dry climates.
- Feed monthly during the growing season (spring to autumn) with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength.
- Prune regularly to encourage bushy growth — cut stems just above a node (where a leaf meets the stem)
- the plant will branch from that point.
- Propagate easily from stem cuttings: cut a stem with 3-4 nodes, remove the lower leaves, and place in water (changes weekly) or moist potting mix — roots develop in 2-4 weeks.
- Pothos is one of the easiest plants to grow in water alone — cuttings can live in a jar of water for years (change water weekly and add a drop of liquid fertilizer monthly).
- Train climbing stems up a moss pole, trellis, or curtain rod — climbing plants develop much larger leaves.
- Pinch growing tips to keep the plant bushy.
- Repot every 2-3 years when rootbound.
- Pothos is mildly toxic — contains calcium oxalate crystals that cause mouth irritation if chewed
- keep away from pets and small children.
