Domakihub How to Grow Pothos: The Foolproof Houseplant Guide
Everything you need to keep pothos thriving in any Greek home, rental, or hotel room.
Reviewed by Domakihub garden pros · 2026-06-23 · 4 min read
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the easiest plants to grow indoors, making it a favourite for Greek homes, holiday apartments, and hotel lobbies alike. The video above walks through hands-on techniques for accelerating growth; this guide pairs those visuals with clear, ordered steps so you can apply them straight away. Whether you are outfitting a Mykonos rental or brightening a city-centre office in Athens, pothos rewards even the most distracted caretaker.
Why Pothos Works So Well in the Greek Climate
Greece's warm interiors and bright ambient light are close to pothos's native tropical habitat. The plant tolerates the dry air produced by air conditioning in summer and underfloor heating in winter — conditions that quickly stress more demanding houseplants.
Its trailing vines look at home on a bookshelf, hanging basket, or climbing a moss pole, making it versatile enough for a single studio apartment or a sprawling villa entrance.
Choosing the Right Spot and Pot
Pothos prefers bright, indirect light but will survive in surprisingly low-light corners — a trait that makes it ideal for north-facing rooms or interior hallways common in older Greek apartment blocks. Avoid direct midday sun through south-facing glass, which scorches the leaves.
Use a pot with at least one drainage hole. Terracotta works well in humid coastal areas; plastic retains moisture longer and is better for drier highland interiors. A pot roughly one size larger than the root ball gives the plant room to grow without sitting in excess soil.
5 Steps to Grow a Healthy, Fast-Growing Pothos
- 1
Take or buy a healthy cutting
Start with a stem cutting that has at least two nodes (the small brown bumps where leaves meet the stem) and one or two leaves. If you are buying from a nursery, pick a plant with firm, glossy leaves and no yellowing. Remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline or soil surface.
- 2
Root the cutting in water or soil
Place the cutting in a glass of room-temperature water so the nodes are submerged but leaves stay dry. Roots appear within one to three weeks in a warm room. Alternatively, push the nodes directly into moist potting mix; the soil method skips a transplant shock step. Either way, keep the cutting away from direct sun while it roots.
- 3
Pot up and establish the plant
Once roots are 3–5 cm long, transfer water-rooted cuttings into a pot filled with a well-draining potting mix — a standard houseplant compost with added perlite works well. Water thoroughly after potting, then let the top 2–3 cm of soil dry out before watering again. Consistent moisture without waterlogging is the key habit to build.
- 4
Feed regularly during the growing season
From April through September, give the plant a diluted balanced liquid fertiliser (20-20-20 or similar) every two to four weeks. Greek summers bring long days that push active growth, so consistent feeding during this period makes a noticeable difference in leaf size and vine length. Reduce or stop feeding entirely in winter when growth slows.
- 5
Prune and propagate to keep it bushy
Pothos naturally gets leggy if left unpruned — long bare stems with leaves only at the tips. Cut just above a node to encourage branching; each cut produces two or more new shoots. The trimmed pieces become new cuttings, so one parent plant quickly multiplies into several. This is particularly useful for furnishing multiple rental rooms with matching plants at minimal cost.
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FAQ
- How often should I water pothos in a hot Greek summer?
- Check the soil every three to four days and water when the top 2–3 cm feel dry. In an air-conditioned rental the soil dries faster than you might expect, so err on the side of checking more often rather than sticking to a fixed schedule.
- Can pothos grow outdoors on a balcony in Greece?
- Yes, but keep it in a shaded or semi-shaded spot — a north or east-facing balcony is ideal. Direct afternoon sun will bleach or scorch the leaves. Bring the plant indoors once night temperatures drop below about 12°C in autumn.
- Why are the leaves of my pothos turning yellow?
- Yellow leaves are almost always caused by overwatering or waterlogged roots. Let the soil dry out more between waterings and check that the drainage hole is not blocked. Less commonly, yellowing signals a nitrogen deficiency, which a regular liquid feed during the growing season will correct.