20 Simple Tips To Grow Bigger Pothos Leaves

Pothos is one of the easier plants to grow. For that reason it’s become a staple in lots of homes.

But if you have a pothos and make some slight changes to how you care for it you can get it to grow bigger and even more impressive leaves.

So I’ll take you through some tips and ways to really get your pothos looking amazing and reaching its full potential.

1. Choose the Right Variety

Some varieties of pothos have naturally larger leaves. If that’s what you want then it’s probably a good idea to choose a variety that is known for having bigger leaves.

You have quite a few options to choose from:

Golden Pothos

Has dark green leaves with gold and yellow variegation. Grows quite quickly, especially when you give it some support and the right light.

Global Green Pothos

This variety is from Japan and has unique green on green variegation. It grows faster as it had greater amounts of chlorophyll.

Manjula Pothos

Has large, dark green leaves with a variety of variegations in white, cream, gray and more. Each of the leaves is very unique.

Neon Pothos

Probably best known for having very bright and noticeable leaves. They get even brighten as the light increases and look amazing when next to the more traditional green houseplants.

Marble Queen Pothos

One of the more well known varieties that has laves with white streaks in. Looks great in homes.

2. Provide Adequate Light

Light is one of the most important parts of how the leaves grow and develop. Pothos plants do best in bright, indirect sunlight.

Try to give your pothos at least 4 to 6 hours of that sort of light every day. Too much direct sunlight can burn the leaves but not enough light can lead to smaller leaves that aren’t properly developed.

3. Support Climbing

In nature pothos would be climbing a lot. So if you give them a structure like a moss pole or some trellis it will encourage them to grow up and this can make the leaves bigger.

It works because when your pothos climbs it gets more light that is distributed evenly across the whole plant and this results in healthier and bigger leaves.

4. Maintain Good Watering Practices

Proper watering is a big deal too. You should be letting the top inch of soil dry out completely in between each time you water.

If you do overwater it can cause root pet. Whereas not enough water will stress your plant and this is likely to make the leaves grow less well.

You’ve got to be consistent. So try to get into a routine with your watering that fit with your plant’s environment.

5. Fertilize Wisely

You can help to boost the size of the leaves by using a fertilizer. Choose a 10-10-10 formula and use it once a month during the growing season (spring through fall).

Don’t over fertilize though as this can harm the plant.

6. Prune Regularly

When you prune your pothos is actually encourages it to grow more and bushier leaves. This can give you bigger leaves too.

So trim leggy stems or ones that are very sparse. It will make it more likely to grow lots of new leaves.

Pruning your pothos regularly also helps it to stay healthy and hold on to a good shape.

7. Proper Humidity and Temperature

Pothos like warmer temperatures and moderate humidity. Keeping the temperature between 65°F to 75°F (18°C to 24°C) and making sure it has the right humidity can definitely help with getting larger leaves.

If you live somewhere that is just naturally drier then try using a humidifier or putting a tray of water near the plant, both of which will increase the humidity.

8. Repot When Necessary

Pothos can become root bound over longer periods of time. So if you’ve found your plants roots are coming out of the drainage holes then you should be repotting it.

Use a pot that’s one size larger and give it new soil so it has enough space and nutrients for it to grow.

9. Look for Pests and Diseases

You should be checking your plant on a regular basis for pests like spider mites or scale insects which can mess with its growth. If you find any treat them quickly with insecticidal soap or neem oil.

You should also make sure there is good air flow around the plant to so you don’t get any fungus growing.

10. Propagate Healthy Cuttings

When you decide to propagate your pothos choose the healthiest cutting you can find that has the largest leaves. This can give you new plants that inherit the parent plant’s leaf size.

Make sure the cutting has at least two nodes. Plant it in soil that drains well and keep it moist until the roots are growing.

11. Avoid Overcrowding

Pothos need enough space to grow fully. If you overcrowd it then the competition for light and nutrients will result in smaller leaves.

12. Rotate Periodically

Why Rotation Matters

Pothos, like all planes, will grow towards the light. This can sometimes result in their growth being uneven.

So rotate your plant every couple of weeks so that every side gets enough light and then it will grow evenly and the leaves will be bigger.

Tips for Rotating

• Mark the pot with a small sticker to so you can keep track of the rotations.
• Turn the plant 90 degrees every time you water it.
• If your pothos is climbing, move its support system so it’s still getting even amounts of light.

13. Use the Right Soil Mix

The soil yours using can also have a big impact on how big the leaves grow. Pothos likes soil that drains well and is rich in nutrients that can hold on to some moisture but won’t stay soggy.

Ideal Soil Composition

The blend of soil I use for best results is:

• 50% standard potting soil
• 30% perlite for aeration
• 20% coconut coir or peat moss to hold on to moisture

Alternatively you can use a pre mixed potting soil for aroids.

14. Recreate a Tropical Environment

Pothos grow in rainforests so copying the sort of conditions it would naturally get can really help it’s leaves to reach their full potentials. You can get away without giving them exactly what they want but if you do focus on the best conditions pull see the improvements in their leaves.

How to Mimic the Tropics

• Group any plants you have together to increase the humidity.
• Occasionally mist your pothos as it will be like the moisture it would get in the rainforest.
• Use a pebble tray with water under the plant to increase humidity.

15. Avoid Stressing the Plant

Pothos are tough but they grow best when they’re not stressed. Sudden changes often cause stress, and that can come from things like the light or temperature changing, watering they don’t like or even being moved. All of which can stop them growing leaves as big as you would like.

Common Stressors and Fixes

16. Train Your Pothos

Training your pothos to climb a moss pole, trellis or wall is what they would do when growing in nature. And growing vertically encourages them to grow bigger leaves as they reach for more light, which is again similar to how it would have behaved in the wild.

Steps to Train Your Pothos

• Tie some vines to a moss pole using plant ties or string.
• Dampen the moss pole often so it stays moist as this will help with the growth of aerial roots.
• Encourage new growth to follow the pole by putting it somewhere that gets lots of light and good conditions.

17. Introduce Mycorrhizal Fungi

Mycorrhizal fungi can develop a symbiotic relationship with plant roots. What they do is help hem to absorb more nutrients which will make growth better.

So adding this fungi to your pothos’ soil can result in healthier and bigger leaves.

How to Use

• Buy mycorrhizal fungi products from a garden center or online.
• Mix the fungi into the soil when you’re repotting your pothos. Or sprinkle it around the base of the plant.
• Water the soil and it will activate the fungi.

18. Experiment with Leaf Cleaning

When dust builds up on the leaves it can block the light from getting to them and then they struggle to photosynthesize. The solution is to regularly clean the leaves and plant generally.

Cleaning Tips

• Use a cloth to wipe down each leaf.
• Don’t use any harsh sprays; lukewarm water works best.
• If you’ve got any stubborn spots then add a little dish soap to the water.

19. Pinch Back New Growth

Pinching back the tips of your pothos will make it send its energy to the leaves and help them to grow bigger instead of making the stems longer.

How to Pinch Back

• Find a growth tip (the small section at the end of a stem).
• Use your fingers or shears to remove the tip just above a leaf node.
• Repeat this process on other stems every few weeks.

20. Patience and Observation

You have to be patient with your plant. Look at how it reacts to any changes you make and do more or less depending on how it is responding.

Track the Progress

• Take photos every month so you can see how your pothos is growing.
• Keep a journal of watering, fertilizing, pruning etc.
• Be happy about any new leaves you get as it’s a sign you’re doing something right!