Although Pothos is poisonous if ingested, it has become very popular over the years. You can find them in homes, offices, restaurants, and other spaces that need a little updating.
So why are they such good options? Well, they require very little maintenance. Even beginners can hack the needs of these plants.
If you give them enough water, provide enough humidity, and protect them from temperature extremes, they can thrive. Oh, and they only need water once a week in most cases.
Doesn’t that sound like an easy task? Of course, one would expect such a low-maintenance plant to succeed outdoors as well. but is it? Let’s find out:
Can Pothos live outside?
Do you want to plant your Pothos outdoors? This plant is native to the Solomon Islands, where it grows up to 12 meters tall!
A pothos can live outdoors in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 through 12 and prefers bright, indirect light. Pothos like well-drained soil and regular watering with high humidity and temperatures between 70 and 90°F.
But can you expect things to go so well in your region?
UNITED STATES
Pothos do well in USDA zones 10 through 12. Under these conditions, Pothos can live outdoors year-round.
But if you don’t live in these areas, you should grow the plant indoors during the cooler months. And in the warmer months, you can take it outside.
What are these areas of resistance? These are planting zones based on how cold or warm an area is, taking into account the average minimum winter temperature.
Zone 1 is the coldest, while zone 13 is the hottest. As a result, you might have guessed that Pothos prefers warm areas.
Zones 10-12 include areas such as Hawaii, South Florida, Southern California, Florida Keys, and Puerto Rico. So you can see that this cover limits the number of people who can grow Pothos outdoors.
The United Kingdom
Is it different in the UK? UK hardiness zones mostly fall between USDA hardiness zones 6 and 9.
In most of these regions, the summers are hot and the winters rather cool. (Note that the UK also uses the RHS scale, which ranges from H1 to H7. But for this guide, we’ll use the USDA scale to unify the equations.)
However, there are a few exceptions in zones 10 to 12. These include Bryher, Isles of Scilly, Eastbourne and Newham.
Again, like in the United States, this coverage limits the number of people who can grow Pothos outdoors year-round. You should bring the plant indoors when it is colder.
What do Pothos need to live outdoors?
As mentioned above, Pothos is a low maintenance plant. However, when moving it outside, make sure that:
enough light
The plant prefers bright but indirect light. Place it so that it receives enough filtered light, for example under a tree or among other plants.
If the plant is not getting enough light, you will notice that the growth is stunted. Also, variegated pothos lose their patterns in low light.
Nevertheless, you must be careful with light exposure: too much can damage the plant. If you notice leaf discoloration, it’s a sign that the plant is getting too much sun.
well-drained soil
On the other hand, Pothos is not very selective with respect to pH. But it’s relentless with bad soils.
You need to make sure the plant grows in well-drained soil. And if you plant Pothos in the ground, be sure to amend it to allow for good drainage.
water regularly
Pothos can only use water once a week. The general rule is to make sure the soil is completely dry before watering it again.
Otherwise, root rot may develop. So spread the risk, and when in doubt, invest in a moisture meter. This will help you avoid flooding the plant, which can also damage it.
High temperatures
You should always vacuum in temperatures above 50°F. Ideally, temperatures should be much higher, averaging around 70°F. After all, it is a tropical plant and it will respond benevolently to such conditions.
high humidity
Humidity shouldn’t be a big deal. Even if it is quite low, the Pothos will still survive. But it would be better if the humidity was high.
regular fertilization
As this plant feeds a lot, add fertilizer to the soil at least once a month.
Do you prefer these outdoor growing conditions? If so, you can easily grow a Pothos outdoors.
If you like this article, check out our article on a pothos against a monstera.
How to Grow a Pothos Outdoors
Before growing a Pothos outdoors, consider its hardiness zone. Determine if the Pothos can be left outside year-round.
If the plant then has to be indoors over the winter, there is no choice but to pot it up. Otherwise, in favorable regions, you can plant it in the ground all year round.
So how do you grow a Pothos outdoors?
Choose one Variety of Pothos to grow
Pothos come in different varieties. These include Neon Pothos, Silver Pothos, golden pothosand marble queens.
Although their growing needs are quite similar, you need to understand the needs of the strain you want to grow.
When choosing a plant, also choose a plant with firm, green leaves and stems. Make sure the root base is firm, the leaves are healthy, and the soil is free of mold.
Most plants go into shock when transplanted. And you want to make sure your plant choice is healthy enough to withstand the new environment.
Choose a container to house your Pothos
In some cases, you may choose to use the original Pothos container. If the plant shows no signs of root growth, this may work.
But if you want a different pot (because the plant has roots or for aesthetic reasons), buy one. Make sure the pot drains well and is large enough to hold the Pothos.
Transfer Pothos
Replant the Pothos is a fairly easy task. Start by filling the new pot with potting soil to a quarter of its depth.
Then, turn the original pot on its side and gently push the Pothos out of the ground. Do not disturb the roots.
Place the plant in the new pot and add more potting soil. floor to cover the roots. Leave at least two inches between the potting soil and the edge of the container.
to proceed to water the plant carefully so that the water runs out of the drainage holes. Then move the pot to a place where it can get enough light.
Keep in mind that the Pothos prefers bright, indirect light. So keep it out of shaded areas or areas that receive direct sunlight.
That’s all it takes to grow Pothos outdoors.
You may also be interested in: Why Do Pothos Drip Water?
Pros and Cons of a Pothos Living Outdoors
What is the best option between growing Pothos outdoors or indoors? Let’s weigh both:
Advantages
Pothos grows in tropical forests. So I expect growing outdoors to have a number of benefits. You’re right?
1) Daylight
It’s quite a challenge to imitate the natural light you will find them outdoors if you grow the plant indoors.
Of course, sometimes fluorescent lighting is enough. But nothing beats that bright, indirect rainforest-like light. Helps the plant to thrive.
2) Faster growth
Pothos can grow up to 12 meters tall in the wild! But you can’t expect that indoors either, where the plant makes do with dim light from windows and light bulbs.
So taking the plant outside is the way to grow leaves and stems faster and healthier.
3) Reduced exposure to chemicals.
What do you feed your plant indoors? If you’re like most people, you use tap water to water your Pothos. And while this water is safe for you, it harms the plant.
Tap water is rich in chemicals like fluoride and chlorine. Over time, they accumulate in the soil and damage the plant. But outside, the plant receives pure, unfiltered rainwater which greatly benefits its growth.
4) More access to nutrients
Even if you regularly feed your Pothos with fertilizer, you can do a lot. Eventually it uses up all those nutrients and the growth spurt slows down.
But in nature, you can take in as many nutrients as you want. This, of course, applies to Pothos grown in open ground, not in pots.
Do these professionals encourage you to move your factory outside? Let’s see why this might not be the best idea for your plant.
The inconvenients
Moving Pothos outside isn’t always the best solution. Why is that?
1) Exposure to temperature changes
Indoors, you can often control the temperatures your Pothos is exposed to. But outside, you have no control over the wind and the sun.
So if you live outside of hardiness zones 10 through 12, there’s a chance the temperatures will drop and your pothos will hurt you.
2) Taunts
You have much better control of your plant when it is indoors. But outside, it grows among other plants that can hide vermin.
And it is much more difficult to notice such a pest in nature. So when it finally clears up, it may have been overextended.
These are the disadvantages you need to consider. Do you think you can handle them?
Can Pothos stay outside in winter?
Good question. Pothos generally do well in areas where temperatures range from 60°F to 85°F.
If the temperature drops below 50°F, the plant may go into shock. And unfortunately, it may not survive the damage that results from such a drop in temperature.
So, can your Pothos survive the winter? It all depends on how low the temperatures are in your area.
If there’s a chance they’ll drop below 50°F, try not to leave the plant outside over winter. Instead, move it indoors and wait for spring.
You can then move the plant outside again. And even then, you need to make sure the temperatures don’t drop below 50°F.
final thoughts
And before we forget, the Pothos has a unique carbon filter system. So if you have volatile chemicals that threaten your health, this is a good way to get rid of them.
Just place the plant near a window or doorway, sit back, and marvel at the clean air afterwards.
Happy gardening!