Pothos, technically called Epipremnum aureum, belonging to the Arum family, is a beautiful ornamental plant with distinctive characteristics that set it apart from other houseplants.
It has pretty heart-shaped leaves on drooping vines. The plant comes in many different varieties with varying shades of green and white and yellow freckles. Leaves add a touch of green to any scene.
Pothos plants are quite hardy and are native to Southeast Asia. They are grown in pots and also hanging. They can be kept in a compact bush by pruning them or allowing them to trail or climb.
These plants are one of the easiest houseplants to care for and don’t bother the owner so much.
have a minimum water needs and are one of the most common houseplants in North America.
They need low to medium or indirect sunlight to thrive. Do not place them in direct sunlight. light because the sun can burn the leaves.
Plants are natural air purifiers, making them suitable for the office and indoors, but why are your pothos leaves dripping with water?
The process by which water flows from the leaves of plants is called guttation.
Pothos leaves will drip for two reasons, the first is that your pothos is in a humid environment and drains excess water through the leaves through sweat.
The second reason is too much water or too much moisture, which will cause your pothos to shed excess water through the leaves again.
We’ve covered more about why this happens below to give you a better understanding of why your pothos is leaking and dripping badly and more.
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Why do pothos leaves drip water?
The Pothos plant is known for its dripping behavior. However, if you’re worried about your Pothos plant dripping or sweating excessively, chances are you’re overwatering it or the environment is damp.
This process of dripping water from plant leaves is called guttation. Guttation is a common phenomenon in houseplants.
This process takes place mainly at night, when the stomata of the leaves of the plant are closed and water normally comes out of the tips of the leaves. The main reasons excessive guttation occurs include:
1) Humidity
Humidity controls the uptake and drainage of water in plants. the humidity in the floor and air affects the guttation process.
When the humidity changes, the pressure difference between the roots and the leaves changes.
Pothos plant eliminates extra water pressure that builds up inside rods and the roots forcing water through the leaves.
The water is thus eliminated and then evaporated. The difference in atmospheric pressure is greater during humid summers than during winters. So you’ll find that your pothos leaves will mostly drip water in the summer.
2) excess water
The difference in water pressure between the roots and the leaves of your Pothos plant is the main factor that controls the guttation process.
If you give your plant too much water than it needs, it will become saturated with the excess water, creating additional pressure on the roots. The plant then compensates for this by removing the water through the pores of the leaves.
We have an article about it. how to save an overwatered pothos to help you.
Is the water dripping from your pothos bad?
Water dripping from your Pothos may indicate overwatering or wet conditions. It is a defense mechanism that the plant has against excess humidity.
Indicates too much water or excess humidity. Drip water is not harmful or bad because the plant regulates its internal water content.
The plant draws water as needed. In fact, the Pothos plant only uses about 0.5% to 3% of the water you give it, which proves that it is quite hardy and drought resistant.
This means that it removes 97-99.5% of the water you give it. Therefore, it is a natural phenomenon that the Pothos plant filters out excess water that it does not use.
Dripping or weeping is not a sign of major plant damage and is completely natural.
The plant is commonly called Devil’s Ivy. This is because the Pothos plant is poisonous and can harm your pets and children.
It is not fatal, but it irritates the skin when touched. This can cause lip swelling. Make sure children don’t swallow it.
Is the drip from your Pothos poisonous?
The water that flows from Pothos as a result of guttation is not poisonous. It can be assumed that the liquid is poisonous, since the plant itself is poisonous. But this is not the case.
The liquid that flows from the plant is just water with dissolved nutrients and sugars. You can clean the droplets to keep the sheets free of mold and prevent the droplets from staining the table or furniture.
However, this is not necessary. Keep cats and other pets and your children away from the plant, as it is poisonous, although the droplets won’t hurt.
You may also be interested in: How to Climb Pothos
Can or should I prevent my Pothos from letting water run from its leaves?
Since the dripping of water from the leaves is completely natural, there is no need to temper the plant.
However, if you are really concerned that your plant is leaking more water than normal, there may be an underlying problem. Therefore, you may want to take the following two steps, whichever works best for your plant:
1) Change position
If you think your Pothos plant is leaking water due to its damp location, try changing its position.
If placed near an open window, moving it indoors or near an air-conditioned room will definitely reduce sweating.
Note that you gradually change the position from the outside to the inside. It is difficult to create an ideal environment for your Pothos plant indoors.
the plant is a humidity loving, but can easily survive without too much humidity if conditions do not allow it. By keeping your home or office temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, your Pothos should be fine.
You can spray the plant if you think it needs more moisture. However, if the temperature drops too low, try to artificially provide an appropriate temperature.
2) Do not overwater
If overwatering is the cause, try limiting the amount of water you give your Pothos. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
Plants use guttation to get rid of the excess water you give them. Use a finger test to see if the soil needs water or not.
To do this, dip your finger 2 inches into the soil if you find the soil to be damp, then wait a bit longer for it to dry.
You can also empty the excess water from the pot 15 minutes after watering it. Water when the soil is dry. Be sure to use the floor become too dry
Underwater is also problematic for the Pothos plant. This can cause the leaves to fall and possibly twist them. YELLOW and tourniquet
If overwatering is the cause of excessive guttation, watch for root rot because root rot symptoms are quick to appear.
final thoughts
The pothos plant is an attractive ornamental plant used for decorative purposes. It naturally drains water from its leaves during the guttation process.
Guttation is a method the plant uses to remove excess water that the plant accumulates due to excess water or high humidity.
Flowing water is non-toxic and contains only sugars. The plant itself is poisonous and can irritate if handled with bare hands. You can change the location of the plant or reduce watering to reduce dripping from the plant.
Before you go, here are some other related articles that I encourage you to read below to solve more of your gardening problems:
Pothos N Joy vs Pearls and Jade
How fast do pothos grow?
Can Pothos live outside?
Pothos versus Scindapse
Pothos vs. Monstera
Hawaiian Pothos vs. Golden Pothos
About the Author:
sad envy
Saad is an avid gardener and a great lover of plants, animals, photography and people. He currently focuses on indoor plant photography and capturing beautiful landscapes. Write and rewrite feature articles on nature and science.