Many people find pothos the perfect plant to grow at home because It’s easy to care for and even grow under neglect. But the fact that most people choose to grow pothos indoors does not mean that this plant can’t grow outdoors. This article will tell you whether you can grow pothos outdoors. And if this is possible, we will show you how to grow this plant outside the right way. So read on if you want to learn more about this topic!
Can Pothos Live Outside?
Pothos can grow outside with enough indirect sunlight, high humidity, and temperature around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, pothos is a tropical plant that originates from the jungles of India, Malaysia, and other parts of Southeast Asia. Therefore, they only need you to mimic the tropical climate to grow outside or inside.
My golden rule for anyone who wants to grow pothos indoors or outdoors is to provide tropical climate conditions. If you can do this, I don’t think you will need to read anything about how to grow pothos. But to learn how to provide tropical conditions for your pothos, you must read the following paragraphs carefully!
Interested in Hawaiian Pothos Plant? Check out our article about this beautiful plant.
The following video illustrates the case of a pothos plant that grows outside better than indoors:
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How to Grow Pothos Outside?
As discussed above, to grow pothos, you only need to mimic the tropical climate as much as possible. To do so, you need to maintain the temperature above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity at a high level. These conditions should be consistently maintained all year long to make the pothos feel like they are in a tropical forest.
But, providing tropical climate conditions is not enough to grow thriving pothos outdoors. Fertilization, watering, and high-quality soil are still needed even if pothos are known for their capacity to produce on neglect.
If you want to get the best results when growing pothos outside, you can follow the subsequent guidelines:
- Maintain pothos temperature around 50 degrees Fahrenheit: A straightforward way to maintain the temperature of your pothos at this level is by using a heat mat. This will help you keep the soil warm, and the plant relaxed. You can also place your pots near a sunny window, or use grow lights to provide the extra warmth that pothos need.
- Ensure an adequate level of humidity: One way to increase the humidity around your pothos is by using a humidifier. This will help create an environment similar to the one that pothos are used to. If you don’t have access to a humidifier, you can increase humidity by placing your plants near a water source, such as a fountain or a pond.
- Choose the best soil mix for your pothos: A soil mix high in organic matter will work best. You can either make your own mix or purchase a pre-made mix.
- Choose an adequate fertilizer and use it the right way: When fertilizing your pothos, it is best to use a balanced fertilizer that has equal parts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). You can apply the fertilizer to the soil around the plant or use a foliar spray.
- Ensure that your pothos has proper Drainage: One of the most important aspects of growing pothos outside is ensuring that the plants have good drainage. This will help to prevent root rot and other diseases. You can achieve good drainage by using a soil mix high in organic matter and planting your pothos in pots with drainage holes.
- Perform a soil test before watering your pothos: it is essential to water them regularly, but you have to ensure that the soil is completely dry before watering again. A good way of knowing when you should drown your pothos is by sticking your finger into the ground. If it is dry, you should water your pothos immediately.
Read our article about satin pothos to discover the beauty of this plant
Can Pothos Grow Outside During Winter?
Pothos can grow outside during winter if you live in a place that can provide tropical climate conditions during this season. But in cold areas, especially where the temperature goes below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, pothos must be kept inside during winter.
If you live in a place where the temperature goes below 50 degrees Fahrenheit during winter, you should not only bring your pothos inside, but you have to prepare your pothos for this season a few weeks before.
The first thing to do before winter hits are to repot your pothos. In fact, pothos will not be able to produce a lot of energy during winter because of the lack of sunlight and the low temperature, but when you provide them with a fresh soil mix, they will use it to get the nutrients they need and survive the winter conditions.
Additionally, when winter arrives, the watering schedule of the pothos plant must be changed. Generally, it would help if you watered your pothos less often during the colder months. Pothos can survive in wet soil and don’t need to be watered as frequently during wintertime. Furthermore, it is best to use room-temperature water to avoid shocking the plant with cold water.
Also, if you decide to keep your pothos inside during winter, try to place them in a high place and near a bright window. In fact, the sun moves to a high position in winter. Therefore, setting your pothos on top of a bookshelf, for example, will give it the extra light and warmth it needs.
Get to Know the Snow Queen Pothos: Click here to read our article about this plant.
What Are the Drawbacks of Growing Pothos Outdoor?
As you can see, growing pothos outside would be such a complicated process, especially if you are a beginner or someone who does not have the necessary time to care for plants. Furthermore, growing pothos outdoors has many disadvantages that most people ignore. Here are the main drawbacks of growing pothos outside:
- Sudden transitions in temperatures: one of the main problems with growing pothos outdoors is that they are not used to sudden changes in temperature. This can cause the leaves to turn brown and fall off.
- Pests: pests such as slugs, snails, and spider mites can be problematic when growing pothos outside.
- Exposure to diseases: pothos become more vulnerable to diseases such as root rot and leaf spot when they grow outside.
- Pets and animals: if you grow pothos in your garden or backyard, they will risk getting destroyed by pets and other animals.
- Landscape changes: when growing pothos outside, the plant will be at risk whenever you plan to change the landscaping around them.
Read This Article to Find out The Best Soil for Your Pothos Plant.
Why People Prefer To Grow Pothos Indoors Instead of Outdoor?
Many people grow pothos indoors only because of the complexity of providing tropical climate conditions outdoors. Pothos can grow outside only under specific climate conditions, and it’s challenging to meet these requirements if you live in a cold area such as northern states or Canada.
Another consideration makes growing pothos in a garden or a backyard impossible for many plant lovers. Here I’m talking about people who love plants and animals simultaneously. And trust me, these people are the majority.
The main reason behind growing pothos indoors instead of outdoors is that this plant is toxic for pets and children. In fact, it’s so toxic that ingesting even a tiny amount of it can cause vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. So if you have pets or children, it’s best to keep pothos indoors out of their reach.
Learn About the Elegant Marble Queen Pothos Here.
Conclusion
Overall, growing pothos outside is not usually the best option. However, if you live where the climate conditions are correct, your plants should be delicate. Just watch out for sudden changes in temperature, pests, and diseases. And most importantly, keep your plants away from pets and children!
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