Why Is My Pothos so Leggy? 5 Reasons

Have you ever noticed that your Pothos plant is becoming leggy? If so, we can help you solve this issue. This plant can become leggy for several reasons, and it’s important to know what those are so that you can take the proper steps to solve the problem. In this article, we will discuss 5 reasons why a Pothos might become leggy and 5 solutions.

Here at the gardening talk, we love to share our knowledge with people who love plants and gardening. Our mission is to make your gardening journey easier by providing helpful tips on caring for your plants. So, if you want to know the reasons behind the legginess of your pothos as well as how to avoid this issue, follow the recommendations of this article.

Why Is My Pothos so Leggy?

Pothos become leggy when you don’t provide them with enough light. In fact, when a pothos is placed far from a light source, it will stretch its vines to get more light. Other factors can make your pothos look leggy, such as overwatering and lack of pruning, but the light shortage is still the leading cause of this issue.

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Read our article about satin pothos to discover the beauty of this plant

The Main Factors that May Make Your Pothos Leggy

A leggy plant is a plant whose growth is limited by a branch or stem. Pothos is one of the most commonly affected plants in this situation. As the plant grows taller, the stems become more extended, making it appear as though the plant is leggy.

This usually happens when the plant’s growth is stunted due to a lack of nutrients or water. It will also occur when a plant is over-fertilized or receives a lot of nitrogen or other nutrients in the wrong type or quantity.

In the case of leggy pothos, it’s usually the light conditions that cause the problem. In fact, when you put your pothos in a low-light position, they will try to stretch their vines to get more light. This is a normal reaction of pothos plants to survive in low light conditions.

Here is a list of other common factors that may make your pothos leggy:

1. Overwatering: providing a plant with more water than it needs will cause it to develop long roots that reach deep into the ground. This causes the stem to elongate, and the plant grows “leggy” growth.
2.  Inappropriate Soil: if the Soil lacks the necessary nutrients, the plant will not be able to grow at its full potential, and it may react to such a situation with leggy growth.
3.  You Don’t Prune Your Pothos Regularly: If you don’t prune your pothos, the vines will get too long, and they will start to look spindly and weak.
4.  You Fertilize Your Pothos The Wrong Way: With pothos, you should use a particular plant food that will help the plant grow at its full potential. The best choice is a balanced liquid fertilizer with an equal NPK ratio.

Now that you know why your pothos is becoming leggy let’s check how you can solve this problem.

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What Should I Do if My Pothos Becomes Leggy?

The most important thing to do when you see your pothos become leggy is to react fast and take the right actions. Here at The Gardening Talk, we can’t teach you how to act quickly! But we can help you take the right step to fix leggy pothos.

Here are the best actions that you should take when your pothos become leggy:

• The first thing to do is to prune your pothos to train them to grow whole. You can use scissors to cut off the growing leggy vines.
•  After pruning your pothos, you need to check if it’s growing in an area with enough light. If you move your plant to a new location, ensure it gets enough sunlight.
•  Then you will need to adjust your watering protocol. The best way to do so is by checking the Soil before watering the pothos. When the Soil is dry, then you can water your plant.
•  Check if the temperature is right for your pothos. If it is too cold or too hot, the plant will not grow at its full potential and may grow leggy.
•  If you still have leggy vines after all of this, then stake up your pothos. This means you will need to put some wooden stakes in the Soil and let your plant wrap around them.

Read This Article to Find out The Best Soil for Your Pothos Plant.

What to Do to Prevent Your Pothos from Becoming Leggy?

The best way to prevent your pothos from becoming leggy is to start the growing process right from the beginning. This means you must choose a healthy cutting and provide it with the right growing conditions.

Here are the main things to consider if you want to prevent your pothos from becoming leggy:

• Provide your plant with the right amount of light needed for its growth: if it does not provide enough light, it will grow toward the direction of light and become leggy.
•  Plant your pothos in a big pot: You should also use a pot that is big enough for your plant; otherwise, it will not be able to grow correctly.
•  Re-pot your plant: by reporting your pothos whenever you realize that the roots are stuck together, you will help it grow better and prevent it from becoming leggy.
•  Feed your pothos with a balanced fertilizer: This is known for making pothos grow healthy and quickly. You can use it once every two months to get the best results.
•  Plant multiple pothoses together: this will help your plants maintain a high humidity level, preventing them from becoming leggy.

Learn About the Elegant Marble Queen Pothos Here.

Conclusion

Pothos can become leggy when you put them far from light sources. You can fight this problem by placing your plant near a light source and providing it with the necessary conditions for its growth. But the best way to avoid leggy growth with pothos is to start the growing process right from the beginning by choosing a healthy cutting and providing it with the right amount of water, fertilizer, and sunlight.

Click here to find out the truth about pothos and insects.