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pothos plant leaves turning yellow n dark brown

4 years ago

I dont know what’s going on with my pothos plant. I got it from HEB and i repotted but the water didnt dry sooner i do keep them on my countertop in the kitchen. So the leaves started turning yellow i did water it again when i felt little dryer. Im not sure what im doing wrong the pot that its in didnt have holes so i made few holes by myself for drainage also used the cactus potting mix. Please help me i want my pots to grow feeling sad.

Comments (8)

  • 4 years ago

    It could be over-watered. Yellow leaves are a common symptom of too much. I'm not an expert but my pothos likes to go several days between waterings. You did the right things adding holes I think!

  • 4 years ago

    I watered waiting for several days but still it turned yellow the next day i watered.

  • 4 years ago

    The one vine appears to be dying. I would say it has root rot. Yellow leaves are part of the life cycle of plants but wilted leaves can be a sign of root rot or it needs watering (you decide what it needs).


  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    I tend to agree. If you can repot into just slightly damp soil, cutting off blackened and damaged root, you might be able to save it--I've managed with my pothos and it's now very happy many years later.

    Nowadays, I water my pothos "when I remember," which is usually when I notice it's wilted. Rather wilted. Once every ten days tops, with the plant receiving bright, filtered light through a paper shade and a southeastern window, and occasional southeastern sunlight if I have the window shade open (spring and fall, sometimes, winter, often).

    If you can't repot it with fresh soil, this is...not canonical, but sometimes works. Lift the plant. Shake off the soil into the pot and the towel/paper you put the pot on. Cut away black/dead roots and some healthy root around that to get ahead of the damage.

    Take the existing soil and microwave it until it's steaming hot. We're talking boiling.

    Spread the soil and let it cool and dry a bit--the plant will be just fine as long as it's inside or in shade for the time being, pothos are tough.

    Repot in the old, now sterilized and somewhat drier soil.

    Don't water the new plant until the soil is rather dry.

    Yeah, sounds crazy, but I've done it. :-)


    If all else fails, take 6" trimmings off your old pothos and root them in water. Bingo, new pothos! Start in a fresh, new pot with fresh potting soil (the old pot is fine, just sterilize it with a 1 part bleach to 10 parts water solution. Throw out the old soil). Use a light, airy potting soil that dries quickly.

  • 4 years ago

    I have cut off the dead n yellow leaves and the roots were not rotten i have checked but the soil is still moist not dry. I have used the cactus potting mix im thinking about putting the pot outside in the shade just like i did with my aloe plant for it to dry out but im just thinking its indoor plant so that means whenever i water it i have to take it out to dry it again. Or should i just stop watering it at all? Right now i have not watered since then but soil is still moist no new leaves turning brown or yellow. So i guess for right now we are doing fine.

  • 4 years ago

    If you're sure it's not root rot, then let's go further. You did mention that you just repotted, so it could be transplant shock. I think we're all ignoring that because pothos are like tanks (I pulled mine out, played Jason vs. Freddy with the thing, and slapped it into a new pot. It and all the daughters did fine with no special care).


    In that case, go into observation mode. Don't change too much, but keep a close eye on it. If dying leaves continue, let us know. At this moment, I'd keep it indoors, in the environment where you wish to grow it, as long as that's OK for pothos (who do prefer moderate indoor light). Shade outdoors wouldn't be a problem, but if the plant is already stressed, I wouldn't stress it further right now.

    Let it dry out normally, and water when the top two, three inches are fully dry. For a shocked plant that isn't suffering from disease, fully dry isn't a great idea, but don't keep it wet, either. Pothos aren't demanding, so a damp base and dry top is good here, and that rule is pretty normal for a pothos anyway.

    If you want to feed, do so very, very lightly--perhaps a quarter to an eighth normal maximum. 1/8th might not be a bad idea, actually, as I find it sometimes helps plants nudge past environmental shock, but I wouldn't push it, and if you're at all uncomfortable with the idea, then don't. Others will disagree with the feeding concept, and that's fine. I find a bit of additional resources can help.


    But definitely yell immediately if this doesn't stop.

  • 4 years ago

    Sure. Thank you. You know so much about these plants. Its my first time and im just gonna let it dry own its ok and its the second day after cutting the leaves nothing has turned brown or yellow so hopefully its going well. I will update once its all fully dried. On my countertop in the kitchen i do get quite light but its not warm cuz of the ac maybe thats why its taking time to dry out. I will let you know if the yellowing n brown doesnt stop. Thank you so much

  • 4 years ago

    One more question the one stem leaf will it grow more leaves or not? Cuz i see the ones that has already more than one leaf are growing more leaves but not the one stem leaf. Im not sure if im making sense 🤔🤔