The plant commonly referred to as the “Money Plant” is most often the Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), a tropical vine celebrated for its resilience and heart-shaped foliage. This article focuses on the vining Pothos, as its height and length are a primary concern for indoor growers. Understanding the plant’s natural growth habit is the first step in managing its size and ensuring it thrives indoors.
Defining the Potential Size and Growth Rate
The Pothos vine is capable of reaching monumental sizes in its native tropical environment, acting as an aggressive climber. In the wild, vines can extend up to 65 feet (20 meters) and leaves can grow over 3 feet (1 meter) long. This massive size is rarely achieved indoors because the plant typically remains in its juvenile form, lacking the high light and humidity required for mature growth.
In a typical indoor setting, trailing vines usually stabilize at a manageable length of 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters). The species is a relatively fast grower, capable of adding 10 to 18 inches (25 to 45 cm) of new growth per month during the active growing seasons of spring and summer. Growth speed depends on the cultivar; for instance, the solid green Jade Pothos often grows faster than variegated varieties like Marble Queen, which have less chlorophyll.
Environmental Factors That Influence Size
The overall size and speed of a Pothos are directly tied to the environmental controls provided. Light exposure is a strong determinant of size, as bright, indirect light maximizes photosynthesis, leading to faster, denser growth. Low-light placement slows the growth rate significantly, resulting in long, thin, and “leggy” vines with smaller leaves as the plant searches for light.
The size of the container also restricts potential growth. When a Pothos becomes root-bound, the root mass fills the entire pot, signaling the plant to slow or stop vegetative growth due to lack of resources. Keeping the plant in a smaller pot is a simple method to restrict its total size.
Proper nutrient delivery also supports vigorous growth. Fertilizing once every four to six weeks during the spring and summer provides the necessary nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to sustain rapid vine production. Temperature and humidity further influence development, mimicking the plant’s tropical origins. Pothos prefer temperatures consistently between 65°F and 85°F (18°C and 29°C), and extremes can stunt growth. Providing higher humidity encourages larger leaves and faster vine extension.
Techniques for Managing and Controlling Height
Active maintenance is necessary to keep a Pothos within a desired length, with targeted pruning being the most effective method. To control the length of a trailing vine, stems should be cut just below a node (the small bump where a leaf and aerial root emerge). This action diverts growth hormones, causing the vine to branch out and produce new growth closer to the cut. This creates a bushier, denser appearance rather than a long, sparse strand.
The removed vine sections can be used for propagation to manage overall plant density. By rooting these cuttings and planting them back into the main pot, the owner adds new growth points to the top of the container. This compensates for bareness caused by long, trailing stems and helps maintain a full look while controlling vine lengths.
To encourage vertical height and larger leaves, the Pothos must be trained to climb a support, such as a moss pole or trellis. When aerial roots attach to the moist support, the plant receives a biological cue that it is climbing toward a light source. This can trigger a phase change resulting in larger foliage. Repotting is another management technique: moving the plant into a container only one size larger—about 2 inches (5 cm) wider—provides enough new soil volume to encourage growth without allowing the plant to rapidly exceed its desired size.