Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) houseplants are a great way to add greenery to any space. The plant has trailing vines with heart shaped glossy, green leaves. Pothos plants can tolerate a wide range of environments and are happy under just fluorescent lighting.
A common question many plant owners face is “why is my Pothos turning brown?”. There are several reasons why this may occur- fortunately Pothos is a forgiving houseplant and is able to bounce back if the underlying problem is fixed soon enough.
Learn about general Pothos care with this complete care guide
1. Pothos turning brown due to over watering
Pothos do not like to remain wet for too long and over watering results in brown leaves.
Other signs of over watering include:
- Yellow leaves
- Brown, wilting stems
- Mushy leaves
Learn about other causes of yellow Pothos leaves here.
To determine when to water Pothos, check that the top few inches of soil are dry. Like many houseplants, Pothos do not like soaking wet soil. Only water if the soil is dry to touch. In general, water once a week and adjust the frequency based on your home’s conditions (light, temperature, humidity).
Water until the soil is damp, but before it is soaking. After watering, discard the water that collected in the saucer so that the plant does not stay wet for too long.
To help with drainage, plant the Pothos in well-draining soil mix. Add perlite or orchid bark to increase aeration of the soil and prevent water retention.
Choosing a terracotta pot with a drainage hole also helps with drainage. A pot that is the appropriate size for the plant is also necessary. If the pot is too large, the extra soil retains too much water and prevents the roots from being well oxygenated, furthering the risk of rot.
Keep in mind: plants require less water in cooler temperatures or low-light environments. Let the plant dry out more in between watering if this is the case.
What to do about root rot
Root rot occurs because of over watering. The excess water drowns the roots, preventing aeration and causing plant death. The roots will be black and slimy, instead of a healthy light tan.
If root rot is caught early enough, the houseplant can be saved. With a clean pair of garden shears or scissors, cut off the dead roots, cleaning the scissors between each cut. Replant in fresh new soil, adding in more perlite for drainage if necessary.
Avoid misting the plant during this time because the extra humidity exacerbates the condition.
2. Pothos turning brown due to bright light
While Pothos are very forgiving of shade, their leaves burn if exposed to bright light for extended periods of time.
If you have a variegated variety of Pothos keep in mind that the white areas are especially susceptible to burning and turn brown first. On the other hand, complete shade may result in the plant losing it’s beautifully variegated patterns, so it is important to maintain a balance.
Learn more about plant variegation here.
Indoors, Pothos prefer bright, indirect light. If you notice your Pothos has brown spots on the leaves after being exposed to direct sunlight, this may be the cause. Moving the plant away from the light source helps prevent further damage.
An early sign of too much sun is suddenly pale leaves. If you notice this, move the plant farther away from the window.
Avoid placing the Pothos next to a south facing window because it’s light is very bright.
3. Pothos turning brown due to low humidity
Brown, crispy looking leaves are often due low humidity.
Increase humidity around the plant by:
- Placing a humidifier nearby
- Misting the air around the plant with a spray bottle (note: do not excessively mist the leaves or leave them soaking wet because it can lead to bacterial disease. The moisture should evaporate off the leaves within a few minutes and the leaves should not remain wet).
- Placing the plant in a pebble tray with water (make sure the pot is on the pebbles and not directly touching the water).
- Avoid placing the Pothos next to any heating or cooling vents. Their surrounding air is quite dry.
4. Pothos turning brown due to disease
Certain bacterial or fungal diseases may lead to brown spots on the leaves. Bacterial leaf spot causes brown spots on Pothos leaves with a surrounding yellow halo.
Plant disease is promoted by excessively misting leaves and poor air circulation. If small puddles of water remain on the leaves, it promotes damage.
Avoid frequently misting the leaves and keep your plant in a room with good air circulation. If you get water on the leaves, wipe it off with a tissue.
Snip off the brown leaves with gardening shears, cleaning the shears between each cut. Use a plant fungicide as directed. As a home remedy, mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of mineral oil in a spray bottle of water. Spray this over the infected areas.
5. Pothos turning brown due to frequent fertilization
Fertilizing too often causes a buildup of salts in the soil, which leads to brown spots on the leaves or leaf tips. Only fertilize once a month during the spring and summer. If you have fertilized more often than that, salt buildup may be the cause of brown leaves.
Flush out the soil by pouring water two times the volume of the pot through it. This allows the excess salts to run out through the drainage hole.
6. Pothos turning brown due to pests
While Pothos are not particularly prone to pest infestations, they can still occur. If your Pothos has brown spots, check the leaves and stems carefully for signs of infestation. Pests are especially likely if there are other signs as well (webbing, cotton-like substance on the leaves, distorted growth, or black spots).
If you notice pests, quarantine your plant so that they do not spread to any neighboring plants. Wash the plant in the sink under a strong stream of water with an insecticidal soap. Spray the plant with rubbing alcohol or diluted neem oil.
Many pests have a long life cycle, so continue to spray once every three to four days until all signs of the infestation are gone (which may take several weeks).
7. Pothos turning brown due to temperature extremes
Pothos are happiest in room temperatures from 70 to 90 °F (21 to 32 °C). Temperatures that are below 60 °F (15 °C) or above 90 °F (32 °C) could lead to brown or black leaves.
Avoid quickly moving Pothos from warm to cold environments as that could lead to plant shock and further damage.
Learn more about plant shock with this complete guide
Pothos Plant Care
Pothos care is summarized below:
| Sunlight | Medium to bright, indirect light. Able to tolerate low-light or shaded environments. Avoid direct sunlight because that burns the leaves. | |
| Water | Once a week when the top two inches of soil are dry. They prefer moist, but not soaking soil. Over watering leads to root rot. | |
| Soil | Well-draining, porous soil. Mix in perlite to increase drainage and reduce water retention. | |
| Temperature | Pothos are tolerant of a wide range of temperatures but are happiest when kept warm. Temperatures from 70 to 90 °F (21 to 32 °C) are ideal. | |
| Humidity | Medium to high humidity. |
Should brown leaves be removed?
Brown leaves cannot turn green again. However by fixing the underlying problem, you can ensure the new growth is healthy.
You can cut the brown leaves off to improve appearances with a pair of scissors. If the damage is extensive, do not remove more than 20% of the plant’s leaves at once.
In summary for Pothos turning brown…
Provide your Pothos plant with bright, indirect light, water when the top layer of soil is dry, place it somewhere warm, and plant in well-draining soil. This is usually enough to keep this plant happy.
7 common reasons for Pothos turning brown include:
- Over watering: allow the plant to completely dry out. You may need to repot the plant in a new container with fresh soil. Only water when the top layer of soil is dry to avoid root rot.
- Direct light: provide your Pothos with medium to bright indirect light. If this houseplant received too much sun, it will burn. White areas on variegated varieties are especially susceptible.
- Low humidity: dry air leads to brown and crispy looking leaves, especially at the tips. Your Pothos may benefit from a humidifier or a pebble tray with water.
- Disease: bacterial or fungal disease can lead to brown spots on Pothos leaves. Often, these spots have a surrounding yellow area. Cut the affected leaves off and use a fungicide. Keep the plant in a well-ventilated area.
- Fertilizing too often: Pothos do not need to be fertilized more than once a month during the spring and summer. If you notice salt buildup, flush out the soil with water two times the volume of the pot to allow the extra salt to leave.
- Pests: keep a close eye on your Pothos for signs of pests and stop them early to avoid larger infestations.
- Temperature extremes: cold temperatures lead to frost damage, stunted growth, and black leaves. Hot temperatures cause brown leaves and heat damage. Keep your Pothos at temperatures from 70 to 90 °F and avoid sudden temperature changes.
Pothos houseplants are known for their hardiness and tolerance of neglect. Fortunately, even if you do notice your Pothos leaves are turning brown, the problem can be fixed if cause early enough.
See other plant specific care guides here.
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