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Golden pothos with yellow-marbled leaves trailing from a green pot against a white background

Golden pothos

Epipremnum aureum

Supple vines with gold-marbled foliage, to trail from a shelf or climb a moss pole.

Light
Partial shade
Water
Little water
Care
Easy
Heat
Moderate heat
Pets
Mildly toxic

At a glance

Botanical name
Epipremnum aureum
Also known as
Pothos · Lierre du diable · Devil's ivy · Scindapsus
Mature height
100 to 300 cm
Growth
Fast growth
Environments
Indoor · Office
Pets
Mildly toxic to pets

Care

What this plant needs

For each area, the instruction specific to this plant, then the general principle that explains why.

Water

For this plant

Water when the top few centimetres are dry, about every seven to ten days. The leaves droop slightly when it is thirsty.

The principle

A low need means a clear dry-then-wet cycle. Wait until the top two thirds of the substrate are dry, water until it runs from the base, then empty the saucer ten minutes later. Permanently moist soil suffocates roots far faster than dryness starves them.

Light

For this plant

Medium to bright indirect light; more light brings more golden marbling.

The principle

Partial shade is bright but filtered light: a metre back from a glazed door, behind a sheer curtain, or morning sun only. It is the broadest and easiest exposure to achieve in a Moroccan interior. Direct afternoon sun, by contrast, leaves irreversible bleached patches on the leaf.

Feeding

For this plant

Liquid feed every four weeks in spring and summer.

The principle

A fast grower exhausts its substrate quickly: a half-strength feed every two to three weeks from March to October beats one strong monthly dose. A new leaf smaller than the last almost always signals depleted soil or a pot that has become too tight.

Temperature

For this plant

From 15 to 32 °C; sensitive to cold draughts.

The principle

This plant is comfortable between 15 and 30 °C, the range of a Moroccan interior all year. Above 35 °C, move it out of direct sun and water more often without watering more heavily. The most common enemy is not the heat but the dry stream of an air conditioner aimed at the foliage.

Yearly rhythm

Indicative calendar

Calendar derived from the plant's profile — water need, heat tolerance, environment and growth rate — applied to the Moroccan climate; adjust it to your city, your exposure and your substrate.

Indicative twelve-month care calendar
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
WateringWatering in January: ReducedWatering in February: ReducedWatering in March: ReducedWatering in April: ReducedWatering in May: ReducedWatering in June: ReducedWatering in July: ReducedWatering in August: ReducedWatering in September: ReducedWatering in October: ReducedWatering in November: ReducedWatering in December: Reduced
FeedingFeeding in January: Nothing to doFeeding in February: Nothing to doFeeding in March: RegularFeeding in April: SustainedFeeding in May: SustainedFeeding in June: SustainedFeeding in July: SustainedFeeding in August: SustainedFeeding in September: RegularFeeding in October: Nothing to doFeeding in November: Nothing to doFeeding in December: Nothing to do
PruningPruning in January: Nothing to doPruning in February: Nothing to doPruning in March: RegularPruning in April: RegularPruning in May: Nothing to doPruning in June: Nothing to doPruning in July: Nothing to doPruning in August: Nothing to doPruning in September: Nothing to doPruning in October: Nothing to doPruning in November: Nothing to doPruning in December: Nothing to do
IntensityNothing to doReducedRegularSustained

Morocco

Where this plant thrives in Morocco

Our observations city by city, crossed with the local climate. A city that is missing is not a refusal: it simply has not been documented for this plant yet.

Thrives

  • Casablancacoastal · moderate humidity · 33 °C in summer, 7 °C in winter
  • Rabatcoastal · moderate humidity · 33 °C in summer, 6 °C in winter
  • Tangiercoastal · humid air · 31 °C in summer, 8 °C in winter
  • Agadircoastal · moderate humidity · 34 °C in summer, 8 °C in winter

Well suited

  • Marrakechinland · dry air · 45 °C in summer, 4 °C in winter
  • Fezinland · dry air · 42 °C in summer, 2 °C in winter
  • Kenitracoastal · moderate humidity · 36 °C in summer, 5 °C in winter
  • Mohammediacoastal · moderate humidity · 32 °C in summer, 7 °C in winter

Possible with care

  • Oujdainland · dry air · 41 °C in summer, 1 °C in winter
  • Laayounecoastal · dry air · 42 °C in summer, 9 °C in winter

We deliver to all of these cities.

Diagnosis

Three signals worth reading

The three most common disorders on a plant with this profile, and the move that corrects them.

  1. 1

    What you see

    Lower leaves turning yellow and dropping at the slightest touch while the surface still feels fresh.

    Likely cause

    Watering too close together: the roots never get to breathe between two doses.

    The right move

    Switch to a clear cycle — dry through two thirds of the depth, then a thorough watering with full drainage. Always empty the saucer and raise the pot on feet if needed.

  2. 2

    What you see

    Bleached then brown patches in the middle of the most exposed leaves.

    Likely cause

    Direct afternoon sun through glass — the magnifying effect scorches the blade in a matter of hours.

    The right move

    Pull it back a metre or hang a sheer curtain. Marked leaves will not repair, but the next ones will be clean; remove them only if more than half is scorched.

  3. 3

    What you see

    Grey dust on the foliage, growth slowing with no obvious cause.

    Likely cause

    A dusty blade captures markedly less light, and city dust in Morocco builds up fast.

    The right move

    Wipe the leaves with a damp sponge every month, upper and lower surfaces. Avoid leaf-shine products, which block the stomata.

Small bright living room with grey sofa, hanging pothos and potted plants on shelves and floor

Take the step

Ready to join your space?

Every available size, the premium setup and delivery across Morocco are on the product page.

Golden pothosFrom190 DHAvailable

Journal

Further reading on this plant

The journal articles that mention it.

First steps

Your first plant: where to start

Five plants that are almost impossible to fail, the equipment you really need and the three beginner mistakes to avoid.

5 min read