The plant commonly called the “Money Plant” is often the Pothos vine, Epipremnum aureum, a robust tropical plant known for rapid growth in ideal conditions. While Pothos tolerates neglect, accelerating its growth requires optimizing its environment. To transform the vine into a vigorous, fast-growing specimen, specific adjustments to light, nutrients, water, and physical structure are necessary.
Optimizing Light and Temperature
Light is the primary energy source driving photosynthesis, which directly dictates the plant’s growth speed. While Pothos survives in low light, its metabolism slows significantly, resulting in sparse leaves and elongated stems. To achieve accelerated growth, the plant requires bright, indirect light, such as from an east-facing window or a few feet away from a south or west-facing one. This placement maximizes light absorption without the risk of leaf scorching.
Intense, unfiltered mid-day sun can burn the leaf tissue, appearing as bleached or crispy brown spots. For continuous, high-speed growth, especially in darker months, supplemental full-spectrum LED grow lights are effective. Positioning a grow light 18 to 24 inches above the foliage ensures consistent energy input, allowing the plant to photosynthesize efficiently year-round.
Maintaining a stable, warm temperature is equally important because growth is a metabolic process influenced by heat. Pothos thrives in temperatures between 60°F and 85°F (15°C and 29°C), which encourages continuous cell division and expansion. Cold drafts, especially sudden drops below 50°F (10°C), can shock the plant and slow its metabolic rate. Placing the plant away from exterior doors, vents, and single-pane windows during winter ensures thermal stability.
Enhancing Nutritional Intake
Rapid growth demands a steady supply of macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), which fuel the creation of new biomass. During the active growing season (spring through summer), consistent fertilization is necessary to support vine extension. A balanced, water-soluble liquid fertilizer, such as a 20-20-20 ratio, should be diluted to half or quarter strength before application.
Applying this diluted fertilizer solution every two to four weeks prevents nutrient deficiencies that limit growth speed. Over-fertilization is counterproductive and can lead to a toxic buildup of salts in the soil, causing root burn and leaf damage. For effective nutrient absorption, the plant needs a well-draining potting mix that allows for proper aeration. A mix incorporating materials like peat moss, coco coir, and perlite ensures water drains quickly while holding enough moisture and preventing compaction.
Water Management and Humidity Control
Consistent water management ensures that the plant’s internal systems are primed for growth without the stress of water scarcity or saturation. The best practice for watering Pothos is to allow the top inch or two of the soil to dry out between waterings. This approach prevents root rot while ensuring the roots have access to the moisture needed for continuous cell turgor and nutrient transport.
Watering thoroughly until water drains from the bottom of the pot flushes out accumulated mineral salts and ensures the entire root ball is hydrated. The plant’s tropical origin means that higher ambient humidity encourages faster growth and larger leaves. Pothos prefers a humidity level between 40% and 60%, which mimics its native environment and reduces moisture loss.
Practical methods to boost local humidity include placing the pot on a pebble tray filled with water, ensuring the pot bottom does not sit directly in the water. Grouping the Pothos with other houseplants helps create a localized microclimate with elevated moisture levels. While misting provides only a temporary increase, using a room humidifier near the plant offers the most consistent and effective solution.
Physical Techniques for Accelerated Growth
Beyond environmental adjustments, two physical interventions can significantly redirect the plant’s energy toward new growth. The first technique is regular trimming, which involves cutting back the tips of the longest trailing vines. This action encourages the plant to branch out at the cut, redirecting growth hormones (auxins) to dormant nodes lower on the stem.
Pruning promotes a bushier, fuller appearance and ensures the plant’s energy is distributed across multiple new growth points, rather than being concentrated only at the vine tips. The second technique is providing vertical support, such as a moss pole or trellis, allowing the Pothos to climb. When the aerial roots attach to a vertical surface, the plant exhibits “climbing maturity.” This switch results in the production of larger leaves and faster vine elongation, as the plant attempts to reach the canopy light source.