The Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular and resilient houseplant prized for its attractive, vining foliage. While the plant naturally trails, its growth can be intentionally directed, a process known as “training,” to achieve specific aesthetic results indoors. Training allows a grower to harness the plant’s natural climbing instinct to produce larger, more dramatic leaves or maintain a controlled, cascading display. Understanding the Pothos’s unique biology helps determine whether to encourage vertical growth or manage trailing vines.
Understanding Pothos Growth Structure
Pothos growth revolves around specialized points called nodes, located along the vine where a leaf emerges. These nodes are the plant’s reproductive and anchoring centers, as they are the only places where new roots, leaves, or stems can form. The section of stem between two nodes is called the internode, which cannot produce new growth.
The nodes also produce aerial roots, which differ from soil roots. In nature, the Pothos uses these aerial roots to attach to tree bark, drawing moisture and nutrients from the surface it clings to. This anchoring ability makes vertical training possible. The presence of a steady climbing surface triggers the plant to transition from smaller, juvenile leaves to larger, mature foliage.
Guiding Pothos for Vertical Climbing
To achieve the larger leaf size and dense, upright growth of mature Pothos, provide a vertical structure that replicates a host tree. Common supports include moss poles, coco coir poles, or sturdy trellises, which allow the aerial roots to adhere. When installing a moss pole, soak it thoroughly in water before placing it firmly into the pot, ensuring it is stable enough to support the vine’s weight.
Secure the vines by guiding the stem so the nodes and aerial roots are pressed against the damp surface of the pole. Use soft, biodegradable twine or plant clips to secure the vine every four to six inches, taking care not to wrap the stem or roots too tightly. The pole must be kept consistently damp, but not saturated, to mimic the humid microclimate aerial roots seek. This moisture encourages the roots to grow into the moss, signaling the plant to produce larger leaves and thicker stems.
Shaping and Directing Trailing Vines
If the goal is to manage a plant displayed in a hanging basket or on a shelf, focus on controlled trailing rather than vertical adhesion. You can direct the vines horizontally along a wall, bookshelf, or window frame using small adhesive hooks or discreet nails. This technique allows you to create specific shapes and patterns without forcing the plant to climb a central support.
To prevent the top of the plant from becoming thin or “leggy,” loop some of the longest vines back into the pot, a technique often called “basketing.” Press the nodes along the looped vine gently against the soil surface and secure them with a bent paperclip or floral pin. These nodes will eventually root into the potting mix, establishing new growth points that make the plant appear fuller and bushier at the crown.
Maintaining Trained Pothos
Maintaining a trained Pothos requires ongoing attention to its structure and health. For vertically trained plants, you must extend the support system as the vine grows past the top of the pole. Most commercial moss poles are designed to be stacked, allowing you to insert a new, pre-moistened pole directly into the top of the previous one so the plant can continue its ascent.
Pruning is necessary to maintain the desired shape and encourage fullness. To promote bushier growth, prune stems by cutting just above a leaf node, which triggers the dormant axillary bud to produce a new growth shoot. When repotting a vertical climber, select a container only slightly larger than the previous one. Carefully manage the root ball and integrated pole to minimize disruption of the established root structure.