The pothos plant, often called devil’s ivy, is a common and resilient houseplant prized for its trailing vines and adaptability. Owners often prune the lengthening vines to control size or maintain a tidy appearance. If you cut a pothos vine, the plant will not only survive, but it will continue to grow from new points. Trimming is a powerful tool for shaping the plant and generating entirely new ones.
The Pothos’s Biological Response to Pruning
The pothos continues growing after a cut due to its inherent biological structure. Pothos vines have specialized points of growth called nodes, which appear as small bumps where a leaf meets the stem. These nodes contain dormant buds suppressed by apical dominance. This dominance is maintained by the growing tip, the apical meristem, which produces the hormone auxin. When the vine is pruned, the source of this inhibiting hormone is removed, breaking the dominance.
Stopping the flow of the inhibiting hormone causes the dormant buds in the nodes nearest the cut to activate. This activation results in the sprouting of new growth points, often leading to multiple new vines emerging near the original cut site. The original plant continues its growth cycle with renewed vigor, resulting in a denser, less “leggy” appearance.
Techniques for Successful Propagation
The pieces cut from the mother plant are viable cuttings that can be easily turned into new plants. For a cutting to successfully root, it must contain at least one node, as this specialized tissue develops roots. Cuttings with two to four nodes are preferred, as they provide more energy and surface area for root formation.
There are two successful methods for rooting these cuttings: water propagation and direct soil planting. Water propagation is popular because it allows the grower to watch root development, which begins within one to three weeks. For this method, place the cutting in water, ensuring at least one node is submerged while keeping leaves above the water line to prevent rot. Change the water every few days to maintain oxygen levels and minimize bacterial growth.
Alternatively, cuttings can be planted directly into moist potting soil, often a mix containing components like perlite for drainage. Rooting takes longer in soil, typically three to six weeks, but the resulting roots are immediately adapted to the soil environment. This avoids the potential shock of transferring water-grown roots, which are initially more fragile, into a soil medium. The new plant is ready for a permanent pot when the roots are approximately two to four inches long.
Encouraging Fuller Growth Through Strategic Cutting
Pruning manages the long, trailing growth habit of the pothos and promotes a bushier, denser form. The plant’s tendency to become “leggy,” with long gaps between leaves, results from uninhibited apical dominance. To counteract this, strategic cuts should be made just above a node on the existing vine.
Making a cut removes the dominant growth tip and forces the nearest dormant node to sprout a new shoot. This process encourages branching, often leading to two new vines emerging where there was previously one. For a fuller plant, cut long runners back hard, even to within a few inches of the soil line, ensuring a couple of leaves remain for photosynthesis.
The new growth resulting from pruning requires adequate support to thrive. Placing the plant in bright, indirect light encourages more compact growth with shorter spaces between the leaves, further contributing to a full appearance. Regular fertilization during the growing season provides the necessary nutrients to sustain the new, multiple growth points.