The Epipremnum aureum, commonly known as Pothos, is a resilient and popular houseplant celebrated for its long, trailing vines. Its vigorous vining habit means that regular cutting is a necessary part of its care, serving two distinct purposes: maintaining the mother plant’s shape and health, or creating entirely new plants. Understanding precisely where to make a cut on the vine is the single most important factor for success in both pruning and propagation. By focusing on the plant’s unique anatomy, you can ensure a lush, full original plant and healthy new cuttings.
Identifying the Pothos Growth Node
The entire process of cutting a Pothos revolves around locating the node, which is the plant’s specialized growth point. A node appears as a slightly swollen bump or ring along the stem, typically situated right where a leaf petiole, or stalk, meets the vine. This small structure is the biological hub where dormant cells are concentrated, possessing the potential to differentiate into either new roots or new stem growth. You may sometimes observe a small brown nub or a tiny aerial root already emerging from the node. Without a node, a cutting will not develop new roots; the stem sections between two nodes, called internodes, are incapable of producing new growth.
Pruning Cuts for Shaping and Bushier Growth
Pruning trims a vine to stimulate the existing plant to grow fuller and less leggy. This technique works by overriding apical dominance, where the main growing tip produces hormones that suppress dormant buds further down the stem. To encourage bushier growth, the cut must be made immediately above a visible node or leaf joint on the remaining part of the vine. Removing the apical tip eliminates the source of these hormones, signaling the dormant bud closest to the cut to activate, resulting in a denser, more compact appearance.
Making Cuttings for Propagation
Propagation involves taking a piece of the mother plant to grow a new, separate plant. For successful rooting, you must make the cut immediately below a node, ensuring the node remains firmly attached to the segment. This placement maximizes the stem tissue below the node, providing a surface area for new roots to emerge. A healthy cutting should contain at least one, but preferably two or three, nodes to increase the chances of successful rooting. Any leaves that would be submerged below the water line or rooting medium must be removed to prevent rotting. Cuttings can be rooted in various media, including clean water, moist sphagnum moss, or a well-draining soil mix.
Essential Cutting Tools and Technique
The mechanical execution of the cut is important to ensure a clean wound that minimizes stress on the plant. Select a sharp cutting instrument, such as a pair of precision scissors, bypass pruners, or a clean razor blade. A sharp tool creates a quick, clean slice, which allows the plant to seal the wound more efficiently and reduces the risk of tissue damage. Tool hygiene prevents the transfer of plant pathogens. Always sterilize your cutting tool before and after use, especially when moving between different plants, using 70% isopropyl alcohol for disinfection. Make a straight or slightly angled cut to minimize the exposed surface area of the stem tissue, ensuring a quick, decisive movement.