Pothos plants are one of the most loved plants to grow in the home and office. The beauty of this ornamental plant is its small, green leaves and beautiful climbing stems. One of the common problems many people have when growing Pothos plants is the ability to grow new branches. Why does my pothos only have one vine? Many gardeners have constantly questioned whether the Pothos plant can grow new branches.
Most pothos plants will grow as a single, unbranched vine. However, you can encourage new branches of the Pothos plant to grow by regular pruning. Regular pruning will stimulate your plants to produce at least two or more branches. So, let’s learn more about the growth properties and how to stimulate the Pothos plant to grow new branches.
Why Does My Pothos Only Have One Vine? How To Create Multiple Branches
As you know, the Pothos plant can reach its maximum size if you water it regularly and provide at least 6 hours of indirect sunlight per day for the plants. Pothos can branch off on its own from a single main trunk. However, you can stimulate new branches by pruning above the growth node. Here are some effective ways to grow a pot of Pothos plant with multiple branches or stimulate the growth of new branches from the main stem.
Plant Many Branches In One Pot
If you love a large pot of Pothos plants with many branches to create a mini forest then you should plant many branches in the same pot. The process of Pothos cuttings is very easy and does not require complicated techniques. You just need to cut the stem of the Pothos plant that contains the aerial sprouts or roots to create new growth.
Stems should be at least 6-7 inches long and contain at least one growth sprout. You should cut these young shoots into the water to better monitor the development and growth of the root system. Place the cuttings in a glass vase or beaker of water and observe the growth of the root system for four weeks. Small clusters of white roots will grow under the water and lengthen over time.
Once the cuttings are rooted and sturdy, you can plant them in the ground. Roots growing in water will be thinner and weaker than roots growing in soil, so you need to do this process carefully and gently. Because the roots are living in a watery environment, you need to ensure the ideal humidity for the root system to grow and develop.
During the first few days, you should water regularly and observe the process of adjusting to the new environment of the roots. New branches may wilt slightly due to unexpected stress from changing habitats. You just need to water and provide indirect light so that the plants can recover faster.
Depending on the size of the pot, you should plant 3 to 4 branches in the ground. You should not plant too many branches because they can grow new branches on their own. Therefore, it will create fierce competition for nutrients, space, and light for plants.
The best time to take more cuttings is when you change a new pot. Then, the new and old branches will have the same space and living conditions to grow together. From there, you will have a pothos plant with many branches and dense foliage like a mini rainforest.
Prune The Trunk Regularly
As you know, Pothos can create new stem branches on its own, but this process will take place when the plant is mature or old. To encourage new branches to grow, you can prune stems to reduce the length of the entire plant.
Regular pruning to remove old leaves or stem segments will allow Pothos to focus his energy on growing new branches. Therefore, you need to remove the body parts that grow too long and thin. Prune the stem segments and keep the growing sprouts so they can grow new stems.
Make Sure To Provide Adequate Indirect Sunlight
To encourage new branches to grow and grow around the pot, you need to rotate the pot regularly to make sure pothos plants can absorb enough indirect sunlight. The more indirect sunlight exposure each day, the more branches and new branches will easily grow in the Pothos tree.
If you don’t rotate the pot regularly, the plants will grow long, thin, and toward the sun. From there, the branches that do not receive enough sunlight will grow stunted and not appear as new sprouts. Therefore, you should choose a suitable location to place the pothos pot. Ideally positioned 1 meter from a window will allow your plants to receive enough indirect sunlight each day.
Adequate Watering And Fertilizing During The Growing Season
To encourage leafy and branching vines, you need to provide the plants with water and nutrients regularly. Water Pothos at least once per week in warmer weather or based on actual plant needs. Pothos should be fertilized with a slow-release fertilizer in the spring and fall to ensure the plants get enough nutrients and grow new branches during the growing season.
Here are some notes when you water your Pothos plants
- Water slowly and thoroughly until the water is completely absorbed into the soil
- Do not water the leaves and wet the leaves at night. Because the humid environment will create favorable conditions for the growth of fungi.
- Completely remove excess water from the surface of the pot by emptying or opening the drain hole to prevent waterlogging.
- Do not mist in the evening because mold is easy to grow.
- Water according to the actual needs of plants after testing soil moisture.
- When plants show signs of wilting leaves or yellow spots, you need to water them more often.
- If the root system appears humus, has a bad smell, and leaves are edematous, you need to stop watering to handle waterlogging.
Summary
Most Pothos plants will only develop one stem during the growing period. They rarely grow new branches during this period, but you can still stimulate the growth of new branches by pruning. You can prune yellow, old leaves or stunted stems to encourage the sprouts to grow into new branches.
Also, if you love a pot of Pothos with lots of branches, you should take 3-4 cuttings in one pot. Pothos propagation is very simple, you just need to cut 6-7 inch stem segments and place them in a glass vase. After about 4 weeks, the root system of the new branches will begin to develop.
After the root system is healthy and strong, you cut the cuttings into the ground and provide the ideal habitat for the plants. In addition, you also need to provide adequate water, indirect sunlight for at least 6 hours a day, and liquid fertilizer in spring and autumn for Pothos plants.