How Often To Prune Pothos For A Fuller Plant (Plus The Best Way To Do It)

As one of the most popular houseplants in the U.S., it is not unusual to see pothos (Epipremnum aureum) draping down from shelves, bookcases, and cabinets across the country. These trailing vines can grow up to 40 feet in length, with their iconic, shiny leaves cascading out of their pots. But, when it comes to how often to prune pothos and the best way to do it, you should consider the health of your plant and what you want it to look like. Light pruning to remove dead or wilted leaves should be done regularly. However, any major pruning should be done once a year in spring, just before new growth appears. It is easy to do, with just a pair of pruning shears, ensuring you cut back any stem above the node — ultimately, you decide how much to take off.

Pothos doesn't need to be pruned as much as other houseplants, and any pruning is usually done to tidy up its appearance. If your pothos is looking straggly or taking over your room, you can trim it as needed to keep it the length you want. However, if you want to make your pothos plants look fuller, a bigger prune once a year can create a bushier, denser look. 

Before pruning your pothos, make sure you have clean gardening gloves to protect yourself, as pothos is toxic and can irritate the skin. Start by taking off any dead or damaged foliage, and then decide how much of the plant you want to remove. Pothos can be cut back to just 2 inches from the soil and remain healthy if necessary. 

Once you have decided how much you are going to take off and what look you want (for example, you may want it to appear more bushier and compact), it is time to begin the pruning process. Use a sterilized pair of pruners and begin to remove the stems, cutting just above the node. You can cut at any point along the stem, depending on your preferences. Cutting closer to the base of the plant will promote new, healthy growth. If you want to create a bushier look, cut to a side branch or bud to encourage new side shoots. 

Take it slowly when pruning your pothos. Remember, you can always take more stems off, but you can't put any back on! Pothos is also an easy plant to propagate from cuttings, so you may wish to keep hold of the stems you have removed and use them to create new, baby pothos plants.