Not Once A Day, Not Once A Week: Here's How Often To Water A Pothos In The Winter

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Sometimes, forgetting to water a houseplant can be a good thing. The tried-and-true vining pothos (Epipremnum aureum) can be waylaid by too much attention with a spray bottle or watering can. The key to keeping this plant healthy through the winter is by giving it a drink only when the dirt in the pot feels dry to the touch, usually about every two weeks.

Pothos happens to be an incredibly popular houseplant because it's no-fuss and requires minimal moisture or light. It's even listed among the 10 houseplants you can grow without a ton of natural light, making it the perfect plant for imperfect indoor gardeners. It grows glossy green leaves (often with a spattering of yellow or white marbling) on vines as long as 65 feet.

To take care of this vining houseplant, know that it truly hates having wet feet. It's best to err on the side of doing too little rather than too much when it comes to water.  The plant will let you know which way it's leaning if you pay attention to the signs. You'll know the plant is too thirsty if the leaves begin to sag or wilt. Yellow leaves, on the other hand, mean it's waterlogged, and the soil needs time to dry out. So if you happen to be forgetful when it comes to caring for indoor plants, then this plant truly is the one for you.

Never water pothos more than once a week. Really, aim to water closer to every two weeks in the wintertime, especially if you've put your houseplant near indirect light, where it'll thrive better and take longer for the soil to dry. Plants sitting in full sunlight will likely dry out faster, but they still won't need daily attention. Always check the dirt before watering. It shouldn't just be dry to the touch on the surface, but also dry in the first few inches beneath.

You can use your finger, or grab a toothpick or chopstick. Put it in the container at least an inch deep. Think of it a little like checking to see whether a cake is done baking. If your finger or chopstick comes out mostly clean, the pothos is dry and needs watering. If it comes out with damp soil sticking to it, then it's moist and best left alone. To be extra sure about it, you can always buy a device to check moisture levels, like the Apine soil moisture meter.

And, fear not, if you've already gone overboard with a watering can, there are ways to revive a dying pothos. The first step will be to repot the plant. Take it out of its wet environment, brush off the dirt, and wash the roots to eliminate any fungus there. Then, replant with fresh, well-draining potting mix.