Why does my pothos only have one vine?

Does your pothos look long and leggy? Here is why your pothos only have one vine and how to make it fuller!

Pothos plants have been vastly recognized as one of the most common houseplants. They are beautiful, truly, and bring plenty of freshness and style into any space.

However, as low maintenance as they can get, I’m sure you want to make the most of them. When we say the most, we mean helping the plant grow and develop into a beautiful, lush green shrub. 

If your pothos plant has only one vine, and you’re unhappy with how it looks, then you’ve come to the right place.

Keep on reading to discover how you can support this piece of flora and make it look incredible.

How do you get multiple vines on a pothos?

Most pothos will only develop one single strong vine. But don’t get disappointed because you can easily change this!

Encouraging new branches is usually done with frequent pruning. This process stimulates the plant to produce at least two more branches.

You can learn more about this process below as we’ve delved into more detail.

Why does my pothos only have one vine?

As a plant, it branches off of the main stem, which is one. Regularly watering your plant and providing it with the optimal light requirements can help it reach its maximum size!

Do you want to stimulate new (and multiple) branches? Here are some ways you can do that!

Plant a few branches in one pot

If your idea is to create a tiny forest out of pothos branches, then take a larger pot and plant as many branches as you can fit in it.

By propagating your existing pothos plant, you can create lots of baby plants to fill out your pot.

First things first, you need to cut off the stem of the pothos plant that contains the aerial sprouts or roots to create new growth.

The stems should be about 6 inches long and should contain at least one growth sprout.

Put them in water first and watch how they develop their root system. You should see roots forming in about four weeks.

Once the cuttings have fully developed roots, put them in a pot with soil.

A gentle reminder – roots growing in water are weaker than the ones growing in soil, so keep this in mind when you start potting the plant.

Make sure you’re giving them the ideal humidity and overall environment to grow and further develop.

Regular pruning

As we mentioned before, any plant will thrive when it’s pruned regularly. Pothos can create new branches on their own, but this is a long process, and it will only happen once the pant has fully matured.

You can prune the stems to reduce the length of the plant and promote new growth. Pruning is the best way to make your pothos bushier!

If you ask yourself, “How do I get vines to branch?”, regular pruning is the key.

When you remove all the old stem fragments and leaves, it will focus on developing new branches.

Remove all parts that grow too thin or too long. Prune all the stem segments and propagate the cuttings so they can grow new stems.

Adequate lighting

Will pothos plants split into multiple branches from one vine? Yes, if you give it plenty of adequate light. They should be able to absorb indirect sunlight every day – the more, the better!

Ensuring the growth of new branches means regularly rotating the pot, too.

If you neglect your plant and forget to rotate the pot frequently, then it will grow long and thin, facing the sun.

This is an indicator that the plant has not received enough sunlight, is failing to develop new sprouts, and will have stunted growth.

So, when choosing a location, opt for one that offers enough indirect sunlight and position the pot about 1 meter away from the window.

That will allow your pothos to receive adequate lighting during the day.

Give it enough water and fertilize it properly

Leaves and branching vines look incredible, but if you want to know the secret of how to grow multiple pothos vines, it comes down to more than simply planting a few branches in another pot.

Nutrients are equally important, so think about how you can promote health by feeding your pothos with everything it needs.

Start with water requirements. Give it an adequate amount of water once a week (if you live in a warmer area), or base it on the actual needs of the plant. Water it slowly and thoroughly until the water is completely absorbed into every bit of the soil.

Avoid leaving the leaves wet at night, and avoid overwatering them. If you don’t follow these tips, you might create an over-moist environment, perfect for the development of fungi and mold.

The best way to learn about the plant’s water requirements is to test the soil with a moisture meter and water when it indicates that the plant is dry. 

Another thing to watch for is the leaves’ appearance. If they show yellow spots, then you need some more water than usual.

On another note, if the soil is soggy and starts smelling bad, you must stop watering and dry out the soil.

Fertilizer-wise, you should give your plant a slow-release fertilizer in the spring and in the fall. That way, you can ensure the pothos are getting enough nutrients to grow new branches during the summer season.

During the growing period, most of the pothos plants only develop one stem.

Even though they rarely grow any branches during this period, you can still stimulate new growth! Simply follow our instructions, and we can assure you that you’ll achieve success.

If you liked this subject and want to read more, download our free PDF Pothos plant care guide and find out more about how to properly care for this plant.

Thanks for reading!

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