How to revive a dying Pothos plant

Having problems with your pothos plant dying? Here is how to revive a dying Pothos plant!

When you notice your pothos plant dying, do you know what you should do first? We truly hope you never have to deal with that yourself, but if you do, there’s much to be done about it.

Many people consider pothos a low-maintenance plant to the point where it’s often neglected – and that is when the issues start happening.

There are many cases where the plant is exposed to various unhealthy conditions, leaving it withered and neglected.

Even if you don’t have a dying Pothos at home, this is a good read, so let’s uncover some more information!

Can you save a dying pothos?

First, you need to start removing the dead leaves and wait for the soil to completely dry out before watering it again.

If the plant still seems desperate for help even after you’ve done this, you can still do a handful of things.

Why is my pothos dying suddenly?

Several common causes contribute to a dying Pothos. If you want the answer to the question, “Why is my pothos dying suddenly?”, keep reading.

We are dissecting the most common reasons and providing a solution for each of them!

The most common cause of problems with pothos are:

• overwatering
• lighting issues
• pest infestation
• humidity issues
• other diseases

Overwatering the plant

Let’s say you got a new plant and want to give it all the love and attention in the world. The first thing that comes to your mind is giving it plenty of water so it doesn’t die.

But pothos plants don’t like that much water. Continuing to overwater the plant will contribute to root rot – this is the most common reason for a dying pothos plant.

Some of the signs you can notice here include extremely wet soil, mushy or yellowish leaves, and brown and wilting stems.

The good news is, you can always save an overwatered pothos!

Remove the plant from the pot and clean the soil off the roots.

Cut off the dead roots with clean scissors. Cut off any damaged leaves too.

Let the roots dry out for a few hours.

Get a pot that has a good amount of drainage holes. Fill it with fresh soil and orchid bark, and place the plant inside. Put it in a sunny spot – don’t water it for two weeks.

Using well-draining soil, watering when the top inch of soil feels dry, and avoiding overwatering can help to save your plant moving forward.

Too much brightness

Any living organism on the planet loves a little bit of sunshine – but pothos doesn’t like too much of it.

If you have a dying pothos plant at home, you might want to check its location – a sunny spot may do more damage to it than good.

Some signs you may notice include brown spots on the leaves, the plant turning pale, and entire areas of the plant turning brown too.

You can always save sunburned pothos!

Move the plant away from the window immediately, and make sure it receives a lot of light, just not direct sunlight.

The sunburn may occur while you keep the plant outside, so take it inside to minimize the damage. Remove the damaged areas and keep the plant away from the window.

Pest infestation

Can you save a dying pothos from a pest infestation? The truth is that once the insects have invaded your house plant, it’s not always easy to get rid of them.

But leaving your pothos unchecked for a longer period is the main contributor to pest infestation, ultimately leading to dying pothos.

Some of the signs you may notice include a wilting plant, brown and yellow leaves, and a disfigured growth. Thankfully, there are ways to save and revive them!

Since pests spread very easily, you might want to move the plant away from all the other ones. Cut off all the damaged areas of the plant and give it a nice shower.

Scrub it with rubbing alcohol and spray the plant with diluted neem oil. Avoid putting it under direct sunlight after the alcohol since it will burn the leaves.

Repeat this process about 4-5 days a week for a few weeks, and your plant will be pest-free!

Here is our complete guide on pests in pothos plants!

Low humidity levels

If you notice that your plant is starting to turn brown and have crispy leaves, it might mean that its environment is low on humidity.

Some of the signs you will see are brownish leaves, an overall dried-up look, and a wilted plant. Here’s how to save a drying pothos:

• Keep a humidifier close to the plant and turn it on every time you notice the plant begins to wilt.
• Fill up a shallow tray with water and pebbles and place the pot inside.
• Mist the air around the plant with a spray bottle (but don’t mist too much, this can lead to a bacterial disease).
• Avoid leaving the plant next to a cooling or heating vent.

Diseases

A dying pothos can mean that it suffers from sickness, which can be caused by fungal or bacterial diseases. If you excessively mist the leaves of your plant and leave small water puddles, this can contribute to extensive damage.

Some of the signs you will see include visually unhealthy leaves and brown-colored spots everywhere.

The best way to revive a pothos plant that has undergone a disease is to use a plant fungicide.

Mix a tablespoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of mineral oil in a spray bottle and spray it on the affected areas. Keep misting (not too much) and keep the air circulation in the area.

In some extreme cases, you might be unable to save the plant.

Cut off a healthy stem or leaf from the dying pothos and propagate it. If you cannot save the entire thing, at least give a small part of it a chance to bounce back.

Keeping your pothos healthy is important – so we are offering some additional information! Download our free PDF Pothos care guide and learn how to nurture your plant every day!

Thanks for reading!

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