Hawaiian Pothos Houseplant Care Guide

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Hawaiian Pothos are stunning plants known for their large vibrant neon yellow and green foliage.

Here are the main things to know to care for Hawaiian Pothos.

Water. Water your plant when the top two inches of the soil are dry. Check the soil moisture with your index finger or with a moisture meter.
Light. Place your plant in bright indirect sunlight or medium sunlight conditions. This would be near a south, east, or west facing window. North facing windows get the lowest amount of sunlight but this would still work.
Fertilizer. Feed your plant a natural or synthetic fertilizer or slow-release granules. Fertilize during the active growing months which is typically March through October.
Humidity. Hawaiian Pothos are native to an area getting high humidity. Your plant will thrive in humidity above 50% but can acclimate to average household humidity.

Here’s how to take care of Hawaiian Pothos so it thrives in your home.

Light

Hawaiian Pothos thrive in bright indirect sunlight but can also live in medium sunlight.

If you want your plant to grow large and lush, placing this plant in bright indirect sunlight is key.

A south, west, or east facing room is a great spot for this plant as these windows get the most amount of sun throughout the day. South facing windows get the most sunlight during the day, so if you place your plant in a south facing room, make sure to place a sheer curtain on your window. You do not want to burn the beautiful foliage on this plant with too bright of sunlight.

You can also place this plant under plant grow lights like T5 Barrina grow lights. I keep my lights on for 13 hours a day and they are on a timer, so everything is automatic.

Water

When the top two inches of your plant is dry, it’s time to water your Hawaiian Pothos. Thoroughly water your plant under a faucet and let the water drain out.

You can also bottom water your plant but make sure that you’re top watering sometimes too, as this drains out all of the extra salts and minerals your plant receives from the water.

Soil

Just like most plants, Hawaiian Pothos love well-draining soil and thrive in well-aerated conditions.

Well-draining soil is key for many plants because the plant gets the necessary water it needs, and then can flush out the rest of the water it doesn’t need. This way when the plant dries up, the roots can receive oxygen and won’t suffer from root rot.

An easy recipe calls for 50% coco coir, 25% perlite, and 25% worm castings. Feel free to add orchid bark for that added air flow in your soil.

If you don’t want to make your own houseplant soil, you can buy pre-made houseplant soil like Fox Farm Ocean Forest houseplant mix.

Temperature

Hawaiian Pothos thrive in homes between the temperatures of 65°F to 90°F (18°C to 32°C).

Fertilizer

Hawaiian Pothos need fertilizer to thrive and grow in your home. A natural, synthetic, or slow-release granule fertilizer will work for this plant.

A natural fertilizer would be something like worm castings.

You can also use a synthetic man-made fertilizer, but make sure to dilute the recipe in half as these recipes are quite strong and can hurt your plants.

Slow-release granule fertilizers work by slowly fertilizing your plant every time you water it.

Make sure to only fertilizer during the active growing season which is typically March through October. From November to February, plants rest and need a break from fertilizing.

Humidity

Hawaiian Pothos come from a place with very high humidity so it’s best to replicate the habitat they came from.

Humidity in the 50% range is ideal for Hawaiian Pothos and you’ll notice your plant is quite happy if you give it this level of humidity.

To raise the humidity around your plant, you can do the following things:

Group plants together so they create a microclimate which boosts humidity
Place your plant near a humidifier
Put your plant in a bathroom where there’s consistent humidity from baths and showers
Place a pebble tray filled with water underneath your plant

If you can’t give your plant that kind of humidity, Hawaiian Pothos will acclimate to your home but you may notice it doesn’t grow as quickly or as large as it could.

Propagation

Propagating a Hawaiian Pothos is easy. All you do is take a stem cutting that has at least one node and place that node under water. Make sure to only place the node under the water and not the entire stem cutting as this can rot the cutting.

Once the cutting has roots that are at least 2-3 inches long, you can root your plant in your preferred substrate.

Many people choose well-draining soil, leca, lechuza pon, and even just straight up water. You can grow your plant in water as long as you feed your plant the necessary nutrients it needs.

Hawaiian Pothos Common Questions

Are Hawaiian Pothos rare?

Hawaiian Pothos are actually rare to find in big box stores and even speciality plant stores. Many people opt to buy this plant online from Etsy.

How much is a Hawaiian Pothos?

Hawaiian Pothos differ in price depending on the size and variegation on the plant. I’ve seen extra large one leaf cuttings go for about $60 on Etsy.

How do you care for Hawaiian Pothos?

To properly care for Hawaiian Pothos, place your plant in a spot getting bright indirect sunlight. Your plant loves any extra humidity so placing near a humidifier or in a bathroom is ideal. Make sure to regularly fertilize your plant as the plant needs the nutrients to thrive in your home.

Should you mist Hawaiian Pothos?

Feel free to mist your Hawaiian Pothos plant, but your time is better spent placing the plant near a humidifier or grouping this plant near other high humidity plants as they create a microclimate. This microclimate adds extra humidity to your plants naturally.

How do I know if my Hawaiian Pothos is healthy?

If your Hawaiian Pothos is continuously growing new leaves and the foliage doesn’t have burnt tips or yellowing leaves, your plant is healthy and thriving in your home.

Can I grow Hawaiian Pothos in leca?

You can successfully grow Hawaiian Pothos in leca and many people choose to go this route.

When should I repot Hawaiian Pothos?

Repot Hawaiian Pothos when the plant is root bound.

You can check if your plant is root bound by slowly removing the plant from the pot and checking the soil. If your plant is root bound, move your plant to a new pot about 2 inches larger and no larger than that.

The Hawaiian Pothos is native to southeastern Asia and southern and western Pacific.

Hawaiian Pothos can grow indoors and for many people, that’s the only way the plant will grow successfully.

Hawaiian Pothos can definitely grow in water. If you want to grow this plant in water, make sure you’re regularly feeding your plant fertilizer.

Is Hawaiian Pothos easy to care for?

Hawaiian Pothos are easy to care for as long as you give the plant the proper growing conditions.

This plant loves bright indirect sunlight and you will notice the variegation on this plant is more pronounced when the plant is given a lot of light.

Is Hawaiian Pothos a fast grower?

Hawaiian Pothos are fast growers when living in proper growing conditions.

This plant loves humidity, so giving the plant humidity in the 50%+ range is ideal. Hawaiian Pothos love bright indirect sunlight and would do great in a south facing window with a sheer curtain to diffuse some of the direct sunlight.

How big do Hawaiian Pothos get?

Hawaiian Pothos get massive. In tropical states like Hawaii and Flordia, you’ve most likely seen this plant get several feet tall and the leaves are bigger than your head.

Can Hawaiian Pothos take full sun?

Hawaiian Pothos cannot take full sun and the foliage will quickly burn if the plant receives too much direct sunlight.

How do I make my Hawaiian Pothos larger?

To make your Hawaiian Pothos larger, make sure you’re repotting the plant when the plant is root bound. Move your plant into a pot 1-2 inches larger. Also make sure your plant is receiving adequate sunlight which would be near a south, west, or east facing window.

How do you propagate Hawaiian Pothos?

Propagating Hawaiian Pothos is easy. All you do is take a stem cutting with a few nodes.

Submerge the nodes under water and in a few weeks this stem cutting will have roots. Then you can transfer your cutting into the preferred substrate.

Can you put Hawaiian Pothos cuttings directly into soil?

Place Hawaiian Pothos directly into soil and the plant can root this way. You’ll know if your plant has roots by softly tugging on the plant.

Is Hawaiian Pothos toxic to pets?

Yes, this plant is toxic to pets. You can get more information on toxic and pet-friendly plants at ASPCA here.

Common pests

Hawaiian Pothos are prone to pests just like any other houseplant. It’s important to regularly check your plants for pests on the stem of the plant as well as both sides of the foliage. Pests can quickly become a problem and even kill your plants which is why I recommend using some kind of pest preventative.

A great option for keeping pests at bay is Bonide Systemic Granules. All you do is sprinkle these granules on top of your plants soil and let it do its magic.

Bonide Systemic Granules are a great way to get rid of unwanted pests.

Common issues

Brown tips: If your Hawaiian Pothos has brown tips, this is most likely due to overwatering or underwatering. Make sure to use a moisture meter or check the soil with your finger before giving your plant any water.

Yellowing leaves: If your Hawaiian Pothos has yellowing leaves, this is usually a sign you are overwatering. Use your index finger or a moisture meter to check the plants soil before watering.

Curly leaves: If your Hawaiian Pothos has curly leaves, this may be a sign that your plant is in need of water or humidity. Boost the humidity around your plant by placing it near a humidifier or in a bathroom that gets daily showers.

Key Points To Remember

Hawaiian Pothos is a stunning houseplant that can grow both inside and outside the home.

The most important things to remember when taking care of this plant is to give it bright indirect sunlight, a boost of humidity, and regular fertilizer during the active growing season.

This is a fun plant that will reward you with incredible growth and foliage. Time to get one if you haven’t already!