Pothos

If a friend tells me they "can't keep anything alive," pothos is the plant I send them home with. It's a fast-growing trailing vine that asks for very little and forgives almost everything. You'll see it sold as golden, marble queen, neon, and jade — same care across the board.

Light

Pothos tolerates low light better than almost any houseplant, which is why it survives in offices and dim hallways. But "tolerates" isn't "thrives": in bright indirect light it grows faster and the variegation (the cream and yellow streaks) stays vivid. In a dark corner those markings fade toward plain green. Keep it out of harsh direct sun, which scorches the leaves.

Watering

Let the top 2–3cm of soil dry out between waterings, then water thoroughly until it drains. Pothos is wonderfully honest about thirst — the leaves go soft and slightly limp, and perk back up within hours of a drink. Err on the side of under- rather than over-watering; soggy soil is the one thing that will actually kill it. Water less in winter.

Common problems

Yellow leaves almost always mean overwatering — let it dry out more between drinks. Long bare stems with leaves only at the ends mean it wants more light. Crispy brown tips point to under-watering or very dry air. None of these are emergencies; pothos bounces back readily.