A pothos needs 12–14 hours of moderate light per day. However, pothos plants are very adaptable and can grow under a variety of conditions. They can survive in lower light and can even withstand a few hours of daily direct sunlight, though this should be avoided if possible.
They’re able to grow under fluorescent lights or grow lights if they don’t have access to natural sunlight. As long as your pothos is receiving some kind of light, it will grow. However, in order for it to truly thrive, it must have ideal growing conditions.
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How Many Hours of Sun Does a Pothos Need?
A pothos grows best when exposed to 12–14 hours of sun each day. This should be moderate sunlight, which means it doesn’t need to be full, bright light. A pothos can do just fine in partially shaded areas.
- Ideally, a pothos should get 12–14 hours of moderate sunlight each day.
- Pothos plants also grow well in partially shaded areas.
- Although they can handle minimal direct sunlight, try to keep pothos plants in indirect sunlight
- If your pothos doesn’t have access to natural light, it will grow under indoor lighting.
While a pothos can survive minimal exposure to direct sunlight (no more than 2–3 hours per day), this should be avoided if possible. Overexposure to the sun can cause the pothos to burn and sustain sun damage. Additionally, a pothos can grow even if it isn’t exposed to natural light. These plants are great for offices or other indoor spaces because they can also grow under fluorescent or incandescent lights.
What Kind of a Light Does a Pothos Need?
A pothos will grow best in moderate, indirect sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can cause it to burn and become damaged. In very low-light environments, your pothos can fail to thrive if it’s not able to initiate photosynthesis.
- Your pothos will grow best in moderate, indirect sunlight.
- Too much direct sunlight can burn your plant.
- Too little sunlight can stop your pothos plant’s growth.
- If your pothos doesn’t have access to natural light, it can grow under a grow light or fluorescent lighting.
- If using indoor lighting, be sure to leave the lights on for at least 12–14 hours per day.
If you can’t expose your plant to natural light, place it under a grow light, or a fluorescent light. As long as it’s close enough to the light source, a pothos can grow and thrive under artificial lighting. Just be sure to keep the lights on for at least 12–14 hours per day.
Should You Put Your Pothos in Direct Sunlight?
While pothos plants are hardy, adaptable, and resilient, it is still possible to harm or damage them with improper care or growing conditions. For example, the pothos should not be put in direct sunlight. While this tropical plant can handle a couple of hours of direct daily sunlight, it can easily be damaged by overexposure to sun.
- You should not put your pothos in direct sunlight.
- A pothos plant can handle a couple of hours of direct daily sunlight, but this often leads to sun scorch.
- An overexposed pothos can develop sun damage.
- Yellow leaves with crispy brown edges are a sign of pothos sun damage.
- To avoid sun damage, keep your pothos out of direct sunlight.
Direct sunlight can cause your plant’s leaves to turn yellow or develop crispy, brown edges. Both are signs that your pothos is getting too much sun. An easy solution is to make sure your plant is not being exposed to direct sunlight.
Can Your Pothos Get Too Much Sun?
Your pothos can get too much sun. If it’s exposed to too many hours of sunlight, or subjected to lots of direct sun, it can easily become damaged. One telltale sign of this can be spotted on the leaves of a pothos. If your plant’s leaves start to turn yellow, your pothos is probably getting too much light.
- Your pothos can get too much sun.
- Too many hours of sunlight or too much direct sunlight can be damaging.
- If your plant’s leaves turn pale or yellow, it’s getting too much sun.
- Crispy, brown leaf edges also indicate sun damage.
- If your plant’s soil is constantly dry, it may also indicate that the plant’s environment is too hot and sunny. Consider moving it away from the light source.
If you notice crispy brown edges on your pothos’ leaves, it may be getting burned by the sun. Finally, if your plant’s soil always seems to be very dry, your pothos may be in too hot and sunny of a location. Consider moving it further away from the light source to prevent further damage.
Will a Pothos Grow in Shade?
A pothos will grow in shade, but not in total darkness. There must be some sort of light source available, even if it is a weak one. While it’s possible for your pothos to grow in shade, it can show signs of struggle when it doesn’t get enough light. For example, variegated varieties of pothos may lose their design and turn solid green in low-light environments.
- A pothos can grow in shade, but not complete darkness.
- If your pothos isn’t getting enough light, it will show signs of distress.
- Variegated varieties may lose their designs and turn solid green.
- Your pothos might stop growing, or only produce small, weak leaves if it isn’t getting enough light.
- A leaning plant is a sign of insufficient light. To combat this, rotate the plant regularly, or move it closer to the light source.
If your pothos starts producing small, weak leaves, or stops growing altogether, it may need more light. Finally, pothos plants grown in shade may start to grow at an angle, towards the nearest light source. To avoid having a crooked plant, move your pothos closer to the light, or be sure to rotate it frequently so all sides receive equal amounts of light.
Pothos Light Requirements
Pothos are resilient plants that can grow in a variety of conditions, ranging from partial shade to bright sunlight, to even artificial lighting. However, they do best when exposed to moderate, indirect sunlight for 12–14 hours each day. Too much light can cause them to burn and suffer sun damage, while too little light can stunt their growth and erase variegations. To help your pothos thrive, place it in a well-lit area where it receives several hours of indirect exposure daily.
