Houseplant owners treasure pothos plants for their beautiful trailing foliage. These tropical vines are also packed with meaning and symbolism, especially in feng shui. Knowing exactly where to position pothos plants in your home helps you maximize the positive power of these fantastic plants. In this article, we’ll run through the best locations for pothos plants in your home for optimal care and energy flow.
- Where to Position Pothos Plants in the Home – The Essentials
- About Pothos Plants
- Pothos Plants and Feng Shui
- Where to Position Pothos Plants in the Home
- Where NOT to Place Pothos Plants in the Home
- Where to Place Pothos Plants Outdoors
- Essential Pothos Plant Care
- Where to Position Pothos Plants FAQs
- Where to Position Pothos Plants – The Final Word
Where to Position Pothos Plants in the Home – The Essentials
Pothos plants are thought to be capable of absorbing negative energy in the home while also producing positive energy flows. Place pothos on top of cabinets or unused corners where negative energy congregates. Pothos also promote good luck, so place them in the southeast areas of a room linked to wealth and prosperity.
About Pothos Plants
Pothos are climbing or trailing vines from the Arum family (Araceae) that are indigenous to French Polynesia. Pothos have also colonized Australia, Southern Asia, parts of South Africa, and the Pacific islands. The most common species is Epipremnum aureum, also known as devil’s ivy or golden pothos.
Pothos has stunning heart-shaped green leaves and thrives in warm, humid, tropical forests. These vines can climb trees and other structures using aerial roots and prefer the dappled shade underneath the canopy.
As houseplants, pothos plants also have several benefits, including purifying the air, helping to reduce stress, and making excellent ornamental plants. They come in several varieties, from bright green Neon pothos to variegated varieties such as ‘Marble Queen’.
Pothos Plants and Feng Shui
Despite not being native to Asia, pothos plants have become well-known feng shui plants. Pothos plants are associated with positive energy because they can thrive in almost any environment. In addition, they are also thought to absorb negative energy from your home.
Pothos plants can also help purify the air inside your home. According to NASA’s Clean Air Study, pothos can absorb chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene from the surrounding air. This reinforces the belief that pothos plants can reduce negative energy in a home.
Pothos plants may also represent abundance and prosperity in feng shui. These prolific vines are linked to good luck and financial success. Pothos is known as the’ money plant’ in some areas of South Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
Where to Position Pothos Plants in the Home
The Bagua Map
As a philosophy, feng shui focuses on the different currents of energy that flow through and around your home environment. By adapting the features and furnishings of your home in specific ways, you may channel different types of energy that you want to cultivate. Plants are some of the best feng shui devices you can use because they bring natural energies into your home.
In feng shui, the Bagua map is used to divide an entire house or individual rooms into nine different energy areas. These are:
- Center = Health (Tai Qi)
- North = Career (Kan)
- Northeast = Knowledge (Gen)
- East = Family (Zhen)
- Southeast = Prosperity and Wealth (Xun)
- South = Fame and Reputation (Li)
- Southwest = Relationships (Kun)
- West = Children and Creativity (Dui)
- Northwest = Travel and Helpful People (Qian)
Pothos plants are thought to absorb negative energy (or chi) and radiate positive energy. Negative energy tends to congregate on top of cupboards and other dark or unused spaces. Because pothos plants can tolerate shade and have trailing foliage, they’re ideal for boosting the positive energy in these areas.
Pothos plants are also linked to good luck, financial prosperity, and wealth. According to the Bagua map, the southeastern corner of a room is associated with these qualities. So, this is an ideal place for pothos plants. This works especially well if you work from home and want to cultivate a successful environment in your office.
Another important part of the Bagua map is how different areas relate to the five elements; earth, fire, metal, water, and wood. Like other houseplants, pothos plants are associated with the wood element. On the Bagua map, the wood element is associated with eastern and southeastern areas.
Considerations for the Care Needs of Pothos Plants
The ideal position for a pothos is usually a southeastern or eastern-facing window. This provides some light during the morning but not intense sunlight in the afternoon. This matches up well with the best areas of the Bagua map for pothos plants.
Pothos plants can tolerate shadier areas, so light isn’t usually an issue in terms of placement. Pothos grows best when allowed to trail down, so putting them on top of a cabinet or shelf is ideal. Even if these areas are slightly shadier, the pothos will still thrive.
That said, pothos work well in bathrooms, which are more humid than other areas of the home. However, this isn’t essential and doesn’t necessarily match with the ideal feng shui positions for pothos plants.
Where NOT to Place Pothos Plants in the Home
The Five Elements theory of feng shui, called Wu Xing, studies the relationships between the five elements mentioned earlier. Some elements nurture others, while certain combinations will clash. This helps us work out some areas where we shouldn’t place pothos plants.
Pothos and other plants are associated with the wood element. Wood is weakened by fire, which governs the southern part of the Bagua map. Putting pothos plants in southern areas could weaken their ability to produce positive energy and absorb negative energy.
Similarly, certain elements can clash and conflict with each other. Because metal can slice through wood, this creates a conflict between the two elements. Metal governs the West and Northwest areas of the Bagua map, potentially making these areas unsuitable for pothos plants.
Where to Place Pothos Plants Outdoors
Although usually kept as a houseplant, pothos may also be grown outdoors in the garden or on a patio. Because they need a tropical climate, pothos plants are best suited to gardens in USDA Growing Zones 10 to 12.
One thing to keep in mind is that pothos plants can become invasive in new tropical environments. Check your local regulations to see if pothos is listed as an invasive species. To limit the risk of spreading, grow pothos in pots with a pole to climb up.
Pothos plants need a warm, humid, shaded location when grown outdoors. Dappled sunlight in the morning is ideal, but direct afternoon sun will cause problems.
Essential Pothos Plant Care
Pothos plants are one of the easiest houseplants to care for, making them ideal for novice plant parents. Pothos plants can tolerate most lighting conditions from full shade up to bright, indirect sunlight. However, direct sunlight can scorch the leaves and turn them yellow, so avoid areas with direct sun. Variegated pothos plants can be particularly susceptible to light.
During the spring and summer, pothos plants generally need watering once per week. Check that the top two or three inches of soil is dry before watering. This helps avoid problems like overwatering and root rot which can lead to pothos plants dropping leaves.
Pothos generally need warm, humid conditions to grow at their best. A room temperature somewhere between 65 and 75ºF is ideal, with humidity levels ranging from 40% to 60%. Usually, if you’re comfortable with the humidity and temperature of your home, a pothos will be too.
Pothos plants should be pruned in the spring before new growth begins. This also provides a perfect opportunity to propagate pothos plants using the cuttings. Always cut just below a leaf node when pruning and propagating to ensure healthy regrowth.
Spring is also the best time for repotting pothos plants, which needs doing every one or two years. During the spring and summer, fertilize pothos plants once a month with diluted fertilizer to ensure plenty of growth. Cease fertilizing during the winter.
Where to Position Pothos Plants FAQs:
What room is best for a pothos plant?
An office is ideal for a pothos plant because they promote good fortune and prosperity and dispel negative energy. Eastern or southeastern rooms provide the best growing conditions for pothos.
How far away from the window should a Pothos Plant be?
Pothos do best approximately three feet away from eastern or southeastern windows. In brighter south or southwestern rooms, they should be between eight and ten feet away from the window.
Can I put my pothos plant in a corner?
Pothos are ideal plants for corners because they reduce the negative energy of these areas. Pothos plants that are trained to climb up poles make excellent ornamental plants for corners.
Can pothos plants thrive in low-light environments?
Pothos can grow quite happily in low-light environments, although growth will be slower in full shade. Partial shade is ideal.
Can pothos plants tolerate drafts?
Pothos plants don’t do well with drafts because they need warm, humid conditions to thrive. Keep pothos away from air vents or radiators to avoid drafts.
Where to Position Pothos Plants – The Final Word
Pothos plants are low-maintenance houseplants that have several benefits in feng shui. When placed in southeastern areas, pothos can help increase good fortune and prosperity. Pothos are well-suited to east-facing rooms and thrive in these environments.
For more, see our in-depth guide on whether pothos plants are pet friendly.
Edd is a budding content writer and gardener living in the United Kingdom. He has a bachelor's degree in Creative and Professional Writing and has written for several gardening publications online. He is passionate about nature and sustainability with a focus on gardening and wildlife.
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