In an ideal world, yes. In the real world — the one where you have other things to think about — it matters a lot less than the internet would have you believe.
The Honest Answer
I have experimented extensively with fertiliser.
- Every time I water
- Half strength
- Full strength
- Monthly
- Every two months.
- Never
- Different brands
- Different types
The difference it made compared to getting the light and watering right? Minimal.
Humidity and temperature had a more noticeable effect than fertiliser ever did.
I’m not saying don’t feed your Pothos (I’m also not not saying that). I’m saying don’t stress about it — and definitely don’t reach for fertiliser when something is wrong.
Fertiliser Will Not Fix A Struggling Plant
If your Pothos has yellow leaves, brown tips, or is generally looking miserable, fertiliser is not the answer.
A plant that’s struggling with light, watering, or pests doesn’t need feeding — it needs the underlying problem fixed first.
Think about it this way: if you were ill and hadn’t eaten in days, someone offering you a multivitamin wouldn’t be particularly helpful.
Your Pothos feels the same way about liquid feed when its roots are sitting in waterlogged soil.
Sort the light. Get the watering right. Then, once you have a healthy plant that’s actively growing, you can think about feeding it.
How Often Should You Fertilise Pothos?
Nobody actually agrees. I don’t think anyone knows.
In fact, I would go as far to say that since we don’t eat Pothos, nobody cares.
I mean, the houseplant industry benefits from not knowing, because they want us to kill our Pothos and buy more.
For every article that calls Pothos heavy feeders that need regular fertilising, there are five more warning you off feeding too often because of fertiliser burn.
A reasonable middle ground is a diluted feed once a month during the growing season (spring and summer), and nothing over winter if (note the if) growth slows. Half strength is safer than full strength if you’re uncertain — you can always feed more, you can’t un-feed.
But if you forget, or if you go three months without feeding, your Pothos will be fine.
What Fertiliser Should You Use?
A balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser is all you need.
I’ve tried a lot of them — seaweed feed, silica, various specialist houseplant brands, tomato feed, Miracle-Gro. The differences between them, for Pothos, are negligible. Pick one, use it at half the recommended strength, and don’t overthink it.
Superthrive gets mentioned a lot in houseplant circles, especially around LECA. I…don’t think it does anything.
If your Pothos lives in LECA or water rather than soil, you’ll need a hydroponic fertiliser — standard soil feeds can’t be absorbed properly without a growing medium. That’s covered in more detail in the LECA and growing in water articles.
I use the General Hydroponics fertilizer for all my plants. It comprises of three bottles that you mix together. I’ve found it lasts YEARS, probably because I never use it.
What About Homemade Fertilisers?
Rice water, banana peel tea, eggshell water — you’ll see all of these recommended online as natural, free alternatives to shop-bought fertiliser.
Do they work?
Possibly, to some minor degree.
Does it matter?
Nope.
GNATS. GNATS. GNATS.
Trust me, every gnat in the vicinity will find your plant extremely interesting once you start pouring fermented banana water on it.
Coffee grounds come up a lot too. They don’t do much as a fertiliser, but they do add a bit of grit to the soil surface which can slightly improve drainage and water retention — and slugs hate the texture, if that’s relevant to you. They’re not harmful, but they’re not fertiliser either.
Save yourself the trouble and use a proper feed if you’re going to feed at all.
I’ve run a houseplant blog for years. I’ve tried them all – epsom salts, cinnamon, baking powder.
They are not worth your time.
The Bottom Line
Pothos are not heavy feeders. I don’t think.
They are not plants that require a precise fertilising schedule to stay healthy.
Get the light and watering sorted first — those two things will do more for your Pothos than any fertiliser ever will.
Once your plant is growing well and you want to support that growth, a diluted balanced feed once a month through spring and summer is plenty. If you forget, it genuinely doesn’t matter.
FAQ
Do Pothos need fertiliser
They benefit from it, but it’s far from essential — especially for beginners. Light and watering have far more impact on how well your Pothos grows than fertiliser does. If you want to feed, a diluted balanced liquid fertiliser once a month through spring and summer is plenty.
What happens if you don’t fertilise pothos?
Nothing, especially in the short term. Pothos in fresh potting mix have nutrients available from the soil itself for several months. Long-term, growth may slow without any feed, but they’re unlikely to suffer dramatically.
Can you over-fertilise pothos?
Apparently, according a lot of people on Reddit. I never have, and I’ve…sort of tried to (for science!!).
Too much fertiliser ALLEGEDLY causes salt build-up in the soil which damages roots — this is fertiliser burn, and it shows up as brown leaf tips. Using half the recommended strength significantly reduces the risk.
NB plants love having brown tips for any reason. It doesn’t necessarily mean fertiliser burn.
What is the best fertiliser for pothos?
A balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half strength is all you need. There’s no magic product — the differences between brands are negligible for a plant as unfussy as Pothos.
Should I fertilise pothos in winter?
If it’s actively growing, yes. If it isn’t no.
Can I use coffee grounds on pothos?
Coffee grounds aren’t a meaningful fertiliser for Pothos. They add a little grit to the soil surface which can slightly reduce water retention, but don’t rely on them as a feed. Stick to a proper liquid fertiliser if you want to feed your plant.