Everyone says Pothos are low light plants.
Everyone is wrong.
These plants come from French Polynesia — one of the sunnier corners of the planet.
The low light myth has been doing the rounds for so long that it’s basically accepted wisdom, but accepted wisdom is how you end up with a sad, small-leafed plant in a dark hallway wondering what she’s doing wrong.
Here’s where to actually put your Pothos.
Near A Window. An Actual Window.
The single most important thing you can do for your Pothos is put it near a window. Not across the room from a window. Not in a corner that gets a bit of reflected light. Near a window.
South and west-facing windows are ideal — plenty of light through the day without being too intense. East-facing works well too, with gentle morning light. North-facing is worth considering depending on your situation and the time of year — more on that below.
The further your Pothos is from a window, the less light it gets, the slower it grows, the smaller the leaves, and the harder it becomes to water correctly because the soil stays wet for much longer.
What About North-Facing Windows?
Here’s something that surprised me.
I moved one of my Pothos to a north-facing window during a heatwave and it was one of the happiest plants in the house.
Warm but not baking, and extraordinarily long hours of soft light — we’re talking sunset at 10pm. It thrived.
The catch is that a north-facing window in summer and a north-facing window in winter are completely different propositions.
I don’t have the heart to tell my Pothos that life won’t always be this good. In the darker months, a north-facing spot may not cut it, and you’ll either need to move the plant or add a grow light.
Spots To Avoid
Dark corners and hallways. Your Pothos will survive. It will not be happy. Small leaves, slow growth, and an increasing vulnerability to overwatering are all waiting for you down this path.
On top of high furniture far from windows. This is purely aesthetic and your plant knows it. The light up there is worse than you think.
Windowless bathrooms. The humidity is nice, the light is not. Unless you’re adding a grow light, skip it.
What About The Kitchen Or Bathroom?
Ehhhh.
Bathrooms and kitchens can be cold and their claims of high humidity are overblown. I’m not saying don’t put your Pothos in one, just…don’t assume it’s the best place.
Can I Put My Pothos Outside In Summer?
Yes, in a sheltered spot out of harsh midday sun. Pothos do well outside in warm weather and the natural light will do wonders for growth. Just bring it back in before temperatures drop at night — they don’t like the cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to put a Pothos in your home?
Near a window, ideally south or west-facing. The closer to the window, the better — as long as it’s not sitting in harsh direct sun all afternoon without having had time to adjust.
Can I put my Pothos in a bathroom?
Bathrooms get recommended a lot for humidity-loving plants, and it sounds logical — but in practice they’re not as good as people think. They’re only humid when the shower’s running or the bath is full. The rest of the time they tend to be cold and lit by small windows that let in diffused light at best.
A Pothos will cope in a bathroom. It’s not going to thrive there. If it’s the only spot you have, fine — but don’t put your best plant in there expecting it to love it.
There are definite exceptions to this (not to brag, but my bathroom has a HUGE south-facing window and my Hoya love it in there in summer) but bathrooms are not the plant utopia a lot of people think they are.
Can Pothos go outside?
Yes, in warm weather in a sheltered spot. Keep them out of harsh midday sun until they’ve had time to adjust, and bring them back in before it gets cold at night.
Is a north-facing window ok for a Pothos?
In summer, often yes — especially if the days are long. In winter, probably not without a grow light to compensate.
Why does everyone say Pothos are low light plants?
Because they survive in low light, and survival gets mistaken for preference. They tolerate it. They don’t love it.