Thank you! That's really helpful. So if I try to propagate now, then what happens to the current plant? I just discard it?

You're welcome. Hard to say what the old root mass would do without knowing the condition in the pot, or exactly where you would make the cuts.

Assuming the roots are ready for action, and light/moisture/temp continue within acceptable range... if you leave at least one leaf per stem, it's reasonable to expect it to keep growing. There are quite a few leaves right at the top of the pot, so it wouldn't really look naked, even when you first did the haircut. Also not something you have to do all at once, and not something that can't wait until spring, if you're a take the plants outside person.

But better than having separate, more sparse pots... Get a bigger pot and put the trimmed mama roots in the same pot with the cuttings. That's what I would do. About two weeks before you're ready for repotting, trim whatever vines you think should be trimmed and put them in water to soften the aerial root nubs (pic below of one with white growth breaking through the harder brown covering, same cutting as pictured above after soaking for about 10 days.)

The main point is that it's easy to make this plant conform to your expectations, either a few really long sparsely-leaved things, or a fluffy-looking pot of lots of close-together leaves. What I've been describing takes some sacrifice initially, and is for obtaining the latter, which if maintained well, can eventually be one of those hanging (or pedestal) plants with a solid shower of long things too numerous to count, not just a few.

The maintaining would be after the initial sacrifice of cutting most vines. Once it starts growing long again, occasionally remove the longest one and stick it back in the pot (after the brief soaking.) Shouldn't need another drastic haircut (which usually requires one to look at a bunch of cut ends for a while.) Repotting before the roots solidly fill the pot can help keep as many healthy looking leaves on the vines as possible. BUT when it is in a constant of renewal as described above, this kind of vining plant doesn't need repotting as often as upright, single-stem/trunk entities. At any given point, a lot of the roots are new, and there are always new vines coming from the top. Starting with a nice, big pot helps to keep the repotting episodes spaced as far apart as possible.

About the soil in the pot, what have you been using?

This is a great education for me. I am relatively new to keeping plants - I have killed several and am only starting to really try to learn how to maintain them better (hence finally using this account I created last year). I don't know too much about the soil. I got this plant from my parents this summer and I suspect they either haven't changed the soil since they got it, or used whatever soil they were putting in the beds in the garden. So I think in the spring I will need to change that. Is there a type of soil that would be versatile enough for most house plants?

I would eventually like a full, long plant so I will certainly follow this recommendation. I am relatively new to keeping plants - I have killed several and am only starting to really try to learn how to maintain them better (hence finally using this account I created last year). I don't know too much about the soil. I got this plant from my parents this summer and I suspect they either haven't changed the soil since they got it, or used whatever soil they were putting in the beds in the garden. So I think in the spring I will need to change that. Is there a type of soil that would be versatile enough for most house plants?

Woops, I guess I accidentally posted twice with the same thing. I am learning how to use this forum. Apologies!

Woops, I guess I accidentally posted twice with the same thing. I am learning how to use this forum. Apologies!

Woops, I guess I accidentally posted twice with the same thing. I am learning how to use this forum. Apologies!

Not your fault, there's some kind of gremlin today...

You may feel more informed about soil, why most people turn away from bagged potting soils of mostly peat after reading this link, and seeing some great pics of great mixes.

Potting media aren't exactly soil. I suspect that one reason commercial potting mixes lean so much toward peat is that it looks and feels more like soil than the media that people here favor, while not being quite as unsuited for potted plants as garden dirt would be.

I highly recommend the link purpleinopp posted. The one point where I think Al (tapla) overstated his case is drainage layers. As far as I'm concerned, a drainage layer is a wick. If it weren't, you couldn't water from the bottom and have it wick the water up into the pot. That's how I always watered before I understood the problem of salt accumulation, and it worked ok with every drainage layer I ever made. But I probably shouldn't go on about it any more here: the discussion is lower down in that thread. I'll just add that even though I like drainage layers perfectly well with the peaty materials I have on hand, the mixes Al recommends are obviously better if you're willing to find the materials and use them as recommended.

Here is a link that might be useful: that same link again

Hi, I have followed the instructions and left my cut pieces sitting in water for nearly 2 weeks. However, nothing is happening to the root area - it looks the same as the day I cut them (meaning no white roots breaking through). Should I keep leaving it there or go ahead and plant?

Hi Kamak,

If you live in a relatively northern latitude, things are likely to take longer at this time of year. Are the bottom ends (the ends in the water) of your cuttings still firm, not mushy or slimy? All is fine, then--it's just that weaker sunlight and cooler temps slow down growth. You can root pothos in soil (meaning you could go ahead and plant now), but. in my experience, they're a little easier to root in water, especially at this time of year. I'd give them a little more time in water. Just my opinion, though.

Amanda

This post was edited by asarumgreenpanda on Mon, Mar 4, 13 at 20:38

Kamak, can you add a pic of your cuttings?

My plant is doing the same thing except its starting at the root and slowly spreading down. About 2 weeks ago the plant just starting withering. Then last week it began to turn yellow and now its spreading downward. Does anyone know what this is and how to fix it.