Pothos isn’t a hungry house plant, but feed it during the growing season for the best results. The best NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) Pothos fertilizer is a 3-1-2 ratio.
Read and follow package instructions carefully. Feed your plant once a month with a ½ strength mixture, starting in spring and through the summer. Do not fertilize during the autumn and winter months.
What Elements Should Be Included In Pothos Fertilizer?
The most important elements in a good fertilizer for Pothos are potassium and nitrogen. Potassium and nitrogen work together to keep your plants strong and healthy.
Potassium helps Pothos’ leaves stay green. If plants lack potassium, you will notice that the leaves are pale green or perhaps even yellow or brown.
Pothos especially need nitrogen to produce big, healthy leaves and strong stems and branches. In addition, nitrogen stimulates your plants’ growth rate.
What Are The Best Kinds Of Pothos Fertilizer?
Standard houseplant fertilizer is good. There are also several types of fertilizer on the market formulated especially for Pothos.
Remember that the first number in the NPK rating (nitrogen) should be a bit higher than the second number (phosphorus), and the third number (potassium) should be the lowest by just a bit. [source]
On the other hand, if you are suspicious of chemical products, you may want to try making your own Pothos fertilizer by preparing some rice water. This is also known as Taomi water.
Is it Better to Purchase Specialty Pothos Fertilizer or Make Your Own?
Store-Bought Fertilizer is Convenient
Commercially made houseplant fertilizers and specially formulated for Pothos are affordable, easy, and convenient. The manufacturers of these fertilizers create their products with the plants’ growth habits in mind.
When you purchase a high-quality product, your plant feeding regimen can be quite carefree.
Making Rice Water Fertilizer for Your Pothos is Easy
There are three simple ways to make rice water for your Pothos.
#1 The Soaking Method
With this fast method, you would put half a cup of dry rice into two or three cups of distilled, filtered, or rainwater.
Allow the rice to soak for half an hour, and then pour the mixture through a strainer into a clean watering can. You can go ahead and use the rice for cooking if you wish. Use the water for your plants.
#2 The Fermenting Method
Rice that has been fermented has a bit more nutrition than rice that has been soaked.
If you want to ferment your rice, instead of straining it and using it right away, cover it and set it in a shaded place to ferment for a couple of days before straining it and using it for your plants. Then, toss the rice into your compost bin or heap.
#3 The Boiling Method
Follow the steps in #1, but boil the rice and water for about 5 minutes instead of soaking and straining. Then, turn off the heat, cover the rice, and allow it to sit until it is completely cool (room temperature).
Strain it and use the water for your plants. Then, you can toss the cooked rice into a soup or other recipe that would benefit from it.