Why is My Pothos Dripping Water?

Why is My Pothos Dripping Water

It’s never a pleasant experience when you look over to your beloved indoor plants and find that they have been leaking water.

If this scenario is familiar, you are likely to ask yourself, “why is my pothos dripping water?”

This could be due to a combination of factors. Keep reading to learn why your pothos is dripping water and what you can do to address the problem.

Let’s get started.

Why is My Pothos Dripping Water?

Pothos drip because of a process known as guttation. This happens when the plant absorbs more water than it needs through its root system and is unable to use this excess moisture. As a result, the plant will expel this extra water out of its leaves in order to maintain balance.

Understanding Guttation

Guttation is a natural process of water droplets exuding from plant foliage. The main cause of guttation is when plants transpire at high rates.

This causes the pressure of root-produced xylem sap to increase. This then forces the water droplets through the tiny pores in leaf tissue.

Guttation occurs between dusk and dawn during hot summer periods when temperatures are highest. This is when transpiration rates are also at their peak.

Guttation can be beneficial for some plants, but often more detrimental than helpful if the soil becomes too dry or waterlogged.

Therefore it is important to maintain optimal soil humidity levels for healthy guttation to occur.

Most people do not know how to identify guttation as it is difficult to detect and often confused with dew droplets.

It is important to understand the difference between these two types of plant hydration. This will help you make sure that your plants are able to transpire and guttate properly.

Transpiration occurs when water evaporates from a plant’s leaves, while guttation happens when liquid water is excreted from the tips of leaves.

Why is My Pothos Plant Dripping Water?

Why is My Pothos Dripping Water

There are several reasons why your Pothos plant may be dripping water. Here are some of the most common causes why pothos leaves drip water:

High humidity

Pothos like their environment moist but not soggy. The Pothos plant will often produce more water than necessary when the moisture levels rise and drop.

Excess humidity may cause the water to drip down its leaves. If you want to keep your Pothos plant healthy, try to keep the humidity around it at a consistent level.

You can do this by using a humidifier or placing multiple plants together in a room with higher humidity.

Over-watering

Always overwatering plants is one of the most common culprits. Pothos are sensitive to too much water and will leak excess through their soil and leaves if overwatered.

When pothos plants are given excess water than they can absorb, the pressure will build up, and the plant will find a way to release it.

To alleviate the pressure, leaves will remove water through their pores to reduce inner water content.

Pothos’ resilience is profoundly demonstrated by this. Plants that take part in guttation are much better equipped to manage excess water than those which do not.

Nonetheless, it is crucial to remember that overwatering can be excessively damaging and result in yellow leaves and root rot over time.

To prevent this, be careful with the watering schedule. Make sure you’re only giving your plant the amount of water it needs, which is usually about once a week.

If you need clarification about the humidity levels in your home, you may purchase a hygrometer.

Over-fertilizing

Fertilizers are essential for healthy plant growth and development. However, over-fertilizing can cause excess nutrients to enter the soil.

This leads to an excess build-up of salts which in turn reduces active transport.  As a result, water accumulates and is excreted through the leaves as droplets.

The best fertilizer for pothos is a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.

High temperature

Pothos release excess water as a way to cool down if the temperature around them is too high. If your pothos plant is near a window that gets sunlight, it may be causing the drips.

The warmer temperature in that area could be to blame. A pothos prefers airs that between 18-30℃ (65-86℉) and becomes stressed when temperatures reach beyond 28℃ (82℉).

To ensure optimal health, make sure its location is away from any direct light and remains at a comfortable temperature to allow the moisture to evaporate off its leaves over time.

Usually, a home or office temperature is ideal.

Repotting

If you recently repotted your Pothos plant, it may be dripping water as a result of the disturbance to its roots. When potting plants, it is important to make sure the soil is moist.

Because pothos needs proper drainage ensure the drainage holes are open so that excess water can escape.

It is also possible that a lot of loose soil may have accumulated around the plant’s root structure. Try to remove the loose soil and give your plant some time to recover before watering it.

Your pothos should stop dripping if it has been watered and provided with appropriate care.

Incorrect pot size

If you notice water dripping from your pothos plant, it is likely an indication that your pot size is incorrect.

If the pot is too small for the root system and foliage, the soil will retain too much water and eventually drip.

If your Pothos is in a pot that is too large, the soil may stay too wet for too long. This can cause overwatering and, subsequently, water dripping from the leaves. 

The easiest solution is repotting the pothos in a larger container with plenty of drain holes to prevent this issue from occurring again.

Clogged air holes on the pot bottom

Pothos plants shed excess water as a result of clogged air holes in the bottom of their pot. When air holes are blocked, water builds up within the soil and is expelled from the plant. 

Make sure to unclog any blocked air holes so that your Pothos can properly absorb moisture. The simplest solution is to unclog these air holes, which should stop any further dripping.

Interesting read: Why is my Monstera Dripping?

How to Stop Your Pothos Plants from Dripping Water

1. Check the pot regularly for signs of water leakage.

2. Make sure to properly water your pothos plant and always empty out any leftover water from the saucer.

3. Pot your pothos in a ceramic or terracotta pot with drainage holes in the bottom to help excess water flow out more easily.

4. Increase the amount of air moisture circulation around your pothos by occasionally wiping down its leaves with a damp cloth.

5. Consider repotting into an unglazed clay pot, which will absorb extra moisture, reducing chances of leakage.

6. Use pebbles at the base of the pot to keep your soil dryer for longer periods.

7. Reduce watering frequency; only provide enough when you notice that topsoil has dried up completely.

8 . Mulch over wet soils can help prevent it from getting too soggy.

9. Move your pothos away from sources of high humidity and moisture, such as bathrooms or kitchens.

10. Remove any standing water around your pothos that can contribute to more condensation and leakage.

11. Prune dead or dying leaves to reduce excess moisture in the pot.

12. Make sure your pothos is placed in an area with good air circulation and sunlight. This will help to dry up excess water.

13. Consider using a potting mix with good drainage properties, such as a mixture of peat moss and perlite.

14. Place your pothos in a pot with a mesh insert to allow excess water to drain away easily.

FAQs

Are the water droplets on Pothos toxic?

No, water droplets on pothos leaves are not toxic. However, it is important to note that these droplets may contain bacteria or other microorganisms which can cause disease. So, it is important to clean any droplets from the leaves to maintain a healthy plant.

Should I mist Pothos?

No, you should not mist pothos. If you need to increase humidity, it’s better to use a humidifier or place the pot on top of a saucer of pebbles with water. Water droplets that collect on pothos leaves can carry fungi and bacteria, which may be toxic when ingested or inhaled.

Conclusion

Indoor pothos plants are well-known for their ability to live in many different conditions and require less maintenance than other plants.

While it can be common for pothos leaves to drip water at times, it is important to make sure they stay healthy.

This is by understanding what environmental factors may make them vulnerable like too much sunlight or water, temperature changes, or certain pests.

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