Pothos

**klogue1** · 04-26-2012, 07:45 PM

So after reading some articles on caring for Pothos, I decided I'd give it a shot and see if I could get it to work in my terrarium, and bought a small potted Golden Pothos, about 2-3" tall. I'm not sure just yet if I want to use the 40 gallon breeder for my future CG, so I've considered using a 20 gallon long I have but turned on it's side so it's pretty tall.

Now I just have some questions about keeping it in the tank and the plant itself

You could say I actually have a black thumb when it comes to gardening...

I read that once the roots start filling up the planter it's time to up the planter size. Can anyone tell me if this happens in a vivarium, when the plants will occasionally be cut back to avoid getting too big? Or will this happen anyways, no matter what?

What's a good medium to use that is safe? I read somewhere coconut fiber will work. I know it's not toxic to geckos but will it work for the plant? If not, could I add something like Sphagnum moss to it?

Last question

I'm still unsure if pothos climbs or just hangs down, or both. If it is able to climb, is there some way I can incorporate it to actually climb up instead of flowing out the sides, or will it do that anyways? I know certain vegetable and fruit plants climb, such a grapes, and people use tall stakes or wooden sticks for the plant to grab onto.
Also (I know I said last question lol... sorry) to go with the above, has anyone ever tried using the wooden stakes in the viv to make the plant grow up, then some sort of horizontal surface like bamboo bars that the plant could climb up, as well as across the bars (assuming the plant climbs)? Just a little idea I thought of, sounds kind of interesting to try

Again thanks so much! I started with two questions and the rest just exploded out...

**ZeeTwii** · 04-26-2012, 08:34 PM

If you kill a pothos, you need medical help. The only thing hardier then them is a snake plant.

As for your questions:

1.) Yes, plants can outgrow their terrarium. Simply prune the vines if it starts taking up too much space, it's not difficult.

2.) Pure coconut husks would not work well. In a viv you need a mix that avoids compaction. This helps aerate the roots, and reduces the risk of root rot. I've had good success with a mix that's 2-3 parts potting soil, 1 part sphagnum moss, and 1 part orchid bark.

3.) I don't believe pothos will naturally climb. However you can always attach the vines to the set up to make it appear that its climbing. A lot of people like to use the bamboo stakes here, and they seem to work well. They will eventually rot though.

Also, please make sure you research and build a proper drainage layer first. Nothing will kill your plant faster then root rot.

**sciroccojim** · 04-26-2012, 08:40 PM

Others will probably chime in to provide better info, but I'll throw this in:

I'm really bad with plants and mine is thriving. They like water, which helps with the humidity in the tank and makes it easier to care for them....just keep the soil nice and moist.

I used topsoil and put the entire little plastic pot in a medium-sized corner planter and filled the surrounding space with topsoil. No potting soil or anything that has any plant food added. It has been in there for about two months and sort of creeps up the corner as it gets larger but I've been thinking of adding a dowel or something and loosely tying the branches to it so it stays vertical.

One last thought: my gargoyle wasn't at all interested in the plant, choosing the egg crate that's still in the tank as preferred cover but he began to shed the other day and has been hanging out in it ever since. I think it's a bit more humid there and that helps. In any case, I plan to update the decor with a cork round and a plastic plant but I'm hoping that the pothos has become his new friend.

**klogue1** · 04-26-2012, 08:45 PM

Awesome, thank you for the info!

Oh, and Zee I guess I should add I don't plan to make a completely naturalistic viv and all, just the Pothos in a small planter and maybe add more later on. Is drainage a problem in planters as well?

**acpart** · 04-27-2012, 06:48 PM

I use pothos in all my humid planted vivs, all from the same plant. I have a drainage layer of hydroton and mesh with about 3" of coco fiber on top. The pothos is planted directly into the coco fiber. I bought a fake vine (those bendable things about 3/4" in diameter) and shaped it so it loops upwards. The pothos climbs up the vine and the geckos can sit on the vine and be in the plants instead of putting all their weight on the plants.

Aliza

**Shutter** · 04-27-2012, 07:16 PM

Pothos grows easily and quickly, so you'll definitely have to trim it back sooner then later. It naturally wants to hang really, but you should be able train it to climb, it will produce arial roots at the nodes. I don't have it in my viv because it grows a bit too wild and quickly for my taste. Potted you shouldn't need a drainage layer unless your container has a closed bottom, but remember it could leak if over watered a bit. For substrate, remember that fertilizer is bad for the animals and natural potting mix could equal manure which could equal bad bacteria. I'd still use a viv friendly/recommended substrate for your pot like abg mix or something.