The Epipremnum Aureum, often referred to as Devil's Ivy or "Golden Pothos", is a beautiful and extremely robust houseplant that brings a vibrant jungle atmosphere into your home. With its unique, heart-shaped leaves, dressed in a striking pattern, this plant adds a touch of nature to any environment. A fascinating feature of this plant is its incredible adaptability and vigor – it trails tirelessly and forgives almost any care mistake. The bright green base color of the leaves is complemented by a golden-yellow to creamy-white variegation (marbling), which provides a beautiful contrast. The stems are strong and form small aerial roots, giving the plant an additional dimension.
Typical characteristics:
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heart-shaped, decorative leaves with golden-yellow variegation
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extremely easy to care for and robust (the ultimate beginner plant)
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grows quickly, either climbing or hanging
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has air-purifying properties
☀️ Location, Soil and Co.
Devil's Ivy likes bright light, but also copes amazingly well with less light. The right location is crucial for the leaf pattern to remain intense – the darker it stands, the greener the leaves become.
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Location bright to partial shade
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no direct midday sun (leaves can burn)
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also tolerates shadier spots
Perfect for living rooms, offices or as a hanging basket plant in the bathroom.
🌿 Care of Epipremnum Aureum – Overview
This plant is not only a feast for the eyes, but also extremely easy to care for if a few basic needs are met. It is perfect for beginners and people without the famous "green thumb".
🌱 Growth
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climbing or hanging (vining plant)
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grows very quickly and sprawling
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shoots can grow several meters long
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can be trained up moss poles or kept as a hanging plant
🍃 Leaves
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heart-shaped and glossy
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light to dark green with golden-yellow or creamy-white speckles
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variegation is highly dependent on light intensity
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slightly leathery texture
💧 Watering / Water
Unlike many other plants, Devil's Ivy tolerates occasional dryness, but is sensitive to too much water.
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allow the top layer of soil to dry out well between waterings
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water moderately
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avoid waterlogging at all costs (quickly leads to root rot)
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water less frequently in winter
🌼 Fertilizing
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from spring to autumn: liquid houseplant fertilizer every 2–4 weeks
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stop fertilizing in winter or reduce to every 8 weeks
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avoid over-fertilization
🌱 Substrate
A loose soil climate is important so that water can drain well:
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well-draining and structurally stable
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nutrient-rich
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A mixture of conventional potting soil and some perlite or fine pine bark works perfectly.
🪴 Repotting
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every 1 to 2 years in spring
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as soon as the roots grow out of the bottom of the pot
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conventional pots with drainage holes are ideal
✂️ Pruning
Epipremnum Aureum tolerates pruning excellently and often grows more vigorously afterwards.
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can be easily shortened at any time
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cut back overly long or bare shoots to encourage bushier growth
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use clean tools
🌱 Propagating Epipremnum Aureum
Propagation is an absolute breeze with this plant:
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cut tip or stem cuttings (each with at least one leaf node and aerial root primordium)
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simply root in a glass of water
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alternatively, place directly into slightly moist soil
☠️ Is Devil's Ivy poisonous?
Yes – unlike Maranta, Epipremnum Aureum is mildly poisonous.
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contains calcium oxalate crystals
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poisonous to cats, dogs, and small animals if ingested
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also irritating to humans (especially children) if swallowed
👉 Tip: It is best to place it in an elevated spot (e.g. on a high shelf or in a hanging basket) where your furry friends and small children cannot reach it.
🧠 Other Care Tips
Devil's Ivy benefits from occasional cleaning: Wipe the leaves from time to time with a damp cloth to remove dust so that they can breathe properly again. Yellow leaves are almost always a sign of too much water. The plant loves normal room temperatures around 18–25 °C and tolerates dry heating air much better than many other tropical plants.
✅ Conclusion
With its attractive appearance and extreme robustness, Epipremnum Aureum is an excellent choice. It is absolutely easy to care for, generously forgives beginner mistakes, and quickly creates a lush, jungle-like atmosphere as a climbing or hanging plant. Let this vigorous plant beautify your interior!