Why Is My Pothos Dripping Water? 5+ Causes And What To Do
Every gardener’s favorite choice named Pothos Or Devil’s Ivy faces issues like dripping water sometimes because of excess moisture in the plant. Hey folks! I am Anna Scott, a Gardener holding 15 years of gardening experience. I am here to help you out with the causes and effects of the pothos dripping water.
What to do with the pothos dripping water? They exert water because they are warm but it is not right for the growth of your plant. So what to do with it? Should you move it to the cooler location? Before proceeding, you should know that is it sweating or dripping, no worries it is explained in the further guide. One of the main signs is that the plant remains humid or over water. Reduce the watering schedule to prevent the photos from dripping water.
Pothos is a low-maintenance plant that grows faster in your garden area. This houseplant is an adored choice for gardeners. So, if you also own this plant, then you might face dripping water from the plant. Do you know why this happens? What does it indicate?
Do not worry as I am here with the right preventive measures to save your pothos plant from dripping water. So, let’s get started to know about the various causes and effects of pothos dripping water in detail.
What Is Guttation?
Guttation is the process that causes droplets of water on the tips of the pothos leaves. It happens because there is more intake of water by the roots than that of the transpiration of leaves. It makes the excess water come out from the pores named hydathodes.
This in return makes the plant lose water from its foliage which results in transpiration as the water is coming out from the plant because of the pressure of the water vaporizers through the pores. Do not worry as this process is a simple process that regulates the plant water intake.
It happens mostly in the morning or evening when the air outside is cooler and humid. It happens because the stem of the plant remains closed in this time which decreases the rate of transpiration in the plant.
Is Your Pothos Crying or Sweating?
Here comes the important part of the guide to know if your Pothos crying or sweating. Pothos tend to relieve moisture through the pores called Hydathodes in the foliage (a process named guttation) It is a transpiration for the plants.
You observe the liquid coming out from the plants like water with some sap and nutrients. During the night, the stomata of the plant remain open which does not let this process happen although the roots will observe the moisture all night. This in return stresses the roots a lot because of the more intake of moisture which is not required by them.
The pores will push the extra moisture and relieve the pressure because of which you observe your pothos dripping water in the morning. You cannot compare the process of guttation with the sweating, though they are similar.
Like human sweat and excrete, minerals, fat, moisture etc, plants will sweat to remove extra moisture and heat from the plant. Various plants face this situation like monstera, banana plants, grasses, etc. So it’s a normal process that happens with most of the plants.
Why Is My Pothos Dripping Water?
Are you worrying about why your pothos are dripping water? If yes, then you should know that it is a process called guttation as I explained above. So know about the various factors because of which they pothos gullate. They are as follows:
High Humidity
- High humidity is one of the reasons behind the dripping water of pothos.
- There is a limit for the plant to enjoy the level of moisture and humidity.
- But when it changes suddenly then this plant fails to remove excess water from it to maintain the balance of liquid in the plant.
- The process helps plants to save themselves from the high humidity.
- During summers to prevent this, place the plant in a cooler location.
Overwatering
- Overwatering is another factor to gullate. it is because when the plant receives excess water, then it is important to save the plant.
- Excess water spoils the plant by causing root rot. So the plant will absorb the liquid from the soil and then exert it from the pores.
- So whenever you observe pothos dripping water, then you have to think of the water schedule of your plant.
- Water the plant for about one time every week when the soil is fully dry.
- Follow a strict schedule to prevent tripping water in the plant.
Overfertilizing
- What about over-fertilising? When you over-fertilize the plant, it burns the tip of the leaves as the plant is not able to handle the pressure.
- It will cause white spots on the tips of the pothos, so you have to prevent it by providing proper fertilizer to the plant.
High Temperature
- High temperature also causes the plant to gullate like high humidity does.
- To cool the plant, it Pushes out the extra water from the leaf, which causes dripping water in the pothos just like humans.
- Relocate the plant to a cool location. Also, provide appropriate water to the plant to avoid dehydration because of the gullate.
Repotting
- Guttation also occurs when you transplant the pothos because of stress or shock.
- It happens when the plant is not able to meet its basic requirements to grow
- Or if you have moved the plan to a new location suddenly, which is not adaptable by the plant.
- To prevent it, Provide a good amount of sunlight and water to the plant to survive and avoid dripping water.
Effects of Water Dripping on Pothos
When the plant faces dripping water, then it becomes important to know its effects. Below are the effects of water dripping on pothos. They are as follows:
Root rot
Overwatering causes fungal infections like root rot in the plant. It causes wilted and yellow coloured leaves in the plant which will make the plant die with time.
When the plant is dripping water in excess. It shows it is being overwatered which leads to root rot in pothos.
Pest infestation or fungal diseases
Another effect of water dripping on the plant is the standing water that will attract the best towards it, which damages the growth of the plant.
So keep checking your plant if it is being infected by the pest or fungal diseases or not and prevent it by not letting the water sit in the plant.
Reduced growth
Last, but not least, another effect is the reduced growth of the plant. Excess water dripping will lead to slow and stagnant growth of the plant. Because the plant is exerting too much energy in removing the excess water.
So it is suggested to prevent these negative effects on the plant to save its growth. Reduce the watering to the plant and water only if the soil is dry. Provide a moderate level of humidity to the plant or you can move the plant to a new location to prevent air circulation in the plant.
How To Stop Your Pothos From Dripping: 3 Steps
Below are the easy steps to follow to stop tour pothos from dripping water. They are as follows:
Avoid Overwatering
- Do not overwater the plant as pothos are not too demanding when it comes to the water needed by them.
- It is suggested to change the watering schedule of the plant. Water the plant when the soil is dry.
- Choose the right pot for the plant that has a good amount of drainage holes as it lets the excess water to removed from the plant.
- Make use of well well-drained potting mix like perlite, orchid bark, etc.
Reduce Humidity
- Excess supply of humidity causes problems in the plant, though the plant grows in humid climatic conditions.
- Reduce the level of humidity to enhance the flow of air around the plant to survive well.
- Do not place the plant near the humidifier as it leaves like to be dry.
- Do not mist the plant and increase the airflow by opening the windows during the summer.
Protect Your Pothos From the Summer Heat
- Being a tropical plant, it requires humid climatic conditions or heat to grow well.
- However, too much exposure to heat will cause issues in the plant, which is not good for its growth.
- Provide a good amount of temperature of the plant that is below 90°F.
- Protect the plant from exposure to direct sunlight. This plant will grow well in bright indirect sunlight.
Summing up the Context
In this guide, you come to know that Pothos is a low-maintenance plant that grows faster in your garden area. This houseplant is an adored choice of gardeners. So, if you also own this plant, then you might face dripping water from the plant. Do you know why this happens? Whatdoes it indiecates?
Don’t worry as I am here with the right preventive measures to save your pothos plant from dripping water. Read the whole guide for its proper understanding. I will come back with another informative guide for you soon.
Thanks for reading! Happy Gardening!
FAQs
How do you stop pothos from overwatering?
You can stop overwatering by providing a good location for the plant where it receives bright indirect sunlight to grow. Let the soil dry out between waterings. Water only if the soil is dry.
Why do pothos drip water?
Pothos drip water because of the process called guttation. It is because the plant remains over-watered for a long which is not healthy for it.
How do you stop guttation?
The best way to stop guttation is to reduce the watering in the plant. Provide a proper amount of water to the plant for about one time a week. Water the plant in the morning and let the soil dry out until the next watering, check the moisture of the soil by inserting a finger inside the soil and if it feels dry, then water the plant. Also, remove the water from the saucers with time.