Can You Plant Pothos and Philodendron Together?

Pothos plants and philodendrons are often mistaken for one another. That’s because they’re very similar not only in their appearance but also in their requirements.

Because of the similarity in their care requirements, you can safely grow pothos and philodendrons together.

Both plants are part of the aroid family, yet they’re not the same genus, and despite the similarities in appearance, there are a few features that distinguish them such as the differences in leaf shape, size, texture, etc.

If you’re curious to find out how you can pull off having two similar, but different plants growing in the same pot, I’ve put together a guide on how to plant pothos and philodendrons together.

Likewise, I will also offer tips on which varieties go best with each other and what other plants you can plant with pothos.

Which Philodendrons to Plant with Pothos?

Bear in mind that philodendrons are an extremely varied species, with quite the differences in leaf size and plant growth pattern.

Pothos, on the other hand, are much less varied and generally have a trailing growth pattern. Except for the Hawaiian pothos, most pothos varieties have relatively small to medium sized leaves.

Therefore, you must combine them in a way that both varieties showcase the same growth pattern and size, so that one doesn’t overtake resources from the other.

In my experience, the following philodendron varieties combine well with pothos:

• Heartleaf philodendron
• Philodendron Brasil
• Philodendron Micans

Technically, you can combine any philodendron that follows the same trailing-vining growth pattern of pothos plant varieties.

You can easily combine the Golden pothos with the Heartleaf philodendron and the Philodendron Brasil with the Neon pothos, for example.

But you can come up with your own combinations, such as the heartleaf philodendron with a variegated pothos variety such as the Pearls and Jade Pothos.

Just bear in mind that since the Pearls and Jade pothos is a variegated one, it will need bright light to maintain its variegation.

Growing Pothos and Philodendron in Same Container

When planted in the same container, the pothos and philodendron will need the following care regimen:

– Watering

Neither of the plants tolerates overwatering, so make sure to allow the top few inches of soil to dry before you reach for the watering can again.

Neither plants tolerate drought or dry air, so in this sense you’ll need to maintain a good balance between not allowing the soil to completely dry out, but also not drenching the soil in water.

– Light Requirements

Both plants enjoy bright, indirect light the most. Some will argue that philodendrons will withstand light deprivation a bit better than a pothos plant, but I’ve found that both will grow leggy stems if deprived of bright light for too long.

Variegated pothos plants will revert back to normal green leaves when deprived of light and so will philodendrons, so there really aren’t any significant differences in light requirements.

Not to mention that both plants will scorch if left for too long under direct sun exposure.

If your home isn’t located in a sunny spot, you can use artificial lights such as simple LED grow light bulbs or even fluorescent lights to supplement the lack of light.

– Fertilizing

One of the possible challenges that may arise in potting a philodendron together with a pothos is wintertime fertilizing. Philodendrons can benefit from being fertilized even during winter on a 6-8 week basis, while pothos don’t care for it.

But I would argue that you can stop fertilizing in winter or use a very weak solution to keep both plants happy.

– Temperature

The temperature range in which both plants survive is between 65-85 degrees Celsius. Neither plants are cold-tolerant.

The philodendron will not withstand temperatures below 50 F, while the pothos will not tolerate temperatures below 60 F.

Therefore, make sure that the room in which you’re growing these plants is at a temperature that both plants are comfortable with.

Sudden temperature changes outside the optimal range for the plant or exposure to cold drafts can induce temperature shock in both plants. Keep the plant away from sources of excess cold or heat.

– Humidity

With both the pothos and the philodendron being native to rainforests, high humidity levels are their preferred environment. However, they adapt to average indoor humidity.

When the air indoors is too dry, you will need to supplement humidity levels either by using a humidifier or by using a humidity tray.

Easy to do at home, a humidity tray is a simple tray filled with pebbles that are half-way immersed in water. As water evaporates from the tray, it increases humidity around the plant.

– Pruning

Because of their trailing habit, both plants benefit from regular pruning. Pruning will keep these plants growing fuller and stronger stems.

When pruning, cut below a leaf node so that you maintain the leaf node on the stem. The plant will shoot out new growths from this node, which will lead to a bushier appearance.

Regular pruning will also help with leaf growth, helping leaves grow bigger. You can prune both plants as needed during the growing season.

Be careful when pruning — both the pothos and the philodendron are known to cause skin irritation if your hand gets into contact with the sap of the plant.

So, wear gloves whenever you’re trimming back the plant or you’re simply repotting it.

Other Plants You Can Plant with Pothos

Philodendrons are not the only companion plants for pothos. Here are some other plants you can grow together with pothos:

– Peace lily

With a bushy growth pattern and dark green leaves, the peace lily enjoys bright, indirect light, well-draining soil, and temperatures in the range of the pothos plant.

It doesn’t do well with overwatering, nor does it tolerate completely dry soil. It can withstand a bit of dryness but left dry for too long its leaves will start to brown.

– Spider plant

Another easy to grow houseplant, the Spider plant will thrive in the same environment as the pothos and philodendron, therefore, you can use it in combination with both plants.

Although they prefer slightly cooler temperatures, they can adapt to the average room temperature in which you’re keeping your pothos or philos.

– Calathea

Calatheas may need extra attention compared to a pothos, but the plant will thrive in warm, humid environments and indirect light.

– Arrowhead plant

The arrowhead plant thrives in much the same environment as a pothos plant. Although it likes its soil to dry between waterings, the watering schedule you apply for a pothos will sit well with the arrowhead plant as well.

– Episcia

Episcias enjoy elevated levels of humidity, so you’ll need to invest in a humidifier or use a humidity tray at all times. The good news is that your pothos will also enjoy the added humidity.

Conclusion

As you can see, you can combine not only pothos and philodendrons but other plants too.

As long as you tweak their environments so that their general requirements are met, you can combine multiple plants in the same pot as long as they have enough space to grow and develop.

Pay special attention so that their soil, watering, temperature, and feeding requirements are similar. Growth size and growth rate are something else to watch out for.

If one plant has a more vigorous growth and uses up more resources, the other plant may struggle. With a little more attention to these details, you can successfully create elaborate arrangements.