So, you’ve got a lovely pothos plant, but there is one problem…
There are now holes in the leaves of your pothos plant! This article dives into the main reasons why this is happening and what you can do to stop it from happening again. Let’s jump in.
Why Are There Holes In My Pothos Leaves?
The main reason why your pothos plant has holes in the leaves is due to liriomyza melanogaster present in the soil. These are leaf mining flies that tunnel into the leaf tissue and cause damage to the host plant. It can be hard to locate this pest as it enjoys coming out during the night, and then hiding during the day.
There is also a chance that your pothos has been infected with leaf spot disease, which starts as small spots, and then develops into small holes that get bigger and bigger.
How To Prevent Holes in Pothos Leaves?
You can spray your plant with this neem oil spray (Amazon link) to stop leaf miners from damaging your pothos plant any further. You may want to spray your other plants, to avoid the pests from damaging them too.
In case the plant has been infected by leaf spot disease, you should treat with the appropriate solution as soon as possible. You should also remove the diseased leaves and dispose of them away from any other plants. The above neem oil is also a fungicide, so again, this could help with any fungal infections.
How To Keep the Plant Healthy?
Location: Place your pothos near a window that receives indirect light on a daily basis. You should also keep the plant away from any cold winds. You can even train a pothos to climb.
Temperature and humidity: You should keep your pothos in a temperature between 60-80 degrees F is possible. The plant naturally thrives in a humid environment, so investing in a room humidifier can be beneficial.
Soil: Pothos love to be kept in a high-quality potting mix that drains well. The idea pH level of the soil is between 6.1 and 6.5.
Watering: Keep your pothos frequently watered. But wait for the surface of the soil to dry before watering again. Overwatered must be avoided at all costs.
Fertilizing: Apply liquid fertilizer to your pothos plant once every month.
Pruning: You can prune a pothos plant to stop it from getting leggy. Please read our article on keeping pothos plants full.
Cleaning: Pothos plants can get dusty, so feel free to wipe the leaves clean every few weeks.
Conclusion
To conclude, the holes are likely due to pests or leaf spot disease, with pests being the most likely reason. I always have a bottle of neem oil spray (Amazon link) for any time when I think pests are on my house plants.
