Plant Care

Best Pots for Pothos: Drainage and Style Comparison (2025)

Last updated: October 30, 2025
Discover the best pots for your pothos Epipremnum aureum with our tested comparison of drainage, materials, and styles for healthy growth.
HHelen Cho
October 30, 2025
Share:
Various pots with healthy pothos plants showing ceramic, plastic, and self-watering options for comparison

— Image © PlantReference.org 2026
Quick Answer
Best pots for pothos need drainage holes, are 2-4 inches larger than current pot, and match your watering habits—ceramic for most, self-watering for busy schedules.
TL;DR
The best pot for pothos depends on your lifestyle: ceramic with drainage for standard care, self-watering for busy schedules, hanging planters for trailing display, and terracotta for chronic overwaters. All require drainage holes and 2-4 inch size increases when repotting.
Frequently Asked Questions

How big should a pot be for pothos?

Choose a pot 2-4 inches larger in diameter than your pothos' current container when repotting. Young plants need 2-inch increases, while mature, rootbound specimens can handle 3-4 inch jumps. Going too large creates waterlogged soil that causes root rot. I measure across the top of the current pot and add 2 inches for most repotting situations.

Do pothos need deep or wide pots?

Pothos prefer wide, shallow pots over deep, narrow containers because their root systems spread horizontally rather than diving deep. A 6-inch wide by 5-inch deep pot works better than a 4-inch wide by 8-inch deep container of similar volume. Wide pots also provide better stability as trailing vines grow longer and heavier.

Can pothos live in pots without drainage holes?

No, pothos cannot thrive long-term in pots without drainage holes, despite their reputation as nearly indestructible plants. Standing water causes root rot within weeks, leading to yellowing leaves and eventual plant death. If you love a decorative pot without holes, use it as a cachepot with a properly-draining nursery pot inside.

What type of pot material is best for pothos?

Ceramic pots with drainage holes work best for most pothos owners because they provide good moisture retention without being too wet or dry. Terracotta works excellently for chronic overwaterers because it dries quickly, while plastic pots suit hanging applications due to their light weight. Avoid unglazed wood or metal containers that can rot or rust.

How often should I repot my pothos?

Repot pothos every 12-18 months or when roots appear at drainage holes and water runs straight through without absorbing. Young, fast-growing plants may need annual repotting, while mature specimens can go 18-24 months between pot changes. Check annually by gently lifting the plant to inspect root development at the container bottom.
NEW PLANT DAILY

Think you know your plants?

Test your botanical knowledge with a new plant identification challenge every day. Build your streak, learn fascinating plant facts, and become a plant identification expert!

Build your streak
One chance per day
Learn as you play

Free account required • Takes less than 30 seconds

Tagged with

#pothos care#best pots for pothos#pothos planters#plant pots#hanging planters#self-watering pots#ceramic pots#terracotta pots#indoor plant containers#pothos repotting
Written By
H

Helen Cho

Helen is an interior plant stylist in Los Angeles who works with restaurants, offices, and residential clients to select and maintain indoor plants. She studied design in college and got into plants when a client asked her to "green up" a mid-century modern home. Helen's expertise sits at the intersection of design and plant care—she thinks about light, scale, texture, and color, but she also knows which plants will actually survive in a given space. She's killed enough fiddle leaf figs in dark corners to know better. Helen maintains her own collection of over 80 houseplants in her apartment and writes about indoor plant selection, styling, and the practical side of keeping plants alive in interior environments.

Related Plants

Other Articles You May Enjoy