Plant Care

Monstera vs Pothos: How to Tell the Difference (Easy Guide)

Q: Do pothos leaves ever get holes like monstera?

**No, pothos leaves never develop holes or fenestrations**. This is the most reliable way to distinguish between the two plants. Pothos {Epipremnum aureum} maintains solid heart-shaped leaves throughout its entire life, regardless of age, size, or growing conditions. Only monstera {Monstera deliciosa} develops the characteristic holes and splits as it matures.

Q: Which is easier to care for, monstera or pothos?

**Pothos is generally easier to care for** than monstera. Pothos tolerates lower light conditions, recovers better from watering mistakes, and doesn't require climbing support to thrive. Monstera needs brighter light for proper fenestration development, benefits from moss pole support, and is more sensitive to overwatering. However, both are considered beginner-friendly houseplants with similar basic care requirements.

Q: Why does my monstera look like a pothos?

If your monstera looks like a pothos, it's likely either **too young to show fenestrations yet** (under 2-3 years old) or **not receiving enough light** to develop holes in the leaves. Young monsteras have solid heart-shaped leaves identical to pothos. Move your plant to brighter indirect light and be patient—fenestrations develop as the plant matures with adequate lighting conditions.

Q: Can you propagate monstera and pothos the same way?

**Both plants propagate easily using stem cuttings**, but there are key differences. Both need nodes (growth points) to develop roots, and both can root in water or soil. However, monstera cuttings need larger nodes and take longer to establish (3-6 weeks vs 1-3 weeks for pothos). Monstera cuttings also benefit from rooting hormone, while pothos roots readily without assistance.

Last updated: January 13, 2026

Learn to identify monstera vs pothos with leaf shape, growth pattern, and care differences. Visual guide helps you tell these popular houseplants apart easily.

JJessica Chen

January 13, 2026

Monstera deliciosa with fenestrated leaves next to golden pothos with heart-shaped leaves showing key differences — — Image © PlantReference.org 2026

Quick Answer

Monstera develops holes in mature leaves and grows upright. Pothos keeps solid heart-shaped leaves and trails or climbs.

TL;DR

Monstera develops holes (fenestrations) in mature leaves and grows upright with thick stems, while pothos keeps solid heart-shaped leaves throughout life and trails or climbs with thin vines. Growth pattern is the easiest way to tell them apart—monstera grows bushier and more vertical, pothos stays trailing and vine-like.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you tell the difference between monstera and pothos?

The easiest way to tell monstera vs pothos apart is by looking at mature leaf development and growth pattern. Monstera develops holes (fenestrations) in leaves after 2-3 years and grows upright with thick stems, while pothos keeps solid heart-shaped leaves throughout life and grows as trailing vines with thin, flexible stems. Young plants look similar, but growth habit reveals the difference within months.

Do pothos leaves ever get holes like monstera?

No, pothos leaves never develop holes or fenestrations. This is the most reliable way to distinguish between the two plants. Pothos Epipremnum aureum maintains solid heart-shaped leaves throughout its entire life, regardless of age, size, or growing conditions. Only monstera Monstera deliciosa develops the characteristic holes and splits as it matures.

Which is easier to care for, monstera or pothos?

Pothos is generally easier to care for than monstera. Pothos tolerates lower light conditions, recovers better from watering mistakes, and doesn't require climbing support to thrive. Monstera needs brighter light for proper fenestration development, benefits from moss pole support, and is more sensitive to overwatering. However, both are considered beginner-friendly houseplants with similar basic care requirements.

Why does my monstera look like a pothos?

If your monstera looks like a pothos, it's likely either too young to show fenestrations yet (under 2-3 years old) or not receiving enough light to develop holes in the leaves. Young monsteras have solid heart-shaped leaves identical to pothos. Move your plant to brighter indirect light and be patient—fenestrations develop as the plant matures with adequate lighting conditions.

Can you propagate monstera and pothos the same way?

Both plants propagate easily using stem cuttings, but there are key differences. Both need nodes (growth points) to develop roots, and both can root in water or soil. However, monstera cuttings need larger nodes and take longer to establish (3-6 weeks vs 1-3 weeks for pothos). Monstera cuttings also benefit from rooting hormone, while pothos roots readily without assistance.

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#monstera vs pothos #plant identification #houseplant differences #monstera deliciosa #golden pothos #beginner plant care #plant comparison #leaf fenestrations #trailing plants #climbing plants

Written By

Jessica Chen

Jessica transformed her small Brooklyn balcony into a thriving container garden after moving to New York City. What started as a pandemic hobby turned into a plant care consulting business serving urban apartment dwellers across the city. She specializes in small-space gardening, indoor plant troubleshooting, and helping clients keep houseplants alive in less-than-ideal conditions (dim light, dry heat, tiny spaces). Jessica completed a home gardening certificate program and shares her plant wins and failures on her modest Instagram following. Her partner, Maya, jokes that their apartment is now 40% plants, 60% living space. Jessica's passionate about making plant care accessible to renters who think they don't have room to garden.