pothos plant dying

[Jane Blatz]

I have two pothos. They are both the same size, the same age and are in the same window. One is doing fine and the other seems to be rotting.

I decided to remove the shoots that were still green and try to root them. When I did I noticed that there are black bumps all along the stems. The other plant does not have them.

What is it and what can I do to protect the other plant?

Thanks

[David E. Ross]

The black bumps are buds that will form new roots.

Pothos seems to decline when the stems get very long, when they are over-watered or under-watered, when they are over-fed. I renew mine from cuttings every few years. After the cuttings develop a good root system, I trash the parent and use its pot for the rooted cuttings.

[Jane Blatz]

Thanks. That's actually what I did this morning. I cut off all the good stuff and put them in water and dumped the rest. I was just concerned that it might have a disease that my other plant would get. The only mystery is why the other plant is fine and this one is not. Oh well.

[David E. Ross]

DO NOT START CUTTINGS IN WATER unless you plan to leave them growing in water. Started in water, the new roots are very tender. Many such cuttings die when finally potted because putting the new roots in contact with potting mix severely damages them.

Start cuttings in a half-and-half mix of clean coarse sand and peat moss without any added nutrients. Use a rooting hormone powder.