It is a normal part of the growing process of some plants to have their leaves split. But there are also instances when certain problems in the environment of the plant can result in slits in the leaves of the plant.
When these splits show up as the natural effect of the maturing of the plant, they are called fenestrations. However, if the splits are not due to a plant maturing, these are possibly the consequence of environmental concerns or physical damage.
If you own a Pothos plant, you might be wondering if its leaves will split, too. Do Pothos get fenestrations?
Although the Pothos plants that are grown indoors often have intact leaves, those that grow and thrive in their natural habitats often get fenestrations the moment they reach maturity.
This article discusses the most common reasons for split leaves in your Pothos plants together with some tips on how to deal with this phenomenon.
Why Do Pothos Get Split Leaves?
There are several reasons why you may notice splitting on the leaves of your Pothos plant, and these include the following:
Lack of Humidity
Pothos plants enjoy high humidity levels similar to those in their natural habitat. Out in the wild, Pothos plants grow and thrive as understory plants.
Even if these plants are known to acclimate to average humidity levels indoors, split leaves can occur if the environment is too dry.
After some time, you might also notice the edges of the split turning brown. These calluses occur when the splits have been sealed.
When you see this happening on your plants, the best thing you can do is move your plant to a more humid area, such as the bathroom or kitchen, or just increase the levels of humidity around your Pothos.
Two of the most efficient ways to increase humidity levels include using a humidifier or a humidity tray.
Natural Result of Plant Maturing
Your Pothos plants that you grow indoors don’t often have splits or fenestrations in their leaves. It is because it can take some time before the plant matures.
Certain varieties can also naturally produce them sooner if the leaves are already mature or large enough. Since it is a natural fenestration and is not the result of something you might have done, you will be able to enjoy this new appearance of your Pothos without a need for additional interference.
Physical Damage
Physical damage is another common cause of Pothos plants getting split leaves. This damage can be the result of the plant accidentally falling off its rack or your pet scratching the plant’s leaves, with its claws tearing the leaves.
Leaves with splits because of lack of humidity or your pet damaging the leaves won’t heal. The tears and splits will stay, with the brown calluses marking the location of these tears.
You can always remove the damaged leaves if their appearance bothers you. Your Pothos will no longer grow these leaves again. Instead, it will just grow brand-new leaves.
When Do Pothos Get Split Leaves?
It depends. It might take more than 15 years for some Pothos plants to mature while others may reach maturity faster. It means that it will just be a waiting game to finally see fenestrations on your Pothos plant.
You also need to know that small leaves on your Pothos won’t get any fenestrations. It means that the first thing you need to do is ensure that your plant is well-cared for to encourage it to produce large leaves that will get natural splits.
You can increase your chances to get bigger leaves if you train your plant to grow up on a pole instead of letting its stems just dangle downwards. It is the natural way that Pothos plants grow when they are in the wild. Pothos plants in their natural habitat climb on tree trunks towards the source of light.
How to Make Your Pothos Grow Large Leaves
Aside from letting your Pothos climb on a moss pole, here are other helpful tips to make the leaves of your Pothos bigger:
- Always ensure optimal levels of humidity.
- Fertilize the plant once every month throughout the growing season.
- Learn how to properly water your Pothos plant to prevent overwatering which is the common culprit of root rot.
- Give your Pothos lots of indirect, bright light to trigger leaf development and plant growth.
- Prune back the plant frequently when it grows too big for its container and refresh the potting mix.
- Plant in well-draining potting media to avoid root rot problems.
- Protect the plant from extreme temperatures such as excessive heat or cold drafts.
- Treat diseases and pests as soon as they start.
These simple steps can all contribute to healthy plant development and lush foliage growth that can pave the way for your Pothos to get bigger leaves.
How to Make Your Pothos Grow Faster
Just because your Pothos grows fast doesn’t mean that it will also have bigger leaves. If your plant grows too fast, its leaves may become smaller, and stems can get weaker.
Make it your goal to maintain the normal growth pattern of your plant at around 12 inches a month. You can achieve this by giving the plant the ideal and nurturing conditions it needs.
Here are some of the best things you can do to encourage plant growth:
- Make sure it is exposed to bright, indirect light all day long.
- Observe correct fertilizing and watering. Over-feeding and overwatering can both stunt the growth of your plant.
- Prune back small stem sections to promote faster and bushier growth.
The Bottom Line
Once you notice tears or splits in the leaves of your Pothos plants, these are most probably due to physical damage to the plant or low humidity.
You deserve a pat on the back if your Pothos gets fenestrations. It means you have managed to take care of your plant into maturity and guided it into growing leaves that are big enough to split.
Thus, your Pothos can get fenestrations naturally, particularly if it is a well-established mature plant with big leaves.
