In this week’s issue:

• Weekly Q&A
• Pothos spotlight
• The #1 houseplant myth (you’re being tricked)
• Epipremnum 'Aureum'
• And more…

🇬🇧 Sheffield Answers

Every week, I get tons of questions about growing houseplants. In “Sheffield Answers”, I’m going to pick one out each week and answer it. Want to submit your own and get it featured next week? Click here to ask me a question!​

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Question: "Is there such a thing like too much sun? I live in Brazil and there is a lot of sun." Kathia

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My Answer: "Yes, indoor plants can definitely get too much sun. Leaves may turn yellow, crispy, or bleached if they get burned. Move them a bit further from the window or use a sheer curtain to soften the light. Some plants, like succulents, handle more sun, while others, like ferns, need more shade."

It was recently the 85th anniversary of Pinocchio.

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What does this have to do with houseplants? Well, it seems like the perfect time to talk about the biggest lie in houseplant history.
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You’ve probably seen countless articles and videos claiming that houseplants magically purify indoor air.
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Well, here’s the dirt…
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It’s all overhyped clickbait.

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It all started with a NASA study in 1989 that showed plants could remove some pollutants. But here’s the thing: the research wasn’t about your living room. It was about cleaning air inside airtight spacecraft for astronauts. So the idea that plants purify the air is only really true in a sealed lab environment.
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Marketers, of course, ran wild with this. Suddenly, plants were hyped as magical air-purifiers for homes and offices.
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The truth is your home isn’t an airtight lab. It has doors, windows, and drafts. Fresh air comes and goes, clearing pollutants faster than a few plants ever could.
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To replicate NASA’s results at home you’d need 1,000 plants per square meter.

Kinda ridiculous if you ask me, though maybe worth a try.
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So next time someone claims their plant is a natural air purifier, just smile, sip your coffee, and say, “Nice try.”

It’s the first week of the new month, and I want to shine some spotlight on one of my favourite plants – Pothos. This beauty is a favorite amongst us houseplant lovers, and for good reason. It’s low-maintenance, fast-growing, and super adaptable.
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First, here are some quick facts:

• Name: Epipremnum aureum
• Origin: Native to the Society Islands in the South Pacific.
• Growth habit: Climbs trees in the wild, reaching up to 40 feet long.
• Leaf size: Leaves can grow over two feet long when climbing.
• Fenestrations: Develop holes and slits (fenestrations) as leaves mature.
• Invasive nature: Considered invasive in some areas due to its rapid climbing and growth.
• Blooming: Rarely blooms (due to a growth hormone deficiency). Flowers can be induced artificially.
• Propagation: Easily propagated by cuttings or rooting stems in soil.

I must have grown over a dozen at this point, and I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve:
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1. Combining multiple plants in one pot:

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A couple years back, I popped a devil’s ivy, a satin pothos, and a neon pothos into a single pot. The results were really great. Now, I did break a cardinal rule by repotting them into a pot much larger than recommended. But here’s the catch: I used a pot with proper drainage, well-aerated soil, and only watered when the soil dried out.

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2. Pinning:
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Take a long stem, lay it across the soil, and secure it with bobby pins at each leaf node. The nodes will sprout roots and new stems, filling up empty spaces. Just ensure the pinned stem gets enough light; otherwise, the leaves might wither.
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3. Moss pole:

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For the ultimate growth hack, get vertical. Pothos naturally climb in the wild. Providing a moss pole mimics this environment, encouraging larger leaves and stronger stems. The aerial roots latch onto the pole, providing extra stability and nutrients.

Plant Of The Week

Epipremnum 'Aureum' | Golden Pothos

Of course we have to roll with a Pothos this week! This one’s a classic with some beautiful golden variegated leaves.

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▸ You can order it here (UK only) 👉 https://collabs.shop/zhdvku​

Use code SHEFFIELDMADEPLANTS for a further 10% discount.

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Products I use to keep my plants strong and healthy

▸ Amazon UK 👈

▸ Amazon USA 👈

📹 Watch & Grow: This Week On YouTube

👉 12 Plant Tasks You MUST Do In March​

👉 Do THIS in Spring And Watch Your Plants Thrive ALL YEAR​

Did you know?

Pothos leaves can grow massive in the wild (over two feet long). When they climb trees in their natural habitat, their leaves develop fenestrations (holes and slits), similar to Monstera. But if they don’t have anything to climb, they stay small and heart-shaped, just like the ones trailing in your living room.

Houseplant Digest is brought to you by Houseplant SOS, my self-paced online course teaching you how to grow A+ houseplants and avoid all of the guesswork (that’ll cost you unnecessary time and money!)

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If you want 1-on-1 help with your houseplants, click here and book in a consultation with me.