--- title: "Alright folks. I’m over this plant. Since the weather has turned cold…" description: "Alright folks. I’m over this plant. Since the weather has turned cold it’s been drooping and producing many yellow leaves at once. I let it completely dry out…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/46sbKsa-RgyFgv7yDz6N2w/6wk2jXAAZi5nRhxCXqIvRK" community: "Planet Pothos" author: "Sarah" published: "2025-12-18T19:53:19.601567Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/N2p4HsV8h6jcDTJQmpYI1u4wxODVPQ42NujLw6NVSh8/Lv1z70mKRGOwf0CCSARzIQ.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Planet Pothos](https://getplanta.com/community/46sbKsa-RgyFgv7yDz6N2w.md) # Alright folks. I’m over this plant. Since the weather has turned cold… _Posted by Sarah on 2025-12-18_ Alright folks. I’m over this plant. Since the weather has turned cold it’s been drooping and producing many yellow leaves at once. I let it completely dry out then watered it thoroughly a few days ago. Planta diagnosis is frustrating since it offers too many possible diagnosis’ at once. It doesn’t not have pests and has not been overwatered. It is under a grow light 12+ hours a day. It perked up after the watering but then started having yellow leaves. What’s everyone’s opinion as to what it needs? ![Attachment 1 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/N2p4HsV8h6jcDTJQmpYI1u4wxODVPQ42NujLw6NVSh8/Lv1z70mKRGOwf0CCSARzIQ.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/N2p4HsV8h6jcDTJQmpYI1u4wxODVPQ42NujLw6NVSh8/5SivmtbFR9mepCTZoyBXWQ.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 3 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/N2p4HsV8h6jcDTJQmpYI1u4wxODVPQ42NujLw6NVSh8/FY177WeXQEWDV892wl9hHQ.webp?size=large) ## 21 comments ### Plant Intern 🤓 commented on 2025-12-18 How are the temps any drafts ? #### Sarah replied on 2025-12-18 No drafts; it’s a well sealed home. But the temp is set low at night (69 degrees) and closer to 71 during the day. #### Plant Intern 🤓 replied on 2025-12-18 Hmm, are the vines loose at the soil? Are the roots doing okay? Maybe they are just weaker leaves shedding from old age. Haha! #### Sarah replied on 2025-12-18 The vines are strong. The roots are barely beginning to show out the drainage hole. I’ve considered repotting but it’s winter and wasn’t sure if it’s the best season for that. And also I don’t want a larger pot than this already large 10” pot it’s in lol. ### Plant Intern 🤓 commented on 2025-12-18 And the lower vines look a little shady #### Sarah replied on 2025-12-18 It’s a very cloudy, rainy day today when I took this photo. But on most days the sunlight comes in the window and shines on the lower vines. ### Plant Intern 🤓 commented on 2025-12-18 With all that you’ve said it’s sounds like she has everything she needs and since you don’t want to pot too big maybe a soil refresh then could really help #### Sarah replied on 2025-12-18 Would fertilizing help in place of fresh soil you think? Or fresh soil may be best? ### Amber commented on 2025-12-18 Use distilled water ONLY #### Sarah replied on 2025-12-18 I use highly filtered water only. ### Amber commented on 2025-12-18 I fertalize everytime I water ### Sarah commented on 2025-12-18 I just realized I posted this in the Pothos group when this is a philodendron lol. Sorry about that. #### LadyTenorJD replied on 2025-12-21 No worries. That particular philo has a similar care profile to pothos. ### Amber commented on 2025-12-18 Yellowing leaves is normal is the winter. Cut them off and go about your day. Your plant looks fine to me. ### Amber commented on 2025-12-18 I used to use filtered water on them and distilled water works best IMO #### Sarah replied on 2025-12-18 Thanks for the tip!! ### Eve commented on 2025-12-19 I agree with the suggestion to refresh the potting mix. Are you using a house plant mix with added perlite or orchid bark? It’s summer in my part of the world and the beginning of winter was when I first noticed issues with my small Epipremnum aureum and Philodendron hederaceum (the same as yours in the pic) collection. I have only now got them all back in good condition. I took cuttings to propagate all of them before I pulled them out and played doctor though (and was glad I did)!. I couldn’t save the original Philo but the others came through like champs. They all had root rot when I pulled them out of their pots and one was getting leggy. They hadn’t shown any signs of unhappiness for over a year before that. I think planty people call it the slow death. I was using a regular potting mix without amendments in a pot that was too big, and that, along with not understanding the way our brains adjust to light levels, were the problem. It sounds like you have a pretty thorough understanding of what your plant needs, and the potting medium seems like the last culprit left. You can repot in fresh mix at this time of year when necessary, it’s just not ideal. I use Seasol seaweed in the first water to reduce transplant stress. There are instructions online for trimming roots to stay in the same size pot as well as dealing with any root rot that are far better than I could provide (I have found the Google AI function to be very helpful). A clear pot is also really great for getting a full picture of your plants health. So much happens under the surface! However, I would start by gently sliding the plant and pot contents out onto a mat to see if the roots are actually struggling first. Have a good old sniff and gently poke about. White and tan roots generally mean healthy, brown and black and smelly or smooshy mean rot. If you have rot it will almost certainly get worse over winter because the mix can’t dry out as quickly. If it’s all healthy under there, I’d suggest trimming off the yellow leaves (as someone else said) and checking the light your plant is actually getting with a light meter - I picked one up from Temu fir $20 and it’s probably the best money I ever spent, but you can also get apps for your phone that are accurate enough. The research I did said that 200-500 foot candles of light for 12-14 hours a day is required to keep this plant happy. The upper half of that range being the requirement for growth and the lower being more of a maintenance level. It’s a little bit trial and error because, as you mentioned, one symptom can mean several different things. It’s a beautiful looking plant though, so I hope it pulls through! If you reach your limit and, Google propagating it and you can start again with a clone for free. #### Sarah replied on 2025-12-19 Thanks for your feedback! It is my last plant left to switch to soil with added perlite. I haven’t done it yet as this plant was under a lot of stress when I was repotting my others in the summer, so I’ve held off. But that’s also why I let it dry out so much because I’m aware the soil isn’t ideal. So guess it’s finally time to switch the soil. ### Magz commented on 2025-12-20 I only let mine dry out 25-50%. [More comments](https://getplanta.com/community/46sbKsa-RgyFgv7yDz6N2w/6wk2jXAAZi5nRhxCXqIvRK.md?cursor=mDBaiEfRghhQb3N0cy5HZXRBbGwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABa2-mBYfzfGA) --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_