Can a Pothos Do Okay Close to Light?

Ideal Lighting

• Golden pothos grows best in a location that is in shade about 63 to 80 percent of the time, according to a University of Florida IFAS Extension website article. In nature, dense tree canopies create intense shading on the ground where pothos thrives. The plant responds well to indirect sunlight, however, especially in morning. Place an indoor pothos on a table away from direct sunlight pouring through a nearby window. The plant prefers radiant sunlight that fills its room rather than a sunny location. As a result of proper shading and sunlight exposure, the plant's leaves retain their color. Many pothos varieties have variegated leaves or secondary foliage color splashes that are affected by light exposure.

Low Light

• If you place your indoor pothos in a dark corner, you'll see marked differences in the plant over time. When the plant is subjected to constant shading, its photosynthesis functions decrease and its new leaves are much smaller. The plant does not have enough energy production from sunlight exposure to create huge foliage. Variegated cultivars' leaves slowly turn solid green from low-light exposure. Change a pothos' low-light environment by slowly moving the plant closer to a nearby window in small increments. Suddenly moving a pothos from deep shade to indirect light may shock the plant and cause growth stunting.

Full Sunlight

• Intense light exposure causes brown patches across pothos foliage. Essentially burn marks, these brown areas indicate plant cells dying as they succumb to overheating while close to light. Green leaves fade from their natural hue, and variegated varieties respond with reduced color splashes. Move your pothos immediately if you observe such damage. The leaves cannot heal themselves and eventually die back. When the pothos has been moved to a shady location that receives indirect light, new foliage must emerge from the plant to produce enough energy for normal growth.

Temperature Influence

• Light exposure is closely related to temperature; golden pothos cannot thrive with extreme temperature swings. Because the plant does best in 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, an indoor location near a window produces the mild environment necessary for its healthy growth. If you place your pothos close to light, the site's temperature may rise higher than 95 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the time of day. Such heat causes stunting and possible die-back.

  When growing a pothos outdoors, plant the specimen in a shady area that does not receive intense, afternoon sunlight. Even temperatures throughout the day and night encourage vigorous growth.