Overwatering
Wet soil plus yellowing lower leaves points squarely at overwatering — the most common way to lose a pothos.
Diagnosis
Overwatering
What's happening
Pothos likes its soil to dry out between waterings. When roots sit in soggy mix they can't take up oxygen, so they start to suffocate and rot. The plant responds by dropping its oldest leaves first, which turn a soft, uniform yellow before they fall.
How to fix it
Stop watering and let the soil dry well down. Slip the plant out of its pot and check the roots — healthy ones are firm and pale, so trim any brown, mushy roots with clean scissors and repot into fresh, airy, well-draining mix in a pot with drainage holes. From now on, water only when the top 1–2 inches feel dry; pothos is far happier slightly dry than wet.
What fixes it
- A soil moisture meter — A moisture meter removes the guesswork — only water when it reads dry an inch or two down.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Golden Pothos care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this