Why Does My Pothos Have Brown Spots?

Too much water and too much light are the most common reasons you'll see brown spots on your pothos foliage.

(Epipremnum aureum)  is one of our favorite easy-care houseplants. While pothos are largely untroubled by pests or problems, some varieties with white variegation (such as Manjula, Marble Queen, and Pearls and Jade) can show brown spots on the leaves. There are two common reasons for this.

Too Much Water: Like most houseplants, pothos doesn't like wet feet and would rather live in soil that is a bit dry than too wet. When its roots stay wetter than they like, the white patches in the leaves may develop brown spots. Letting your plant go a bit longer between waterings can help prevent future brown spots from appearing. Unfortunately, any brown spots that had formed will not heal. 

Too Much Light: Intense light --- natural or artificial --- can cause unsightly burning and brown patches in the leaves, especially on the white variegation. If this is the case, moving your pothos a bit farther back from the light source may help prevent future brown spots. Or put a sheer curtain between it and the window to help diffuse the light. 

Other causes: A few other scenarios can also manifest on pothos leaves as dry, brown spots. These include:

• Disease: A couple of diseases can infect pothos. When the plants get good care, these diseases are rarely fatal, but they do keep the plant from looking its best. Working with your local cooperative extension service or university to identify the specific pathogen can help lead you to find the right treatment for that specific disease. 
• Fertilizer: If pothos are fertilized too much or too often, the buildup of nutrient salts in the soil can also cause brown spots on the leaves (as well as brown leaf tips or edges). If you think this may have happened, run lots of water through the soil and out the drainage holes to help flush out the excess salts.