Does pothos need filtered water?
Short answer: not to survive. Pothos is one of the most tap-tolerant houseplants there is. The longer answer is about brown tips, and about the other plants you water from the same can.
- Removes chlorine, chloramine and fluoride
- Adds back 20+ minerals
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Free shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee · plus sales tax where applicable
Pothos grows fine on most tap water. Filtered water is worth it if the tips are browning or if the same can also waters calatheas, spider plants, peace lilies or dracaenas, which are far more sensitive. If your water is softened, use an unsoftened tap; the filter does not remove sodium.
When the water starts to matter
Brown, crisp tips that keep appearing on new leaves.
A water softener in the house. Sodium harms every potted plant.
A collection that includes sensitive plants watered from the same can.
Which water to use
| Water | What it does for this plant | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Tap water | Keeps it growing in most homes | Brown tips can appear over time |
| Tap water left out overnight | Loses chlorine only | Chloramine and fluoride remain |
| Distilled water | Clean, nothing harmful | Not needed, and no minerals at all |
| Rain water | Excellent | Only when you have it |
| Filtered and remineralized | Removes chlorine, chloramine and fluoride and keeps minerals | Needs a filter |
If it is the tips and edges that are browning, this is the fix.
Watering Can With Filter and Remineralizer for House Plants
Filters chlorine, chloramine, fluoride and lead as you pour, then adds back 20+ minerals
$69 · Free shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee
plus sales tax where applicable
Less than a season of distilled water jugs, and nothing to carry.
What to do
If it looks healthy, carry on.
If tips are browning, flush the pot and switch to filtered water.
Never use softened water.
Watering Can With Filter and Remineralizer for House Plants
Filters chlorine, chloramine, fluoride and lead as you pour, then adds back 20+ minerals
$69 · Free shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee
plus sales tax where applicable
Less than a season of distilled water jugs, and nothing to carry.
The Tap Water Plant Guide
Which 12 houseplants react to tap water, how to tell water damage from overwatering, and four ways to fix it — including the free ones.
Frequently asked questions.
Better water, tonight's watering.
- $69 · Free shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee
- Free shipping
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Replaceable filter packs