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INDOORPLANTCARE
Outdoor guide · Pothos

Can a Pothos Live Outside?

Yes — in summer only. Yes — pothos thrive outdoors in summer in shaded or dappled-light spots. They are NOT cold-hardy and only survive year-round outdoors in zones 10–12. Bring inside when nights drop below 55°F. In their native habitat, pothos climbs to 40+ ft up rainforest trees.
Year-round outdoor zones
10–12 (south Florida, Hawaii, parts of coastal Southern California)
Minimum night temperature
55°F. Cold damage shows as dark patches on leaves followed by stem rot.

Moving your Pothos outside for summer

Move pothos outside once nights are reliably above 60°F. They prefer SHADED locations — dense canopy, north-facing porches, or under awnings. Direct sun burns the leaves within hours.

Sun acclimation

Pothos cannot tolerate direct sun even when fully acclimated. The leaves are adapted to dappled rainforest understory light. Skip the sun acclimation — just keep in shade outdoors.

When to bring your Pothos back inside

Bring indoors when overnight forecasts dip below 55°F. Inspect carefully for pests (pothos picks up mealybugs and spider mites outdoors). Quarantine for 2 weeks away from other houseplants before reintegrating.

Common mistakes

Placing in direct sun (instant leaf burn). Leaving outside in fall thunderstorms (overwatered + cold = rot). Forgetting to inspect for pests before bringing back inside.

Botanical reference: NC State Extension — Epipremnum aureum. USDA zone reference: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

For full Pothos care indoors, see the Pothos care guide. Or learn where to place Pothos indoors.