If you have a pothos plant, you may have noticed some brown bumps on the stems. Well, don’t worry, there’s usually nothing to worry about. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at what those bumps are and whether or not you need to be concerned about them.
What Are The Brown Bumps on Pothos Stems?
Brown bumps on pothos stems are usually aerial roots or scale insects. While aerial roots are harmless, scale insects can cause problems for your plant if left unchecked.
Aerial roots are small, brown bumps that form on the stems of pothos plants. These roots help the plant climb and attach to surfaces. They’re also used to absorb nutrients and moisture from the air. Aerial roots are perfectly normal and there’s no need to worry about them.
Scale insects are small, brown bugs that feed on the sap of plants. Scale insects can weaken and damage pothos plants if they’re not controlled. If you see scale insects on your plant, you should remove them as soon as possible.
Scale tends to be grouped together in one area on the stem, whereas aerial roots are more scattered. If you’re not sure whether the bumps on your plant are aerial roots or scale insects, you can try to gently scrape one off with a q-tip. If it’s an aerial root, it will be firm and attached to the stem. If it’s a scale insect, it will be soft and come off easily.
What Are Aerial Roots and Should They Be Removed?
As climbing plants, pothos uses aerial roots to help them attach to surfaces and climb. Aerial roots are also used to absorb nutrients and moisture from the air. The bumps you are seeing on the stems of your pothos are most likely the start of these aerial roots (kind of like baby aerial roots).
Aerial roots are perfectly normal and there’s no need to worry about them. However, you can trim them back if you want to keep your plant looking tidy. To trim aerial roots, simply cut them off with a sharp pair of scissors that have been sterilized.
Removing aerial roots can damage the plant and make it more difficult for it to climb, so I don’t recommend doing it unless you absolutely have to.
It’s also important to note that aerial roots are different from rootbound roots. Rootbound roots are thick, white roots that wrap around the base of the plant to support it. Rootbound roots should not be removed because they help the plant stay healthy and strong.
How To Get Rid of Scale on Pothos?
If the brown bumps on your pothos are scale insects, you’ll need to take action to get rid of them. The longer you take to remove scale, the more damage they’ll do to your plant. Scale insects feed on the sap of plants, which can weaken and damage them.
To remove scale insects from your pothos, start by wiping them off with a damp cloth. You can also use a cotton swab or q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to kill the scale. Once you’ve removed the scale, keep an eye on the plant and make sure no new insects appear.
If you have a serious infestation, you may need to use an insecticide. Be sure to read the label carefully and follow the instructions before using any pesticide on your plants.
Neem oil can be sprayed on pothos plants to kill scale insects. You can also use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. These products are safe for humans and pets, but be sure to follow the instructions on the label before using them.
You can also try making your own pesticide at home. To make a homemade pesticide, mix one part dish soap with one part water. You can use this mixture to spray your plant and kill the scale insects.
If you have a severe infestation of scale, you may need to throw away the affected plant. This is usually only necessary if the plant is heavily infested and there’s no way to save it. Be careful with disposing of the plant near other plants, as the scale can spread to them.
When dealing with scale insects, it’s important to be patient. It can take several weeks or even months to get rid of all the bugs. But if you’re persistent, you can get rid of them and keep your pothos plant healthy and happy.
Conclusion
The brown bumps on the stems of your pothos plant are most likely aerial roots. These roots are perfectly normal and there’s no need to worry about them. However, you can trim long aerial roots back if you want to keep your plant looking tidy. If the bumps are scale insects, you’ll need to take action to get rid of them.
I hope this article was helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. And be sure to check out my other articles on pothos care! Thanks for reading!