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Some people call it sweating, while other people call it crying. No matter what you call it, seeing that your pothos have water droplets on their leaves can be rather disheartening and concerning. This is especially true if you have never dealt with this situation. 

Let’s take a look at why your pothos is dripping water and what you can do to stop this from reoccurring.

pothos with water droplets on leaves

Why does my pothos have water droplets on its leaves?

Your pothos has water droplets on its leaves due to its moisture level being too high. This causes the roots of the pothos to absorb extra water, which puts stress and pressure on the pothos’ roots. The roots will try to get rid of the excess water by pushing it out in a similar manner as humans sweating.

This process, known as “guttation”, occurs when there is either too much moisture in the air, which means the humidity level is too high, or the pothos plant has been overwatered

If the humidity is too high, you can simply move the plant to another area or try to reduce the humidity level in your home. If the pothos is crying because of overwatering, well that is a more serious concern.

Keep in mind: Overwatering is not something you should overlook. Besides the fact that it is one of the main reasons why your pothos is not growing, it can actually kill your pothos plant.

Thankfully, overwatering can be prevented by allowing the pothos’ soil to try out a little between waterings. Use your finger to test the first several inches of the soil’s moisture level, and then only water if the soil feels dry.

Is it bad for the plant if my pothos is sweating?

Sweating is a way for the plant to try to get rid of that extra water, and when you see that your pothos have water droplets, it is a sign that the plant is overwatered. Overwatering any plant isn’t a good thing, but it is completely preventable. 

Unfortunately, that isn’t the only culprit when the pothos is dripping.

If your pothos have water droplets, it could also be caused by excess humidity in the air. This can occur for many reasons, such as when the seasons change or if you have recently purchased and used a humidifier in your home.

So whether or not it is a bad thing for a pothos to sweat really depends on what is causing the sweating. The actual sweating process isn’t bad since it is a natural process that the plant uses to try to get rid of excess moisture. But what is causing the plant to sweat can be fatal to the pothos.

Related: Do Pothos Like Humidity? (6 Tips to Boost It)

How to stop pothos leaves dripping water

When you notice your pothos leaves dripping water, the first thing to do is immediately stop watering the plant. Overwatering is the most common cause when a pothos is crying, but it isn’t the only one. Too much moisture in the air can also cause pothos to sweat.

Of course, if you have overwatered the plant, you will need to cut back on the watering. Wait until the top few inches of soil is dry before watering again.

If the reason why the pothos is dripping is due to humidity, there isn’t anything you really have to do, since this is a natural process that occurs if the humidity is too high.

Seeing your pothos crying shouldn’t cause too much concern, since it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with the plant, nor does it mean the pothos will die.

With that said, however, if the pothos have water droplets because of overwatering, that is when the real problems can start. Of course, it can definitely help to know how often you need to water your pothos to see if you should be cutting back.

pothos with water droplets planted in a brown and black pots near a water sprayer

Should I try to prevent my pothos dripping water?

Guttation is a natural process that can occur even if you have done everything right for your plant. The changing of the seasons, which can increase the humidity level in your home, can cause pothos to have water droplets on their foliage. That means you don’t necessarily need to worry about trying to prevent this process from occurring.

However, if the pothos is sweating because of overwatering, you will need to immediately address the watering issues. Overwatering can quickly cause your pothos to decline and can even prove fatal. What’s even worse is that this completely preventable problem can be difficult to correct.

Overwatering leads to soggy roots, which makes the pothos vulnerable to diseases, such as root rot. Once root rot has taken hold of the pothos, trying to save the plant can be an extremely difficult process that few have success with.

Because of this, prevention is key – like ensuring you have sufficient drainage for your pothos to keep it safe from overwatering. 

pothos with water droplets near a sprayer and tools

What if my pothos has been overwatered?

If the pothos have water droplets because the plant has been overwatered, you will need to immediately stop watering the plant. Only overwatering the pothos once or twice typically won’t lead to rot. Just make sure you don’t water the plant again until the soil has dried out a bit.

If, however, you have overwatered the pothos continuously, then it may be too late to save the plant. You can, however, try to help your pothos by removing the entire plant from its pot, rinse all of the soil from its roots, and then remove any roots that are dead, damaged, or diseased.

Clean and sanitize the container and then repot the pothos in fresh soil. Make sure the growing medium you use is light and drains well. Avoid compact soils since this can increase the chance of the pothos having soggy roots.

Find out more: What’s the Best Soil for Pothos Plants to Thrive?

Should I wipe off water droplets from my pothos’ leaves?

Wiping water droplets off the pothos’ leaves will help keep the plant’s foliage dry, which will also aid in preventing issues that can occur when the leaves have an excessive amount of moisture on them. This particularly includes that removing water droplets can help to avoid any fungal and bacterial issues.

These issues can arise when water is allowed to sit on the foliage, so removing the water droplets will go a long way to protecting the health of your pothos.

To remove the water droplets from the pothos’ foliage, simply wipe the leaves carefully with a soft rag to remove the water. Make sure not to damage or rip the leaves when wiping them dry as this can cause a painful and itchy skin irritation. 

When your pothos have water droplets on their leaves, make sure to avoid anything that is harsh and abrasive to remove the moisture. 

These items can actually damage the foliage and put you at risk of skin irritation or contact dermatitis. This is because pothos is considered mildly toxic due to the calcium oxalate crystals naturally found in the foliage and stem of the plant.

You may also be interested in: Are Pothos Toxic to Dogs (and What to Do If Your Pet Eats One)?

Are the water droplets on my pothos’ leaves toxic?

While the pothos plant itself is listed as toxic due to the calcium oxalate crystals that are contained inside, the water that it pushes out of its leaves is not harmful. That doesn’t mean you should be rough with the plant while trying to remove the water.

Skin irritation can still occur if you simply rip or tear the pothos, so take care not to damage its foliage when wiping away water droplets. Additionally, don’t touch any foliage that is already torn or ripped, since this can still expose you to the calcium oxalate crystals.