Side by side
Sansi vs pothos
Sansi
21 positive (95%) · 1 mixed (5%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +96%
Top excerpts
Sansi always has sales going on and right now they hand an additional 30% of the sale prices for new customers. My favorite way to use grow lights is to screw a bulb (they all have standard e26 bases) into a lamp so it doesn't look like a grow light.
Lights? I love Barrina T10, T8, T5 and Sansi.
sansi makes both grow lights, and grow bulbs you can use in your own setup. excellent lights w/an excellent rep. very bright. good focusing lenses over the leds :)
You've already gotten some great recommendations for grow lights (seconding both the Barrina and Sansi, and definitely advising against the blurple lights and halo lights)
Sansi is fine, but get the ones that have replaceable bulbs rather than the integrated light wands/pucks.
pothos
164 positive (80%) · 14 mixed (7%) · 26 negative (13%)
Trust + time weighted: +64%
AI summary — not a quote
Pothos is widely regarded by Reddit as the quintessential starter plant, frequently described as indestructible, immortal, and the buy-it-for-life option of the botanical world. It is the primary recommendation for beginners in subreddits like r/houseplants and r/malelivingspace due to its extreme resilience and ability to survive significant neglect, including irregular watering and poor lighting. Beyond traditional potting, it is highly valued in the aquarium community for its ability to export nutrients and provide root cover for fish like bettas. Users frequently compare its ease of care to spider plants and peace lilies, though pothos is often cited as the hardiest of the group, with some specimens reportedly surviving for over 25 years.
Enthusiasts consistently praise the plant's rapid growth and effortless propagation. Many users report success growing new plants from simple cuttings with a single node placed in water, noting that it is almost impossible to fail. Specific varieties like the Golden Pothos are highlighted for their beautiful variegation, which becomes more pronounced when placed in bright, indirect light. Reddit users share accounts of vines reaching incredible lengths—sometimes exceeding 60 feet—and trailing across entire rooms or ceilings. Its versatility is a major selling point, as it can thrive in soil, plain water, or with its roots submerged in fish tanks to act as a natural biological filter that outperforms many aquatic plants.
Despite its reputation, the plant is not without drawbacks. A recurring complaint involves leggy growth, where long vines become sparsely populated with small, stunted leaves, typically due to insufficient light or lack of pruning. There are also warnings about its physical impact on a home; aerial roots can leave significant holes or marks on walls if the vines are allowed to climb directly on surfaces. Safety is a point of contention; while it is known to be toxic to cats, dogs, and babies, some users argue the bitter taste prevents serious ingestion, while others in the aquarium hobby debate whether it can contribute to fish deaths. Ultimately, while it survives in low light, users emphasize that it only thrives and maintains its color in brighter spots, making light levels the primary factor in whether the plant looks lush or anemic.
Pros
- Extremely hardy and capable of surviving significant neglect and inconsistent watering
- Fast-growing vines that can reach lengths of over 60 feet in ideal conditions
- Highly effective at removing nutrients and nitrates when used in aquariums
- One of the easiest plants to propagate using simple water-based cuttings
Cons
- Aerial roots can cause damage and leave holes in walls or furniture
- Prone to becoming leggy with sparse, small leaves if not pruned or given enough light
- Contains calcium oxalates which are toxic to pets and humans if ingested
- Stems can rot and turn to mush if submerged incorrectly in water or overwatered
Top excerpts
Hell even pothos and spider plants won’t do well long term being watered that often.
Parent context: What would pothos do to the wall or any other surface? Reply: I still have big holes on my walls from a rouge pathos.
6 of 6 pothos dead :( ... they all either browned from the bottom of the cutting and rotted or browned from the leaf and withered.
Pothos was the first plant I kept alive for 6 months. Still going strong after 2 years this month. ☺️
all I can see is that pothos plant and as far as I know they very very rarely bloom lol