Are you confused about whether you should grow your monstera plant with a moss pole or without? In this article, we will explain the benefits of using a moss pole and what would happen if you grow your plant without it.
Continue reading to find out what a moss pole is, whether monsteras need moss poles, and what the advantages of growing your plant with and without moss poles are. By the end of this piece, we are confident that you will be able to make a final decision of whether you want to use a moss pole or alternate support system to grow your plant or not.
What is a Moss Pole?
Moss poles are moss-covered polls that are sturdy enough to act like tree trunks. They are meant ot be attached to the center of the plant pot so that they can allow the plant to grow upwards.
Do Monsteras Need Moss Poles?
Whether monstera plants need these poles depends on a few factors, such as where you want to grow the plant, how much sunlight it gets, and what you want your plant to look like. Usually, moss poles are recommended for the monstera plant.
If you are looking for your monstera deliciosa to grow vertically tall and straight, these poles are recommended. This is because they provide extra support to these tropical plants by copying their natural environment, which eventually leads to healthy growth and strong branches.
There are many advantages of growing monstera plants, also commonly known as a swiss cheese plant, with moss poles that we will explore below:
Monstera With Moss Pole Advantages
There are many advantages of growing a Monstera deliciosa with a moss pole. In fact, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Growing your monstera plants with a moss pole is recommended over other methods like a coco coir pole, bamboo stick, or wood stick.
Here are the advantages of using monstera moss poles:
Provide the Plant with its Natural Environment
Monstera plants fall in the category of epiphytes. These are plants that are found clinging to other plants for support. When grown in the wild, monstera deliciosa are famous for clinging to the surrounding trees and large plants, and growing in support of them.
Hence, when you use a narrow moss pole to mimic the environment of the monstera deliciosa, the plant starts to grow the way it would in the wild. Usually, these plants grow in moss. Even though this is not important for the plant’s growth, it provides it with additional nutrients that are important for the growth of the tropical plant.
Act as a Support Pole
Since the monstera deliciosa grows sideways, it can bother plant lovers. If not provided with the correct support, this plant can grow extremely tall as gravity intervenes and causes it to bend sideways in random directions.
However, moss poles can support monstera plants. When you use a moss pole or a moss pole alternative, such as coco coir poles or rot resistant wood, the plant starts to cling to it and takes support from it to grow tall and straight- exactly how a monstera deliciosa is supposed to grow in the wild.
Help Control New Growth
When provided as support, the moss pole can control which direction your monstera grows in. For example, if you are looking for the plant to grow left instead of straight, you can manipulate its growth by positioning the pole on the left side. The plant will then automatically cling to it.
Keep in mind that the monstera deliciosa usually gravitates towards sunlight. Hence, grow your plant in the correct area and as it grows, ensure that it is receiving sufficient sunlight.
Allow Big Leaves to Grow
These poles provide additional support and nutrients to these support climbing plants, allowing bigger leaves to grow.
The monstera plant has aerial roots, which refers to roots that grow above the ground. When a monstera plant grows taller, these roots cling to the pole. The moss pole strengthens the plant, encouraging better root attachment, and hence, allowing it to receive nutrients from water. It is particularly helpful if moss poles are kept moist.
Monstera Without a Moss Pole Advantages
Even though using moss poles to grow monstera plants is ideal, it is not completely important. In fact, many plant owns want to let the monstera plant grow any way they want, so they do not need moss poles to support the monstera deliciosa.
Here are some reasons why moss poles may not always be necessary and what the potential benefits of growing the monstera deliciosa without moss poles would be:
Your Plant Can Remain Small
A moss pole can help your plant grow tall and big. However, if you want to grow a monstera plant as an indoor plant in a small pot, you really do not need a moss pole.
If you like how your plant is growing without the moss pole, that is also perfect. You can also use a very small moss pole so that the plant does not rely on it completely for support.
The Aesthetics Will Not Be Affected
Many people believe that adding a moss pole to the monstera deliciosa makes it look congested and busy, spoiling its natural beauty. Moreover, sometimes having extra objects in the monstera plant can make it look weird, which is why they prefer keeping the plant clean and tidy.
While you can always opt for other support methods, keep in mind that a sphagnum moss pole is known to be the best because it has a natural look, which in turn makes the plant look more natural too.
However, if you feel strongly about moss poles, you can skip them. Instead, prune your plant regularly so that it remains manageable. This way, you will not require a moss pole or any other support methods to keep your plant straight.
The Monstera Deliciosa Can Grow Wild
Have you ever seen a crazy looking plant and immediately fallen in love with it? Based on where you are growing your plant, you may want it to grow in all directions. For a situation like this, you will not require a moss pole as these poles control the growth of the plant.
Even though giving support to climbing plants is ideal, you do not need to grow a moss pole monstera. Growing a monstera plant on its own is okay as long as you do not mind it growing sideways.
How to Install a Moss Pole for Your Monstera Plant
Moisten the Moss Pole
Start by putting the moss poles in shallow containers so that they can soak for a while. During this time, look at your plant and decide whether or not you need to repot it.
If your monstera plant is in a big pot and the aerial roots are not overly dense, you do not need to repot the plant.
If the plant needs to be repotted, take it out from the old pot and look at the roots. If you find that the roots are tightly packed, tease them a little before replanting your plant in fresh soil. However, instead of placing the monstera deliciosa in the middle, place it towards the front-end of the pot.
Install the Moss Pole
When the moss pole and plant are ready, take the moistened moss pole and stick it into the soil. It is important to keep the pole upright and pat it down right behind your monstera plant.
Once done, gently press the soil so that you can stabilize the pole.
Attach the Monstera Deliciosa to the Pole
Now, it is time to get your monstera plant familiar with the moss pole. Don’t worry if you find that some of the plant’s stems are a little longer than others. The thick stems will help support bigger leaves and soon, the aerial roots will start to show.
To allow the monstera adansonii to attach to the pole, use a soft plant tie or zip ties to secure the stems to the pole. After some time, you will find that your monstera deliciosa has attached itself to the moss pole with the help of its aerial roots, and has started to go upwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a moss pole or trellis better for Monsteras?
If you are training your monsteras for the first time, trellis may work better than a moss pole. This is because trellis allow the monstera plant to climb up easily, and they also look better than moss poles, increasing the aesthetic of your landscape.
However, as long as you are not worried about aesthetics, a moss pole can do the job just as well. The best part is that you can even make your own DIY moss pole!
Why do Monsteras need support?
Monstera plants need support because these plants are climbers in their natural habitats. Their aerial roots usually cling to big trees, which is why when growing them inside your house, you need to allow moss poles to replicate these trees.
Should I keep my moss pole moist?
Keeping the moss pole moist will allow the aerial roots to get attached to it so that water and nutrients can be drawn from them. Hence, submerging the moss pole in water is important before you use it to support the potted monstera.
My name is Daniel Elrod, and I have been houseplant love ever since I was 17. I love how much joy they bring to any room in the home. I’ve always been amazed at how a few pots of flowing leaves can turn a drab and sterile office into an inviting place where people love to work at.
