Skip to main content

Not sure when and why you should be using plant poles? Here are some tips

Help your plants develop bigger, fuller leaves with a moss pole to climb

Most plants are perfectly happy to sit in their pots and grow without help. Some plants, however, particularly those that like to vine, prefer to grow up a pole. If you have one of these trailing beauties, this is the guide for you.

We'll walk you through what a moss pole is, where to get one, and what to do when your plant outgrows the one it has. This is a whole aspect of growing houseplants that isn’t always explained thoroughly, so we’ll provide you with the information you need to successfully grow plants that prefer poles. Find out everything you need to know about using plant poles.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

10 minutes

What You Need

  • Moss pole at least 12 inches taller than the plant

  • Twist ties, string, or twine

Plant growing on a moss pole
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Why you might use a plant pole

First, let’s talk about why you might want to use a plant pole. Of course, there’s the health of the plant. In the wild, some plants are are epiphytic, which means they use the support of another plant to grow. These are the plants you see growing up tree trunks. When grown indoors, these plants do better when grown on a plant pole. This helps them develop bigger leaves and fuller vines, and it improves their overall health.

Growing on a pole also means the plant might suit your space better. The plant will take up less space than a trailing plant, and you won’t risk the leaves accidentally getting sucked up into the vacuum on cleaning day.

Plant on a moss pole
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Pros and cons of plant poles

Although most climbing plants prefer having something to climb, most of them will still grow and thrive without it. However, without a pole, these plants tend to droop and trail. This creates a different look than climbing, which might be what you prefer. This is essential to keep in mind, especially if the plant is young and isn’t big enough to trail or climb yet. As it matures, you’ll want to be aware of how a pole — or lack thereof — might affect the plant's health and your home's aesthetic.

Usually, plants don’t get access to as much light as hanging or trailing plants, so a pole might boost their growth and improve their health.

Training moss to grow on a pole
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to train a plant to climb a moss pole

Training a plant up a pole is not as intimidating as it seems. It’s best to start when the plant is young, but you can still train an older, more mature plant. It's easier with younger plants because they aren’t as large, and their vines are less stiff and stuck in their growth pattern. Older plants tend to get fixed in their growth and have a more difficult time bending and reshaping themselves. You might find they break more easily as you’re trying to fix them to the pole.

Step 1: Before you put the pole in the pot, consider soaking it.

This is especially true if it’s a moss pole. Many plants prefer the stake to be moist, and soaking the pole will encourage the plant to attach itself to the pole.

Step 2: Place the pole into the pot with the plant.

Go slowly and carefully so that you don't accidentally nick the plant's roots.

Step 3: Take small sections of the vines, tie them to the stake with twist ties, twine, or string, and wrap them around until you get all the vines on the pole.

Step 4: If the plant is older and its vines are stiffer and uncooperative, you can either leave them trailing or trim them to discard or propagate.

Monstera adansonii
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Which plants like poles

The most common plants to grow up poles are Monstera adansonii, Monstera deliciosa, Rhaphidophora tetrasperma (aka the mini monstera), philodendron, and pothos. These would all prefer to grow up a pole rather than be left to vine or trail, and they all will have bigger, greener, and healthier leaves if they’re supported with a pole.

Monstera climbing a moss pole
Lara Joy / Shutterstock

Where to get a plant pole

Over the last two years, the increased popularity of houseplants has made finding products like plant poles much easier for houseplant parents. Now you can find moss poles in almost any garden center or plant shop. However, if you can’t find any at local stores near you, here are three options we found online that would work perfectly for almost any climbing plant.

Or you can make your own with bamboo stakes, moss, and gardening tape.

Plant climbing a moss pole
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When and how to size up a plant pole

It’s pretty simple to assess whether or not it’s time to size up your plant pole. To make life easier on yourself, we first recommend selecting a pole at least a foot taller than your plant so you have plenty of space to use as the plant grows. We also suggest investing in a stackable pole like this one here. It makes adding height to the plant pole much easier on you and the plant.

If you have a pole that's too short and doesn’t have an extension, keep reading.

Step 1: If possible, only change the pole when you are repotting the plant. This will be less stressful for the plant and simplify things for you.

Step 2: Gently pull your plant off the old pole and remove the old pole from the pot.

Step 3: Repot the plant (if applicable) and insert the new pole.

Step 4: Reattach the plant to the pole using the steps outlined above.

If you’re lucky enough to have a beautiful vining or climbing plant in your collection, we think you’ll love training it to grow up a pole. Not only is this an attractive way to show off the plant, but it’s also much healthier for the plant.

Editors' Recommendations

Rebecca Wolken
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Rebecca's has written for Bob Villa and a Cincinnati based remodeling company. When she's not writing about home remodeling…
Zone 10a planting guide: Here’s what you need to know about what you can plant
Zone 10a plants and their growing schedules
Woman reading book by plants

Consisting of the southernmost parts of the U.S., zone 10a is a rich region for a wide range of plants. While you might need to keep an eye out for your tender herbs and cold-hardy plants, many flowers, succulents, and plants can thrive in zone 10a's warm temperature outdoors. Below, we've put together a zone 10a planting guide to break down all that you need to know about this welcoming environment for nourishing foliage life.

What is a climate zone? 
With the Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has divided the country into 13 different climate zones based on average annual minimum temperature ranges. Zone 1 has the coolest temperatures, while Zone 13 has the warmest ones.

Read more
Focus on color: The most vibrantly purple plants to add to your garden this season
Want more purple in your garden? Try these gorgeous plants and flowers
A field of lavender flowers

Purple is a popular color when it comes to flowers, and it's easy to see why. With lighter shades that can relax and soothe you, darker shades that add depth, and bright purples that are exciting and cheery, there is a purple flower for any garden. For flower bed layering, purple blooms also provide your garden with bold, yet not-too-overwhelming pops. To find the most beautiful purple plants out there and learn how to care for them, read about our top purple plant picks ahead.

Lavender
We couldn’t write a list of purple plants and not include lavender! Lavender is an incredibly hardy plant that's typically perennial in climate zones 5 through 9. Its delicate purple blooms and calming fragrance are highlights of its appeal, but they aren’t the only ones. Lavender is also an easy plant to take care of. It grows prolifically and is incredibly forgiving with occasional bouts of neglect. It appreciates full sun and well-draining soil for lush expansion across your garden bed. You only need to water it when its soil feels dry—there's not much need to fertilize it, as mixing in compost when you first plant it should be sufficient.

Read more
The low-maintenance vegetable garden: 5 unique perennial vegetable plants that produce year after year
Amazing perennial veggies to plant in your vegetable garden
Person holding produce in a bowl over vegetable garden

If you're looking to plant a vegetable garden that's low maintenance and sustainable, incorporating perennial vegetable plants is a great idea. Many of them are packed with nutrients and can offer visual interest and other benefits to your garden. Let's explore the upside of growing perennial vs. annual vegetables, discuss which ones to plant, and the delicious recipes you can make with each of them.

Benefits of perennial vs. annual vegetable plants
Perennial vegetable plants are plants that live for more than two growing seasons and continue to produce edible parts year after year. There are a ton of benefits when it comes to perennial vs. annual vegetable gardens:

Read more