The Ultimate Guide to Helping Houseplants (Moss Poles, Stakes, and More!)

Hey there, other plant lovers! Have you ever glanced at one of your beautiful houseplants, like a pothos that is happily drooping down the floor or a monstera whose beautiful leaves are starting to lean to one side, and thought, “Hmm, you look like you could use a little lift”? If so, you’re definitely on the right track!

Do your favorite houseplants ever appear like they might use a little assistance standing up or climbing up? Of course! It’s not just about making your houseplants look great on Instagram (though that’s a nice bonus!); giving them support like stakes, moss poles, or trellises is often really important for their health and happiness. This easy step helps them grow in a way that is similar to how they would in the wild, and it lets them reach their full potential here in your home.

A lot of our favorite indoor plants are natural climbers or grow in ways that work really well with some structure. This article will help you understand why your plants might require support, when to give it, and how to find and use the best option. Are you ready to turn your droopy plants into proud, healthy specimens and your climbers into beautiful vertical features? Let’s look at plant supports together and select the best one for each of your home’s green friends!

Why Your Houseplants Might Need Some Help (The Benefits of Good Support)

You might be asking yourself, “Is it really that important to prop up my plant?” Yes, it is! Giving the appropriate support has a lot of benefits that go beyond merely keeping something from falling over. Think of it as providing your plant the support it needs to really shine.

Here’s why your green friends would want to go higher in the world:

• Mimics Natural Growth: Many of our favorite houseplants, such as philodendrons, monsteras, and pothos, are epiphytes or hemiepiphytes in the wild. This means that they grow on other plants by climbing up trees to get to the light. Giving them a post, moss pole, or trellis lets them climb, which makes them feel at home.
• Helps Plants Grow Better: When stems are supported, they are less likely to kink, break, or trail along the ground, where they could be more prone to get pests or rot. Good support also lets more air flow around the leaves and stems, which can help keep fungus from growing.
• Promotes Bigger, More Mature Leaves: This is a BIG one, especially for aroid fans! For a lot of climbing plants, like Monsteras, some Philodendrons, and Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Cebu Blue,’ climbing and having their aerial roots adhere to a support can cause an interesting change. You might watch them grow bigger leaves, more dramatic fenestrations (those wonderful splits and holes!), or their mature leaf shape. Seeing it is like magic!
• Maximizes Light Exposure: Helping your plant stay upright lets you orient its leaves to get the most light, which is especially important in places with little light. Instead of other leaves blocking the light or drooping into darkness, they can be set up to soak up the light well.
• Manages Space & Creates Vertical Interest: Let’s be honest, some houseplants can be a little too eager to spread out! Supports assist keep plants that spread out more under control and train them to grow up, which makes beautiful vertical green features. This is a great way to preserve space, especially in small homes or apartments.
• Aesthetic Appeal: It’s true that a well-supported plant frequently seems more planned, cleaner, and more impressive. It shows off the plant’s shape perfectly and may convert a regular houseplant into a work of art.

You can find more information about cleaning and pruning your plants in this article: Your Complete Guide to Taking Care of Your Houseplants Cleaning, Pruning, and More

Reading the Signs: Does Your Houseplant Need Help?

So, how can you tell if your leafy friend is asking for help with an S.O.S. (Save Our Stems!)? Plants can tell us a lot. Look out for these signs that are common:

• Leaning or Flopping: This is the most clear sign! If your plant is always leaning to one side, having trouble standing up straight, or its stems are hanging over the edge of the container, it is obviously asking for a raise.
• Long, Leggy Stems with Small Leaves (particularly in vining plants): If your vining plant (such a pothos or heartleaf philodendron) has long lengths of bare stem with fewer and smaller leaves, it may be looking for something to climb. In its thoughts, it’s attempting to get to a support so it can put more energy into making bigger leaves.
• Airborne Roots Waving in the Air: A lot of climbing plants, especially aroids like Monsteras, Philodendrons, and Syngoniums, will send out airborne roots. These aren’t just for looks! These roots are looking for something to hold onto for support and, in some cases, to take in water and nutrients. If you notice these roots looking for something, it’s a clear sign.
• Some plants, like the Fiddle Leaf Fig, have beautiful, big leaves or hefty flower spikes that their stems can’t hold on their own. A little support can keep them from breaking and make them look their best.
• Wanting a Cleaner or More Vertical Shape: You can want to support a plant to train it into a shape that looks better, keep it from becoming too close to other plants, or just to admire its leaves from a greater height.

A little research can go a long way when it comes to knowing the plant’s natural habit. You can provide your plant support before it even needs it if you know that it is a natural climber or that it tends to get top-heavy as it grows.

Follow your gut and keep an eye on your plants. They’ll usually tell you when they want to improve!

Picking the Right Structure: Adapting Support to Fit Your Plant’s Style

Now comes the fun part: picking the right support system! Plants, like people, have varied needs and wants. The most important thing is to pick the proper structure and provide your plant the right kind of support based on how it grows and how it looks. Let’s look at the most prevalent choices:

Stakes: A classic way to support plants that grow straight up and bloom heavily

What it is and what it’s best for: Stakes are probably the easiest and most common way to support plants. They are single, straight poles or rods that go into the potting mix. They’re great for plants that need a little help standing up straight, supporting a single main stem, propping up growth that is too heavy at the top, or holding up flower spikes that are too heavy.

Materials (Pros and Cons):

• Bamboo: looks natural, is light, and is cheap. Can break down over time in wet soil.
• Wood (dowels, branches): Can look nice. Wood that hasn’t been treated will likewise get worse. If it will be in contact with wet soil for a long time, make sure it hasn’t been chemically treated.
• Metal (sometimes with a plastic coating): robust, long-lasting, and durable. The plastic coating reduces rust and is easier on stems. May not look as natural.
• Fiberglass: is quite sturdy, lasts a long time, and won’t decay. May cost extra.

How to Use It Right:

• Carefully put the stake into the ground near the main stem, making sure not to hurt any of the big roots. Adding a stake is usually easier when you repot.
• Carefully pull the stem of the plant toward the stake.
• Use soft plant ties to connect the stem to the stake (more on ties later!). Make sure the ties are free so the plant may move and grow. Don’t tie too firmly, because the stem will get too tight.

Fiddle leaf figs (especially young ones), rubber plants, some dracaenas, orchids (for flower spikes), amaryllis, and young monsteras before they need a moss pole are all good plants for this.

Things to think about and possible problems: A single stake might not be enough for plants with a lot of stems or that are particularly bushy. Make sure the stake is strong and long enough for the plant when it is fully grown.

Moss Poles: Helping roots grow in the air and leaves grow thick and green

Ah, the great moss pole! These are quite popular, especially with people who love aroids, and for good cause.

A moss pole is usually a pole or totem coated in sphagnum moss (or sometimes coir). It’s meant to look like the mossy bark of a tree in a tropical rainforest. They are great for climbing plants that have aerial roots, like Monsteras, numerous Philodendrons, Pothos (Epipremnum), Syngoniums, and Rhaphidophora.

The best thing about moss poles is that the moss makes a surface that is porous and holds moisture, which aerial roots can get into and stick to. This attachment often makes the plants grow bigger, more fenestrated, and more mature leaves. It’s a game-changer for making things look like a jungle!

Materials (Good and Bad):

• Sphagnum Moss: Holds moisture well and is soft for roots. May cost extra.
• Coir, or coconut fiber, is better for the environment than sphagnum and has an excellent texture for roots. It dries out faster than sphagnum.
• Support inside: Usually PVC pipe, wood, or bamboo.

How to Use It Well:

• The best time to put it in is when you’re repotting, and you should put the pole in the middle or back of the pot.
• Place the plant so that the aerial roots (or the side of the stem where they come out) are pointing toward the pole.
• Use soft ties to carefully tie the main stem(s) to the pole.
• You can use floral pins or carefully push aerial roots into the moss.
• Mist the moss often or carefully pour water down through the top of the pole to keep it damp but not saturated. This helps the roots stick.

Plants that thrive well with this are Monstera deliciosa and adansonii, Philodendron (melanochrysum, gloriosum, brandtianum, etc.), Epipremnum (Pothos—especially kinds like ‘Cebu Blue’ or ‘Golden Pothos’ if you want bigger leaves), Syngonium podophyllum, and Rhaphidophora tetrasperma.

Things to Think About/Possible Drawbacks: If you want the most advantage, you have to be willing to keep the moss moist. Can take up a lot of space in relatively little areas. You can buy good quality, big moss poles, but you can also make them yourself.

Trellises and Grids: Making Living Art with Beautiful Vines and Twines

Trellises are a great technique to train vining plants and make them look like works of art!

A trellis is a structure made of latticework or crossing segments that plants can climb or be trained on. There are several shapes (fan, ladder, grid, obelisk) and sizes of them. Plants with thinner, more flexible stems that prefer to weave and wander are great for trellises.

Materials (Pros and Cons):

• Wood: Natural and can look really nice. If not treated for indoor usage, it may get worse with time.
• Bamboo: is light, good for the environment, and can be used to make many different shapes.
• Metal (typically powder-coated): Strong, long-lasting, and can have a sleek, modern style or elaborate patterns. Make sure it won’t get too hot in the sun (this is less of a problem inside).
• Plastic: is light, cheap, and won’t deteriorate. Some people might not find it as attractive.

How to Use It Well:

• Put the trellis in the pot (which is usually simplest while you are repotting) or lean it against a wall behind the pot.
• Gently move the plant’s vines onto the trellis.
• You can weave the stems through the holes or lightly tie them up with soft ties or plant clips.
• Keep guiding new growth along the trellis as the plant becomes bigger.

Hoyas (many types love to climb!), String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii), some Jasmines (if planted indoors), Ivy, and some smaller vining Philodendrons or Pothos if you like a trellis instead of a moss pole.

Things to think about or possible downsides: It might need more active training and tying than a moss pole, where aerial roots can attach themselves. Make sure the trellis can hold the plant’s full size and weight when it is fully grown.

(Optional) Other Creative Supports: Cages, Coir Poles, and Things You Find

Don’t think you can only do the “big three”!

• Coir poles are like moss poles, however they are composed of coconut coir. Aerial roots like them, but they dry down faster than sphagnum.
• Plant cages, which look like little tomato cages, can be helpful for bushier plants that like to spread out, as they help keep them more upright and controlled.
• Found Objects (Decorative Branches, Driftwood): You can use intriguing pieces of driftwood or strong branches (make sure they are clean and free of pests) for plants to climb on or lean against to make them look more natural. This works especially well for epiphytes.

Making or picking the perfect spot for your plant: DIY vs. store-bought

After you’ve chosen the type of support, you need to determine if you want to buy one or create it yourself. There are good things about both paths!

Plant Supports You Can Make Yourself:

The good things about it are:

• You may change the height, width, and style to fit your plant and container perfectly.
• Possible Cheaper: Materials for DIY projects can often be less expensive than ready-made supports, especially for bigger things.
• Satisfying Project: Making something for your plants is a lot of fun!

Disadvantages:

• Needs Time and Effort: You’ll have to spend time finding materials and building the support.
• You could need some tools and some skill: Depending on how hard it is, you might require some basic tools and some DIY skills.

Easy DIY Ideas:

• To make a moss pole, use PVC tubing or a strong bamboo stake as the base. Wrap the post in sphagnum moss and hold it in place with fishing line, twine, or plastic hardware mesh.
• To make simple ladder or fan trellises, tie bamboo pegs together using garden twine.

Plant supports you can buy in stores:

Good things:

• Convenient: You may utilize it right away, which saves you time and effort.
• A lot of different options: You may get supports in many different styles, materials, and sizes to fit your plants and decor.
• More polished look: Supports created by professionals might look more polished.

Disadvantages:

• Can Cost More: This is especially true for bigger or fancier choices.
• May Not Always Be the Right Fit: You can only choose from the sizes and styles that are available.

You can find plant accessories at garden centers, nurseries, home improvement stores, and numerous online stores.

In the end, the decision is based on your budget, how much time you have, how comfortable you are with doing things yourself, and the look you want. There is no right or wrong response!

How to Add Support to Your Houseplants Safely

All right, you have your plant and the assistance you want. So, how do you get them to work together without causing any problems with the plants? The most important thing is to be kind and patient.

Here’s how to do it step by step:

Almost Everything Is About Timing:

• The greatest time to put in a stake or pole is while you’re repotting your plant. Put the support in the empty pot first, then add dirt and the plant around it. This will damage the roots the least.
• Young and Flexible Plants: It’s also easier to give support to a plant when it’s young and its stems are more flexible.
• Established Plants: You can give an established plant more support, but you need to be very careful not to hurt any of its main roots when you put in a stake or pole.

Get Ready: Before you start, make sure you have your support, soft plant ties, and any other equipment you might need, like scissors. This keeps your plant from being awkwardly half-supported while you look for anything.

Adding (for Stakes & Poles):

• If you don’t need to repot, carefully insert the stake or pole into the ground near the main stem. Try to find a position a little bit away from the plant’s base to stay away from the roots that are closest to the ground.
• Push it down hard to keep it steady, but stop if you feel a lot of resistance (you might be hitting a big root). If you need to, try a different spot.
• Sometimes, tilting the support a little away from the plant can make the stem lean more naturally against it.

Putting the Plant in Place: Carefully gather the stems of your plant and lead them to the support. Don’t try to bend stems that are too stiff; instead, work with the plant’s natural bend as much as you can.

Securing the Plant: The Gentle Touch

This is very important: use soft plant ties! Don’t use wire, twist ties with exposed metal, or anything else that is thin and sharp and could cut into or squeeze the stems of the plants as they grow and get thicker.

Some great options are Velcro plant tape (which can be reused and adjusted), soft garden twine or string, strips of old nylon stockings or t-shirts (which are elastic and soft), or special soft plant clamps.

• The Figure-Eight Method: Making a figure-eight loop is a fantastic technique to bind stems. knot the knot around the stake or pole, cross it over, and then loop it around the stem of the plant before tying it off. This makes a cushion between the support and the stem and lets the stem move a little.
• Tie Loosely: Always leave a little room to move. The stem will get thicker over time, and a tie that is overly tight will hurt it. You should be able to fit a finger between the tie and the stem.
• Secure the Main Stems First: If you have more than one stem or vine, start by securing the strongest and most important ones. After that, you can direct each vine or branch.
• For moss poles, gently push or pin aerial roots toward or into the wet moss. You can either use floral pins or tie the stem loosely so that the roots touch the pole.

Don’t expect a plant to quickly accept its new support, especially if it has been growing without one for a long. It may take a while for it to “settle in” or for the aerial roots to start attaching to a moss pole. Be patient and keep gently guiding the new growth as needed.

Ongoing Care: How to Live in Harmony with Houseplants That Need Help

Adding a support isn’t something you do once and then forget about. As your plant grows, you’ll need to keep an eye on its support system to make sure it stays useful and works well.

Regular Checks are Important: Look at the ties at least once every few weeks (more often for plants that grow quickly).

• Are they still loose enough, or are they starting to cut into the stems that are getting thicker? If so, make them looser or get new ties that are looser.
• Are the ties still holding the plant in place, or has fresh growth rendered it a little wobbly?

Helping New Growth: As your plant sends out new shoots and vines, keep gently guiding them onto or around the support. This proactive instruction keeps students from going in the wrong way.

Moss Pole Care: If you want to foster aerial root attachment and mature leaf growth on your moss pole, it’s important to keep the moss damp but not soggy.

• If the air inside is dry, mist the moss pole often.
• You can also carefully pour water down the top of the moss pole so that it can soak in.

Cleaning Supports: Every now and again, use a moist cloth to clean down stakes, trellises, or other parts of poles that are exposed to the elements. This keeps them looking great and may keep bugs away.

Rotating the Plant: If your plant isn’t getting even light on all sides, remember to rotate it every so often, even if it has support. This helps growth that is balanced.

When to Upgrade: Plants Grow! Your plant may eventually outgrow the support it has now.

• Does the stake appear like it’s too short now?
• Is your Monstera at the top of its moss pole and shaking its aerial roots around in the air?
• Is the trellis full and the fresh vines have nowhere to go?

These are signals that you might need to give the plant a taller stake, add a moss pole extension (many are made for this), move it to a bigger trellis, or even repot it into a bigger pot with a stronger support system.

Think of plant support as a relationship that grows with your plant!

In conclusion, help your plants and help them look great!

With the appropriate care, your houseplants may go from being just plants to beautiful center points in your home. It’s about knowing what they naturally want and giving them the structure they need to not just survive, but also to really grow and show off their natural beauty. There are several choices, from the basic use of a stake to the life-changing power of a moss pole.

We’ve talked about a lot, but the main point is this: Taking care of houseplants is a very satisfying thing to do. It lets you connect with your plants on a deeper level, see them grow, and meet their specific needs. It’s a chance to be creative and show off the greatest things about your green friends.

So go ahead and gaze at your indoor jungle with new eyes. Find out who could like a little help or a place to explore. Give your plants the support they need to grow, and watch as they turn your indoor space into an even more beautiful green haven! Happy to help!

FAQ: Answers to Your Quick Houseplant Support Questions

Here are some questions that come up a lot when people discuss about houseplant supports:

Is it possible to give support to an elderly plant that has never gotten it before?

Yes, you can, but you need to be extremely careful and patient. Don’t push older stems because they might not be as flexible. If you need to, slowly direct the plant toward the new support over the course of several days or weeks. Be very careful when putting stakes or poles into an established root ball to avoid hurting the roots. If the plant is particularly big or has a lot of roots, it might be best to do this when you next repot it.

How can I tell if my plant ties are too tight?

Pay particular attention to where the knot joins the stem. If the tie is cutting into the stem or the stem looks indented or “pinched” by the tie, it’s too tight. Let it go right away or switch it out for a looser tie. Regular examinations are important because stems get thicker over time.

My plant isn’t attaching its aerial roots to the pole. What can I do?

There are a few things that can assist!

• Raise the humidity: Aerial roots are more likely to grow and attach when the air is more humid.
• Keep the sphagnum moss moist, but not too wet. Dry moss doesn’t give you much of a reason to do anything.
• Gentle Persuasion: You can use soft plant ties, floral pins, or even wrap the stem with a little additional moss to keep the aerial roots close to the pole until they decide to latch on.
• Patience: Sometimes all you need is time!

What kind of soft ties are ideal for houseplants?

Some great choices are:

• Velcro Plant Tape is gentle, may be used again, and is easy to change.
• Choose natural fibers that are soft and have some give, like jute or garden twine.
• Old nylon stockings or t-shirts cut into strips: These are really soft, elastic, and free!
• Foam wire ties or padded plant wire: If you use wire, make sure it’s well-padded to protect the stems.
• Don’t use thin plastic ties, bread ties with exposed wire, or anything else that could hurt the plant.

What height should my stake or moss pole be?

Think about how tall your plant is now and how fast it will grow and how big it will get when it is fully grown (if you know).

• For Stakes: Pick one that’s at least two-thirds the height of the plant right now and has room for it to expand in the future. You can always get a better one later.
• For moss poles, it’s usually best to start with a pole that is much taller than your plant, especially if it grows quickly. You can add sections to many moss poles as your plant climbs because they are made to be expandable. If your plant gets to the top and can’t go anywhere else, it can go back to having smaller leaves.

(For your team: A comments area on the live article would be a great way for readers to talk about their own support accomplishments or ask about certain plant/support combinations.)