Choose a support like a moss pole or bamboo stake, insert it into the soil, guide the Monstera’s vines towards it, and secure with ties for upward growth.
If you have mature Monstera plants without support, you probably notice they are growing sideways now. Well, it is a normal habit as these plants have vining growth as they age.
Hence, installing support is highly recommended to help them grow upwards.
Some of the most common ones are moss poles, bamboo stakes, trellises, or metal grids. Suppose you are wondering how to train Monstera to climb.
In that case, we are here to find out the solution!
Actually, training Monstera could be done by offering support since they were young. However, this is not an absolute path. There are several other effective ways that you can try to get them used to crawling on the support.
Without any further ado, let’s get into the topic!
Key Takeaways
- Monstera plants require support like moss poles or bamboo stakes for upward growth.
- Introduce support early, before the plant starts growing sideways.
- Choose the right support based on the Monstera’s growth stage.
- Guide the vines and aerial roots to the support for stability.
- Prune regularly to encourage vertical growth and manage size.
Table of Contents
Why do Monsteras Need to Train to Climb?
Maybe you don’t think that Monstera plants have vining growth, so they need support to grow upwards. Considering its rapid growth, which is around 1-2 feet per year, this tropical plant will surely need some help.
In their natural habitat, Monstera will attach to the nearby trees as the aerial roots develop before they start to climb.
Without the support, they will grow sideways and eventually trip over as the leaves widen and their stalks rise.
Furthermore, this tendency is caused by the aerial roots looking for support. Thus, we often see mature Monstera with lean over furniture or surrounding walls to support their structure.
To prevent this from happening, it is better to provide them with supports, such as moss poles, coco coir poles, or bamboo stakes. These three types of support are the most common as they are hardy, so you don’t have to worry about their sturdiness.
You only need to adjust the size to the Monstera varieties because each cultivar has a different growth rate.
Now, let’s discuss the best time to install them for your Monstera in our next section.
The Best Time to Support Monstera to Grow Upwards
Honestly speaking, there is no specific time to introduce support to your Monstera plants. And maybe when you install it, it is a little too late. But don’t worry! Let us tell you how to estimate when you can start training them to grow upright.
To begin with, there are some signs that your Monstera is starting to need support.
One of those is they grow sideways because the stems are arching. The top of the plants will become heavier when the leaves grow thick and lean over to the heavier side.
From an aesthetic perspective, this is not good to look at because they look messy.
Another thing you need to consider is the development of aerial roots.
These roots will emerge from the base stems, helping the plant attach to the support or, if in forests, to the trees.
In addition, they are indicators that your Monstera is an adult.
The more the roots grow, the higher the risk for your plant to fall over as the Monstera is unable to stand alone. Thus, training them will be the ultimate way to save the plant from dropping.
Furthermore, you can also observe the new growth of this tropical plant. If the baby Monstera grows sideways instead of upwards, you have to provide support as soon as possible.
However, it’s never too early to train your Monstera to creep on the stake. It is better to install support since they are still young plants than when they are well-established.
Sometimes, mature plants are more tricky to arrange to grow vertically.
The Best Options for Staking Monsteras
Training Monstera deliciosa or other Monstera cultivars will be easier if you start it early.
You can experiment with the different types of supports below to find the best one for your plant. They are all sturdy, so they can withstand the weight of the leaves and stems of well-established Monstera plants.
1. Moss Pole
This is the most popular support for Monstera as it mimics the natural texture of trees in the rainforests, where the plant grows naturally.
The moss pole is commonly covered with sphagnum moss to retain moisture so that your Monstera will happily crawl on it. And thanks to that, it also serves as an additional water source.
Besides assisting vertical growth, the support also provides extra micronutrients from the moss.
Some also mentioned that it could stimulate the production of larger leaves if the moss has contact with each node on the plant.
2. Coco Coir Pole
You may be a little confused about identifying the moss pole and coco coir pole. The main difference between these two supports lies in their appearance. The moss pole looks more natural because it is wrapped in moss, while the coco coir pole looks neater.
However, some people prefer coco coir because it is flexible and customizable. Thus, it is aesthetically more attractive.
Unlike the moss pole, which must be replaced periodically, it doesn’t require frequent replacement because it does not feature moss in its structure.
If you let this moss stand for too long, you may expect unwanted microorganism growth that can rot the Monstera roots. So, you could say that coco coir polishes are more durable and cost-effective.
3. Bamboo Stake
If you cannot find moss or coco coir poles, you can always use anything around, including bamboo stakes.
It may not be great for mature plants, but it will benefit your baby Monstera. Instead of staking one, it is better to offer more space by creating a grid design with bamboo.
Then, secure each knot with wires or rope and attach it to the potted Monstera plant.
Even though bamboo stakes can’t give thick leaves like those growing on the moss poles, at least you provide a support structure to help it grow upwards.
4. Trellis
Trellis is the best option for those who don’t want the hassle.
Apart from having a solid structure, this support also features various attractive designs. Moreover, the trellis size also varies, so you can choose according to the growing stage of your Monstera.
Therefore, the trellis is widely used for indoor plants in spotlight places, such as living rooms, patios, or dining rooms.
As for Monstera plants, a frame with a large surface area will help hold the leaves growing sideways. You can tie them loosely with rope to the trellis without worrying about falling over.
How to Train Monstera to Grow Upright?
No need to rush! Training Monstera plants need patience, despite being not fussy and pretty adaptable to their surroundings.
As they naturally climb on trees, it is easier to train them in the earlier stage to ensure they get used to the support.
But before staking them on support, ensure you have provided growing conditions that suit their needs. They require bright indirect light and moist soil, with around 60-70% humidity, to thrive best.
If everything has been set, we will start step by step to tie the plant to the support you choose and train them to climb on it.
1. Choose Monstera Support
The first step to do is to choose monstera support. You have to select the one according to the growth stage of your plant because the size and material determine the growth of Monstera.
For those who want to train Monstera in the earlier stages, such as the baby or young Monstera, it is better to pick a bamboo pole because it is simple and accessible.
It is also a good start to introduce them to vertical growth.
Once they grow older, replace them with a moss pole, which is more suitable for growing conditions.
2. Stack it on The Soil
After finding the right support, it must be stacked to the soil.
In this case, make sure the soil is not too compact to make it easier for you to install. In addition, compact soil is not recommended because it inhibits good air circulation and can cause water to sit on the ground for too long.
It is not great for your plant because it leads to root rot. Then, firm the soil around the support with your hands to ensure the structure is strong enough to support Monstera.
3. Aid Vines to the Support
Once you have succeeded in planting the support in the soil, the first thing you have to do is guide the vines to the stake or pole. It is important because they must be trained to attach and grow on that support.
You can try to gently stretch out the vines, which usually grow crowded.
Make sure you’re not in a hurry, so you don’t hurt them.
Then, tie the vines loosely to the support with wires or rope every 5-6 inches or 4-8 inches, just adjust it with the size of your plant. Then observe the growth.
If the aerial roots are well-established and can support the vines, you can remove the plant ties one by one.
4. Aerial Roots Are The Keys
As mentioned above, aerial roots will help the vines grow upwards as they provide structure to the plant. Therefore, you need to bring the poles closer to the aerial roots so they can have a good wrap to the support when they are fully established.
In addition, these roots can also maintain the moisture of your plants as it absorbs moisture from their surroundings.
5. Prune Messy Monstera
Last but not least, pruning is extremely necessary to stimulate the growth of your Monstera plants.
With such treatment, the tropicals will produce more new vertical leaves, making it easier for them to climb on the support.
In addition, it will stimulate larger and denser leaf production, offering endless greenery wherever they reside. But make sure you use clean and sharp shears to avoid injuries to your plant.
Final Thoughts
Training your Monstera plants is relatively easy.
However, it will not work without providing proper growing requirements, such as bright indirect sunlight, high humidity, adequate watering, and moist soil.
Moreover, the selection of support is crucial because it must follow the growth stage of your Monstera. After that, you can follow the step-by-step that we have compiled above.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Why is my monstera falling over?
Monstera can grow up to 60 feet tall in the wild, while as indoor plants, they can reach around 6-8 feet!
Since they have a climbing habit, the structure needs support unless they will trip over to the side that is heavier than the rest. You can try to install a moss pole to help your plant grow upwards.
Do Monsteras need climbing poles?
As they age, Monstera will tend to grow like vines, climbing on support structures available in the vicinity. Hence, Monstera needs climbing polishes to help it withstand the heavy leaves and support upright growth.
Besides moss polishes, you can try coco coir polishes, bamboo stakes, or metal trellis with solid structures.
What do you do when Monstera gets too big?
Once your Monstera plants develop aerial roots, they can get too big so fast. In that case, you must trim them to keep them in shape. In addition, it stimulates new growth that may be hindered by dense foliage.
The best way to do it is by trimming the leaves stalks above the node (growth point).
Ensure that they are old, wilted, or dead leaves. Also, restricting them from getting proper growing conditions, such as bright indirect light, will slow down the growth of this tropical plant.
Why is my monstera plant growing sideways?
Since Monsteras have a tendency to creep, they will grow sideways to find support.
Therefore, it is recommended to provide a support structure when they grow up, about 1-3 years after planting.
However, you can also start training the Monstera deliciosa climb when these tropical plants are still young. Some nurseries do this to make them get used to having support around.
