One of the most frequent queries I receive whenever I upload a picture of my large monstera on Instagram is, “How do you get it to grow up like that?” You get the concept. / “How do you stop it stretching out?” So, for today’s post, I figured I’d show you how I trained my monstera to focus on a support while also giving you some tips on how to approach it if you’re considering doing the same.
Using supports is a very common chore whether you have a garden or grow plants outdoors, whether it’s setting up a trellis or staking your runner beans! However, the alternatives can be a little bewildering if you’re new to houseplants and aren’t used to caring for your plants in this way. There are a few options for support to begin with:
- a number of bamboo canes
- cane support in the form of a U
- sphagnum moss pole constructed at home
- the coco coir pole (extendable)
If you can’t find an extensible coir pole setup, you can use the two U cane supports shown below that can be crossed over to form an X “column” design that works well for monstera deliciosa plants. Otherwise, if you have a plant that likes to “lean against” something, you can use each of these supports separately in a pot, or you can train a vining plant to grow around them (more on this later in the post).
Look here if you’re looking for U-shaped supports. and here as well. If your plant has multiple stems, regular bamboo canes are wonderful since you can place them where the support is needed, just like you would with an outdoor plant.
Poles formed of the outer husk of coconuts and thicker than bamboo are known as coco coir. When looking for these, I’d suggest visiting your neighborhood hardware store or plant nursery because they are typically wrapped around a wooden framework. Usually, more mature plants already have one of them. These come in a variety of sizes and interlock as the plant grows; they are perfect because you don’t need to continuously changing the support (I’m in the UK).
What should I employ in order to aid Monstera?
Bamboo stakes and coir or moss poles are the two most common types of garden stakes for indoor plants. Stakes made of bamboo are inexpensive, beautiful, and simple to handle. They are incredibly versatile and have thin diameters. Coir (coconut fiber) poles are made of hardwood bases covered in coconut husk and are noticeably thicker. Because the coconut husk is so absorbent, you may water right onto the pole and your plant will benefit from the humidity. Moss poles, which resemble coir poles but are typically covered with sphagnum moss, are another well-liked option.
Insert The Stake Into The Soil
Locate the parts of your Monstera that contain the thickest, heaviest stems and require the most support at the base (bottom). Once you’ve located these spots, dig a few little holes with a trowel and insert the stakes there. Make sure the stake is firmly planted in the ground and buried deep enough to prevent wiggle or sag. For further support, drive the stake all the way into the Monstera plant’s pot.
Utilize Support Ties
When staking plants, specific support ties are not required. You can use cloth strips, twine, or plant tie tape. Just make sure that you don’t connect the Monstera stems to the stakes too firmly so as to injure them. They ought to be firmly fastened but not choked.
About one to two inches above the point where the base of your plant meets the soil, start attaching your support ties. Your plant will be able to stretch upward more readily as it grows if it has more support at its base. Repeat the ties at several-inch intervals (about every three to eight inches, depending on the size of your Monstera).
And That’s That!
You’ll see an improvement in your Monstera’s overall form and health now that it has been staked, and its epiphytic nature will have more room to flourish. The future will be bright for you and your Monstera if you use our comprehensive care guide to keep your plant healthy over time and add more support ties or stakes when required.
How can a Monstera plant be kept upright?
Right now, Monstera Deliciosa is a stylish and well-liked houseplant, and it’s simple to understand why. The room’s broad, glossy, dark-green leaves have a tropical feel to it, and under the correct circumstances, they develop swiftly. In fact, this plant’s potential for growing too large for some homes is one of its only drawbacks. When a Monstera grows large, it often tips over or leans to one side.
How can a Monstera Deliciosa be kept from leaning over? Staking a Monstera Deliciosa with a support like a moss pole, trellis, or garden stakes is the best way to keep it growing upright. These natural climbers can be trained to climb these poles by being connected to them, and they will be supported as they do so.
Although a Monstera won’t be harmed by not growing upright, most people like them to be as straight and tall as possible for aesthetic and spatial reasons. To help you keep your Monstera looking the way you want it to, I’ll go into further depth below why why this occurs in the first place.
Should I provide support for my Monstera?
Your Monstera plant will require assistance if you want it to grow higher. The most typical supports are a hardwood slab, a pole covered in jute, or a stake covered in moss. Monstera plants do not, however, have to be grown absolutely erect on a pole or stake.
They can be cultivated as vining plants instead and put in planters or hanging baskets where their lovely vines can hang over the sides. Any office is made more cheerful by Monsteras that are trailing while showcasing their spectacular foliage on top of bookcases, filing cabinets, or room dividers.
It is up to you whether you stake your Monstera or let it grow as a trailing vine; the plant will happily accept either approach.
What causes my Monstera to topple over?
Due mostly to its spectacular leaves, the Monstera deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant) is a common houseplant. Although they are simple to care for, these fellas do have one drawback: if they feel neglected, they have a tendency to pout, which may cause your Monstera leaves to droop. Don’t panic too much. They can quickly be persuaded to recover with a little loving attention.
The most frequent cause of drooping monstera leaves is dehydration. They prefer their soil to always be just moist enough. Other contributing factors include overwatering, poor lighting, issues with fertilizer, pests, or transplant stress. The most crucial step in restoring your plant to health is figuring out what the issue is.
My Monstera should I trellis it.
I frequently get asked how I take care of my monstera, so I thought I’d provide some information about it here, along with affiliate links to some of the things I use and like. Using these links to make purchases helps support this blog.
Do I need to train my Monstera deliciosa?
Yes! The Monstera deliciosa grows in a manner akin to a pothos vine that just keeps getting longer. Pothos can be allowed to dangle off the side of the pot due of its smaller overall size. A few vines hanging out of the pot would swiftly fill an entire room because the monstera’s natural size is significantly larger! As a result, you should attach the vines to a reliable trellis so they may climb it.
What about using a moss pole?
The purpose of the moss pole is to offer a surface for the aerial roots to adhere to, just like they would in the natural. The only issue with attempting to do this indoors is that you have to constantly keep the moss damp. Since the air doesn’t move as much as it does outside or in a nursery, this is not advised. Mold and undesirable microorganisms thrive in stagnant air and perpetually damp environments.
A monstera’s vine can be rather heavy, even if you are successful in keeping the air clean. A single post trellis won’t be as reliable as one with multiple posts.
The Metal Trellis
Attaching my monstera vines to a strong metal trellis, such as the Panacea Garden Ladder, is how I train my plants. It is far more sturdy thanks to the triangular profile than a flat, fence-like form. Panacea Garden Plant Support Ladder, Red, from Amazon
Soft Rubber Ties
Even if wires or thread will eventually pierce the monstera vine’s strong skin, I find that this will happen. I do this by using these Soft Rubber Ties. They won’t damage the plant, are sturdy, and won’t slip after they’ve been twisted against one another. They are simple to trim to the length you require. Link to Soft Rubber Tie on Amazon (Brown) Link to Soft Rubber Tie on Amazon (Light Green)
The vines usually won’t dangle off the side of the container for a few months when your monstera is young, straight from the nursery. When provided with adequate light and moisture, those vines will appear to crawl outwards; at this point, you should secure them to a trellis.
How do you get a Monstera to start climbing?
One of the benefits of growing Monstera deliciosa inside for fans is its capacity to develop into a substantial cornerstone for a jungle-themed home. However, that expansion also creates some issues because a Monstera can quickly outgrow its allotted space. Large Monsteras typically grow outward, unlike other common houseplants with an upward, tree-like growth pattern (such the fiddle-leaf fig or rubber plant). Because of this, many people prefer their Monstera deliciosa to climb rather than trail.
How can I encourage Monstera deliciosa to climb? You can encourage your Monstera deliciosa to grow upright by providing a support system, such as a moss pole, coco coir pole, or trellis. This teaches the plant to follow its innate tendency to climb, which may result in a healthier plant with more leaves.
The good news is that Monsteras are designed for ascent. You can get this plant off the ground and out of the way if the correct circumstances and some encouragement are there. I’ll go through some specifics regarding how and why Monsteras are frequently observed climbing on moss poles throughout this article and provide you with advice on teaching this plant to climb.
Too little light
Plants affected by it will have lanky, slow-growing leaves. However, because these plants don’t receive enough light to produce food or engage in photosynthesis, the leaves may droop or wilt. Put your Monstera in indirect, bright light or purchase grow lights to solve the problem.
Damage
Drooping leaves may be a result of injury to the stem, roots, or petioles. It happens because the normal flow of nutrients and water is interrupted. Its leaves will become dry and droop as a result of this injury. There are further warning indicators that are comparable to a Monstera that is thirsty.
Dusty leaves
The drooping of your Monstera leaves may be caused by your failure to wipe them when they become dusty. Too much dust will interfere with your plant’s ability to produce food by changing the normal regulation of transpiration (increasing or decreasing).
For instance, if it increases transpiration, plants will lose more water as a result. If they are able to absorb as much, their leaves will droop and show symptoms of being submerged in water.
On the other hand, if transpiration is slowed or stopped, plants won’t extract water from their roots. Why? Because during transpiration, the cells that lose water will draw from the cells around them, and this will continue all the way to the roots. The xylem transports water in this manner.
Diseases
It’s doubtful that the majority of Monstera infections will result in drooping leaves. Some, including stem and root rot, will, nevertheless, obstruct the regular movement of water and nutrients from the soil. During this interruption, the leaves could wilt or droop. Root rot was previously discussed while we were discussing overwatering.
Why is the growth of my Monstera plant oblique?
With this monstrous plant, it makes me feel as though I’m back in the rainforest! Simply adore it!
The famous Swiss Cheese plant, monstera deliciosa, is undoubtedly impressive. It will repay you with this incredible jungly home atmosphere if you provide it with the necessary circumstances and space to flourish. And after a long day, who wouldn’t want to retreat to the jungle? I do, without a doubt! Take a mojito, relax under your monstera, turn on some jungle music, and there you have it!
The gorgeous cut leaf forms are so captivating they make you feel as though you are in the tropics. These gorgeous plants, which are native to the jungles of Central America, add a wow element to your house. These plants have a maximum height of 60 feet in the wild. I am aware of its size. After noticing my monstera’s growth spike this year and having just replanted it, I can already tell that if she continues to grow at this rate, I’ll need a larger apartment.
I have had numerous inquiries regarding these stunning plants, so I decided to compile some informative Monstera FAQs, suggestions, and tips to share with you. You might be shocked to learn that these plants are actually considered “easy maintenance” and that caring for them can be highly satisfying:
When do I need to repot my Swiss Cheese plant?
The growth spurt has occurred and is now in full force! In just six months, a monstera plant can almost completely fill a planter with its thick tuberous root system. Ideally, you should repot your monstera once a year in the spring or summer. It’s time to repot your monstera if you pull up the pot and notice that the roots are sticking out the bottom through the drainage holes. Use a well-draining houseplant soil mix for repotting these plants, and be careful not to increase the pot size too much. To improve aeration and drainage, I added pearlite to mine.
What are the crazy roots coming from the stem of my Monstera Deliciosa plant?
These are the aerial roots of the monstera deliciosa. This plant makes a great climber in its natural environment. In its jungle habitat, these aerial roots shoot out in search of objects to cling to and climb on. For this reason, while your monstera is maturing, I usually advise adding a moss stick. This will provide it with support and a point of stability. In the absence of this, there is a possibility that your plant will begin to grow horizontally along the floor while its aerial roots look for something to climb.
Can I propagate my Swiss Cheese plant?
You very certainly can. Create some tiny plants to gift to friends and relatives if you notice that it keeps expanding and blocking your room.
Choose a monstera vine that is at least 12 inches long, mature, and has two or more nodes. To reduce the chance of bacteria and illness, make a clean cut, making sure it’s below a node. Put the leaves above the waterline and submerge the stem and one of the nodes in lukewarm water. Root growth will result from this. Keep in mind to change the water every week. When the roots are at least 4 inches long, the same houseplant compost mix as the mother plant should be used. A cane can be inserted for additional support. Then take a seat, unwind, and watch your baby monstera develop. Good fortune!
Signs to watch out for:
- Do you notice a lot of unusually long aerial roots and slower-than-normal leaf growth? This could indicate that your plant needs to be repotted because its roots are confined.
- The plant’s lower leaves are turning yellow. The stem may be becoming dark or black at the base and is wilting. This could indicate that the light is too dim and the soil is becoming permanently saturated. This may result in plant death and root rot. Examine the roots of the plant by removing it from the pot. Everything is fine if they are white-tinged and appear strong and robust. You must take action quickly if they are mushy and brown. Remove all of the afflicted roots while being careful not to damage the healthy ones with a clean pair of scissors. Repot in a fresh container with dry soil. Change to a brighter spot and modify your watering schedule as necessary.
- brown edges and a sharp curl to the leaves. This is a clear indication of dehydration and excessive sun exposure. In particular during the midday, monstera plants like bright indirect light away from direct sunshine.
- When you notice a little buildup, frequently dust the enormous, lovely monstera leaves. This dust may obstruct a plant’s pores, preventing it from soaking up the sun’s beneficial rays for healthy growth. All you need is a clean, moist towel to give it a quick once-over every week or two if you notice dust building up.
- Is the area where you have your Monstera Deliciosa darker than you would like? If you have no other place to put it and you find the soil is taking a while to dry out, you might try poking the dirt with a pair of chopsticks (just the top half). This replicates how worms and other invertebrates would normally carry out this function in the nature by introducing some oxygen. In the event that you see the soil isn’t drying out too rapidly, you can do this around once a month.
- On the top soil of my Monstera Deliciosa plant, I discovered mold. Try moving it to a brighter place and reducing the watering frequency, ensuring sure the top few inches of soil are drying out between waterings. This is usually a sign of too much water and not enough light.
I sincerely hope that this information is useful, but please feel free to contact me with any additional inquiries. Enjoy caring after this wonderful plant.
Look at the Monstera Monkey Leaf plant and Monstera Minima if you want something a little bit smaller but with the same beauty as a Monstera Deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant) (both seen below). They are related to the Swiss Cheese Plant and have leaves that are famous for having been slashed, although they are considerably more fragile than their larger cousin.