Supporting Your Indoor Climbing Plants: A Complete Guide

Having climbing plants indoors can add a wonderful vertical element to your home decor. However without proper support these vining beauties can easily become unruly and even damage your furnishings or walls. Providing sturdy, well-fitted supports is crucial for keeping climbing houseplants happy, healthy, and displaying their best form.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the various support options available for indoor climbers and how to choose the right one for your plant.

Why Climbing Plants Need Support

Species like philodendron, pothos, and monstera naturally grow vertically in the wild, using the structure of trees and other plants to climb upwards and reach light more efficiently. When grown indoors without support, they tend to grow outwards rather than up, becoming leggy and floppy.

Supports give climbing plants the structure they instinctively seek, encouraging healthy upwards growth. As the plant matures, you’ll notice larger, more fenestrated leaves emerging as the plant attaches itself to the support. A suitable support source also helps manage the plant’s growth habit, preventing damage from errant stems and improving air circulation.

Support Options for Indoor Climbers

There are many creative ways to provide support for your indoor climbing plants. Consider the size and growth habits of your plant, as well as your home’s aesthetics, in choosing the option that works best.

Moss Poles

Moss poles are a top choice for many popular climbing aroids like pothos, philodendron, and monstera. These provide a natural support structure while retaining moisture to encourage root growth directly into the pole. You can purchase readymade moss poles or make your own using sphagnum moss wrapped around a wooden or bamboo stake. Slow growing plants like monstera especially benefit from moss poles.

Bamboo or Wooden Stakes

Single sturdy bamboo or wooden stakes work well for smaller climbing plants or plants with fewer aerial roots. Slide the stake into the pot when first repotting your plant. As stems mature, use plant ties to gently attach them to the stake for support. The stake needs to be tall enough to support future vertical growth.

Trellises and Lattices

Free standing wooden or metal trellises offer versatile and decorative support for climbing plants. Position trellises inside the pot so vines can latch and climb. Mini trellises can also be used solely as decorative plant supports. Lattice panels mounted to walls make perfect backdrops for ivy and other climbers but require caution to avoid damage to walls.

Coconut Coir Totems

Coir totems offer a lightweight, biodegradable alternative to moss poles. Wrapped in coconut fiber to retain moisture, vines will cling to these rough surfaces while roots penetrate inside. Coir totems last about 2 years before needing replacement. Best for smaller plants and short term use.

Arches and Obelisks

Metal or wood obelisks and arches lend architectural interest while supporting climbing plants. Place inside pots or use as freestanding supports. The curved and peaked shapes encourage movement and height. Use for plants like jasmine, passionflower, and black-eyed susan vine.

Teepees and Pyramids

For bushy vines, construct easy DIY supports using bamboo stakes and garden twine. Bamboo teepees provide flexibility and height for plants like tomatoes and beans. Stakes bound at the top create useful triangular supports. Ensure stakes are long enough for future growth.

Wall Mounted Options

Consider wall mounted trellises or panels to support climbing plants while conserving floor space. Install securely using anchors to avoid pulling away from the wall as plants grow. Best suited for plants with strong aerial roots like pothos or philodendron. Keep watch for potential damage to walls.

Choosing the Right Support

When selecting supports for your climbing indoor plants, tailor your choice both to the plant’s growth habit and your home environment. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Plant Size and Growth Rate – Fast growing, vining plants like pothos benefit from sturdy supports like moss poles. Slow growers like hoya do fine on basic stakes. Size matters too; a large monstera needs an appropriately scaled support.

• Mature Height and Width – Consider how big the plant will ultimately become to ensure the support suits its mature size. Supports like moss poles for monsteras should extend close to the desired height.

• Number and Strength of Aerial Roots – Plants like philodendron and pothos with abundant tough aerial roots do best with poles and trellises they can grip. Plants with fewer air roots just need basic attaching to supports.

• Pot Size – Size matters when pairing plants and poles. For large floor plants, sturdy freestanding supports work better than stakes. For smaller pots, large poles are impractical and can even topple plants.

• Environment – Will the support be purely functional or also decorative? Is floor space limited? Factor in your home environment when selecting plant supports.

Using Plant Supports Aesthetically

While plant supports serve an important functional purpose, they also provide wonderful opportunities to enhance the beauty of your indoor garden. Here are some tips for using supports for maximum visual impact:

• Incorporate supports into the overall design aesthetic of your home. Natural bamboo poles and rattan trellises add boho flair, while sleek metal options feel modern.

• Use symmetry and geometric shapes like triangles for visually pleasing arrangements. Crisscross multiple stakes or poles for bold textures.

• Select poles and trellises with interesting decorative details like cutouts that complement the plant’s leaves or form.

• Paint stakes or poles to match your home’s color scheme – try bold hues like black for dramatic contrast.

• Use very tall supports to draw the eye upwards and create stunning heights in large rooms.

• Position climbed supports in front of plain walls to layer textures and colors.

Let your creativity run wild and have fun using plant supports to enhance your interior design as well as tend to your plants’ growth needs.

Caring for Plants on Supports

Once you’ve set up the perfect support for your climbing plant, be sure to provide ongoing care and maintenance to keep growth on track. Here are some top tips:

• Gently secure climbing stems to supports using soft plant ties or garden twine as needed. Avoid overly tight ties.

• Keep an eye on growth and adjust ties regularly. Loosen any ties that look too tight as the plant thickens.

• Rotate or pivot plants occasionally to ensure even all around exposure to light as they attach to supports.

• Maintain consistent moisture for moss poles and other absorbent supports. Allow poles to dry only slightly between waterings.

• Monitor overall health and growth habit. Add secondary supports or swap larger as plants outgrow existing supports.

• Check attachments to ensure stems are firmly rooted to prevent collapse, especially for heavy plants like large monsteras.

Set your climbing indoor plants up for success by pairing them with well-suited supports and caring for both plant and support as your verdant vertical garden flourishes.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with proper supports, climbing plants can sometimes run into issues. Here are some common problems and solutions:

• Drooping or falling stems – Ties may be too loose allowing stems to detach and sag. Secure stems more tightly.

• ** Sparse leaves** – Insufficient support leads to poor circulation and lackluster growth. Use a larger or additional support.

• Small leaf size – Immature growth stage. Allow more time for the plant to mature on the support.

• Yellowing leaves – Overwatering. Reduce watering frequency and ensure the moss pole drains well.

• Surface damage on walls – Foliage or stems rubbing against wall. Add buffer space between plant and wall if possible.

• Growth direction seems off – Insufficient sunlight reaching upper parts so growth skews toward light source. Rotate or move plant to allow even access to light.

Don’t hesitate to make adjustments or try new approaches if your climbing plant seems unhappy. With a well-suited support and proper care, you can enjoy stunning upward growth for years to come.

Final Thoughts

It’s incredible to watch an ordinary looking climber transform with a proper support system into a showstopping display of vining foliage. Take the time to find the right support for your plant’s specific needs and growth habits. Sturdy attachments and consistently adjusting ties and positioning as the plant develops are key to keeping your climber healthy and looking its best. The extra effort pays off when you can sit back and admire its vertical beauty!