Over the last few years, monsteras have proven to be a highly prevalent house plant, mainly for their ability to create a healthy, jungle-like atmosphere in your home.
This, however, can quickly become a problem, as they can easily outgrow their area. When Monstera deliciosa is young, it grows vertically on only a few stems, but it grows horizontally as it grows older and heavier.
New plant owners may be astonished to see that their once-vertical house plant begins to extend outward, taking up more and more horizontal space.
When the plant becomes too wide and heavy to stand up, it is time to train Monstera to climb. In this article, we will discuss how to train Monstera to climb.
The plant, which can reach 15 feet if left uncut, prefers lower light levels with filtered sunlight or bright indoor light. Monsteras are designed for climbing, and encouraging yours to do so will result in a thriving plant. While Monsteras can climb independently, having some assistance can be the most effective way to make them climb. Moss poles, trellises, coco coir poles, and stakes are usually the best support systems. Monsteras can adapt to various supports, so you do not have to use any of them exclusively.
Tools You Need
Monsteras are normally grown vertically when young, but as they become older and heavier, the leaves trail, and the plant grows horizontally.
As monsteras grow epiphytically in the wild, they can climb trees and other upright surfaces. Domesticated Monsteras, on the other hand, cannot behave exactly; therefore, if you want to orient them to climb, you’ll need certain tools like:
Moss Pole
The most prevalent and widely used method of supporting the Monstera is moss poles. Because moss poles have a naturalistic texture, aerial roots can easily hook on to them.
These are popular among houseplant owners since they have natural finishes that integrate with the plant and offer surplus moisture between waterings.
Coco Coir Pole
These poles are identical to moss poles in appearance. They also have a natural coating that may absorb moisture; regular watering of the pole will promote climbing. These poles can also be piled to suit a rapidly expanding plant.
Bamboo Stakes
These stakes are quite affordable and easy to come by, are a good alternative. Please remember that thinner bamboo stakes will be unable to handle the weight of a large Monstera.
Trellis
Trellises are another good option for staking your Monstera; however, even the lushest and full Monsteras can exhibit the support stake. Usually, trellises are metal or wooden and come in various colors to match your interior style preferences.
How To Train Monstera To Climb
Plant owners should begin training their Monstera deliciosa when it is young to create a personalized plant that takes up less space.
If the Monstera grows without direction for too long, its leaves will become floppy and appear wilted because they are not receiving enough light.
Monstera deliciosa is one of the easiest plants to train to climb, even for plant owners with no experience. Let’s see how to train Monstera to climb.
Using a Support
- The first thing you’ll want to do is select a tall column or pole on which to grow your climbing Monstera.
- The best option is a natural material such as a long, thick, straight tree branch cut from a tree outside or purchased from a craft store.
- You can also use something artificial like a free-standing trellis.
- Training Monstera deliciosa begins when the soil in its pot is moist and placed in bright but indirect light for several hours.
- Monstera loves to climb and adhere to almost any natural or artificial material.
- Use a piece of cotton thread, yarn, clear fishing line, masking tape or non-toxic plant ties (available at garden centers) to secure the top of the stem and leaf stems (petioles), allowing them to curl around the support.
- You can drape or wrap the roots around the structural support if they are long enough.
- To maintain the roots attached to the support, use garden ties; the new emerging roots will naturally grab onto the support frame.
- Monstera will continue to grow horizontally, so you should check once a week that it is wrapping itself around the support in an even manner.
- Also, ensure that the stem or petiole is not too tight by gently bending it towards its other side if necessary.
- As the plant matures, new stem tips may need support. New stem tips grow more quickly than old ones; secure them with a cotton thread or non-toxic plant tie if they start to droop.
- If this is not done, the cell growth of the tender young stem will be interrupted, and the plant may die.
Pruning the New Growth
Rather than staking your Monstera, prune any new growth that appears in undesirable regions to prevent it from producing new leaves and stems in any direction other than up.
Plant owners are sometimes afraid to prune their plants, but this method has the dual benefit of raising the plant to become more vertical while maintaining it at a reasonable size.
As the Monstera grows older and heavier, you should continue to check once a week for heavy or drooping stems and train them as necessary. Also, ensure that new growth is directed upwards rather than sideways.
Using Light Source
- You might also take advantage of Monstera’s inherent desire to grow upward by utilizing its natural inclination to grow more toward the light.
- If new leaves begin to stretch in the direction of the source of light, turn the plant so that the new leaves’ growth is on end away from the window.
- The leaves will grow toward the center of the pot as they reverse directions, helping to balance it.
Final Remarks
In their original rainforest habitat, Monsteras are vine-like plants that climb up trees. However, you don’t need to offer any support for a healthy Monstera to develop; many people like their houseplants to grow in a tree-like manner rather than as a trailing vine.
Training your Monstera to climb may take some time initially, but it will pay off in the long run. The growing style and the support you choose entirely depend on your personal preferences and the aesthetic you would like the plant to have.
The Monstera must follow its natural inclinations and start climbing once you’ve added support and provided the correct conditions.
Monstera deliciosa, also known as the Swiss cheese plant, is a tropical plant native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. Although Monstera is tropical, it can be grown indoors as a houseplant if given its unique requirements.
Monstera may be grown indoors by utilizing its natural inclination to grow toward the light. Monstera deliciosa also requires support to grow vertically. If no support is provided, the plant will begin to grow horizontally. The owner can easily train this amazing climbing plant to climb.
When anchoring your Monstera, keep in mind how tall you expect your plant to grow. A moss pole isn’t a good long-term solution if you want your plant to reach the ceiling height.
It’s also worth noting that moss or coco coir poles will quickly bond the aerial roots to the pole, but wooden/metal poles would take longer. Now that you know how to train a monster to climb, you can easily do it yourself.