Whether you’ve just gotten a Monstera plant or had one for years, you’ve probably had people tell you to use a moss pole to grow your plant. But is this necessary? Is it better to grow a Monstera with a moss pole or without one?
It’s better to grow a Monstera with a moss pole than without, as it closely mimics the plant’s natural environment, supports the plant in upright growth, and encourages the development of larger leaves. Additionally, a Monstera plant without a moss pole is more likely to grow sideways.
The rest of this article will discuss the benefits of growing a Monstera plant with a moss pole and without, general tips to consider when using a moss pole to grow your Monstera, and excellent moss pole suggestions for your plant. So, read on!
Do I Need a Moss Pole?
Whether or not you need a moss pole for your plant depends on various factors, including where you intend to keep the plant, the amount of sunlight it receives, and the overall look you prefer. However, for most people, moss poles are recommended.
You need a moss pole, especially if you want your Monstera (or other epiphyte plants) to grow straight and tall. Moss poles provide the additional support your plant craves by closely mimicking its natural environment, leading to strong, healthy leaves and branches.
Moss poles have several distinct advantages when it comes to growing a healthy and upright Monstera which we will explore below.
Benefits of Growing a Monstera Plant With a Moss Pole
The benefits of growing a Monstera plant with a moss pole far outweigh any drawbacks. Therefore, I’ll always recommend using a moss pole to grow your Monstera, even more so than other support methods, including wood stakes, coir poles, or bamboo stakes.
So, let’s get into the various benefits of growing a Monstera with a moss pole support.
Moss Poles Mimics a Monstera Plant’s Natural Environment
Monstera plants are considered epiphytes, which are plants that typically cling to other plants for support. In the wild, Monsteras are known for clinging to trees and continuing to grow on them.
Therefore, using a moss pole resembles the Monstera’s natural environment, as Monsteras will often grow around moss in the wild. While using moss specifically isn’t a requirement, moss also has other benefits to the plant, such as providing additional nutrients. However, I’ll get more into that later in the article.
Moss Poles Support Monstera Plants
A Monstera plant growing sideways is something no plant lover likes to see. Unfortunately, without the proper support, Monstera grows too tall, and gravity begins to take over, resulting in a plant that bends in every direction.
However, moss poles provide the support a Monstera craves. Therefore, with a moss pole as support, Monstera plants can cling to it and grow straight and tall, precisely what you want to see a Monstera do.
Moss Poles Allow You To Control the Monstera Plant’s Growth
Along with providing support, moss poles allow you to control how and in which way a Monstera plant grows. For example, if you want the plant to grow more toward the left than straight, you can position the moss pole toward the pot’s left, and the plant will cling to it.
However, it would be best if you also remembered that Monsteras gravitate toward sunlight, so the area your plant is in and how much sunlight it receives will determine how it grows.
Moss Poles Encourage the Growth of Larger Leaves
Moss poles encourage the growth of larger leaves on a Monstera plant because of the extra support and additional nutrients the pole provides.
Monster plants have aerial roots, which are roots that are above the ground. These roots will cling to the moss pole as the plant grows taller, strengthening the plant because of the strong root attachment, and will therefore receive additional nutrients from the water (especially when the moss pole is kept moist).
Benefits of Growing a Monstera Plant Without a Moss Pole
While using a moss pole might be ideal for Monstera plants, it’s not entirely necessary. Many people prefer not to control their Monstera’s growth, so they don’t require a moss pole support.
Below, I’ll go over some reasons why people may not like using moss poles and the benefits of growing a Monstera without one.
You Can Keep the Monstera Plant Small
Moss poles are only for plants that are growing big and tall. So, if you’re someone who wants to trim your Monstera to keep in a smaller pot, a moss pole isn’t needed.
This situation is especially ideal if you like the look of the Monstera plant without support in it. The smaller the moss pole, the less support it needs to thrive.
The Moss Pole Won’t Be an Eyesore in the Monstera Plant
For many people, one of the only drawbacks to a moss pole in a Monstera plant is its busy look. For some, having additional objects in their plant is odd-looking or less than ideal, so they prefer to keep it looking clean and neat.
However, it’s important to note that moss poles are one of the most popular support methods for Monstera and other epiphyte plants because they have a more natural look.
Despite this, if you don’t like the look of other objects with your plant, I suggest regular pruning to keep the plant manageable so that moss poles, or other support methods, aren’t needed.
The Monstera Plant Can Grow Wild
Sometimes the best-looking plant is the craziest. Depending on where you’re growing the plant, you may prefer it to grow every way. In this case, you will not need a moss pole, as it will only control the plant’s growth in a specific way.
While supporting the plant and encouraging it to grow straight is ideal and will likely give your plant the best results, it’s not a requirement. Monstera plants can grow just fine, even if they’re growing sideways. So, if the unruly plant look is what you like, go for it!
Tips for Using a Moss Pole To Grow a Monstera Plant
Now that you know all of the benefits a moss pole has to offer a Monstera plant, it’s essential to go over the various tips to keep in mind when using one:
- Keep the moss pole moist. Misting the moss pole before putting it in your plant, and keeping it moist, will offer the most benefits to the Monstera. The wet moss will nourish the aerial roots and encourage them to attach to it, which will help the plant’s branches stay healthy.
- Tie the branches to the moss pole. If your Monstera plant’s stems are long and leaning to the side, tie the branches to the pole using any tie to encourage it to cling to the pole.
- Don’t remove the Monstera from the pole. If you notice the roots of the Monstera are attached to the pole (which is excellent), don’t try to remove it. This removal can damage the roots and the plant.
- Rotate the plant often. Even though the Monstera plant’s branches are likely standing tall and straight, rotating the plant so all sides receive adequate sunlight is essential, especially if you notice one side leaning more towards the light.
What Can I Use Instead of a Moss Pole?
If you prefer not to use a moss pole, there are several other options to choose from when searching for a support method for your Monstera plant.
Instead of a moss pole, you can use several other support methods, including coco coir poles, bamboo stakes, regular stakes, or trellis. Anything that will support your plant will do.
A trellis is an excellent option if you don’t want to use a moss pole.
Final Thoughts
Using a moss pole is better for a Monstera than without, as moss poles offer various benefits to Monstera plants, including:
- They resemble the Monstera plant’s natural habitat.
- They provide support for the plant to grow straight.
- They allow for better control of the growth of the plant.
- They encourage larger leaves through better nourishment.
Therefore, while moss poles aren’t essential, they will give your plant the support it needs to grow strong and healthy.
