For climbing, vining plants like many species of aroids and ivy, moss poles are often considered a necessity for maintaining the plant’s health.
The problem is, a lot of houseplant owners (myself included) don’t find moss poles attractive, which effectively defeats the purpose of owning plants. After all, we have houseplants because they’re beautiful, so it doesn’t really make sense to plunk an ugly pole in the middle of their pots!
Moss poles definitely have their issues, but the truth is that plants like pothos, philodendrons, ivy, and monsteras need something to climb. That’s what they do in nature! In their native environments, these plants climb up trees, rocks, and other surfaces, and they want to do the same thing in our homes.
Climbing is actually critical for these plants’ health because this takes a lot of pressure off the root system by supporting the bulk of the plant with other surfaces. This allows the roots to grow stronger and healthier so they can properly play their role in nourishing the plant.
Additionally, when plants are able to stretch out like this instead of growing horizontally or piling up on themselves, more of the leaves can receive light, which is important for growth and photosynthesis.
Climbing also gives plants a neater appearance and encourages them to grow upward instead of outward. This means they’re less likely to completely take over your space. (For large, fast-growing species like monstera deliciosa, this makes a huge difference!)
Supports are non-negotiable for climbing plants once they grow to a certain size, but moss poles just weren’t working out for me. So I set out to find something better!
The Problem With Moss Poles for Indoor Plants
Moss poles are not only unsightly (in my opinion), but they can actually cause some problems and often don’t even work!
Climbing plants often struggle to affix to and climb up moss poles with their aerial roots. Most of the time you have to manually attach them and carefully train them to climb. This is silly because these plants are perfectly capable of climbing the right surfaces naturally!
Moss poles can also mold, which can be very unhealthy for your plants if you don’t notice and fix the problem in time. This doesn’t happen often, but it’s absolutely a possibility. And let’s face it, we have enough plant health hazards to contend with like insects, bacteria, dry air, and indoor lighting without throwing mold into the mix!
Luckily, I found a simple solution that works much better than moss poles without the annoying drawbacks!
The Best Moss Pole Alternative for Monstera Plants
On my quest to find a simple, effective, and beautiful alternative to moss poles, I went to my go-to resource for design and problem-solving: Pinterest.
After some searching, I finally found an attractive metal trellis that was different from any other trellis or houseplant support I’d ever seen. Instead of the usual fan shape (which, to be honest, I don’t love either), these simple, gorgeous trellises didn’t overpower the natural beauty of the plant, and they are MUCH easier to fit into just about any decor style.
Unfortunately, these amazing trellises were only available in the Netherlands and didn’t ship to the United States.
As hard as I looked, I couldn’t find anything like these trellises in the U.S. Not to be deterred, I decided to create my own! I worked with a manufacturer to produce a similarly minimalist metal trellis that would allow plants to climb and would still look elegant and unobtrusive.
These sturdy trellises are made from stainless steel and are rust-resistant (which is crucial when you’re watering and fertilizing all the time!).
The trellises come in a two-pack that includes two different shapes: a simple arrow and a streamlined oval shape.
In our observation and personal experience, we’ve noticed that climbing plants seem to take to these trellises very well and climb them more easily than moss poles.
They also take up far less space in the pot than moss poles, so they won’t force your plant’s vines, roots, or leaves to grow around it. This also makes repotting easier!
But in my opinion, the best thing about them is that they have a much more understated, classic look than moss poles.
The whole reason we have houseplants is to beautify our space, so shouldn’t our houseplant supplies (pots, supports, etc.) be equally as attractive?
Give these minimalist houseplant trellises a try if you’re sick of moss poles and looking for something better. After using these lovely trellises, I’ll never go back to ugly moss poles!
Enhance Your Houseplant Care Efforts With the Right Resources
For the most part, indoor plant care is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it, especially if you stick to easy-to-grow species.
It helps to have the best information, resources, support system, and products to provide the best possible care for your plants!!
Check out these handy resources, products, and articles!
Houseplant Care for Beginners Webinar
Houseplant Care Articles:
7 Signs You’re Over Fertilizing Your Houseplant and How to Fix It
Choosing the Best Soil for your Houseplants
Why Aroids Are the Perfect Beginners Houseplants
Houseplant Moisture Meter: Water Your Houseplants With Confidence
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