To tie a monstera plant, gently secure its vines to a support structure like a moss pole or stake using soft garden ties, starting at the base and working upwards, ensuring ties are not too tight to allow for growth.
Monstera plants are natural climbers. As they grow, their aerial roots seek surfaces to attach to, mimicking their behavior in the wild where they climb trees. Providing a stake or pole gives them the necessary support to grow upwards, resulting in larger leaves and a healthier plant structure. Tying helps guide the vines onto this support.
Why Tie a Monstera?
- Provides Support: Prevents vines from trailing or flopping over.
- Encourages Upright Growth: Helps the plant grow vertically, mimicking its natural habitat.
- Promotes Larger Leaves: Climbing often encourages the development of larger, more mature leaves with characteristic splits (fenestrations).
- Improves Air Circulation: Tying keeps foliage organized, improving airflow around the plant.
What You Need
- Support Structure: Moss pole, coir pole, wooden stake, or trellis.
- Soft Garden Ties: Materials like soft plant ties, fabric strips, or velcro plant tape. Avoid using sharp or thin materials like wire or string which can cut into the stems.
Step-by-Step Guide to Tying
Follow these steps to effectively tie your monstera vines to their support:
Choosing the Right Support
Select a sturdy support that is appropriate for the size of your plant. A moss or coir pole is often preferred as the aerial roots can eventually grow into the pole itself, providing natural support. Insert the support into the pot near the center, ensuring it is deep and stable.
Preparing Your Plant and Ties
Gather the longest or most leaning vines you want to secure. Cut or prepare your soft garden ties to a manageable length for wrapping around both the vine and the support.
The Tying Process
- Start at the Base: Begin securing the vines closest to the base of the support stake or pole.
- Position the Vine: Gently position the monstera vine against the support structure.
- Use Soft Ties: To secure the vines, use soft garden ties and make sure to tie them gently around the vines.
- Wrap Gently: Start at the base of the stake and wrap the tie gently around both the vine and the stake.
- Secure Loosely: Make sure not to tie too tightly as this can damage or restrict growth. The tie should be snug enough to hold the vine against the support but loose enough to allow the stem to expand as it grows.
- Continue Upwards: Continue securing each vine a few inches apart until all are tied up. Assess which parts of the vines need support and secure them accordingly.
- Guide Aerial Roots: As the plant grows, you can gently guide new aerial roots towards the moss or coir pole so they can attach.
Tips for Success
- Regularly check the ties to ensure they are not becoming too tight as the plant grows. Adjust or replace ties as needed.
- Handle the vines gently to avoid breaking stems or damaging leaves.
- As the plant gets taller, you may need to extend the support pole or add a new one.
By following these steps, you can help your monstera climb successfully, encouraging healthier growth and those desirable large, fenestrated leaves.
