How to Make a Moss Pole for Houseplants (Step-by-Step)

If you're looking for an easy way to encourage your houseplants to climb up and grow tall, creating a moss pole is an excellent option. A moss pole can hold moisture and provide a place for aerial roots to grow, which can improve your plant's health and encourage mature leaves to grow. In this article, we will discuss how to create a moss pole for houseplants in a few easy steps.

Tropical plants that use aerial roots to climb are the best candidates for a moss pole. Some examples of plants that will benefit from a moss pole are Anthurium, Epipremnum, Monstera, Philodendron, Raphidophora, Syngonium and Scindapsus.

 

What plants can I use a moss pole for?

Tropical plants that use aerial roots to climb are the best candidates for a moss pole. Some examples of plants that will benefit from a moss pole are Anthurium, Epipremnum, Monstera, Philodendron, Raphidophora, Syngonium and Scindapsus.

Suitable plants tend to be of tropical origin and use aerial roots to climb, as opposed to tendrils like on a pea plant or squash.

 

Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Moss Pole for Houseplants:

Option #1: Bamboo Pole

Supplies:

• Twine (any thin, natural material works; jute and sisal are excellent options)
• Scissors
• Option 1: Bamboo pole (or anything similar); make it as long as you'd like (3' is a good starting point)
• Option 2: A wooden bird ladder, available at most pet supply stores in various lengths (a 4' ladder is a good option)
• Sphagnum Moss, soaked in hot water for 10+ minutes. The amount needed depends on the length of the pole you are using.

 

Step 1:

Soak the sphagnum moss for 10 minutes, then drain the water. If it is still hot, mix some cold water in before draining. Once drained, squeeze all the excess moisture out of the sphagnum moss. You can place a screen in the drain to help with this process.

 

Step 2:

Gather all the materials and place them on a large surface. You can use a plastic bin's lid or tarp to make cleaning up easier, or a tarp.

 

Assembling:

1: make a slip knot by creating a loop about 4" from the end of the twine.

2: Pull a second loop through the first one, using the "working end" (the string connected to the ball as opposed to the 4" end).

3: pull tight.

4: Secure the knot around the bamboo, roughly 6" from the end. This will be the end of the pole that you stick in the soil.

 

5: Place a small handful of your damp sphagnum moss on top of the twine.

6: Wrap the twine up and over the sphagnum moss to the other side of the bamboo.

7: Pass the twine back under the bamboo and pull tightly, continuing to wrap it over again. When you run out of moss, add another handful just like in step 5.

8: Continue wrapping until you reach the end of the bamboo or ladder.

 

9: Place your finger under the last wrap you made, and make one more pass around the pole.

10: Trim the twine and tie a knot.

11: Make another slip knot and repeat the process, this time moving in the opposite direction, top to bottom. Use this opportunity to fill in any spots that are sparse. When you reach the bottom, tie it off and trim.

12: Trim off any long pieces of moss that hang off with scissors.

 

Now, stick the bamboo or ladder into the soil about 1-2" from the plant. Tie the plant to the pole using loose ties. It can be helpful to wrap the twine around twice before tying a double knot to protect the plant from the twine. You want to ensure that some of the root nodes are making contact with the moss. 

 

Option #2 Bird Ladder

If you're a plant lover, you're likely always looking for new ways to support your climbing plants as they grow taller. One option that has gained popularity in recent years is the moss pole. These poles are covered in sphagnum moss, which helps to provide support and moisture to climbing plants as they grow.

In this post, we'll explore one option that uses a bird ladder from a pet supply store. This is a great option because bird ladders come in different lengths and are made of wood dowels with smaller wood dowels as rungs. Here are the steps to create your own moss pole:

 

Materials:

• A bird ladder (we recommend a 4-foot ladder)
• Sphagnum moss
• Twine
• Bamboo skewers

  Step 1:

Start by tying a slip knot in the twine and securing it to one side of the bottom of the ladder.

Step 2:

Place the sphagnum moss between the sides of the ladder and wrap it with the twine. Continue all the way to the other end of the ladder and tie a knot around the other end. Then, flip the ladder over and repeat the process on the other side, filling in with more moss.

Optionally, tie one more string lengthwise in the center of the ladder and tie it around the bottom rung. This string can help you pass the growing tip of the climbing plant through as it grows, but you can also secure it by tying it loosely all the way around the ladder.

Securing the ladder can be a bit difficult, however using bamboo skewers and burying it a couple inches into the soil helps!

When you reach the other end, tie the twine off and cut the end. You can optionally tie one more string lengthwise in the center of the ladder and tie it around the bottom rung. This string can help you pass the growing tip of the climbing plant through as it grows, but you can also secure it by tying it loosely all the way around the ladder.

 Here is one of our Albo Variegated Burle Marx Philodendrons growing up the bamboo moss pole. 

Securing the ladder can be a bit difficult, but you can use bamboo skewers to help. Bury them a couple of inches into the soil to keep the ladder in place.