Randy Chandler
The Swiss cheese plant, or Monstera deliciosa, is a tropical vine that can grow up to 10 feet tall. In the wild, it uses its aerial roots to climb up the trees in its native Mexico and Central America. When grown as a houseplant, it often needs support to prevent it from flopping over under the weight of its large foliage. This is where moss poles come in. A moss pole is a stake made of coconut fibre, wrapped around a wooden pole that you can insert into the soil. The aerial roots of the Swiss cheese plant can attach to the coconut fibre, allowing it to grow higher and providing it with additional moisture and nutrients.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Why attach a Swiss cheese plant to a moss pole? | To provide support and direct growth upwards. |
| What is a moss pole? | A stake made of coconut fiber wrapped around a wooden pole or a solid structure covered in sphagnum moss. |
| How to attach the plant? | Insert the moss pole into the soil of the pot, attach the stem of the plant to the pole with soft plant ties, yarn, or cotton string. |
| How to care for the plant after attaching it to the pole? | Mist the moss occasionally to keep the plant interested in its new support, water the moss pole by spraying it daily to assist the aerial roots with attaching to it. |
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What You'll Learn
Soak the moss pole in water
Soaking the moss pole in water is an essential step in preparing a moss pole for your Swiss cheese plant. By soaking the moss pole, you ensure that it is moist and soft, creating an ideal environment for the plant's aerial roots to attach and penetrate the moss. Here are the detailed steps to follow:
- Soaking the Moss: Start by soaking the moss in water for approximately 15 minutes. You can place the moss in a shallow bowl of water and let it soak until it's completely saturated. This step is crucial to ensure the moss is thoroughly moistened.
- Squeezing Out Excess Water: After soaking, gently squeeze out the excess water from the moss. You want the moss to be moist but not oversaturated. This step ensures that you don't oversaturate the moss while still providing enough moisture for the roots to thrive.
- Attaching the Moss to the Pole: Take handfuls of the damp moss and use twine to wrap and attach it securely around a stake or pole. You should aim to cover the top two-thirds of the pole, leaving the bottom portion bare. This ensures that the roots have ample moss to grip and climb.
- Trimming and Securing: Once you've wrapped the moss around the stake, use scissors to trim off any excess moss or twine for a neat finish. Make sure that the moss is securely attached to the pole and won't slip or slide down.
- Inserting the Moss Pole: Now that your moss pole is ready, it's time to insert it into the plant's pot. Place the moss pole close to the vine and firmly into the soil of the pot. You can use gardener's twine to attach the stem of the Swiss cheese plant to the moss pole for added support.
- Watering and Maintenance: After installing the moss pole, water the plant thoroughly to help it establish. For the first few weeks, spray the moss pole with water daily to maintain its moisture level. This will encourage the aerial roots to attach and grow more easily.
Remember, it's important to keep the moss pole moist without oversaturating it. Dry moss can lead to the aerial roots drying out, hindering the plant's growth. With proper care and maintenance, your Swiss cheese plant will thrive with the support and additional moisture provided by the moss pole.
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Place the pole in the centre of the plant's container
Place the moss pole in the centre of the plant's container. This is important for the structural integrity of the plant as it grows. The moss pole acts as a trellis, providing support to the Swiss cheese plant as it grows upwards. The moss pole should be placed deep into the soil, with the bottom third of the pole inserted into the soil. It should be placed close to the vine and firmed into place.
The moss pole should be moistened before insertion. This can be done by placing the moss totem in a shallow container with water and letting it soak until it is thoroughly moistened. This is important because the moisture in the moss encourages the plant to grow aerial roots, which help keep the Swiss cheese plant upright. The moisture also provides the plant with a second source of water and nutrients, which it would otherwise obtain from the bark of trees in the wild.
The moss pole should be placed slightly behind the plant, and the soil should be pressed gently at the base to stabilise the pole. The thicker stems of the plant can then be attached to the pole, leaving the more slender leaf stalks and their leaves free to fill in around the bottom. The stems should be brought up against the moistened moss and secured with a piece of soft plant tie, yarn, or cotton string. The stems do not have to be pulled up against the pole, just towards it. The plant will climb if it wants to.
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Secure the plant to the pole with soft wire or twine
To secure your Swiss cheese plant to a moss pole with soft wire or twine, start by sticking the moss pole into the soil of the pot that the plant is growing in. Place it close to the vine and firm it into place. You can also soak the moss pole in water until it absorbs sufficient moisture before placing it in the soil. This will assist the aerial roots with attaching to the pole.
Once the pole is in place, attach the thicker stems of the plant to the pole using soft plant wire, twine, yarn, or cotton string. You can get plant wire with a soft foam coating from a garden store or Amazon. Bring the stems up against the pole and secure them gently but firmly. If the stem is long, tie it to the pole in a couple of places so it's secure. Repeat this step with any other large stems.
You can arrange the plant however you like—there's not a right or wrong way to do it. The plant will climb if it wants to, and otherwise, the support will just help it fill out. Over time, the aerial roots of the Swiss cheese plant will attach to the moss pole, and the twine or wire will no longer be needed.
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Mist the moss pole with water
A Swiss cheese plant, or a Monstera, is a tropical vine that requires support as it grows. This support can be provided by a moss pole, which the plant's aerial roots penetrate and attach to. The moss pole also provides the vine with moisture and nutrients.
To attach your Swiss cheese plant to a moss pole, you will need to first insert the bottom third of the pole, which should not be covered in moss, into the soil of the pot that the plant is growing in. Place it close to the vine and firm it into place. You can then attach the stem of the plant to the pole using gardener's twine or plant wire with a soft foam coating. Water the plant thoroughly to help it establish itself.
To keep the moss pole moist, you should mist it with water daily. This will ensure that the moss remains soft, allowing the aerial roots of the Swiss cheese plant to attach easily. You can either drip water down the length of the pole from the top or use a spray bottle to spritz it when it starts to feel dry. Keeping the moss moist will also ensure that the plant's aerial roots do not dry out.
It is important to note that dryness will not kill your Swiss cheese plant. However, it is healthier for the roots if you keep the moss moist without oversaturating it.
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Remove any twine once the plant's roots attach to the pole
Once your Swiss cheese plant has established itself on the moss pole, you can remove the twine. The roots of the plant will have attached to the pole, and the plant will no longer need the extra support. You can carefully cut away any twine or tape that is wrapped around the plant and the pole. Be careful not to damage the plant's stems or leaves in the process.
The Swiss cheese plant, or Monstera, is a tropical vine that requires staking on a moss pole. In the wild, this plant uses its aerial roots to climb up the rainforest trees in Mexico and Central America. When grown as a houseplant, it needs a moss pole to provide support and mimic the conditions of its natural growing environment. The moss pole acts as a trellis, allowing the plant to grow upwards rather than outwards.
To attach your Swiss cheese plant to a moss pole, you can use plant wire or twine to secure the stems of the plant to the pole. It is important to keep the moss on the pole moist to ensure the aerial roots can attach easily. You can do this by spraying the moss pole with water daily or dripping water down the length of the pole.
As the plant grows, you can continue to attach new growth to the support. The aerial roots will grip onto the moss pole, but you may need to assist them periodically. It is important not to let the moss dry out completely, as this will make it difficult for the roots to attach and can lead to dryness in the plant.
Once the plant has established itself and the roots have attached to the pole, you can remove the twine or wire. This will allow the plant to grow freely and naturally, supported by the moss pole.
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Frequently asked questions
A moss pole is a stake made of coconut fibre, otherwise known as coir. This is wrapped around a wooden pole that you can insert into the soil. The aerial roots of a Swiss cheese plant can attach to the coconut fibre, which helps the plant to grow higher.
First, stick the moss pole into the soil of the pot that the plant is growing in. Place it close to the vine and firm it into place. Then, attach the stem of the plant to the moss pole with gardener's twine or soft plant wire. Water the plant thoroughly to help it establish.
Keep the moss moist by spraying it with water daily. This will assist the aerial roots with attaching to the pole.
