Using Indoor Plant Supports with Monstera Plants

Why use indoor plant supports for your monstera plants?

Monsteras are climbing plants, which means they put out aerial roots that grip onto objects or surfaces, allowing them to “climb” upwards. 

In nature, monsteras usually climb up trees in their native rainforest habitat. But for our indoor monsteras, we need to provide them with something to climb. Otherwise, our plants will grow more “out” than “up” and take up a ton of space. They also won’t be as healthy without indoor plant supports so they can grow upward.

So what are your options for providing supports for your monstera? These options aren’t necessarily complicated or expensive, and they can even look pretty cool!

Here are our favorite ways to use supports with Monstera plants.

What Indoor Plant Supports are there Monstera Plants

Option 1: Moss pole plant support

This is the most popular option because it closely mimics the monstera’s natural conditions and it tends to suit the monstera’s natural shape.

Moss poles work beautifully for all species of monstera plants, from the small adansonii and mini monstera (which actually isn’t a monstera, but who cares?) to the monstrous monstera deliciosa.

The idea is that the monstera’s aerial roots will naturally grip onto the moss the same way they’d grip onto a mossy rainforest tree in the wild.

The best time to install a moss pole is when the plant is still young and isn’t spreading yet.

You can also use a moss pole with an older, more unruly plant, but you may need to use soft twine or twist ties to affix the monstera’s vines to the pole until the aerial roots start gripping it on their own.

You can buy moss poles premade at garden centers or online, or you can make one yourself!

Read our guide on making your own DIY moss pole here.

Option 2: Trellis plan support

Trellises are popular options for indoor and outdoor climbing plants, and they come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. You can find metal, wooden, or even plastic trellises. They come in the traditional fan shape or even in triangular shapes, similar to a three legged stool without the seat. You can also make your own!

It’s best to install these when the plant is young and then train your monstera to climb it, but you can train an older plant and teach an old monstera new tricks! It just takes a little more work.

To train your monstera to climb the trellis, simply use soft string or even twist ties to affix the vines and stems to the poles. Make sure to use enough ties that your monstera isn’t leaning on any one point. This will prevent the ties from cutting into your plant’s stems and vines.

Repotting with supports

The biggest downside to using indoor plant supports with monstera plants is that they make repotting a little more complicated, especially if your plant and supports are large.

There are two ways to approach this.

1- Remove the supports.

2- Repot the plant and the supports at once.

If your plant is climbing the support on its own and isn’t affixed to the trellis or moss pole with ties, option 1 is a no-go. You’ll need to repot the plant while it’s attached to the trellis, but luckily, this isn’t too hard if you have someone to help you.

We published an article with tips for repotting your plant when it’s climbing a moss pole. Check that out here!

If your plant isn’t climbing the trellis or pole on its own and you can remove it without breaking any aerial roots, you can simply undo the ties, remove the support, and repot the plant without it. But you’ll have to replant the support and retie your monstera to your pole or trellis.

We don’t love this method, but it’s an option if you don’t have anyone to help you repot and if your plant isn’t climbing on its own yet.

Nourish Your Monstera

Supports and repotting your monstera every year or two are important for helping your plant grow tall with large, beautiful leaves. But if you aren’t nourishing your plant correctly, all the supports and repotting in the world won’t help!

I created Monstera Plant Food to help my monsteras grow those massive, beautiful, fenestrated leaves we all love, because dedicated monstera fertilizer that’s easy to use is hard to find. Monstera Plant Food is specifically designed for all species of monstera plants and it’s gentle enough to use with each watering, so you don’t have to remember a fertilizing schedule. (This means your plant will actually get fertilized!)

Check out Monstera Plant Food here!

You’ll have a big, beautiful, climbing monstera in no time!