Monstera plants including the popular Monstera deliciosa (Swiss cheese plant) and Monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine) are known for their beautiful, large, perforated leaves. In their natural habitat, these tropical plants use their aerial roots to climb up trees and reach for sunlight.
As houseplants, Monsteras make fantastic statement pieces, but their vining growth habit can quickly lead to a sprawling, unruly plant taking over your floor space. By providing a support structure and training your Monstera to climb, you can encourage beautiful upright growth and enjoy those iconic split leaves at eye level.
When to Start Training Your Monstera
Monsteras are climbers by nature, so providing a support structure will benefit them at any stage of growth. However, the earlier you start training, the easier it is. Young Monsteras have flexible stems that can be more easily positioned on a support.
Signs that it’s time to provide support:
- New growth is horizontal rather than vertical
- Appearance of aerial roots
- Leaning or drooping stems
Many people introduce support when repotting their Monstera. This allows you to place the support stake first and position roots around it.
Choosing a Support Structure
There are several options for supporting your Monstera’s growth:
- Moss pole – Wrap sphagnum moss around a wooden stake. Keep moist for best results.
- Coconut coir pole – Similar to moss pole but made of coconut fiber. Also provides moisture.
- Bamboo stake – Use 3-4 stakes tied together in a teepee shape.
- Trellis – Place a metal, plastic, or wooden trellis into pot. Can also be mounted on wall.
Consider height potential, stability, appearance, and maintenance. Extendable coconut coir poles are a great option.
How to Train Your Monstera to a Support
1. Insert Support Stake
Place pole/trellis in center of pot for best balance. If repotting, position roots around support. Avoid disturbing roots in established pots. Push stake deep into soil.
2. Secure Stem to Support
Use plant ties to gently tie main stem to support structure. aim for nodes/aerial roots to touch damp moss poles.
3. Direct Aerial Roots
As aerial roots grow, use ties to direct them to support or wrap them around pole. Keep support damp.
4. Mist Support
Regularly mist moss or coir poles to encourage aerial root attachment.
5. Extend Support
As plant grows taller, extend moss/coir pole or switch to a taller support
Training Tips for Best Results
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Start training early when stems are flexible.
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Slowly reposition mature stems over time to avoid damage.
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Prune excessively long aerial roots to encourage re-growth onto support.
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Rotate plant to encourage new growth toward support.
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Increase humidity to get aerial roots to attach.
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Gently tie stems and aerial roots at first. Remove ties once attached to support.
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Use twist ties or soft plant ties to avoid damaging stems.
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Keep base of support clear so you can water properly without getting pole soggy.
With the proper support and a little training, your Monstera’s vining growth can be directed up rather than out. A vertical climbing Monstera makes an exciting and striking display while taking up minimal floorspace. Just be sure to provide a sturdy support structure as these plants grow quickly and get heavy. With the right care, you’ll enjoy watching your Monstera gracefully ascend to new heights!
How to set up your Monstera for success
FAQ
How to train Monstera to go up?
How do I add support to Monstera?
How do I encourage my Monstera to grow?
How do I train my Monstera to climb?
One of the best ways to train your Monstera to grow upward is to use a support such as a moss pole, coco coir pole, trellis, or stakes. However, you also have other options, since Monsteras can adapt to climbing on all sorts of supports. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
How do you train a Monstera to grow upwards?
New plant owners may be surprised to find their once-vertical house plant starts to take up more and more horizontal space as it expands outward. One of the best ways to train your Monstera to grow upward is to use a support such as a moss pole, coco coir pole, trellis, or stakes.
How do you train a Monstera plant to climb a wall?
To train a Monstera plant to climb a wall, erect a trellis (or latticework) against the wall and cluster several Monstera plants together. This will allow them to climb and grow vertically. For a bit of variety, train some Monstera plants to trail from pots or baskets and let others show off their striking foliage.
How do you staking a Monstera?
When it comes to staking, you want to keep the support and pot stable. To do so, insert the pole in the centre of the pot, that way the weight will be balanced. If the pole or trellis is too far to one side of the pot, it’s more likely for your Monstera to topple over.