How to Pot Moss Pole Plants
Indoor plants like the climbing philodendron or the Swiss cheese plant grow and look best when grown climbing up a moss pole. A moss pole is traditionally a wooden post or stake with moss wrapped around it. A more modern version is made with a hollow plastic tube wrapped with coco fiber. Either one will work well to support climbing plants or flowering vines indoors.
Step 1
Place a piece of broken clay pot over the drainage hole in the bottom of the new pot. This prevents the soil from washing out the drainage hole every time you water the plant.
Step 2
Add a few inches of good quality, indoor potting soil to the pot on top of the piece of broken clay pot.
Step 3
Position the moss pole slightly offset from the center of the pot. Hold it in place while you add a couple more inches of potting soil. Firm the soil around the base of the moss pole to stabilize it.
Step 4
Remove the plant from its current pot. Use your hands to gently separate the roots and remove some of the potting soil around them.
- Place a piece of broken clay pot over the drainage hole in the bottom of the new pot.
- Firm the soil around the base of the moss pole to stabilize it.
Step 5
Set the roots of the plant in the pot, positioning them in front of the moss pole. Add more potting soil to bring the surface up to within 1 inch of the rim of the pot.
Step 6
Tie the long, trailing vines of the plant onto the moss pole. Work carefully, attaching one vine at a time to the moss pole using lengths of raffia or twist ties. If any aerial roots are long enough, they can also be attached with raffia to the moss pole. Eventually, they will attach themselves to the moss and start growing in it.
Step 7
Water the plant with a watering can until excess water drains out the bottom. When the water stops draining, remove the drip tray and dump out the extra water.
- Set the roots of the plant in the pot, positioning them in front of the moss pole.
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References
Tips
- Spray the leaves of newly potted moss pole plants with water to help them adjust to their new home.
Writer Bio
Sharon Sweeny has a college degree in general studies and worked as an administrative and legal assistant for 20 years before becoming a professional writer in 2008. She specializes in writing about home improvement, self-sufficient lifestyles and gardening.
