Monsteras are vining plants that grow towards objects like forest trees that they can climb in their natural habitats.
When grown at home, your Monstera will require objects to support it as it grows. Without one, the plant grows outwards and soon starts sagging under its weight. If this continues for a long time, the plant can fall over and suffer some damage.
So you need to stake your Monstera to promote healthy growth. Read along to learn how to stake a Monstera Deliciosa plant.
The article also explains how to determine when to stake your indoor plant.
How to Stake a Monstera Deliciosa Plant
To stake a Monstera, start by choosing a suitable heavier and thicker than your Monstera. Prepare the soil, insert the stake into the container, and firm the soil around it. Then, apply support materials and tie the plant’s main stalk to the stake with soft twine, allowing it room to continue growing.
Why do Monsteras Need Stakes?
Monsteras are vining plants that naturally require supporting materials to support proper growth. Stakes are the ideal way to provide your Monstera or any indoor climbing plant with the support they need.
Stakes help your plant grow upright without damage as it develops vines. It also makes your Monstera neater, unlike one that sprawls all over the place.
Staking a Monstera plant often leads to the plant developing significantly larger, healthier leaves with beautiful fenestrations.
Signs You Need to Stake Your Monstera Plant
If you have a Monstera plant at home, how do you know when to stake it? Here are the telltale signs to help you determine when to add stakes to your indoor plant.
Your Monstera is growing horizontally
Monsteras become wider over time, with large leaves that become heavy for the stalk to support. As this happens, the plant will continue looking for objects to support its weight. Without one, your Monstera will start to sag.
As the weight increases, the plant will grow horizontally rather than upwards. This can happen after months or years, depending on the plant’s supply of essential growth factors like nutrients, water, and indirect sunlight.
When this happens, you should know your Monstera is asking for some help—time to introduce a stake to promote vertical growth and better spatial management.
Aerial roots appearing on your Monstera plant
Monstera plants use aerial roots to cling to support elements around them. They will develop these roots when they are ready to start climbing the elements around them for support.
The appearance of aerial roots is, therefore, a good sign that your indoor plant is ready for staking.
You can stake your Monstera as soon as its aerial roots start to develop, so they do not go to waste.
Doing so will guide the plant’s growth and keep its leaves healthy from an early age. By introducing a stake, you can start training the plant to grow properly.
The plant’s stalk starts drooping
Monsteras develop broad leaves that can become too heavy for their main stem to support upright over time.
Without additional support, the plant will fall under its weight, showing signs of drooping. When your Monstera’s main stem starts drooping at an angle, you should interpret it as a call for staking.
Adding a stake and guiding the Monstera plant to the pole can restore normal growth and encourage the formation of healthier, heartier leaves.
The Monstera plant is a few years old
Any Monstera plant will require staking at some point. So if you have had one for a few years, but it has yet to show any of the signs discussed here, the pot is likely restricting its growth.
In such a case, it is best to repot the plant before staking it. Notice that transferring the plant to a larger pot that better accommodates the roots will encourage accelerated growth.
You can stake the plant in anticipation of that growth to avoid the possible inconvenience of doing the work in the future when you can do it now.
How to Stake a Monstera Step by Step
The supplies you need to stake a Monstera plant
- Potted Monstera
- Soft plant ties
- Garden twines
- Bamboo sticks
- Coir
Once you have these supplies, you can proceed to stake your Monstera by following the steps below.
These steps apply when staking a Monstera using a moss pole or wooden stake. However, you can still follow the same steps to stake your plant with the other methods discussed in this article, albeit with slight variations.
Step 1: Prepare the potting mix
You don’t want the stake to damage the plant’s roots, so begin by preparing the soil and loosening it around the roots to ensure no root remains where you insert the pole.
While loosening the soil, take the time to identify the main stem that will require support if they are many.
Step 2: Measure the height of the Monstera and its pot
First, the pole you use to stake your Monstera should be taller than the plant. To confirm this, measure the total height of the plant and its container and compare it with the height of the pole.
Ideally, you should determine the right pole length by simply eyeballing it and estimating the expected growth of your Monstera. Still, it won’t hurt to measure the pole to determine its exact height.
Most importantly, measuring and knowing how tall your Monstera is will help you choose the correct size of pole.
If uncertain about what pole size is best for your plant, go for one that is at least 12 inches taller than the plant and its container combined.
Such an allowance gives the plant plenty of room for vertical growth.
Step 3: Insert the stake into the soil
Now that the soil and the stake are ready insert the chosen pole at the base of the plant’s main stem.
Ensure you insert the pole deep enough into the soil for maximum stability. The idea is to ensure the pole gets the stability it requires without affecting the plant rots, so it should not reach the base of the pot.
However, if you are repotting the plant and staking it simultaneously, start by inserting the stake all the way to the bottom of the pot for optimum support.
This way, once you fill the pot with soil and plant your Monstera, it will have the stability to avoid falling under its own weight.
Step 4: Firm the soil around the stake
The next thing after inserting the support pole for your plant is to make it stable. To do so, firm the soil around its base with your hands.
This helps prevent the pole from tipping over or wobbling as the plant gets taller and heavier.
Step 5: Stretch the vines upward against the pole
After installing the stake, the next thing is to guide the plant onto it for support. The objective is to train your Monstera to grow vertically against the pole.
Begin by stretching the vines gently upwards to make them touch the stake. While doing so, ensure you are careful enough so that you do not damage the vines by pulling too hard and overstretching them.
Stop stretching the vine as soon as it reaches its full length against the supporting pole.
Step 6: Apply support materials as necessary
Some people prefer to err on the side of caution. So even though the moss pole should offer the needed support, they prefer to firm it further by applying additional support elements.
If this is you, now is the point to add those support materials to your setup. You can use cotton garden twines, plant tie tape, or hemp ropes to add that extra layer of support for your plant.
While at it, ensure you leave enough slack to cater to the expected growth of your Monstera. You don’t want to make it so tight that it damages the plant’s stalk as it grows.
In other words, create firm support but do not strangle the plant.
Step 7: Tie the plant’s vines to the stake
Besides the plant’s main stem, you must also tie the vines. You can use the same material you used to secure the stem to the pole or a combination of materials instead.
Whichever material you choose should help keep the vines in place against the supporting element. Just make sure the chosen material is soft and thick enough not to cut into the plant tissue.
Soft plant ties, strips of cotton cloth, or jute should do the job. Keep the knot snug enough to avoid strangling the plant’s vines.
While the stem can use only a few securing spots, the vines require more spots. You must tie the vines to the pole at several spots to provide adequate support.
We recommend spacing the knots about four to six inches apart.
You can choose to remove these ties once the plant’s aerial roots have grasped the Monstera stake. At that time, your Monstera should be able to support its weight using the vines without the help of additional support.
Step 8: Guide the plant’s aerial roots toward the pole
If the Monstera plant has developed aerial roots by the time you are staking it, you should use your hands to guide the roots toward the pole.
Consider securing them to the pole using a small piece of soft plant tie if you prefer quicker results. Once this is done, the aerial roots will start growing around the pole, attacking the plant to the stake and getting the needed support more effectively.
Benefits of Staking a Monstera Plant
Staking has both aesthetic and functional benefits for your Monstera plant. Here are the main benefits your Monstera plant will reap from a good stake.
Staking helps improve space management with your Monstera
Once you install a pole to support the plant, it will start growing in the direction of the stake, often upwards. Staking trains the plant to grow in the desired direction instead of horizontally and forming large leaves all over the place.
Staking prevents your Monstera from drooping and toppling over
Since the plant naturally forms massive leaves, it can tip over under its own weight over time. This can cause significant damage to the plant’s stem and leaves.
However, staking provides support that ultimately takes the weight off the main stem and vines. This helps prevent the Monstera plant from accidents.
Staking encourages the plant to grow neat with healthy leaves
Once you provide your Monstera with a suitable stake and train it to use the pole for support, it will start growing broader leaves with beautiful fenestrations.
This can significantly enhance the plant’s aesthetics, which in turn contributes to an elegant indoor space.
Finding the Perfect Stake for Your Monstera Plant
Even though moss poles may be what comes to mind when considering stakes for your Monstera, they are just among the many available options.
Here is a detailed list of options to consider when selecting stakes for your Monstera plant.
i. Moss pole
You may be familiar with moss poles because they are probably the most popular support options for indoor plants.
A moss pole can be made of bamboo, PVC, or wood. This shaft is typically wrapped in sphagnum moss, coconut fiber sheet, or sheet moss.
The material wrapped around the bamboo, PVC, or wooden pole helps give the plant’s aerial roots something to grasp on. More importantly, moss promotes the absorption of moisture, which helps the plant stay healthy as it grows.
In case you consider this stake your choice, make sure you go for the best moss pole for monstera for perfect results.
ii. Bamboo stake
If you are on a budget, a bamboo stake may be a viable choice as it is more affordable than a complete moss pole.
Mambo stakes are sturdy and incredibly durable. More importantly, the poles are more readily available at most home improvement stores and garden centers.
Bamboo stakes are also highly versatile. You can use them whole or cut them into multiple pieces that you tie together to use as a custom unit.
Since bamboo stakes are lightweight, they should be relatively easy to install and use to support your Monstera.
iii. Trellis
A trellis is a latticework frame used to provide support for vining plants. It is ideal if you want the plant to climb up a fence or wall.
Remember that if it is a fence, you will have to shelter the area to prevent sunlight from hitting the plant directly.
Whatever the case, a trellis will consist of wood or a different material, such as metal, with a series of vertical and horizontal bars. These bars are what provide anchorage for the climbing Monstera plant.
To use a trellis, you must use strips of fabric or soft plant ties to attach the plant to the latticework. Over time, aerial roots develop on the Monstera that carries its weight without requiring ties.
iv. Coco coir pole
Coconut coir poles are ideal for plants expected to remain indoors for the long haul. Their texture makes them ideal for growing Monstera plants, as they provide aerial roots with the desired grip.
Coco coir poles are eco-friendly support for your indoor plant, making them excellent for indoor use.
v. Tree slabs
Tree slabs are an excellent way of giving your Swiss cheese plant the kind of support that mimics its tropical rainforest environment.
These tropical plants typically climb tree trunks for support. Using a tree slab for staking the plant at home will give it the same experience as its natural habitat.
This is a great way to train your Monstera like in the wild.
vi. Wire support
Wire support is one of the easiest to use. It involves creating a loop with a wire and inserting both ends of the loop into the soil.
Once the wire stake is ready, use soft plant ties to attach the climbing plant such as split leaf philodendron or Monstera to the wire to support it and guide its growth.
Ensure you leave enough slack when trying the plant to the wire to avoid restricting it.
vii. DIY stick stake
Other than the staking options discussed, you can create a custom option using an assortment of materials.
For instance, you can add moss to a wooden or PVC stick. The only difference between DIY stick stakes and moss poles is how you acquire them.
While moss poles come in a ready state, you must tie the moss around a stick by yourself in the case of a DIY stake.
How to Make a DIY Stake for Monstera
If you prefer to be adventurous with your staking, you can create your own support structure using various materials. Here is the procedure for creating your DIY Monstera stakes.
- Start by assembling the materials you will need to complete the process, including PVC pipe, jute, and sphagnum moss.
- Once you have everything you need, soak the moss in warm water for approximately 20 minutes to soften it and make it flexible.
- Remove the excess water from the sphagnum moss by squeezing it. Wringing out the excess water leaves the moss soft but not soggy, which is the state in which you should use it.
- Tie the jute around the end of one side of the PVC pipe and knot it to secure it in place. Ensure you create a tight knot to keep the jute from coming loose.
- Next, cover the PVC pipe with moss about one inch thick, wrapping the damp moss around the PVC shaft a little at a time. Working with a little moss at a time should make the work more manageable.
- Once you have covered every inch of the pole with moss, wind the jute all the way around it to secure it in place. Consider making loose knots from section to section to keep the entire thing secure. Keep knotting and going without cutting the jute—working with the jute as a long piece should be easier than using several small pieces.
- On one end of the pole, leaving about 12 inches uncovered in moss. This is the section that you will insert into the soil.
- Finally, create a knot after winding the jute to the farthest end of the moss-covered pole. This should be the bottom part where the 12-inch bare section starts. Ensure the knot is secure enough to keep the moss from coming loose.
How to Stop Your Monstera from Falling Over
Why is my Monstera falling?
After developing broad leaves, your Monstera can typically droop and eventually tip over under its weight. Thankfully, you can keep this from happening.
One way to keep the plant from falling over is to stake it. But this is not the only way, so read along to learn how to protect your plant and keep it from falling under its weight.
Support it with a stake
You can choose any of the staking methods discussed in this write-up and use them on your plant. After selecting a suitable sake, you may follow the above procedure to secure your Monstera and prevent it from falling over.
Transfer it to a heavier pot
Your Monstera can also fall over when its leaves create more weight than the pot can support. When this happens, repotting the plant can solve the problem.
All you need to do is transfer the Monstera plant to a bigger, heavier pot capable of supporting the plant’s weight without falling.
Move it closer to indirect sunlight
Monsteras are tropical plants that prefer lots of indirect sunlight. If it does not get the bright light it needs, it may get droopy.
If your Monstera is tipping over due to insufficient light, moving it closer to a window might turn things around.
Alternatively, you could consider another way of brightening up the room so that the plant is getting the quality it needs to grow healthy.
FAQs
Should I stake my Monstera plants?
Yes, staking your Monstera can help relieve the plant’s roots of some load. This can enable Monstera to grow healthier and heartier.
How do you keep Monstera upright?
The best way to keep a Monstera plant upright is to support it with a moss pole or some other type of stake. The moss on this kind of support provides the plant’s aerial roots with something to grip and keep the plant in that vertical direction.
How do you know when to stake a Monstera?
Monsteras leave signs that should tell you when to stake it. These signs include aerial roots starting to show, the plant growing horizontally, a drooping stalk, and the plant outgrowing its pot.
Do you need a moss pole for Monstera?
Monsteras can grow well without moss poles. However, staking your plant can help it grow broader and healthier leaves with increased fenestrations than those grown as houseplants without a moss pole.
How to Stake a Monstera: Final Thoughts
Staking a Monstera deliciosa is relatively straightforward if you know the steps and the supplies you need to complete the task.
This post provides the detailed procedure for staking a Monstera plant and suggests the list of supplies that you require.
Whether you make your own DIY stake or buy a ready-made option, you can follow the procedure in this post to stake your Monstera.
We hope this helps you out. Share your experience with us in the comments.
