Have you ever wondered how to grow Monstera upwards? Monstera deliciosa is a climbing plant. In its native tropical habitat it climbs up tree trunks and can manage 60 ft/20 m with no trouble at all. It’s one of many aroids that have a natural inclination to climb trees in tropical regions.
Monstera deliciosa, or Fruit Salad Plant, habitually spills out over the sides of your pot as it grows. It will continue in a sprawling growth habit if you don’t train it to grow upright. In its natural habitat it will spread out until it finds a tree to climb. This might be ok outdoors if you have lots of room however, many Monstera are grown as indoor plants and don’t have much horizontal space around them. If you plan to keep your Monstera for several years you need to start planning for the future because before long it can take up too much space if you don’t keep it in check.
Train Monstera to grow vertically up a stake
The simplest and best way to train your Monstera to grow upwards is on a vertical stake or support pole. These come in a variety of heights and are easily inserted into a pot to support your plant. This is a great option to get your Monstera growing vertically when it is still young and is going to need regular re-potting.
When it is very young you can start out with bamboo stakes. As it develops large leaves it becomes heavier and needs larger support poles. When it starts to produce the characteristic adult leaves is when you can switch to something bigger. Coco coir poles or a moss stick are ideal to use for a mature plant because they can also act as a source of moisture for the aerial roots. Don’t use a PVC pipe as it has a smooth surface that is harder for the aerial roots to cling to.
To make a moss stick, take a wooden stake and cover it in sphagnum moss. While you hold the moss in place wind a natural string such as jute around it to secure the moss. In reality, this sounds easier to do than it actually is. So to save myself the trouble I prefer to purchase a coir pole from my local hardware store as they aren’t expensive.
The best time to start training your Monstera vine is when it needs repotting for the new growing season, usually in later winter or early spring before new growth appears. Follow these steps install a coir pole support when repotting your Monstera:
Instructions
- Firstly, gather the materials you need: a coir pole, plant ties, a pot or container for the plant, and potting mix. It’s a good idea to have a scrubbing brush and detergent to clean the pot if you are using an old pot.
2. Wash the pot inside and out in some water and dish washing solution before you add any soil or plants. I use my wheelbarrow as a substitute sink for washing pots because it’s big and portable.
3. After that, place a piece of geofabric or mesh over the drainage hole to stop ants or other insects from colonizing your pot. It allows water to drain out but stops anything else from getting in or out of your pot.
4. Half fill the pot with potting soil then place the coir pole in the pot, making sure it is firmly in the soil.
Place the root ball of the plant in the center of the pot at the base of the coir pole. Gently wrap the aerial roots around the pole. You don’t need to secure them, if they have contact they will work it out.
5. You will however, need to secure the main stem of your Monstera to the pole with a plant tie. Fill the pot with soil and add mulch on top if you like.
Finally, water the plant and coir pole and move it to the desired location. Ideally this is a location with morning sun outdoors or with lots of indirect light indoors.
Aftercare:
Monitor the plant’s growth and water when the soil is dry. Don’t add fertilizer in the first 4-6 weeks until is has settled in to its new home. Instead, you can use a dilute seaweed solution to help manage transplant shock.
Your Monstera will quickly reward you with lush new vertical growth.
Aerial roots
The photo shown in Aftercare above was taken just three months after repotting the Monstera. As you can see it produced huge new leaves and is happily growing up the coir pole. It has also produced lots of new aerial root growth, shown in this picture.
As the Monstera’s aerial roots start to form higher up the trunk they will secure themselves to the textured surface of the pole. The absorbent fibers in the pole help to wick moisture up from the potting soil where they are absorbed by the roots. Additionally, the roots can absorb moisture from the humid atmosphere.
How to grow Monstera upwards on a trellis
Growing Monstera on a trellis is very similar to supporting it with a stake, the difference is that a trellis provides horizontal as well as vertical support and can support more weight. This solution is best for larger plants with more than one stem.
1. Place a trellis near the Monstera. If it isn’t self-supporting secure it either to the side of the pot or to a structure nearby, such as a post or wall.
2. Attach the stem of the Monstera to the trellis using a plant tie, string or a soft fabric band. Don’t use wire or zip ties as they can damage the plant. Velcro garden ties are good as you can adjust them as the plant grows. Working from the lower plant upwards, guide thick stems upwards and outwards on the trellis, securing them as you go. Only secure stems up to the point that they have mature leaves. New leaves are more fragile and their stems need some time to toughen up before you tie them to the trellis.
3. As the plant grows, continue to tie it to the trellis as it reaches higher levels.
How to train monstera to grow on a wall
If you have a textured wall such as brick this is a great surface for your Monstera to climb. It is similar to tree bark and has grooves for the aerial roots to grow into, helping them to form a natural grip on the wall. New roots will emerge along the stem as it matures, helping to secure the weight of the leaves as it grows taller.
If you don’t have a textured wall you can still grow Monstera vertically on other walls.
Hooks help your Monstera deliciosa climb on drywall (plasterboard) or any other vertical surfaces by providing an anchor point for plant ties. Just make sure you get the high strength hooks and follow the installation instructions. Good options are the suction hooks used for bathroom accessories or screw hooks.
You can also use general adhesive wall hooks for a juvenile Monstera as temporary support while you wait for it to grow large enough for a longer term support. This method is the ideal way to encourage vertical growth in a Monstera that hasn’t developed its aerial roots yet.
Placing your Monstera pot next to the wall with your plant leaning on the wall might be enough for it to get started on its own. Alternatively, if you need to help it you can use strong suction hooks or or screw-in hooks as an anchor point for a plant tie.
How to train Monstera to grow on a mount
If you want to be able to move your climbing Monstera plant to repot it or if you move home you can train it to grow on a mount that is attached to a wall.
1. Choose a piece of driftwood, cork, or other natural object and attach it to the wall. The driftwood shown below is suspended from the ceiling. Make sure to attach it securely, as the plant will be relying on it for support.
2. Place the Monstera deliciosa at the base of the mount and secure it with plant tie or a soft fabric band.
3. As the plant grows, continue to tie it to the mount as it reaches higher levels. Insert hooks or loops into the mount if you need to provide an anchor for the plant ties.
Need help choosing a pot for your Monstera plants? Our article walks you through the five steps of choosing the perfect pot size, shape and material for growing large healthy plants. You can read it here.
Climbing Monsteras to add to your collection
Monstera deliciosa isn’t the only member of it’s family that grows vertically, many other Monstera plants like to climb too. Here’s five that would make a great addition to your collection of Monstera houseplants:
- Monstera adansonii is a fast-growing climber that extends up to 15 feet in length. Also known as the Monkey Mask or Swiss Cheese Vine.
- Monstera obliqua is a vigorous climber that reaches up to 30 feet (9 m) in length. It looks similar to Monstera adansonii but is longer and has larger leaves. Also known as the Saddle Leaf Monstera or Shingling Plant.
- Monstera standleyana is a vigorous vine that reaches up to 15-20 ft (5-6 m) in length. Common names include the Standley’s Monstera or Dragon Tail Monstera.
- Monstera pinnatipartita is a climbing vine that grows up to 20 ft (6 m) in length. It is also known as the “Pinnatipartite Monstera”.
- Monstera siltepecana is a climbing vine that grows up to 20 ft (6 m) in length. It is also known as the Siltepec Monstera.
Here’s some more tropical plants that are natural climbers:
- Philodendron bipinnatifidum (Split-Leaf Philodendron) is a common climber that is native to tropical rainforest habitats of Central and South America.
- Epipremnum aureum (Golden Pothos or Devil’s Ivy) is native to the Society Islands of French Polynesia.
- Anredera cordifolia (Madeira Vine or Love Vine) is native to South America, but is commonly seen climbing up trees in tropical regions.
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