How to Grow Your Pothos on a Trellis
Guide your pothos's natural vining habit upwards on a support. This encourages the development of larger, mature leaves and creates a structured, vertical display.
Pothos plants are a familiar sight in homes, known for their long, trailing vines and resilient nature. These plants naturally seek to climb, and providing them with a support structure like a trellis can alter their growth pattern. This approach allows the plant to express its vining tendency in a controlled and aesthetically pleasing manner.
Benefits of Using a Trellis for Pothos
Allowing a pothos to climb a support structure encourages the development of larger, more mature leaves. This is linked to the plant’s natural life cycle, where upward growth signals a stable environment, prompting it to invest more energy into foliage size. The leaves can develop fenestrations, or natural splits, as they mature, which mimics the trees they would climb in their native habitat.
A trellis also offers significant aesthetic advantages. It transforms the plant into a vertical design element, drawing the eye upward and making a space feel taller. This method can create a much fuller-looking plant, as the vines can be arranged to cover the structure densely. This vertical arrangement is also a practical space-saving solution for smaller rooms or apartments.
Training a pothos on a trellis can also improve the plant’s health by enhancing air circulation. When vines trail densely, the foliage can become compacted, creating pockets of stagnant air which can encourage pests or fungal issues. By lifting the vines and spacing them on a trellis, air can move more freely around the leaves. This helps the foliage dry more evenly after watering and reduces the risk of common plant ailments.
Choosing the Right Trellis
One popular option is the moss or coir pole, which is particularly beneficial for pothos. These poles are made from sphagnum moss or coconut fiber wrapped around a central support, and their advantage is their ability to retain moisture. Pothos develop aerial roots along their stems, which can grow directly into the moist pole to absorb water and nutrients. This not only secures the plant but also provides it with an additional source of hydration.
Metal and wire trellises offer durability and aesthetics. Available in various shapes like hoops, fans, and grids, these supports provide a sleek, modern look that can complement contemporary decor. They are long-lasting and strong enough to support a vigorous pothos for its entire life. Their slender profile allows the plant’s foliage to remain the main visual focus.
For a more naturalistic appearance, wood and bamboo trellises are excellent choices. These materials blend seamlessly with the plant, creating an organic and understated display. Bamboo is lightweight and sustainable, while trellises made from cedar or other rot-resistant woods offer greater longevity. It is also simple to create your own support using branches for complete customization.
How to Train a Pothos on a Trellis
The first step is to insert the trellis into the pot, a process that requires a gentle hand to avoid harming the plant’s root system. It is often easiest to add the trellis during repotting, placing it in the new pot before adding the plant and soil. If adding a trellis to an already-potted plant, carefully push it into the soil near the edge of the pot. Aim to place the base of the trellis near the base of the plant to make wrapping the vines manageable.
Once the support is securely in place, you can begin training the vines. Gently lift one vine at a time and wrap it around the trellis, working with their natural curves and flexibility. Use soft plant ties, clips, or twine to loosely secure the stems to the trellis. It is important that these ties are not too tight, as the stems will thicken over time and can be damaged by constrictive bindings.
Ongoing maintenance involves guiding new growth as it appears. Periodically check the plant and gently weave any new, flexible shoots onto the trellis, adding more soft ties as needed to keep them in place. This regular guidance will ensure the plant continues to grow up the support structure in a full and attractive pattern.