Training houseplants to climb involves providing a support structure and attaching new growth to it as the plant extends.
This guide covers which supports work best for which plants, how to attach and train new growth, and what to do if your plant refuses to climb.
Why Climbing Makes a Difference to Houseplant Growth
Climbing is not just an aesthetic choice. For many popular houseplants, vertical growth directly affects leaf size and leaf development. Monstera are the most well-known example: a Monstera deliciosa grown trailing along a shelf produces small, unfenestrated juvenile leaves. The same plant trained vertically on a moss pole produces significantly larger leaves with the distinctive splits and holes the plant is known for. This is because the plant responds to upward movement and aerial root attachment as a signal that it is climbing a mature tree, which triggers its adult growth phase.
The same principle applies to Rhaphidophoras, split-leaf Philodendrons, Scindapsus, and many Epipremnum varieties. Hoyas also benefit from vertical support, producing longer vines and more flowering spurs when trained upward rather than left to trail.
Support Poles
Moss poles are the most widely used climbing support for houseplants and work particularly well for any plant with aerial roots. Monsteras, Philodendrons, Pothos, Scindapsus, and Rhaphidophora. The aerial roots on these plants are seeking moisture and texture to grip. A damp sphagnum moss pole provides both, encouraging the plant to attach and feed from the pole as well as use it for support.
To use a moss pole effectively, keep it consistently moist. Dry moss poles do not attract aerial root attachment: the roots are seeking moisture and a dry pole provides no incentive to grip. Water the pole directly when you water the plant, or mist it every few days. Our Kratiste Biodegrable Plant Poles use a high-quality coco coir and moss blend that retains moisture longer than many alternatives and provides excellent texture for aerial root attachment.
When inserting a new moss pole, push it deep into the pot beside the main stem, being careful not to damage the root ball. Then use soft ties, clips, or plant wire to loosely attach the main stem and any large petioles to the pole. Do not tie too tightly: you want to guide the growth, not compress the stem.
Climbing Boards: For Flat-Growing Climbing Plants
Climbing boards (also called plant boards or mounting boards) are flat panels, typically made from wood, cork, or textured materials, that work particularly well for plants that naturally grow flat against a tree surface rather than wrapping around it. Hoyas, some Anthuriums, and flat-growing Rhaphidophoras do especially well on boards, as do any plants where you want to display the full face of the leaves rather than having them cluster around a pole.
Our Kratiste Climbing Board provides a textured surface that aerial roots can grip directly. To mount a plant, position the stem against the board and use soft ties or horticultural staples to hold it in place until the roots attach naturally. Some growers wrap the board in sphagnum moss to provide additional moisture retention, which accelerates root attachment.
How to Train New Growth Onto a Support
Training climbing houseplants is an ongoing process rather than a one-time setup. New leaves emerge from the growing tip, and that tip needs to be guided toward and up the support as the plant grows.
Check on climbing plants every week or two during the growing season. When a new stem extends beyond the current attachment point, guide it gently toward the pole or board and secure it with a soft tie. Velcro plant ties, thin horticultural wire, or simple strips of soft fabric all work well. Avoid wire ties that can cut into stems, and never tie so tightly that the stem cannot expand as it grows.
If the growing tip turns away from the pole or starts heading horizontally, reposition and retie it to point upward. Plants respond to gravity and light; if the growing tip is leaning away from the pole, add a second attachment point on the far side of the pole to redirect it.
Aerial roots will begin to attach to the pole surface within a few weeks of contact, provided the pole is kept moist. Once attached, they do not need to be retied: the root does the work. Do not trim aerial roots unless they are dead or damaged; they are actively feeding the plant and supporting its attachment.
Which Plants Are Best for Climbing Indoors
The most rewarding climbing houseplants for UK homes are:
- Philodendron Melanochyrsum
- Philodendron Florida Ghost
- Scindapsus Treubeii
- Philodendron verrucosum
- Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma
- Monstera deliciosa
- Monstera Thai constellation
Shop all climbing houseplants here.
What to Do if Your Plant Won't Attach to the Pole
The most common reason a plant refuses to attach to a moss pole is that the pole is too dry. Aerial roots require moisture to activate and grow toward a surface. If your pole has been dry for a while, saturate it thoroughly and tie the existing aerial roots directly against the pole surface. Hold them in contact using a soft tie or a small piece of damp moss secured with string. Within a few weeks of consistent moisture, the roots should begin to grip.
A second common issue is that the pole is too smooth. Natural sphagnum moss, rough coco coir, or untreated wood all provide the texture that aerial roots can grip. Plastic or smooth PVC poles are ineffective for this reason, regardless of how well-moistened they are.
If the plant seems reluctant to grow upward at all, check the light source. Plants naturally grow toward light; if your light source is to the side rather than above, the plant will grow horizontally rather than vertically. Position a grow light directly above the pole, or move the setup so the primary light comes from above. See our guide on grow lights for houseplants for options.