Monstera Trellis vs Moss Pole: Useful Comparison

Are you puzzled over choosing between Monstera trellis vs moss pole for plants? Learn the pros and cons of each option to ensure your Monstera thrives in its environment!

If you’re new to growing Monstera indoors, you’ve probably learned that the plant needs proper support to grow.

They love to climb, and you’ve got some neat options to support this, like trellises and moss poles.

In today’s guide, we’ll share a quick comparison between Monstera Trellis vs Moss Pole to help you find the perfect fit for your green buddy.

Why Does a Monstera Need Support?

Monstera is native to tropical rainforests where the plant grows as a wild epiphyte.

This means that the plant naturally relies on other trees and vines to climb up vertically. That being said, Monstera is not actually a parasite because it doesn’t harm other plants.

The plant also creates aerial roots that attach themselves to surrounding trees and barks to gain extra moisture and nutrition to support its growth.

By climbing, they can soak up more sunlight and nutrients. When you recreate this climbing setup indoors, you give your Monstera a health boost.

Without something to climb on, your Monstera might just grow towards the nearest light source. This can look a bit messy and might even tip its pot over eventually.

That’s where moss poles and trellises come in handy. These structures provide the plant with the necessary sturdiness to climb vertically rather than horizontally.

How Does a Trellis Work?

A trellis is a simple structure designed to provide support to climbing plants and vines while also displaying their beauty.

 A trellis can take a wide range of forms, but they all have a common layout of open frameworks or lattices of intersecting pieces of wood, bamboo, plastic, or metal.

Trellises are usually used in gardens where climbing and creeping vines are grown, but can also work great indoors too.

When you set up a trellis next to your Monstera, it encourages the plant to climb up, using its vines and aerial roots.

It’s a great way to show off your plant’s beauty while helping it grow the way it loves!

The Pros and Cons of Using Trellis for Monstera

Now that you know how trellis works for Monstera plants, here’s a brief overview of the main advantages and downsides of using them.

Pros

• Easier to Set Up: Installing a trellis is fairly easier than a moss pole because it uses fewer materials and doesn’t require any special techniques. This makes it perfect for beginners and first-time users.
• Available in Various Shapes and Designs: A Trellis can take a variety of shapes. Besides wall-mounted panels, you can also use free-standing arches. The interconnecting sides can also take various shapes, including squares, diamonds, circles, etc.
• Suitable for Different Budgets: Since they come in various materials and sizes, you can find highly affordable options if you’re on a strict budget.
• Excellent for Gardens: If you’re growing Monstera in your garden, having a trellis would be a lot more convenient than a moss pole. This is because it withstands the outdoor elements a lot better.
• Durable for Long-Term Use: Since these structures are made of wood, plastic, or metal, they can stand the test of time and continuous use.
• Needs Minimal Maintenance: Another advantage of using a trellis is that it’s a “set it and let it” type of structure. You don’t need to take special care of the structure or worry about it breaking down with time.

Cons

• Doesn’t Offer Moisture or Nutrition: Unlike moss poles, a trellis can only provide structural support to help the plant grow upwards. 
• May Require Drilling Holes: Unless you’re installing a freestanding trellis that is embedded deep into the soil or stabilized by its weight, you’ll need to drill holes to keep it in place.
• Can Harm the Soil in the Long Run: Since plastic is a common material for an indoor trellis, long-term use will leak microplastics into the soil, which can harm the soil and your Monstera as time advances.

How Does a Moss Pole Work?

A moss pole is a vertical structure where a pole or pipe of wood, plastic, or metal is covered by a layer of sphagnum moss. 

Like trellis, moss poles are also used to support plants by encouraging them to cling to their surface and grow upwards.

These poles mimic the natural habitat of the Monstera plant by providing a surface for the aerial roots to attach and draw moisture and nutrition.

The Pros and Cons of Using Moss Poles for Monstera

Moss poles have their unique set of advantages and potential drawbacks. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at them, so you can figure out whether they’re the right option for you.

Pros

• Encourages the Growth of Aerial Roots: While a trellis is only meant to support plants, sphagnum moss has an incredibly high water-holding capacity. This allows it to offer extra nourishment to encourage the plant to grow and prosper.
• Gives You Creative Freedom: While the shape of a trellis is quite limited, you can use moss poles to train your plant to grow into any pattern you like. Sphagnum moss is also aesthetically pleasing on its own, which boosts the visual appeal of your houseplant corner.
• Suitable for Supporting Monstera Plants: One of the issues with moss poles is that they’re limited to small- and medium-sized plants. This limits its functionality with many plants. However, Monstera plants don’t grow too large, so they remain a great choice for the plant at any growth stage.

Cons

• Require Frequent Upkeep: Sphagnum moss is a living organism that requires fairly high moisture and continuous watering to stay alive, especially with the Monstera aerial roots drawing its moisture constantly.
• A Bit Costly: Moss poles are usually quite pricey compared to other forms of support, so they’re not ideal if you’re on a limited budget.

Final Thoughts: Should You Use Trellis or Moss Poles?

As you can see, both trellis and moss poles are suitable support options for Monstera plants. In other words, the choice here depends mainly on your personal preferences and what you’re looking for.

However, if you’re growing a Monstera indoors, using a moss pole is typically a better option because it’s more compact and offers the extra advantage of encouraging the growth of the plant’s aerial roots.

If you’re interested in unlocking the secrets of houseplant care, click here for a quick-start guide that will help you through every step of the way!

Thanks for reading!

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