How to Build an Indoor Climbing Pothos Landscape
Pothos is one of the most popular indoor plants, loved for its easy care and elegant, heart-shaped leaves. A common way to grow pothos indoors is in hanging baskets, allowing the vines to cascade gracefully. But did you know that pothos is actually a natural climber?
In their native habitat, pothos climb trees with their aerial roots to reach the sunlight above. This means that you can recreate this behaviour indoors by providing them with some support and mimicking the conditions of their natural environment.
If you're curious about bringing this look to your own home, this step-by-step guide on how to train pothos to climb is just for you.
Can I Train Pothos to Climb
Yes, you can train pothos to climb. In their native tropical habitats, these vines use aerial roots to grip tree trunks and reach for sunlight. Indoors, you can recreate this natural behavior by providing a support structure such as a moss pole, trellis, or wall. With proper light, humidity, and gentle training, your pothos will climb upward, creating a lush vertical display while developing larger leaves and fuller foliage.
How to Train Pothos to Climb Indoors
The support structure depends on the look you want to create. In this example, we’ll use a simple moss pole. Once your pothos establishes itself on a moss pole, it will easily adapt to other climbing supports in the future.
Step 1: Gather Materials
First, you'll need to gather your materials:
- Make sure your pot is sturdy enough to hold both the plant and the moss pole without tipping over. If your current pot is too small, repot your pothos into a larger one.
- You can buy or make your own moss pole. Wooden or bamboo stakes also work, but moss poles are ideal because they retain moisture, encouraging the plant’s aerial roots to absorb water and attach.
- Initially, the pothos will need something to attach to the moss pole. Twine, Velcro, or hooks are ideal options.
Step 2: Install the Moss Pole
Insert the moss pole into the center of the pot and pack the soil firmly to hold it upright. Plant your pothos near the base of the pole. Gently wrap the longer vines around the pole, keeping the aerial roots facing inward toward the moss. Use twine or Velcro to secure the vines lightly.
Step 3: Keep the Pole Moist
Water the moss pole from top to bottom, making sure moisture is evenly distributed. A moist pole encourages the pothos’s aerial roots to grow, absorb water, and attach more firmly. After transplanting, water the soil at the same time to help the plant settle. After that, water the moss pole only as needed, allowing it to dry slightly between waterings.
Step 4: Provide Bright Light
In their native tropical forests, pothos climb tree trunks toward sunlight that filters through the canopy. Indoors, they grow toward the brightest light source. Since indoor natural light often comes from a nearby window, your pothos may lean too much in that direction.
To encourage upright and balanced growth, the best approach is to position a plant grow light directly above the plant. Overhead lighting mimics the sunlight they would receive in nature, helping your pothos climb faster, maintain a straight posture, and develop larger, healthier leaves.
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Step 5: Shape Future Growth
Once your pothos reaches the top of the moss pole, decide how you want it to grow next:
To make it fuller: Prune the vine tip (the apical meristem). This will encourage lateral branching and create a bushier plant.
To make it taller: Add another moss pole on top of the existing one or guide the plant onto a taller structure. Handle the vines gently when extending or repotting to avoid damaging the plants.
FAQs
Q1: Do pothos like to trail or climb?
Pothos naturally like to climb. In the wild, it uses aerial roots to attach to tree trunks and climb upward toward light, though it can also trail when no support is available.
Q2: Do pothos like to be crowded?
Pothos can tolerate being slightly root-bound, and this can sometimes encourage the plant to focus on foliage growth. However, if you see roots circling the pot or water drains through too quickly, it’s time to repot.
Q3: Does my pothos need a trellis?
A pothos doesn’t need a trellis to live, but it benefits from one. A trellis, moss pole, or wall gives the vines support to climb, promoting stronger stems and larger, healthier leaves.
