I have had a lot of these issues with moss poles starting out, but now the plants I have in semihydro with a moss pole are the plants that are doing the best. Moss poles work well for me in my situation. Some things I learned that helped me overcome the issues 1. Use semihydro or a CHUNKY soil mix, you will have to water the pole more often so in a dense soil mix its just going to waterlog the soil 2. Good quality moss, it sucks because moss is crazy expensive but good quality moss can be reused. Bad quality moss wont hold as much moisture and does not provide enough aeration so roots tend to rot in that 3. Use a decent amount of moss, my normal size of moss pole is 2.5 to 3 inches across (~ 6 to 8 cm) so it will have enough moss to stay moist on the inside without having to moisten it all the time 4. Use a plastic back "D" shaped moss pole, this helps keep the moisture in 5. Use a slow drip upside down bottle thing. I have tried a bunch of different things besides this like watering spikes, "self watering" moss poles, spraying, all of those are more effort than just filling up the bottle and putting it on top 6. To check if the pole needs watering, just touch the top and if its crunchy then its ready to water.
Hey Tim! 👋 Thanks for sharing all those helpful tips. I'm glad to hear moss poles are working well for you in your specific setup! It's really good to know that quality moss and a slow drip system have made the difference for you. The "D" shaped plastic back is a game changer, that is why I use it too. It sounds like you've really dialed in on how to make moss poles work in semihydro! 👍
Memo I love your open and honest views on things! Also the reality of 20 to 200 plants. 😂 I will never ever use a moss pole. Give me a trellis a support stick , a clothes hanger, anything that does not involve an ugly moss pole! And I live in Northern Canada and my plants attach themselves to the wall. ( and that is in low humidity) you bring up some very valid points about the down side of moss poles, especially the maintenance , as always so appreciate your humour in the midst of this crazy hobby we have 🙏
I have plants on moss poles, lazy moss poles, coir poles, trellises, janky support sticks, sticks, branches, planks, dowels, feather edge boards, walls, invisible fishing wire, plastic support sticks, metal support sticks, powder coated support sticks, broomsticks, invisible fishing wire,......if it can support it, I've got a plant on it 🤣🤣🤣 And they're all growing fine 😮 I just basically go with my gut and use whatever is at hand for most plants. Only the finicky ones get the plastic self-assembly moss poles. I hate making them btw. 🙃
Hey Carey 👋 Sounds like you're a pro at utilizing whatever's at hand! Your approach seems very practical and adaptable. Sometimes gut instinct is the best guide.
@Houseplantygoodness LOL, they call me the magpie down at the allotment because of the amount of stuff I find to recycle and put to use 😂 Somehow, I've even ended up with a church pew down there 🤣🤣🤣 It's been repurposed into a plant shelf.
We are lucky in Australia as we have access to cheap good quality sphagnum moss, so it makes sense that Jan uses sphagnum. You and Jan are my favourite planty you tubers. Your laugh is the best!!!
Access to good quality sphagnum moss does make a difference in whether moss poles are a viable option or not. Awww thank you that is very nice of you to say 😊💚💚💚💚💚🌿
Totally agree @moiraslater8526 - a big fan of Jan’s approach too and cheap/sustainable spagnum moss in Australia is too good to pass up. Not all of my plants have loved moss poles, but the majority have sized ubiquitous considerably faster once they’ve got their roots in. You’ll always be my first love though @Houseplantygoodness ❤
I do use DIY moss poles, but am retired so lots of time to keep them moist. Using them to chop and extend to size up the plant makes sense to me. I haven't had any root rot problems yet. Also have experimented with using cork as a backing instead of plastic. It is available at hobby stores by the roll and does seem to slow down the evaporation. very good choice of topic.
Another great topic and well done video! Now that I have a couple years experience with moss poles as well as a better understanding of plant growth habits, I only use moss poles for anything I want to chop and extend. I can’t have a 20’ pothos or Esqueleto just for sizing up the leaves. 😂. 8’ chop and go. Plus a friend has a new plant or I have plant swap currency. I think I’m down to 4 moss poles and I definitely recommend the D shape plastic ones. For everything else, I’m all about drift wood support for the win. Very aesthetically pleasing and a fun activity to do with my lady, combing the beaches hunting. If I need to propagate, air laying the aerial roots works exceptionally well. When a plant reaches the top, this method can be used to take it down and add to the pot for a more full plant. I now hate the coir poles. They add zero and I think are ugly. I use them in my gift plants and everyone that gets them feels like I did a super value add upgrade, so win-win! Love to see you do a review of an auto drip system. Even for your semi hydro. I’m on the verge of trying one as I move a bunch of plants indoors for the winter. Namely, my bananas. I’d love to just fill a 5 gallon bucket and watch the show.
You bring up an important point about repurposing plants ("chop and go") and the aesthetics of other types of supports like driftwood. ohhhh see you know me so well, I was thinking of the same experiment to be fair 😅💚🌿🙌
Thanks for this! I totally agree with your findings. I am lucky enough to have moss in my garden, so inspired by Sydneyplantguy I made several and yes, the plants root into them beautifully. But even my engineer husband can't help me find a way to get the water trickle through them rather than cascade down and drown the roots. A company in Germany offers 3D printed mosspoles with matching watering reservoires. Pretty, but £30-40 per plant. So I continue experimenting while leaving others on bamboo/wooden supports. The journey continues.🙂💚
@randomletter-5i4 Thanks, but I tried that. Small bottles, large bottles. Small holes, large holes, with vayring results. Maybe Jan's mosspoles are just better made. I'll keep trying.🙂
Thank you! 🌿 It's awesome you're making your own moss poles and experimenting. Those German 3D printed moss poles sound fancy but pricey! 😅 Keep enjoying the journey, can't wait to hear more about your experiments. 💚
I have a new respice for "moss" poles. Mine are made from metal mesh and a layer of cork bark, the this that is sold to put tiles on in diy stores. And inside I just put my usual substrate and water as a terracota pot. The roots grab on the cork very easilly and then pierce it to access the substrate. Since my plants grow hapilly their bottom roots in my substrate they also like to burry their aerial roots in it.
I gave up moss poles after I got my philo florida to full maturity in a simple coir pole that never gets wet and after my cebu blue started producing splits growing up a bamboo stick, also mention that all my monstera deliciosa types reach full maturity in just coir poles...and i could continue with more examples were moss poles are not necessary....Also living in spain, having moss poles is a nightmare....literally for half of the year I had to water them every single day because it is too hot here...i get why people love them, but not for me....
Hola! 👋 Living in Spain sounds lovely but I can see why moss poles would be a nightmare in that heat. 🌞 Your success with coir poles and bamboo sticks is really encouraging! It's amazing how many different ways there are to support our plant babies, isn't it? Thanks for sharing!
Florida is very easy to size up and monstera grows anywhere, and doesn't need a pole. do it with melano or Choco. coir poles don't stay wet enough. And yes you do have to keep them moist otherwise the moss is not functioning properly. Yes, your plant will still grow up at and yes it might even root into it in a few places but it is not going to be getting the benefits of a moss pole might as well use a stake
@@Epiphalactic that's why I gave up 😂. Couldn't continue watering the poles every single day so the plants that need it went away and I've only kept the ones that grow amazing without, that are a lot of them still. At least now I can go on holiday without stressing up too much 🙏
Thank you Memo for reinforcing my thoughts of never having moss poles! I agree that they are way too much work and I want to just enjoy my plants! You have a beautiful collection and I appreciate all your advice!
I'm afraid I'm pro moss pole--sometimes with other fillers too. The difference in speed of growth and sizing up was like night and day. When I switched over, I realized it helped with my watering practices as well. I don't water the actual pots as frequently. I'm usually in the overwatering camp! Also keeps humidity up around my vines that aren't in my Milsbos. I think moss poles are especially helpful for the dark, velvety philodendrons like verrucosum, melanochrysum, lupinum, & gigas. Mine aren't quite at the stage of Jan's, Sydney Plant Guy, but they're getting there. Confession though--I'm a horticulturist, so watering isn't such a chore, but the poles actually kind of make it easier on me. That said, like you always say, everyone's needs and environment are different. I think that's why I adore both you, Memo, and Jan. Between you, you cover so many possibilities and options! 💚💚💚
Hey! 😊 It's really interesting to hear how moss poles have improved your watering habits and supported the growth of certain philodendrons. Being a horticulturist, I can see why this method works so well for you. Thank you for the thoughtful and detailed comment! 💚💚💚
Well you stepped in it here 🤣 I'd say the worry over root rot can just about be eliminated by using a very, very chunky substrate. It's been zero issue for me. I agree with another poster: if you aren't using a lot of moss, you'll be battling dry moss constantly. And for that matter, I'd never bother with a short pole, either. The height and extra moss (and gravity) works in one's favor. That said, I've whittled down my collection of moss poles, and I don't regret it in a single case. And as it comes time to chop and prop the remaining poles, I'll probably carry that trend forward. One bullet point you didn't hit is the aesthetics. Yes, the goal is to grow large plants and not see much of the pole at all, but let me tell you, it ain't necessarily so. You'll spend a lot of time looking at that pole. For me, the largest difference I've ever made in my collection was providing the ideal conditions (at least as for as indoors goes). And that started first with light, then humidity. The moss is fine, but having been on both sides of it, eh. Cheers from Iowa, Memo
Excellent points on managing root rot and the aesthetics of the pole. Humidity and lighting definitely play major roles in plant health. Hey to Iowa from the UK 👋💚🌿😊
I have two plants on moss poles. I followed Jan's instructions and water them the way he does and it takes no time to moisten the top of the moss so that the remaining water in the upturned bottle with holes in the top trickles down through the moss pole. I honestly haven't had any problem with it and i love that the plant can root into it. Personally i prefer that look to a board or "janky" support and it is working for me. I doubt very much that i will get the leaf size that Jan does due to climate and available light but i am loving the experiment.
I have 20, 180cm mosspoles and 14, 90cm mosspoles.. all are 6cm diameter with plastic back that I make myself .. I have a pint cup with small holes in the top of each pole (I used to remove them but that got old quick 😂) to water is 2pints and 1pint respectively- every other day ln which I use full strength liquid gold leaf in 3 times out of 4 if that makes sense.. a 500g besgrow moss bale is now £35 - this makes 6 poles at 90cm.. they are an ongoing expense as obviously the plants keep bloody growing 😂
Wow, that's a lot of DIY moss poles you got there! 😲 YES to the LGL! Great Routine! And yeah, the plants just won't stop growing, will they? 😂 Thanks for all the detailed info! 🌱
I hear you when it comes to keeping the moss poles moist. I tried to water them and ended up with a soil which resembled aquaworld. So I gave up on it. I recently tried out dry wooden planks on 2 epipremnums and both plants developed roots and were stuck to the plank. They seem to love it so I plan to try that methode out on a philodendron.
You're having problems Memo, because you're not making your moss poles wide enough. The sphagnum moss doesn't have to be tightly packed, just lightly fluffed and enough to hold the roots. I make them wide enough to put a recycled yoghurt cup with a hole in the bottom. Fill it up maybe three times and you have enough to water the pole and pot without the overflow. Get the balance and it works well. I do mine once every 3+ days. Although your plants look great. 😍
And thank you so much for this video! I really appreciate it. I have 4 moss walls that I DIY'd and I feel like a slave to them. Yes, they look amazing. But it takes so much time. And I bought drip irrigation to solve this, but it looks ugly and the moss walls are so lovely, too lovely to have all of those drip lines hanging off of them. And what do you think about philodendron verrucosum as far as what kind of poles would work? I have one that is at the very beginning stages of putting roots into the moss pole (sphagnum moss).
Thanks for the video. Most of us are the average Joe who don't have greenhouses. The cost alone is discouraging, let alone being able to find needed supplies locally or having them available on Amazon. Costs add up ((humidifiers, grow lights, pots to upsize your plants, etc.). The stackable Coco Coir Poles don't snap together snuggly. Started a moss pole project this weekend and quickly chucked the rest. I'm only interested in getting my climbers to climb. I'm leaning more to the coco coir poles or alternative trellis like items that are not only easy to use but will not rot (wood) over time due to exposure to water. Thanks for the real discussion on the reality of going down the yellow-brick road of moss poles🪴.
Costs do add up in plant care, especially when you're looking to upgrade. There are certainly cheaper alternatives to moss poles that do the job just as well. 😊💚🌿
@Houseplantygoodness I appreciate you keeping things real as a means to educate plant enthusiasts at all levels to consider many factors as we set out on this venture. Kudos to you. Your plants are beautiful by the way. Thank you again👏🪴
I have few DIY moos poles with plastic back, I made the first one last winter. I water the poles every 4 days in the summer. Think my plants realy enjoy it, expecialy the micans, it grows around 2 meters high, had his first chop and extend and got very big leaves compared to normal micans. But I don´t have sooo many plants, around 100.
Hey there! 😊 Wow, 2 meters high micans-that's impressive! It sounds like your DIY moss poles are really doing the trick. Watering every 4 days in the summer doesn't sound too bad. And wow, around 100 plants? You're a dedicated plant parent for sure! 🌱
Yes, all moos poles have a plastic backing and are very large. The wire front is 12 cm wide and the plastic back is approx. 25 cm. A lot of moss fits in there and it stays moist for a long time. I always start with more than one plant on the pole to fill out this big space. However, this also means you need a lot of moss. Luckily I don't have a greenhouse and have to be very cautious about the space and the number of plants:)@@Houseplantygoodness
One question: If I bring wooden poles from the forest, can it work? And put on the bottom and up some type of tap for not growing? Something like long fire wood 🪵? Thank you!
@21:16 Thank you thank you thank you for this! I have spent weeks now looking into this subject trying to break through the deluge of information on the subject. As someone very new to plant keeping, intimidated by how active and error-sensitive a proper moss pole can be, and who isn't concerned about having easy access to propagations and have been unable to find a succinct answer to "what is best for me?" All I want from my Golden Pothos is the benefits of letting it climb (healthier, larger leaves) and I couldn't get a simple answer on whether or not an 'inert' structure (plank, trellis, bark strip) would suffice or if it needed to be a more 'active' moss pole filled with something nutritional.
I just started this morning taking the moss out, because I can't keep up with watering. Changing to coco now and already love how it looks. Thanks for sharing Memo and thanks for all the funny moments 💚🌱
WooHoo first Comment! Hi Memo, from Kentucky 💚 I started with coir, adventured into self made and purchased poles. I’m back to garden stakes or coir. If you have many plants it gets overwhelming quick.
Hey Petra, greetings from the UK! 🇬🇧 Totally get you on the garden stakes and coir. Managing lots of plants and poles can be a real juggle, right? Thanks for sharing your experience! 🌿
I hate moss poles, but I use them to get my philo big leaves. I was able to get my jade pothos leaves to 14” currently; it was hard work. I have to stay on top of filling up the cups on top of the pole. I agree with your views on this & thanks for sharing Memo!
actually i am kind of tired of mosspoles myself. they have alot of downsides most people dont tell you about when you get into them. ontop they can stink like a swamp, are messy, i have to water so much that i keep mold building on them, so i need more airflow so drying even faster and they are expensive and its not really that ecological either... i am currently drawing alot of inspiration from asian people. sphagnum moss poles seem to be mostly a western thing. most people i ve seen in asian regions like indonesia, taiwan and others rarely use ''moss'' moles at all. they build the same pole from wire mesh but they fill it with cocofiber and stuff. and sometimes add a little bit of moss onto a node so it grows into the coco easier. and they have beautiful HUGE plants, without any messy sphagnum moss pole at all. in taiwan it seems to be pretty popular to wrap some type of cloth fiber around. and to alot of people in the comments: dont think about those prebuild coco poles that are made from a sort of a dense coco mat, plants cant root into. i am speaking of buying seperate loose coco fiber and filling up a wiremesh ''mosspole'' with coco fiber instead. plants root into it the same way and you can water these things too if you want. im totally honest here: i am super sick and tired dealing with mosspoles, it increases my workload drasticly because every mosspole plant needs the work of 2-3 regular plants. you start out like: ''yeah i can do it give me all you ve got'' and then you accumulate more plants and realize you dont even have time for all of this and you need to find a ''good enough'' more time efficient way. if something is marginally better but requires 3x as much time, its inefficient to me. and i m okay with slightly smaller leaf too at this point. and one point that really stresses me out on these is that a mosspole kind of conflicts with how you want to interact with plants. we all agree that helicoptering a plant and overcaring is quite bad and the best you can do is just put it somewhere and leave it alone and let it do its thing and occasionally check on it and enjoy just watching it grow. i feel like i cant do that when a mosspole is involved. a mosspole FORCES me to helicopter a plant. i am not allowed to just leave a plant alone when a mosspole is involved and i hate it. even the propagation benefit does not hold any value to me and is more work. 1. if you use a semi hydro mix and you dont want moss on your roots... well have fun because you wont get that moss of the roots. 2. those cuttings will be so attached to the mosspole that you wont even get them off and you have to disassemble the entire pole and create a HUGE mess just to get a cutting. its honestly easier and more stressfree to just cut something and put it into water and call it a day. as for janky support sticks, something i am using a few of atm are diy janky support sticks. its very thin pvc pipes i can get for around 1,20 for a 100cm one in the hardware store. the pvc wont rot in soil and then i just drill holes on the top and above the soil layer and i bought like i dont know, 200m of random nature bio whatever yarn and i just wick it around that pvc pipe all the way and fixate it at the holes. its cheap and it just looks a little more interesting than just a stick it also made me explore alot of different plant species aside aroids because if i would be a heavy aroid collector and i would need to build like 50 mosspoles... i would go insane honestly. you cant do that with a regular job. so i am happy about every plant i own that does not even need a pole.
I’m a pro clear moss pole fan Hate the coco coir poles though Ever since I saw Sydney plant guy Rousseau plants Got inspired My philodendrons have really sized up It’s almost like a addition of the pot It’s also great for propagating plants Especially if your philo gets too big You can just unravel the roots from the moss pole and start growing the top cut in your pot I use moss bark tree fern fibre and perlite On my moss pole A advice is keep the moss from tropicals if you import aroids They’ve got some very fine moss which I have utilised on my poles Which seems to fall apart easier than the average long sphagnum moss
Your approach seems very well-researched, and you've found a good mix of materials for your moss poles. It's a good reminder that one size doesn't fit all when it comes to plant care.👍💚😊🌿
Hey Memo, hope you're well. How's the weather where you are? London, we are having an Indian summer. Thank you for another informative video, I really enjoy them and your quirkiness. Moss poles = extra work. I love Sydney Plant Guy, he inspired me to go down the route, but after awhile I changed my mind. For now the constant cleaning of fallen moss (dry/wet) has put me off, I've been thinking about using the plastic backing. What do you think? 😊💛💛
hey Yvonne, all good here thank you 😊 same in Norfolk to be fair indian summer here too 🥵 Cleaning fallen moss can be a chore. The plastic backing could be an alternative that's easier to manage. At least that has been my experience 😊💚🌿
I have noticed as well that pothos can handle the coir poles. I like moss poles and general support for climbing plants. I want to try leca and pon in a plant for the future. I think you are right if you have a small collection, its doable.
We’re 100% in favor of moss poles. The results we’ve experienced speak for themselves. Yes, they require extra effort to produce and maintain but it’s worth it. I can imagine that if someone’s collection has outgrown their ambition or ability to care for them, it would be too much work. To each his own!
Yes! It works wonders if you want to up your plant game and like anything, it requires work and consistency 😊And I would even say supplement light to keep it growing even in winter 🥰
If it works for you and you have the time and energy to maintain them, moss poles are a great option. Every plant lover has their own level of dedication and time to give.💚🌿
@@Houseplantygoodness that’s the advice I give to anyone who’s new to the hobby. By the way, we’ve greatly decreased the maintenance requirements by going to the d-shaped, plastic backed construction. Much better! With semi-hydro in the pot, it’s easy to flush the pole without overwatering the plant.
The moss poles I made (same design as your little one) are a LOT bigger. 4’ tall and 6” wide. 3-4” deep. Filled with a lot of moss. The root systems in mine are crazy. Plants seem to love them.
Hi! I've installed some automatic watering devices (controlled via wifi) to water my moss poles and I'm having pretty good results and saving lots of time 😂. I uploaded a video about it on my IG account if you will 😁
The struggle is real lol keeping moss poles wet. Tropicals has been showing a post wrapped in coco mat fiber. I’m thinking this is easier. Thanks Memo💚
Hi Sherry! 💚 Yeah, the moss pole struggle is too real, isn't it? I've seen those coco mat fiber posts too, and they seem like a good alternative. Anything that makes plant care a bit easier is a win in my book! 🌿
Great video, tips and jokes 🙂 I dislike mosspoles very much - for all of the issues you just described. I was originally very much into moss poles - until I got some experience with it. Now unless it is necessary, I´m going to use some of the alternatives that you mentioned. P.S.: The T-shirt goes really well with the shirt 🙂
Thank you so much! 😊 I'm glad you enjoyed the tips and jokes. It's all about finding what works for you, isn't it? P.S. Thanks for the T-shirt compliment, always fun to show off the merch! 👕
I have to highly agree with so many points you made with the different climbing options and the setbacks that can occur especially down the road once you get them started climbing! It’s a bit like the block game Jenga once it gets so tall then you either look for support options or give it the chop and report! I have to say also that many plant lovers refer to prices of plants on the market! Although I DO agree with that……I also have to add just how much the cost of different substrates have increased aswell even just since 3 years ago! I have about 80 to 100 plants in my collection both large and small so between substrates for repots, more moss for poles, pots, fertilizer, etc it’s sooooooo expensive! It’s definitely my passion hobby though that I can never see myself ever giving up in the future! Amazing video as always! 🪴😊
I agree with everything you've said here. I have a little over 200 plants and about 10 to 15 moss poles, and while the plant does get bigger with them, they're a pain in the royal butt to keep up with. Plus they're not so pretty with a pole sticking up and a cup on top.
My plants haven't reached the size that I really need to support them. I did try a coir pole for my monstera that was growing too wide, but I didn't like the way it looked. My biggest concern with moss or coir poles is pests. If you get thrips or spider mites especially, how do you know they haven't found their way into the moss or coir and managed to hibernate in there? I guess my question is, how do you treat a support pole for pests? 🤔
I can't afford moss poles, can't be bothered with upkeeping them anyway so I went the janky support stick (JSS), route. I have many Hoyas, and they are great on 2 JSS with string looped between them to give a trellis they can wind themselves around. The trailing ones find their own way... up the cords of a hanging baskets, along the curtain pole for MILES. I have a Raphidophora Tetrasperma that after reaching the top of a 1m bamboo stick, is now another metre up the side of a cupboard and has lovely big leaves. My big baby, a 4 year old Monstera Deliciosa, is on 2 long, bendy, thin dry coir poles (2 plants in 1 pot), and is giving me 50cm leaves with double fenestrations. I have plants on old tree branches, cork wrapped around a plastic broom handle and much more, lol. I just let them do their thing and search for different solutions only if they are really unhappy, but they rarely are. I actually think they look better too, rather than a line of 20+ moss poles in a row.
Hi there! 👋 Wow, your setup sounds both creative and effective! Your plants seem to be loving it, especially that Monstera with those massive leaves. 😍 It's so cool to hear about all the unique supports you've come up with. 👏
I dont love the look of the moss moss poles but like the koir ones even if the are less effective for certain things. I got some support poles this week they are brown and textured I like them and have used one so far. Need to support a few which is a plan for the next few days Great vid and a lot of good information thanks
Haha, yeah I waited for a while to get the skeleton key! 🗝️ so I can get it to key! Thanks so much for the kind words. I'm really happy the video gave you some new things to think about. Always good to explore and experiment, right? 😊
I bought a syngonium that is much bigger than I expected and it’s so long and I really wanna attach it to something … I want to transfer it to semihydro (pon-mix with bigger parts) and have it in a tall vase as a middle-step rn and it’s just all over the place and doesn’t know where it wants to go 🥲 I feel weird about the idea of an organic pole if I have an inorganic substrate though so I might just DIY a wire something but I am also considering making a pole with the same pon mix or just zeolite. Do you have any experience with that kind of thing? :)
Some of my plants do really look healthier on a moss pole. I tried coir poles, didn't work. Hated the planks. But I have made some moss poles to thin in the beginning, they need to be thick enough not to dry out to fast and for space for the roots. I am trying a blend of spagnum and treefern fiber now. But not all my plants have moss poles. some 25 out of 150-200 plants do.
Good point about thickness and drying out. It sounds like you've experimented enough to know what works best for your plants, and it's impressive that you have a substantial plant collection. 💚🌿
@@Houseplantygoodness not as much impressive as a total lack of self control 🤣 .But I love experimenting and have had loads of plants for over 40 years
I felt every single nervous laugh in this video. 🤪 I’m currently trying to figure out if I can get away with moving things to stakes or trellises instead.
Haha, I'm glad my nervous laughs resonated with you! 🤪 The stakes or trellises idea sounds interesting. It's all about finding what works best for your plants and your lifestyle, right? Keep us updated on how it goes!
Aw, thank you so much! 🌱 I really appreciate the compliment on my plants. They're my green babies and I love showing them off. Your support means the world to me! 🌿
Thank you for this video.. I don’t use moss poles. I don’t care for the look of them.. I don’t have the energy to manage them. I prefer more natural looking stakes.. birch wood branches etc. My plants are happy and healthy. 😊
What about adding coco coir fiber mixed with leca and/or perlite and made into a pole? I have a couple philodendrons, scindapsus, and pothos I’d love to have grow up and around to stay full and lush looking and get bigger leaves.
Hi there! 👋 I appreciate the feedback on the colors. I've been tinkering with some editing settings due to the gray UK skies. Working on getting that balance right. Thanks for sticking with me! 🎨
Hey Linda! 😄 Your setup sounds super diverse! Love that you're experimenting with different supports for different plants. Thanks for sharing your experience, eh! 🇨🇦
I’m not a moss pole fan. I’m more a janky stick or stick from the yard kinda girl. The one really large moss pole I have does have a drink bottle with a slit in the lid that stays on the top. Not interested in planks either. I guess they just aren’t for me.
Hey Vicky! ❤️ Totally get you on the janky stick approach. Sometimes simplicity is the way to go, right? The drink bottle with a slit on top is a pretty neat idea too! Always appreciate your insights. 😊
To be fair I was never a fan of moss or moss poles. I am fortunate enough that I have a brick wall in my plant room and I left my plants to climb on the wall and they love it, especially my Thai Constellation she got huge leaves since she started climbing the wall❤
Idk I grown everything on different things from sticks, to coir poles and moss pole. Though I do see my stick plants mature it's not near the speed or vigor as I see with my moss poles. And not every likes just a stick. Please try to get a verrucosm to full maturity on a stick. It's more about knowing the type of root system it has and going from there.
600 plants?!?!??!?!? Wow!! On drowning the roots, I noticed Sydney plant guy has a super fast draining substrate. I don’t think his substrate holds any moisture
I honestly don't know why this is considered controversial. Maybe because in people's anecdotal evidence they've done something and it didn't hurt it, like yeah your monstera probably didn't have any issues sizing up without a moss pole. its hemiepiphytic. try it with obligate climbers. moss poles are extensions of substrate. if you arent keeping ot moist its not working as a moss pole, it's a stake.
Hey Kat! 👋 Totally get the struggle in an arid environment. Moss poles can definitely be high maintenance in those conditions. Coconut coir poles and bamboo stakes are solid alternatives for sure. 🎍 Thanks for sharing your experience!
I think this is a great video that gives a more 360 view on things. I really really like Sydney Plant Guy also. I tried some of the stuff he does, but still could not figure out his method w aroid mix, and also found the moss pole to be higher maintenance than I anticipated. I killed a couple of plants already. But I come out more appreciative of how he achieves what he does. Really shows that houseplant is something that takes real methodical approach to figure out how plants relate to the conditions we are growing in. Love you both, and much thanks again. Wish me luck.
I will never get a moss pole. It's too expensive, it's too much work, and the risk of root rot is too great for me. My plants will have to be content with a dry coco choir pole or a janky support stick.
bruh, I really love your videos but im sad to see you trashing moss poles like that because (and im sorry to say but) this video is full of missinfo or sadly your misunderstandings :( first of al you keep talking about moss and coir polls as if they are in any way comparable when actually they do not serve the same purpose at all. coir poles will not and really arent meant to give any of the benefits that moss poles give except or the support. they are basically chubby support sticks and do not fall under the same category at all. second, the moss pole youre holding is the THINNEST one ive seen in my life, of course it will dry out 50 times a day, its not supposed to be the width of your finger :| youve seen Yans (sydneyplants) poles, they are more like the width of an arm or a leg, and they dont completely dry out every day. more like 2-3 days for me. third, when they become dry and hydrophobic it really isnt as much of a hassle to re-hydrate them as you say it is. you spray the top a little which takes a second, and then you water it. And if you go away for a few days you can always water the soil instead and nothing bad will happen if the pole stays dry for a while. fourth, the thing about keeping the mos pole moist meaning the soils is always soaking wet and causing root rot is 100% wrong, and if it happened to you it is either because you overewater it or you kept watering the soil regularly which is really unnecessary once your plant has rooted into the pole. and it sounds like the former as u said u need to empty the cache pot from the extra water - which isnt supposed to happen, u only need enough to hydrate the moss itself, its not supposed to run through the pot. fifth, moss might not be cheap but you absolutely do not have to use any pricey premium new zealand sphagnum moss for it to work, and it really does not require a ton of moss. i got the cheapest moss i could find and out of one"brick" (idk how to call them.. u know, a pack of compressed moss) I made like 2 meters of moss pole, and it works pefectly fine. Thats it i think im done, and Im sorry for the rant, i do love your channel and i really appreciate all the effort you put into sharing your knowledge, but i got a really bad itch watching this video 😖
Really good explanation of the advantages and pitfalls of using moss poles. Moss poles really allow my plants to achieve some height but when they hit the ceiling, I'm screwed. LOL.
Hi Memo, thank you for this video. So far I have only one moss pole to compare with cork plank. Understanding that bigger roots can grow through the cork, I glued (the sides only) on a wood plank. Wait an see in spring. I also have some "cork rocks-like" that I intend to fix on the plank to make nooks and crannies 🤣 I am not able to go and search for driftwood, so ... 🌱🪴🌴
I have had a lot of these issues with moss poles starting out, but now the plants I have in semihydro with a moss pole are the plants that are doing the best. Moss poles work well for me in my situation.
Some things I learned that helped me overcome the issues
1. Use semihydro or a CHUNKY soil mix, you will have to water the pole more often so in a dense soil mix its just going to waterlog the soil
2. Good quality moss, it sucks because moss is crazy expensive but good quality moss can be reused. Bad quality moss wont hold as much moisture and does not provide enough aeration so roots tend to rot in that
3. Use a decent amount of moss, my normal size of moss pole is 2.5 to 3 inches across (~ 6 to 8 cm) so it will have enough moss to stay moist on the inside without having to moisten it all the time
4. Use a plastic back "D" shaped moss pole, this helps keep the moisture in
5. Use a slow drip upside down bottle thing. I have tried a bunch of different things besides this like watering spikes, "self watering" moss poles, spraying, all of those are more effort than just filling up the bottle and putting it on top
6. To check if the pole needs watering, just touch the top and if its crunchy then its ready to water.
Hey Tim! 👋 Thanks for sharing all those helpful tips. I'm glad to hear moss poles are working well for you in your specific setup! It's really good to know that quality moss and a slow drip system have made the difference for you. The "D" shaped plastic back is a game changer, that is why I use it too. It sounds like you've really dialed in on how to make moss poles work in semihydro! 👍
Memo I love your open and honest views on things! Also the reality of 20 to 200 plants. 😂 I will never ever use a moss pole. Give me a trellis a support stick , a clothes hanger, anything that does not involve an ugly moss pole! And I live in Northern Canada and my plants attach themselves to the wall. ( and that is in low humidity) you bring up some very valid points about the down side of moss poles, especially the maintenance , as always so appreciate your humour in the midst of this crazy hobby we have 🙏
Humor is essential when dealing with the intricacies of plant care 😅. Your alternative support options sound very creative! 🙌🙌🙌🌿💚
I have plants on moss poles, lazy moss poles, coir poles, trellises, janky support sticks, sticks, branches, planks, dowels, feather edge boards, walls, invisible fishing wire, plastic support sticks, metal support sticks, powder coated support sticks, broomsticks, invisible fishing wire,......if it can support it, I've got a plant on it 🤣🤣🤣 And they're all growing fine 😮 I just basically go with my gut and use whatever is at hand for most plants. Only the finicky ones get the plastic self-assembly moss poles. I hate making them btw. 🙃
You should have a TH-cam just to show all that off and teach the rest of us
Hey Carey 👋 Sounds like you're a pro at utilizing whatever's at hand! Your approach seems very practical and adaptable. Sometimes gut instinct is the best guide.
@Houseplantygoodness LOL, they call me the magpie down at the allotment because of the amount of stuff I find to recycle and put to use 😂 Somehow, I've even ended up with a church pew down there 🤣🤣🤣 It's been repurposed into a plant shelf.
We are lucky in Australia as we have access to cheap good quality sphagnum moss, so it makes sense that Jan uses sphagnum. You and Jan are my favourite planty you tubers. Your laugh is the best!!!
Access to good quality sphagnum moss does make a difference in whether moss poles are a viable option or not. Awww thank you that is very nice of you to say 😊💚💚💚💚💚🌿
Totally agree @moiraslater8526 - a big fan of Jan’s approach too and cheap/sustainable spagnum moss in Australia is too good to pass up. Not all of my plants have loved moss poles, but the majority have sized ubiquitous considerably faster once they’ve got their roots in.
You’ll always be my first love though @Houseplantygoodness ❤
I do use DIY moss poles, but am retired so lots of time to keep them moist. Using them to chop and extend to size up the plant makes sense to me. I haven't had any root rot problems yet. Also have experimented with using cork as a backing instead of plastic. It is available at hobby stores by the roll and does seem to slow down the evaporation.
very good choice of topic.
Another great topic and well done video!
Now that I have a couple years experience with moss poles as well as a better understanding of plant growth habits, I only use moss poles for anything I want to chop and extend. I can’t have a 20’ pothos or Esqueleto just for sizing up the leaves. 😂. 8’ chop and go. Plus a friend has a new plant or I have plant swap currency.
I think I’m down to 4 moss poles and I definitely recommend the D shape plastic ones.
For everything else, I’m all about drift wood support for the win. Very aesthetically pleasing and a fun activity to do with my lady, combing the beaches hunting.
If I need to propagate, air laying the aerial roots works exceptionally well. When a plant reaches the top, this method can be used to take it down and add to the pot for a more full plant.
I now hate the coir poles. They add zero and I think are ugly. I use them in my gift plants and everyone that gets them feels like I did a super value add upgrade, so win-win!
Love to see you do a review of an auto drip system. Even for your semi hydro. I’m on the verge of trying one as I move a bunch of plants indoors for the winter. Namely, my bananas. I’d love to just fill a 5 gallon bucket and watch the show.
You bring up an important point about repurposing plants ("chop and go") and the aesthetics of other types of supports like driftwood. ohhhh see you know me so well, I was thinking of the same experiment to be fair 😅💚🌿🙌
Thanks for this! I totally agree with your findings. I am lucky enough to have moss in my garden, so inspired by Sydneyplantguy I made several and yes, the plants root into them beautifully. But even my engineer husband can't help me find a way to get the water trickle through them rather than cascade down and drown the roots. A company in Germany offers 3D printed mosspoles with matching watering reservoires. Pretty, but £30-40 per plant. So I continue experimenting while leaving others on bamboo/wooden supports. The journey continues.🙂💚
@randomletter-5i4 Thanks, but I tried that. Small bottles, large bottles. Small holes, large holes, with vayring results. Maybe Jan's mosspoles are just better made. I'll keep trying.🙂
Thank you! 🌿 It's awesome you're making your own moss poles and experimenting. Those German 3D printed moss poles sound fancy but pricey! 😅 Keep enjoying the journey, can't wait to hear more about your experiments. 💚
I have a new respice for "moss" poles. Mine are made from metal mesh and a layer of cork bark, the this that is sold to put tiles on in diy stores. And inside I just put my usual substrate and water as a terracota pot. The roots grab on the cork very easilly and then pierce it to access the substrate. Since my plants grow hapilly their bottom roots in my substrate they also like to burry their aerial roots in it.
I gave up moss poles after I got my philo florida to full maturity in a simple coir pole that never gets wet and after my cebu blue started producing splits growing up a bamboo stick, also mention that all my monstera deliciosa types reach full maturity in just coir poles...and i could continue with more examples were moss poles are not necessary....Also living in spain, having moss poles is a nightmare....literally for half of the year I had to water them every single day because it is too hot here...i get why people love them, but not for me....
Hola! 👋 Living in Spain sounds lovely but I can see why moss poles would be a nightmare in that heat. 🌞 Your success with coir poles and bamboo sticks is really encouraging! It's amazing how many different ways there are to support our plant babies, isn't it? Thanks for sharing!
Florida is very easy to size up and monstera grows anywhere, and doesn't need a pole.
do it with melano or Choco.
coir poles don't stay wet enough. And yes you do have to keep them moist otherwise the moss is not functioning properly. Yes, your plant will still grow up at and yes it might even root into it in a few places but it is not going to be getting the benefits of a moss pole might as well use a stake
@@Epiphalactic that's why I gave up 😂. Couldn't continue watering the poles every single day so the plants that need it went away and I've only kept the ones that grow amazing without, that are a lot of them still. At least now I can go on holiday without stressing up too much 🙏
Thank you Memo for reinforcing my thoughts of never having moss poles! I agree that they are way too much work and I want to just enjoy my plants! You have a beautiful collection and I appreciate all your advice!
I'm afraid I'm pro moss pole--sometimes with other fillers too. The difference in speed of growth and sizing up was like night and day. When I switched over, I realized it helped with my watering practices as well. I don't water the actual pots as frequently. I'm usually in the overwatering camp! Also keeps humidity up around my vines that aren't in my Milsbos.
I think moss poles are especially helpful for the dark, velvety philodendrons like verrucosum, melanochrysum, lupinum, & gigas. Mine aren't quite at the stage of Jan's, Sydney Plant Guy, but they're getting there.
Confession though--I'm a horticulturist, so watering isn't such a chore, but the poles actually kind of make it easier on me.
That said, like you always say, everyone's needs and environment are different. I think that's why I adore both you, Memo, and Jan. Between you, you cover so many possibilities and options! 💚💚💚
Hey! 😊 It's really interesting to hear how moss poles have improved your watering habits and supported the growth of certain philodendrons. Being a horticulturist, I can see why this method works so well for you. Thank you for the thoughtful and detailed comment! 💚💚💚
@@Houseplantygoodness and thank YOU for what you do!! Truly love you and your content!
Well you stepped in it here 🤣
I'd say the worry over root rot can just about be eliminated by using a very, very chunky substrate. It's been zero issue for me. I agree with another poster: if you aren't using a lot of moss, you'll be battling dry moss constantly. And for that matter, I'd never bother with a short pole, either. The height and extra moss (and gravity) works in one's favor.
That said, I've whittled down my collection of moss poles, and I don't regret it in a single case. And as it comes time to chop and prop the remaining poles, I'll probably carry that trend forward. One bullet point you didn't hit is the aesthetics. Yes, the goal is to grow large plants and not see much of the pole at all, but let me tell you, it ain't necessarily so. You'll spend a lot of time looking at that pole.
For me, the largest difference I've ever made in my collection was providing the ideal conditions (at least as for as indoors goes). And that started first with light, then humidity. The moss is fine, but having been on both sides of it, eh.
Cheers from Iowa, Memo
Excellent points on managing root rot and the aesthetics of the pole. Humidity and lighting definitely play major roles in plant health. Hey to Iowa from the UK 👋💚🌿😊
I have two plants on moss poles. I followed Jan's instructions and water them the way he does and it takes no time to moisten the top of the moss so that the remaining water in the upturned bottle with holes in the top trickles down through the moss pole. I honestly haven't had any problem with it and i love that the plant can root into it. Personally i prefer that look to a board or "janky" support and it is working for me. I doubt very much that i will get the leaf size that Jan does due to climate and available light but i am loving the experiment.
I have 20, 180cm mosspoles and 14, 90cm mosspoles.. all are 6cm diameter with plastic back that I make myself .. I have a pint cup with small holes in the top of each pole (I used to remove them but that got old quick 😂) to water is 2pints and 1pint respectively- every other day ln which I use full strength liquid gold leaf in 3 times out of 4 if that makes sense..
a 500g besgrow moss bale is now £35 - this makes 6 poles at 90cm.. they are an ongoing expense as obviously the plants keep bloody growing 😂
Wow, that's a lot of DIY moss poles you got there! 😲 YES to the LGL! Great Routine! And yeah, the plants just won't stop growing, will they? 😂 Thanks for all the detailed info! 🌱
I hear you when it comes to keeping the moss poles moist. I tried to water them and ended up with a soil which resembled aquaworld. So I gave up on it. I recently tried out dry wooden planks on 2 epipremnums and both plants developed roots and were stuck to the plank. They seem to love it so I plan to try that methode out on a philodendron.
That’s an interesting experiment with wooden planks; sometimes trial and error is the best way to find out what works for your plants. 🙌💚🌿😊
You're having problems Memo, because you're not making your moss poles wide enough. The sphagnum moss doesn't have to be tightly packed, just lightly fluffed and enough to hold the roots. I make them wide enough to put a recycled yoghurt cup with a hole in the bottom. Fill it up maybe three times and you have enough to water the pole and pot without the overflow. Get the balance and it works well. I do mine once every 3+ days. Although your plants look great. 😍
And thank you so much for this video! I really appreciate it. I have 4 moss walls that I DIY'd and I feel like a slave to them. Yes, they look amazing. But it takes so much time. And I bought drip irrigation to solve this, but it looks ugly and the moss walls are so lovely, too lovely to have all of those drip lines hanging off of them. And what do you think about philodendron verrucosum as far as what kind of poles would work? I have one that is at the very beginning stages of putting roots into the moss pole (sphagnum moss).
Thanks for the video. Most of us are the average Joe who don't have greenhouses. The cost alone is discouraging, let alone being able to find needed supplies locally or having them available on Amazon. Costs add up ((humidifiers, grow lights, pots to upsize your plants, etc.). The stackable Coco Coir Poles don't snap together snuggly. Started a moss pole project this weekend and quickly chucked the rest. I'm only interested in getting my climbers to climb. I'm leaning more to the coco coir poles or alternative trellis like items that are not only easy to use but will not rot (wood) over time due to exposure to water. Thanks for the real discussion on the reality of going down the yellow-brick road of moss poles🪴.
Costs do add up in plant care, especially when you're looking to upgrade. There are certainly cheaper alternatives to moss poles that do the job just as well. 😊💚🌿
@Houseplantygoodness I appreciate you keeping things real as a means to educate plant enthusiasts at all levels to consider many factors as we set out on this venture. Kudos to you. Your plants are beautiful by the way. Thank you again👏🪴
I have few DIY moos poles with plastic back, I made the first one last winter. I water the poles every 4 days in the summer. Think my plants realy enjoy it, expecialy the micans, it grows around 2 meters high, had his first chop and extend and got very big leaves compared to normal micans. But I don´t have sooo many plants, around 100.
Hey there! 😊 Wow, 2 meters high micans-that's impressive! It sounds like your DIY moss poles are really doing the trick. Watering every 4 days in the summer doesn't sound too bad. And wow, around 100 plants? You're a dedicated plant parent for sure! 🌱
Yes, all moos poles have a plastic backing and are very large. The wire front is 12 cm wide and the plastic back is approx. 25 cm. A lot of moss fits in there and it stays moist for a long time. I always start with more than one plant on the pole to fill out this big space. However, this also means you need a lot of moss. Luckily I don't have a greenhouse and have to be very cautious about the space and the number of plants:)@@Houseplantygoodness
One question: If I bring wooden poles from the forest, can it work? And put on the bottom and up some type of tap for not growing? Something like long fire wood 🪵?
Thank you!
@21:16
Thank you thank you thank you for this! I have spent weeks now looking into this subject trying to break through the deluge of information on the subject. As someone very new to plant keeping, intimidated by how active and error-sensitive a proper moss pole can be, and who isn't concerned about having easy access to propagations and have been unable to find a succinct answer to "what is best for me?" All I want from my Golden Pothos is the benefits of letting it climb (healthier, larger leaves) and I couldn't get a simple answer on whether or not an 'inert' structure (plank, trellis, bark strip) would suffice or if it needed to be a more 'active' moss pole filled with something nutritional.
I just started this morning taking the moss out, because I can't keep up with watering. Changing to coco now and already love how it looks. Thanks for sharing Memo and thanks for all the funny moments 💚🌱
WooHoo first Comment! Hi Memo, from Kentucky 💚 I started with coir, adventured into self made and purchased poles. I’m back to garden stakes or coir. If you have many plants it gets overwhelming quick.
Hey Petra, greetings from the UK! 🇬🇧 Totally get you on the garden stakes and coir. Managing lots of plants and poles can be a real juggle, right? Thanks for sharing your experience! 🌿
I hate moss poles, but I use them to get my philo big leaves. I was able to get my jade pothos leaves to 14” currently; it was hard work. I have to stay on top of filling up the cups on top of the pole. I agree with your views on this & thanks for sharing Memo!
Large leaves are a tempting reason to use moss poles, but it sounds like you also recognize the work involved in maintaining them. 💚🌿
actually i am kind of tired of mosspoles myself. they have alot of downsides most people dont tell you about when you get into them. ontop they can stink like a swamp, are messy, i have to water so much that i keep mold building on them, so i need more airflow so drying even faster and they are expensive and its not really that ecological either...
i am currently drawing alot of inspiration from asian people. sphagnum moss poles seem to be mostly a western thing. most people i ve seen in asian regions like indonesia, taiwan and others rarely use ''moss'' moles at all. they build the same pole from wire mesh but they fill it with cocofiber and stuff. and sometimes add a little bit of moss onto a node so it grows into the coco easier. and they have beautiful HUGE plants, without any messy sphagnum moss pole at all. in taiwan it seems to be pretty popular to wrap some type of cloth fiber around. and to alot of people in the comments: dont think about those prebuild coco poles that are made from a sort of a dense coco mat, plants cant root into. i am speaking of buying seperate loose coco fiber and filling up a wiremesh ''mosspole'' with coco fiber instead. plants root into it the same way and you can water these things too if you want.
im totally honest here: i am super sick and tired dealing with mosspoles, it increases my workload drasticly because every mosspole plant needs the work of 2-3 regular plants. you start out like: ''yeah i can do it give me all you ve got'' and then you accumulate more plants and realize you dont even have time for all of this and you need to find a ''good enough'' more time efficient way. if something is marginally better but requires 3x as much time, its inefficient to me. and i m okay with slightly smaller leaf too at this point. and one point that really stresses me out on these is that a mosspole kind of conflicts with how you want to interact with plants. we all agree that helicoptering a plant and overcaring is quite bad and the best you can do is just put it somewhere and leave it alone and let it do its thing and occasionally check on it and enjoy just watching it grow. i feel like i cant do that when a mosspole is involved. a mosspole FORCES me to helicopter a plant. i am not allowed to just leave a plant alone when a mosspole is involved and i hate it.
even the propagation benefit does not hold any value to me and is more work. 1. if you use a semi hydro mix and you dont want moss on your roots... well have fun because you wont get that moss of the roots. 2. those cuttings will be so attached to the mosspole that you wont even get them off and you have to disassemble the entire pole and create a HUGE mess just to get a cutting. its honestly easier and more stressfree to just cut something and put it into water and call it a day.
as for janky support sticks, something i am using a few of atm are diy janky support sticks. its very thin pvc pipes i can get for around 1,20 for a 100cm one in the hardware store. the pvc wont rot in soil and then i just drill holes on the top and above the soil layer and i bought like i dont know, 200m of random nature bio whatever yarn and i just wick it around that pvc pipe all the way and fixate it at the holes. its cheap and it just looks a little more interesting than just a stick
it also made me explore alot of different plant species aside aroids because if i would be a heavy aroid collector and i would need to build like 50 mosspoles... i would go insane honestly. you cant do that with a regular job. so i am happy about every plant i own that does not even need a pole.
I’m a pro clear moss pole fan
Hate the coco coir poles though
Ever since I saw Sydney plant guy
Rousseau plants
Got inspired
My philodendrons have really sized up
It’s almost like a addition of the pot
It’s also great for propagating plants
Especially if your philo gets too big
You can just unravel the roots from the moss pole and start growing the top cut in your pot
I use moss bark tree fern fibre and perlite
On my moss pole
A advice is keep the moss from tropicals if you import aroids
They’ve got some very fine moss which I have utilised on my poles
Which seems to fall apart easier than the average long sphagnum moss
Your approach seems very well-researched, and you've found a good mix of materials for your moss poles. It's a good reminder that one size doesn't fit all when it comes to plant care.👍💚😊🌿
Hey Memo, hope you're well. How's the weather where you are? London, we are having an Indian summer. Thank you for another informative video, I really enjoy them and your quirkiness. Moss poles = extra work. I love Sydney Plant Guy, he inspired me to go down the route, but after awhile I changed my mind. For now the constant cleaning of fallen moss (dry/wet) has put me off, I've been thinking about using the plastic backing. What do you think? 😊💛💛
hey Yvonne, all good here thank you 😊 same in Norfolk to be fair indian summer here too 🥵 Cleaning fallen moss can be a chore. The plastic backing could be an alternative that's easier to manage. At least that has been my experience 😊💚🌿
Finally a real and well explained answer! Thank you!!
I have noticed as well that pothos can handle the coir poles. I like moss poles and general support for climbing plants. I want to try leca and pon in a plant for the future. I think you are right if you have a small collection, its doable.
We’re 100% in favor of moss poles. The results we’ve experienced speak for themselves. Yes, they require extra effort to produce and maintain but it’s worth it. I can imagine that if someone’s collection has outgrown their ambition or ability to care for them, it would be too much work. To each his own!
Yes! It works wonders if you want to up your plant game and like anything, it requires work and consistency 😊And I would even say supplement light to keep it growing even in winter 🥰
If it works for you and you have the time and energy to maintain them, moss poles are a great option. Every plant lover has their own level of dedication and time to give.💚🌿
@@Houseplantygoodness that’s the advice I give to anyone who’s new to the hobby. By the way, we’ve greatly decreased the maintenance requirements by going to the d-shaped, plastic backed construction. Much better! With semi-hydro in the pot, it’s easy to flush the pole without overwatering the plant.
The moss poles I made (same design as your little one) are a LOT bigger. 4’ tall and 6” wide. 3-4” deep. Filled with a lot of moss. The root systems in mine are crazy. Plants seem to love them.
I use moss poles, coir poles, janky support sticks 😘, trellises, and wooden boards but exclusively for support, not watering. I water the pot only.
Using supports just for physical support and not watering is an interesting approach. It saves you the trouble of worrying about rot 💚🌿
missing out on a lot. the pole is supposed to be an extension of the pot.
Hi! I've installed some automatic watering devices (controlled via wifi) to water my moss poles and I'm having pretty good results and saving lots of time 😂. I uploaded a video about it on my IG account if you will 😁
Automated watering for moss poles? That sounds like a game-changer. Would love to see how that works! 🙌💚🌿
@@Houseplantygoodness happy to show you! It works really good for me 😁, will tag you in the video
The struggle is real lol keeping moss poles wet. Tropicals has been showing a post wrapped in coco mat fiber. I’m thinking this is easier. Thanks Memo💚
Hi Sherry! 💚 Yeah, the moss pole struggle is too real, isn't it? I've seen those coco mat fiber posts too, and they seem like a good alternative. Anything that makes plant care a bit easier is a win in my book! 🌿
Mosspole + hydroponics works the best 👌
Great video, tips and jokes 🙂
I dislike mosspoles very much - for all of the issues you just described.
I was originally very much into moss poles - until I got some experience with it.
Now unless it is necessary, I´m going to use some of the alternatives that you mentioned.
P.S.: The T-shirt goes really well with the shirt 🙂
Thank you so much! 😊 I'm glad you enjoyed the tips and jokes. It's all about finding what works for you, isn't it? P.S. Thanks for the T-shirt compliment, always fun to show off the merch! 👕
I have to highly agree with so many points you made with the different climbing options and the setbacks that can occur especially down the road once you get them started climbing! It’s a bit like the block game Jenga once it gets so tall then you either look for support options or give it the chop and report! I have to say also that many plant lovers refer to prices of plants on the market! Although I DO agree with that……I also have to add just how much the cost of different substrates have increased aswell even just since 3 years ago! I have about 80 to 100 plants in my collection both large and small so between substrates for repots, more moss for poles, pots, fertilizer, etc it’s sooooooo expensive! It’s definitely my passion hobby though that I can never see myself ever giving up in the future! Amazing video as always! 🪴😊
I agree with everything you've said here. I have a little over 200 plants and about 10 to 15 moss poles, and while the plant does get bigger with them, they're a pain in the royal butt to keep up with. Plus they're not so pretty with a pole sticking up and a cup on top.
My plants haven't reached the size that I really need to support them. I did try a coir pole for my monstera that was growing too wide, but I didn't like the way it looked. My biggest concern with moss or coir poles is pests. If you get thrips or spider mites especially, how do you know they haven't found their way into the moss or coir and managed to hibernate in there? I guess my question is, how do you treat a support pole for pests? 🤔
I can't afford moss poles, can't be bothered with upkeeping them anyway so I went the janky support stick (JSS), route. I have many Hoyas, and they are great on 2 JSS with string looped between them to give a trellis they can wind themselves around. The trailing ones find their own way... up the cords of a hanging baskets, along the curtain pole for MILES. I have a Raphidophora Tetrasperma that after reaching the top of a 1m bamboo stick, is now another metre up the side of a cupboard and has lovely big leaves. My big baby, a 4 year old Monstera Deliciosa, is on 2 long, bendy, thin dry coir poles (2 plants in 1 pot), and is giving me 50cm leaves with double fenestrations. I have plants on old tree branches, cork wrapped around a plastic broom handle and much more, lol. I just let them do their thing and search for different solutions only if they are really unhappy, but they rarely are. I actually think they look better too, rather than a line of 20+ moss poles in a row.
Hi there! 👋 Wow, your setup sounds both creative and effective! Your plants seem to be loving it, especially that Monstera with those massive leaves. 😍 It's so cool to hear about all the unique supports you've come up with. 👏
I dont love the look of the moss moss poles but like the koir ones even if the are less effective for certain things. I got some support poles this week they are brown and textured I like them and have used one so far. Need to support a few which is a plan for the next few days
Great vid and a lot of good information thanks
Aesthetics play a big role in plant care, and it sounds like you've found a support that not only works well but also pleases the eye.😊💚🌿🙌
Wow yours is the first skeleton key I've seen keying! Lovely video ty a lot of things I'd not considered before in there x
Haha, yeah I waited for a while to get the skeleton key! 🗝️ so I can get it to key! Thanks so much for the kind words. I'm really happy the video gave you some new things to think about. Always good to explore and experiment, right? 😊
@@Houseplantygoodness yeah for sure I love a planty experiment 😁 great stuff ty
I bought a syngonium that is much bigger than I expected and it’s so long and I really wanna attach it to something … I want to transfer it to semihydro (pon-mix with bigger parts) and have it in a tall vase as a middle-step rn and it’s just all over the place and doesn’t know where it wants to go 🥲 I feel weird about the idea of an organic pole if I have an inorganic substrate though so I might just DIY a wire something but I am also considering making a pole with the same pon mix or just zeolite. Do you have any experience with that kind of thing? :)
Some of my plants do really look healthier on a moss pole. I tried coir poles, didn't work. Hated the planks. But I have made some moss poles to thin in the beginning, they need to be thick enough not to dry out to fast and for space for the roots. I am trying a blend of spagnum and treefern fiber now. But not all my plants have moss poles. some 25 out of 150-200 plants do.
Good point about thickness and drying out. It sounds like you've experimented enough to know what works best for your plants, and it's impressive that you have a substantial plant collection. 💚🌿
@@Houseplantygoodness not as much impressive as a total lack of self control 🤣 .But I love experimenting and have had loads of plants for over 40 years
I felt every single nervous laugh in this video. 🤪 I’m currently trying to figure out if I can get away with moving things to stakes or trellises instead.
Haha, I'm glad my nervous laughs resonated with you! 🤪 The stakes or trellises idea sounds interesting. It's all about finding what works best for your plants and your lifestyle, right? Keep us updated on how it goes!
Your plants are so beautiful 🌱🌱🌱 so green and huge!!
Aw, thank you so much! 🌱 I really appreciate the compliment on my plants. They're my green babies and I love showing them off. Your support means the world to me! 🌿
they are worth the effort 100%.
Awesome tips and explanation! Thanks
I use exo terra forest moss meant for reptile enclosures. You get loads in compressed form which rehydrates fast. Plants seem v happy.
Thanks Memo! I'm definitely a janky support stick or dry coir pole gal! No way I have the time or inclinaison to baby a moss pole setup!
Thank you for this video.. I don’t use moss poles. I don’t care for the look of them.. I don’t have the energy to manage them. I prefer more natural looking stakes.. birch wood branches etc. My plants are happy and healthy. 😊
If you prefer natural looking stakes and your plants are happy, then you're doing something right! 🙌😊💚🌿
When is a good time to get my Thai Con on a pole? They are currently in a 4in pot.
What about adding coco coir fiber mixed with leca and/or perlite and made into a pole? I have a couple philodendrons, scindapsus, and pothos I’d love to have grow up and around to stay full and lush looking and get bigger leaves.
Do you do anything to the Coco poles to keep them moist at all? As in mist once a week ish?
Hi! Love your videos. But lately the colors are so saturated they almost hurts the eye. Did you change camera or such?
Hi there! 👋 I appreciate the feedback on the colors. I've been tinkering with some editing settings due to the gray UK skies. Working on getting that balance right. Thanks for sticking with me! 🎨
I have my Albo and Thai Con on a moss pole. Regular Monstera, one on a janky support stick 😂 and the other two are self supporting so far. 😀🇨🇦
I do have the D-shaped moss poles which helps a lot.
Hey Linda! 😄 Your setup sounds super diverse! Love that you're experimenting with different supports for different plants. Thanks for sharing your experience, eh! 🇨🇦
I have some moss pole but i don't keep up with watering them, and they don't look so good. Iam thinking about using tree branches.
If moss poles aren't well-maintained, they can become an eyesore. Tree branches are an interesting alternative, offering a more natural look. 👍🌿💚
Great video !!! Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed the video!
I’m not a moss pole fan. I’m more a janky stick or stick from the yard kinda girl. The one really large moss pole I have does have a drink bottle with a slit in the lid that stays on the top. Not interested in planks either. I guess they just aren’t for me.
Hey Vicky! ❤️ Totally get you on the janky stick approach. Sometimes simplicity is the way to go, right? The drink bottle with a slit on top is a pretty neat idea too! Always appreciate your insights. 😊
Unfortunately planks don't work in low humidity. Plants do barely attach , and the lover parts that used to be att, they detach eventually.
Gotta love ❤️ your laugh!😅
To be fair I was never a fan of moss or moss poles. I am fortunate enough that I have a brick wall in my plant room and I left my plants to climb on the wall and they love it, especially my Thai Constellation she got huge leaves since she started climbing the wall❤
Idk I grown everything on different things from sticks, to coir poles and moss pole. Though I do see my stick plants mature it's not near the speed or vigor as I see with my moss poles. And not every likes just a stick. Please try to get a verrucosm to full maturity on a stick. It's more about knowing the type of root system it has and going from there.
Your point about understanding the type of root system is crucial. Some plants really do better with specific types of support. 💚🌿
600 plants?!?!??!?!? Wow!! On drowning the roots, I noticed Sydney plant guy has a super fast draining substrate. I don’t think his substrate holds any moisture
That sinister laugh 😂😂😂😂
Hey Mari! 😂 Glad you enjoyed my sinister laugh, got to keep it fun, right? 💚
😂😂😂thanks for the video gave up on moss poles very quickly my plants are just fine without them❤❤
Hey Manu! 😂 Glad to hear your plants are doing well even without moss poles. Sometimes simple is better, right? ❤️❤️
I honestly don't know why this is considered controversial. Maybe because in people's anecdotal evidence they've done something and it didn't hurt it, like yeah your monstera probably didn't have any issues sizing up without a moss pole.
its hemiepiphytic.
try it with obligate climbers.
moss poles are extensions of substrate.
if you arent keeping ot moist its not working as a moss pole, it's a stake.
I'm not a fan of moss poles. I live in an arid environment and keeping moss poles moist is a pain. I use coconut coir poles or bamboo stakes.
Hey Kat! 👋 Totally get the struggle in an arid environment. Moss poles can definitely be high maintenance in those conditions. Coconut coir poles and bamboo stakes are solid alternatives for sure. 🎍 Thanks for sharing your experience!
I think this is a great video that gives a more 360 view on things.
I really really like Sydney Plant Guy also. I tried some of the stuff he does, but still could not figure out his method w aroid mix, and also found the moss pole to be higher maintenance than I anticipated. I killed a couple of plants already. But I come out more appreciative of how he achieves what he does. Really shows that houseplant is something that takes real methodical approach to figure out how plants relate to the conditions we are growing in.
Love you both, and much thanks again. Wish me luck.
I will never get a moss pole. It's too expensive, it's too much work, and the risk of root rot is too great for me.
My plants will have to be content with a dry coco choir pole or a janky support stick.
Moss poles aren't for everyone, and cost is a major factor. Coco coir poles or even DIY solutions can work just as well for many plants.💚🌿
@@Houseplantygoodness Well, never say never... but I like to simplify plant care and much as possible. ☺️
bruh, I really love your videos but im sad to see you trashing moss poles like that because (and im sorry to say but) this video is full of missinfo or sadly your misunderstandings :(
first of al you keep talking about moss and coir polls as if they are in any way comparable when actually they do not serve the same purpose at all. coir poles will not and really arent meant to give any of the benefits that moss poles give except or the support. they are basically chubby support sticks and do not fall under the same category at all.
second, the moss pole youre holding is the THINNEST one ive seen in my life, of course it will dry out 50 times a day, its not supposed to be the width of your finger :| youve seen Yans (sydneyplants) poles, they are more like the width of an arm or a leg, and they dont completely dry out every day. more like 2-3 days for me.
third, when they become dry and hydrophobic it really isnt as much of a hassle to re-hydrate them as you say it is. you spray the top a little which takes a second, and then you water it. And if you go away for a few days you can always water the soil instead and nothing bad will happen if the pole stays dry for a while.
fourth, the thing about keeping the mos pole moist meaning the soils is always soaking wet and causing root rot is 100% wrong, and if it happened to you it is either because you overewater it or you kept watering the soil regularly which is really unnecessary once your plant has rooted into the pole. and it sounds like the former as u said u need to empty the cache pot from the extra water - which isnt supposed to happen, u only need enough to hydrate the moss itself, its not supposed to run through the pot.
fifth, moss might not be cheap but you absolutely do not have to use any pricey premium new zealand sphagnum moss for it to work, and it really does not require a ton of moss. i got the cheapest moss i could find and out of one"brick" (idk how to call them.. u know, a pack of compressed moss) I made like 2 meters of moss pole, and it works pefectly fine.
Thats it i think im done, and Im sorry for the rant, i do love your channel and i really appreciate all the effort you put into sharing your knowledge, but i got a really bad itch watching this video 😖
i cant wait for a new john wick movie, where its all about john wick wetting wicks
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 You are so sweeeeeettttttttttttt 🤣🤣🤣
Glad you find the video and content enjoyable! 🤣
@@Houseplantygoodness hahaha 😂 yeap, i coludn't finish all part... But i Will 💃 thank youuu 💚🌿
so many commenters kust ready yo wtite something off they obviously have a very incorrect understanding of.
Very annoying and arrogant fake laughter.
Really good explanation of the advantages and pitfalls of using moss poles. Moss poles really allow my plants to achieve some height but when they hit the ceiling, I'm screwed. LOL.
Hi Memo, thank you for this video. So far I have only one moss pole to compare with cork plank. Understanding that bigger roots can grow through the cork, I glued (the sides only) on a wood plank. Wait an see in spring. I also have some "cork rocks-like" that I intend to fix on the plank to make nooks and crannies 🤣 I am not able to go and search for driftwood, so ... 🌱🪴🌴
Your cork plank idea sounds interesting. It’s good to experiment and see what works best for you and your plants. 🙌👍💚🌿😊
Thank you Memo 😊
Thanks for this video! I am glad I'm not the only one NOT smitten with moss poles. 😊💚🪴
You're welcome, Patty! 😊 It's nice to know I'm not alone in my moss pole skepticism. Different strokes for different folks, right? 🌱💚