How to use (sphagnum) moss poles

Not sure where to start with moss poles, or looking for some advice on how to use them as a dedicated plant lover? Looking some clear advice on how to get the most out of sphagnum moss?

We are here to help de-mystify moss poles and give you some ideas on how to use them correctly (or effectively - remember, there isn't necessarily a "right" or "wrong" way to care for your plants). 

Not sure what a moss pole is? Read our simple "what are moss poles" blog and check out our moss pole guide to get some ideas on the different kinds of moss poles out there. You're in the right place for moss pole knowledge!

What you need to know 

A moss pole is a support structure covered in sphagnum moss that helps climbing plants grow upright and develop aerial roots. They help your plants mature and grow bigger, bushier leaves and mimic their natural habitats.

The moss is connected with the plant in various ways through different moss poles designs - honeycomb patterns etc. 

(Some people will also call a coco coir pole a moss pole, but this advice is about sphagnum moss poles).

Choosing your moss pole

• Select a moss pole that’s at least as tall as your plant, preferably taller, to allow for future growth. (Our extendable designs mean you can keep adding to your moss pole as your plant grows).
  
• Different moss pole shapes work better for certain plants (we wrote a detailed moss pole indoor plant matchmaker guide), but it's not necessarily that DEEP. You can just use your instincts and select a moss pole style and design that you like. 
• The main issue is sizing: you want a moss pole that isn't going to either dwarf or overwhelm your plant, so get out the measuring tape. Top tip: look at pictures of mature moss pole plants that look like yours to get a good view on how they'd look. Most plants take a moment to "settle" into a moss pole.

Using your moss pole in a pot, planter etc

• Moss poles need to be anchored in something, and how you plant and secure your moss pole depends on whether you are potting up your plant from the roots up, or your moss pole is being added to a mature potted-up plant. 
• You will want to push the moss pole deep into the soil near the base of the plant to provide stability. (We offer two different options and advice depending on whether you are going to stake your moss pole into an existing planter, or burying the moss pole deep down with a new pot-up: check it out here).
• Ensure the pole is stable and won’t tip over as your plant grows. There are some stabilisers that we have designed for some of our moss poles (like these D-Pole brackets), but you can also use string, stakes, and smart positioning. Wet moss can be surprisingly heavy, especially in a D-shaped pole with good moss volume. 
• We also have integrated moss pole planters where the moss pole is native to the planter like this D-Pole planter.

• Moss poles also work in other mediums than soil. In fact, you can grow your plants in just sphagnum moss! Yes, the real sphagnum pros may want to go soilless! We will be publishing some more semi-hydro content soon, but for now we can plug our semi-hydro planter and our soillless base for our D-moss pole.

Attaching the plant to the pole (training your plant)

• Getting your plant to connect with your new sphagnum moss pole takes a little while. Not too long, but be prepared for a little bit of training. (Here is our Monstera moss pole training guide).
• Use plant ties, twist ties, or soft string to gently secure the stems to the pole. We like to use plant tape as it's quite gentle, and we even like those little hair clips that were everywhere in the 2000s!
• Getting the right angle is quite important, so play around with positioning your plant on the moss pole.
  

Misting your moss pole to water your plants

• Regularly mist the moss pole with water to keep it damp. Once it dries out, sphagnum moss becomes very hydrophobic and is quite hard to water. A regular misting will make your life easier. (Moss pole hydration tips here).
• A moist pole encourages aerial roots to attach and absorb water.
• You can alwatys "revive" a dry moss pole though, so don't worry. Sphagnum moss is quite a forgiving medium.

Handling plant growth on your moss poles

• As new growth emerges, guide vines or stems to climb the pole. 95% of the time the plant will just "get it" and the roots go directly into the moss, but there may be some adjusting or training that you need to do. Sometimes there are multiple growth points and you may want to trim or direct your plant. 
• Adjust ties as needed to prevent damage to the plant. You can usually remove them as the plant matures and grows up the moss pole.