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Some of the plant world, which also thrives indoors, develops tendrils. However, the long shoots of many indoor plants are not stable enough to stand up on their own, but need a climbing aid. These should support the plants sufficiently without diminishing their beauty. What variants are there that optimally fulfill this task?
Climbing houseplants
Young and accordingly small climbing plants are often offered in the trade. They are easy to transport and comparatively cheap to buy compared to a full-grown specimen. At home they should then grow happily and become an impressive sight. However, you don't necessarily see by looking at a small plant whether it will develop into a climbing artist in the course of its life. But it must be considered when purchasing whether a climbing aid can be provided immediately or later. Here are some well-known indoor climbing plants:
- ivy
- passion flower
- window leaf (Monstera)
- ivy
- Philodendron
- Dipladenia
- climbing lily
- jasmine
- wreath sling
- room wine
- cape wine
- chestnut wine
- climbing ficus
- purple mare
Climbing aids as required
Some climbing plants do not need climbing aids immediately, or at the beginning of their existence they only need a small stick to tie them to. Usually this is already in the pot of the plant when you buy it. With climbing houseplants, which remain modestly small and tendrils that are easy to tame, you can adjust the climbing aid step by step to suit their growth.
As soon as the plant gets bigger and the stick is no longer stable and long enough, it is exchanged for a more suitable stick. After this can no longer fulfill its supporting function, you should replace it with a better climbing aid.
Climbing aids from the start
However, over time, some climbing houseplants become so large, sprawling, or their tendrils are so numerous and tangled with one another that subsequent changes in their support can harm them. For such plants, it makes sense to immediately provide a suitable trellis, or a system that can be easily expanded. The following advantages are provided by the early provision of climbing aids:
- The direction of growth can be specifically controlled from the start
- the arrangement of the tendrils will not be disturbed later
- Roots are not damaged by inserting new sticks
- the climbing aid is easier to attach in the early stages
Tip: If you have a climbing plant that is still small and do not know exactly how it will develop, look at pictures on the Internet. This way you can estimate what kind of climbing aid you will probably need.
selection criteria
In order to select suitable climbing aids for climbing potted plants, you should clarify a few questions in advance:
- Which material is stable enough to support the fully grown plant?
- Is the material durable enough compared to the lifespan of the plant variety?
- How must the climbing aid be shaped to support the ideal plant shape?
- Can the climbing aid be securely attached (to the wall/ceiling/pot)?
- Will it be easy to repot?
- Does the color and shape of the trellis underscore the beauty of the plant or is it a nuisance?
- Does the trellis visually match the room or do the residents like it?
- Where and at what price can the climbing aid be obtained?
- Is DIY an alternative?
material
Climbing aids for potted plants can be made from a wide variety of materials. If several materials are suitable for a houseplant, your own taste can decide. The price can also be a decisive purchase criterion.
- Wood is a natural material that goes well with plants
- Metal is particularly stable and can be processed delicately
- Plastic is light and inexpensive
- Cords, nets and hooks are ideal for individual solutions
attachment
Each climbing aid must itself have a stable footing in order to be able to support the climbing plant. A smaller trellis can easily be stuck into the soil of potted plants. A larger trellis, on the other hand, must be fixed more stably. In most cases, attachment to the planter is not possible. For this reason, such climbing aids must be firmly attached to the wall, ceiling or a pillar in the room. Before purchasing the houseplant and its climbing aid, check whether this is even feasible.
Simple rank staff
A stake is the easiest way to support a climbing plant. She can twine around him to make her tendrils grow upwards. If the shape of the plant lends itself to it, you can use several stakes at the same time to support larger plants. However, most houseplants cannot hold onto trellises on their own because they do not have any attachment organs. Many bars are also smooth.
- You can buy trellis in garden centers and hardware stores
- e.g. B. bamboo sticks, sticks made of plastic or metal
- different strengths and sizes are available
- there is also suitable fastening material
- e.g. B. Retaining rings for the tendrils
- it can also be tied with soft, inconspicuous cords
Tip: A trellis is usually stuck into the potting soil. Keep in mind that wooden sticks can rot in damp soil and therefore need to be replaced occasionally.
coconut stick
This climbing aid can consist entirely of the natural material coconut fiber. But there are also variants in which wooden sticks are coated with coconut fibers. Coconut sticks are not only a result of decorative considerations, but also practical considerations. This material is so soft that it does not damage the tendrils of indoor plants.
- Diameter is about 5 cm
- there are different lengths
- can be extended with plug-in attachments
- the lower end is made of water-resistant material
- so the staff cannot rot in the ground
moss stick
Another special climbing aid that has been used in this country for decades is the moss stick. It is wrapped all around with a soft layer of moss. A moss stick works well for thin tendrils. They can twine around it multiple times, resulting in a more compact growth habit. In most cases, the tendrils are attached to it with special clamps. Some species cling to it by aerial roots. A moss stick costs less than 10 euros and is ideal for indoor plants such as ivy or window leaf. A moss stick can also be extended to a height of up to 2 m with attachments.
trellis
If plants not only grow in height but also in width, they need more than just a trellis. A trellis is the right choice here. You can get this type of climbing aid by inserting two stable, long sticks into the pot of the houseplant in a V-shape. Cross bars or fastening cords are then attached between the bars. Such a trellis, but also some simple plastic trellis from the trade are suitable for climbing plants that are not too large and too heavy.
You can also buy more stable versions from specialist retailers or build them yourself. However, you should fasten these firmly outside of the pot. If the plant has a permanent place available, there is nothing wrong with screwing the trellis firmly to a wall.
round arches
Round arches limit the height of potted plants by redirecting the long, delicate tendrils into a circle. For smaller indoor plants, the arch is usually made of thin, stable wire. It is integrated as a climbing aid when planting, so that the climbing plant grows around it immediately. She needs support from us and has to be wrapped around the floor again and again by hand. You can also combine several sheets with each other.
- use sheets of different sizes in parallel
- this is how "floors" can be formed
- interlace two or more bows
- together they form a spherical shape
Small round arches are ideal for wax flowers, jasmine and wreath loops. For example, you can use a large, elongated arch to support 3-4 main shoots of a monstera.
obelisks
Obelisks are like a three-dimensional lattice. They not only go in height and width, but conquer the entire space above the root area. They are put into the pot when they are planted. With an obelisk, for example, the passion flower is given a form that it happily fills out. Obelisks come in slightly different shapes and sizes. The decorative design is not neglected either. Because in addition to simple obelisks, you can also provide your indoor plants with beautifully decorated climbing aids. Instructions for building your own can be found here.
nets
Some plants and pitches are ideal for a net. Particularly long, thin tendrils can be evenly distributed on it. A net made of stable, thin yarn can be planted in such a way that it soon disappears invisibly behind the plant. It also offers the advantage that it does not weigh too much itself. Accordingly, its attachment does not make high demands on the owner.
cords
A string hanging from the ceiling offers a decisive advantage: it can be attached just above the middle of the plant. Tied to it, the plant can grow upright. Strings are also useful if you want a plant to spread below the ceiling.
Simple wall fixings
Whenever a tendril becomes too heavy and threatens to sink downwards, it can be attached to a wall in the back. For example, attaching a stable hook is sufficient. The tendril is then tied to it with a loop. This minimalist type of attachment is ideal for plants with a manageable number of tendrils. These should also have a certain strength and only need a hold here and there. The window leaf is a good example of such a plant.
let tendrils hang
If you have taken a liking to a climbing houseplant, but for whatever reason you cannot or do not want to offer it a trellis, you do not necessarily have to do without it. Just let them hang down. Because when gravity works, climbing aids are not necessary. But this type of cultivation is only possible if the tendrils of the plant are not too heavy, otherwise they could break off under their own weight. There must also be an opportunity to hang them up or raise them up without the pot tipping over. Here are some potted plants that you can cultivate both climbing and hanging:
- ivy
- ivy
- Philodendron