rileynelson•1mo agoTop Commenter

I'm torn between keeping my Monstera bushy or letting it climb a moss pole

Last month I finally moved my Monstera from a little pot to a bigger one after 3 years of it being in the same spot. My friend came over and said I should train it up a moss pole for those huge fenestrated leaves, but my neighbor swears keeping it bushy with regular pruning gives it a fuller look. I've seen both methods work online, but I can't decide which is better for my space since it sits right by a south-facing window in my living room. The plant already has 5 leaves and I don't want to mess it up after all this time. So which side is right? Does climbing actually give bigger leaves, or is bushy just as good for health?

3 comments

3 Comments

miamitchell1mo ago

My Monstera was in the same spot for 4 years before I finally decided to chop it up, so I feel your hesitation. I ended up going with a moss pole and honestly the new leaves are way bigger and have more of those splits you see online. Bushy looks nice and full but if you want those fenestrated leaves the pole really helps them size up.

blake3221mo ago

I read that monsteras actually grow bigger leaves when their aerial roots can dig into something moist. A plain moss pole works, but I've had better luck soaking the pole every time I water the plant. It mimics how they climb wet tree bark in the wild. The roots attach faster and the leaves get huge, like dinner plate size.

ruby45017d agoProlific Poster

Soaking the whole pole each time, does that ever cause issues with the soil getting too wet or rotten roots from the water dripping down? I've been misting mine but it dries out so fast, wondering if that's why my leaves stay small.