Philodendrons are a popular choice for indoor gardeners, known for their beautiful, often heart-shaped foliage. While many varieties are frequently seen trailing from shelves, a significant number of these plants are natural climbers in their native tropical environments. Encouraging your Philodendron to grow upward provides a more natural habitat and can dramatically change its appearance. This simple training process ultimately leads to larger, more mature leaves.
Understanding the Plant’s Natural Climbing Mechanism
Philodendrons belong to a group of plants called hemiepiphytes, meaning they start life on the ground and then climb trees to reach more sunlight in the forest canopy. They develop two distinct types of roots to support this growth habit. Terrestrial roots anchor the plant in the soil and absorb water and nutrients.
The second type, aerial roots, emerge from the stem nodes and serve a dual purpose: attachment and supplemental absorption. These specialized roots seek out rough, moist surfaces to cling to, providing the plant with physical stability as it climbs. When a Philodendron successfully climbs a support, it often exhibits a change in leaf morphology, producing larger, adult-form leaves in a phenomenon often called “shingling” or maturation.
Choosing the Right Vertical Support
The material of the vertical support directly influences the plant’s success in attaching, as it acts as a surrogate tree trunk. The most effective option is a sphagnum moss pole, which is highly porous and retains moisture exceptionally well. This consistent dampness is attractive to aerial roots, encouraging them to penetrate the moss and establish a strong, functional connection.
Coco coir poles are a more affordable alternative, but they tend to dry out much faster than pure sphagnum moss. Wooden planks or slabs of rot-resistant wood like cedar mimic a natural tree trunk’s texture and provide a sturdy anchor. While a wooden support does not offer the same moisture benefits as a moss pole, the plant’s aerial roots will still readily grab onto the rough surface, especially in higher humidity environments. Simple trellises or stakes offer only minimal support and do not provide a medium for the aerial roots to root into.
Technique for Training and Securing Vines
Once a suitable support is selected, begin training by positioning the plant’s stem directly against the pole or plank. Align the stem so the nodes, where the aerial roots emerge, are in full contact with the support surface.
To temporarily secure the vine, use soft, stretchable materials like Velcro plant ties, soft fabric strips, or jute twine. Avoid using thin wire or rigid fasteners, which can easily damage the stem and inhibit its natural expansion. Fasten the tie loosely around the stem and the support, ensuring there is slack to prevent girdling as the stem thickens over time.
As new growth appears, guide the stem upward and secure each new node to the pole, repeating the process of gentle tying. Take care to direct any emerging aerial roots toward the moist surface of the support. Regularly check the older ties, especially during periods of active growth, and loosen or reposition them if they appear to be digging into the stem. This consistent guidance coaxes the vine to adopt a vertical growth pattern.
Optimizing Conditions for Aerial Root Attachment
Successfully training a Philodendron relies on maintaining environmental conditions that signal to the aerial roots that the support is a viable surface for attachment. Humidity is a major factor, as aerial roots are highly sensitive to moisture and will only actively grow and adhere in a moist atmosphere. Aiming for a relative humidity between 60% and 80% is ideal to promote robust root growth into the pole.
If you are using a moss pole, its consistent moisture level is separate from the soil’s watering schedule. The moss should be kept damp, but not soaking wet, which can be achieved by pouring water directly onto the top of the pole or misting the surface daily. Sufficient, bright, indirect light is also necessary, as the plant needs energy to produce the larger leaves and stronger stems associated with climbing. Low light will result in smaller leaves and a weaker plant that struggles to climb.