The Epipremnum aureum, commonly known as Pothos or Devil’s Ivy, is a popular houseplant due to its robust nature and long, decorative vines. While most commonly seen cascading from shelves, this tropical plant is naturally an aggressive climber, using surfaces to ascend toward the forest canopy. Training your Pothos to climb a wall indoors utilizes vertical space and encourages the plant to develop larger, more impressive foliage. This process involves understanding the plant’s biology, selecting the right support, and providing guidance to mimic its natural growth pattern.
Understanding Pothos Climbing Needs
The Pothos plant is an aroid that climbs using specialized structures called aerial roots, which emerge from the nodes along the stem. These roots are primarily designed for anchorage, allowing the vine to secure itself to rough surfaces like tree bark in its native habitat. They adhere strongly, providing the stability for the plant to grow vertically. When a Pothos vine trails downward, the leaves and stems remain small and juvenile. Growing upward triggers a physiological change known as thigmomorphogenesis, which leads to the development of larger, more mature leaves. To achieve this larger leaf size, the plant must perceive itself as climbing a secure, solid structure.
Selecting the Right Wall Support System
The choice of support system depends on whether you want the vine to adhere directly to the wall or climb a separate structure placed against it. For the classic wall-climbing look, you must use an external support system to prevent the plant’s aerial roots from damaging paint or drywall upon removal. Although the roots are delicate, their adhesive nature can cause peeling if they are allowed to fully grip the wall surface over time.
One option is a structured support, like a thin, vertical trellis or a moss pole, positioned close to the wall. This method is effective because it provides a rough, three-dimensional surface for the aerial roots to penetrate and anchor themselves. Most people opt for a direct wall training approach, using small, discrete fasteners to guide the vine along a desired path. This choice creates the illusion of the Pothos climbing the wall unaided.
Securing the Vines to the Wall
Achieving a clean, climbing look requires strategically placing attachment points to hold the vine in place. Small, clear adhesive hooks or specialized plant wall clips are the most common and least damaging tools, as they can be removed without leaving residue. You can also use tiny finishing nails or tacks, securing the vine with soft materials like florist wire or jute twine tied into a loose loop.
The vine should be secured at a node, which is the slightly swollen area on the stem where a leaf and the aerial root emerge. Secure the stem loosely to allow for future stem thickening and continued growth without constriction. Place the attachment points approximately 6 to 12 inches apart, depending on the desired shape and the vine’s curvature. As the plant grows past these supports, repeat the securing process with new growth to continue the upward trajectory.
Ongoing Care for Vertical Growth
Once the vine is secured to the wall, adequate light is the primary factor for sustaining upward growth and encouraging leaf maturation. Pothos naturally seeks light, so the area of the wall where the vine is climbing must receive bright, indirect light, especially higher up the wall. If the light source is insufficient, the plant may revert to smaller leaves or drop the lower leaves to conserve energy.
To encourage the plant to branch out and create a fuller appearance lower down, prune the growing tips of the main vines. Cutting the vine just above a node stimulates the dormant buds below that point to activate and produce new side shoots. If you are using a moss pole or a rough trellis, regularly misting or dampening the surface encourages the aerial roots to root into the medium, which further stabilizes the plant and promotes larger leaf size.