The Pothos plant, Epipremnum aureum, is a common houseplant widely appreciated for its long, flowing vines and resilient nature. While typically grown in a cascading or trailing fashion, training this vine to grow upward on a support can dramatically transform its appearance. Encouraging vertical growth mimics the plant’s natural habit, often resulting in denser foliage and significantly larger, more mature leaves that add a lush, tropical aesthetic to any indoor space.
Understanding Pothos Climbing Mechanics
In its native environment, the Pothos is an epiphyte, a plant that grows harmlessly on another plant, using it for physical support while drawing nutrients from the air and rain. The plant’s climbing mechanism relies on specialized structures called aerial roots, or adventitious roots, which grow from the nodes along the vine. These roots serve two primary functions: anchorage and absorption.
Aerial roots do not draw water and nutrients from the soil like the main root system. Instead, they seek out surfaces to grip and absorb moisture and small amounts of nutrients from the atmosphere or the climbing substrate. This vertical growth triggers a hormonal change within the vine, causing the new leaves produced higher up to increase substantially in size, a process known as maturation. This transformation is the main goal of vertical training.
Selecting and Preparing the Support Structure
Choosing the right support is the first step in successful training, as the material must be suitable for the aerial roots to penetrate and attach. The preferred option for promoting the largest leaf size is a moss pole, typically constructed from sphagnum moss or coir fiber. Moss poles retain moisture, closely mimicking a tree trunk and providing a substrate for the aerial roots to grow into.
To install a moss pole, firmly insert it deep into the pot, ideally reaching the bottom, to ensure stability as the plant grows taller. Established plants may require repotting into a slightly larger container to accommodate the pole without damaging the root ball. Alternative supports include wooden planks or slats for gripping, or trellises for guiding thinner vines along a flat surface. Installation should happen before the vine becomes excessively long and unwieldy.
Step-by-Step Training and Attachment Techniques
The physical training process begins by gently positioning the longest, most mature vines against the chosen support structure. The nodes, the slightly swollen points on the stem, must be placed directly in contact with the pole. This direct contact is necessary for the aerial roots to sense and eventually latch onto the material.
To hold the vines in place initially, use soft, non-abrasive materials such as Velcro plant ties, soft twine, or flexible gardening wire. Secure the stems loosely, ensuring the ties do not constrict or girdle the vine, which could damage the plant tissue. Focus the attachment at the nodes, wrapping the vine gently around the pole in an upward spiral.
Once the vines are secured, the aerial roots need encouragement to attach, which is achieved by maintaining moisture on the support surface. Regularly moistening the pole helps activate root growth, prompting the roots to penetrate the substrate for anchorage. Take care when bending older, less flexible stems, as they can snap easily. New growth tips will need to be checked and secured every few weeks as the plant extends its reach upward.
Long-Term Care for Vertical Growth
Caring for a vertically trained Pothos requires specific attention to moisture management, especially when using a moss pole. The support structure must be kept consistently moist to encourage the aerial roots to grow into it. This moisture is separate from the soil watering schedule, and the pole should be watered from the top, allowing the moisture to distribute evenly down the column.
To maintain a full, lush appearance and prevent the bottom section from becoming bare, strategic pruning is beneficial. Pruning the growing tip (apical meristem) of a vine encourages the plant to activate dormant buds lower down, promoting lateral branching and a bushier habit. When the Pothos grows past the top of the initial pole, extend the support by stacking another pole section on top of the first one. Rotating the plant every few weeks remains important, even when climbing, to ensure all sides receive adequate light and the growth remains balanced and straight.