Use A Trellis To Turn A Simple Monstera Plant Into A Stunning Statement Piece

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If you have the ideal indoor environment to keep your monstera happy and thriving, you'll know how much growth it can put on in a short time — and how quickly it can get totally out of control. Gardeners who live in warmer regions and grow monstera outdoors will tell you that they love to climb up walls and other structures, attaching themselves to vertical surfaces with large, robust aerial roots. You can use this habit to your advantage when growing monstera as a houseplant. Install a trellis, which you would normally use for outdoor climbing plants, on an interior wall and train your monstera to clamber up the rungs. You'll have a stunning statement piece in no time.

To set this indoor living wall, start by choosing the best type of pot to use for a thriving monstera plant and a sturdy trellis. Look for a structure that is attached to or can be fitted securely to whatever planter you're using. Something like this Hfxhijxq Anthracite Garden Planter With Trellis would work well in most rooms. Or you can buy an Oltara Fan-Shaped Natural Bamboo Trellis to attach to a lovely display pot you already have. You'll also want a couple of self-adhesive hooks and a plastic sheet or a Dollate Polycarbonate Greenhouse Panel — something you can cut to fit the back of the trellis and stop your monstera attaching its aerial roots to the wall. They can damage paint and widen cracks.

Ready to set up your living statement piece? Find a bright spot in your home with a section of clear wall that's large enough for the planter and, perhaps more importantly, the trellis. Providing enough light is a simple tip that will keep your monstera plant healthy all winter — and for the rest of the year. Fill the planter with the best soil for a thriving monstera (one that's well-draining and nutrient-rich) and transplant your houseplant into it. Either attach your chosen trellis to the planter or push it down into the dirt inside the pot, being careful not to disturb the roots of your monstera. If you haven't already, cut the plastic sheet to the same dimensions as the trellis and secure it behind the structure.

Move your planter-trellis combo into place in the room and mark where the top of the trellis meets the wall. Install a couple of self-adhesive hooks in those spots — they'll hold the trellis securely in place against the wall, adding extra stability for both the trellis and the plant. The hooks go a long way toward preventing everything from tipping over as your monstera grows larger. Now all that's left to do is to train your monstera up the climbing structure. You can use plant clips, soft twist ties, or even simple garden twine to attach the heavy leaf stems to the trellis. As the plant continues to grow, keep an eye out for any escaping or excessively long aerial roots on either side of the trellis and trim them off close to the stem. You don't want them getting out of control and attaching to the wall.