Say Goodbye To Droopy Monstera Leaves: Keep Them Upright And Stable With A Cute Amazon Find

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If you have any monsteras at home, scientifically known as Monstera deliciosa or cutely nicknamed the Swiss cheese plant, you know they make for beautiful statement houseplants. That is, if they are properly supported. Successfully growing and maintaining a monstera indoors can be tricky because they are fast growing and as they mature, their large stems can become long and sprawling, causing the plant to lean or just generally take up more room than you'd like. And so introducing a set of metal stem supports is a great way to keep their growth under control without introducing a bulky, and much less attractive, moss pole.

The GOOOXIM Metal Plant Stem Support, which is available on Amazon for just under $10, uses decorative metal holders that's shaped like a monstera leaf to gather and stabilize the stems as they spread. What moss poles are is a different kind of support altogether — they give the monstera something to grow up in a way that mimics its natural tropical habitats. In the wild, monsteras use their roots to climb up tree trunks, and the moss pole basically gives them a similar textures surface to grow against. But the metal stem holders are for a different purpose. They gather existing stems that are sprawling out in different directions and encourage them to come together for a bushier plant.

And unlike a more traditional climbing pole, they are designed to hold existing growth in place rather than encouraging the plant to climb along it, so it's a good idea particularly if you have a smaller monstera that needs a little structure but doesn't yet require more substantial climbing support. 

If you have a particularly "sprawly" plant, then these metal holders are a great way to tame them. You first need to identify the main stem on your monstera. There are individual stalks that connect each leaf to the plant, but these are not the main stem — the main stem is the thickest structure from where the leaves and aerial roots grow. Once you've found that, you place the metal holder around a sturdier section of the stem and use it to guide the stalks into a more upright arrangement that doesn't squeeze the plant too hard or bend the stems. Remember not to force stems into positions they can't get into naturally.

This metal support is a fantastic addition to your monstera if it's drooping and sprawling outwards, but do not confuse those states of being with wilting. Fixing a floppy monstera that just needs a little guidance is one thing, but wilting can also be a sign of under-watering, overwatering, being root bound or even not getting sufficient light (whether that's too much or too little). Before adding any support, check your soil moisture, inspect the roots, and make sure your monstera is positioned somewhere where it gets plenty of bright, indirect light. While a support can help organize healthy growth, it cannot override bad growing conditions.