The Ultimate Guide: Self Watering Moss Poles
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Why Use a Self Watering Moss Pole
Self-watering moss poles are a game-changer for climbing plants, ensuring they reach their full potential without constant attention. If you're fed up with trying to keep your moss pole moist, a self watering moss pole may be the perfect solution!
What makes self-watering moss poles special is their ability to mimic the natural environment of climbing plants, providing consistent moisture, nutrition, and support at the active growth nodes, much like the natural snags found on tree trunks in the wild. This allows plants to grow taller and sturdier, encouraging the development of mature, fenestrated leaves by allowing aerial roots to establish within the moist moss pole, just as they would in their natural habitat.
Here’s the catch – imagine your indoor jungle flourishing effortlessly with minimal maintenance. No more constant checking and watering; self-watering moss poles take care of that, giving you more time to enjoy the beauty of your plants. Intrigued? Let's delve into how these innovative supports can transform your plant care routine.
How Often To Water a Self Watering Moss Pole
Unlike traditional moss poles, these innovative tools minimize the need for frequent watering. The built-in water reservoir ensures a consistent supply of moisture, drastically reducing the maintenance required. But how often should you refill that reservoir to keep your plants thriving?
Typically, you’ll need to check and top up the water reservoir every 5 days to two weeks, depending on your reservoir size. This interval can vary based on the humidity levels in your home, the maturity of your plant, and the specific care needs of your plant species. The goal is to maintain a steady supply of moisture, ensuring that the pole stays damp enough to provide hydration through the aerial roots.
The consistent moisture helps activate growth nodes and allows aerial roots to absorb essential nutrients and water. This promotes the development of mature, fenestrated leaves and a robust secondary root system within the moist environment of the self watering pole.
By reducing the need for constant watering, these poles offer a perfect solution for keeping a moss pole moist. Intrigued? Dive into the world of self-watering moss poles and see the difference for yourself
Replicating the Wild With Self Watering Moss Poles
Self-watering moss poles more effectively mimic the natural environment of climbing plants compared to standard moss poles. In the wild, climbing plants rely on the consistent moisture and support provided by tree trunks. Self-watering moss poles replicate this by ensuring a constant supply of water, creating an ideal habitat for growth nodes and aerial roots. This continuous hydration promotes healthier, more vigorous plants, helping them develop a secondary root system within the pole, just as they would naturally on a tree trunk.
Why Use Sphagnum Moss For Self Watering Moss Poles
Sphagnum moss is our top pick for a DIY self watering moss pole, as the moss helps to keep your plants thriving by retaining moisture and promoting aerial root growth. Say goodbye to constant watering and hello to healthier, happier plants.
Sphagnum moss is readily available online, just make sure to source it from reputable suppliers to avoid any unwanted surprises like bark or pest eggs, or sterilize your moss. Our DIY self-watering moss pole keeps the sphagnum moist, ensuring your plants have consistent access to water and nutrients. This mimics their natural climbing habitat more effectively than standard poles, providing an ideal environment for growth.
How a Self Watering Moss Pole Works
Gravity plays a crucial role in the functionality of self-watering moss poles. The principle is simple yet effective: water is drawn down a rope from the reservoir at the top of the pole, utilizing the force of gravity. The science behind the self watering moss pole is straightforward. As gravity pulls the water downward, it is gradually wicked through the rope, which then disperses the moisture evenly into the moss surrounding the pole. This process creates an optimal environment for climbing plants, as their aerial roots can directly access water and essential nutrients at the active growth points.
Our self watering moss pole design prevents overwatering issues, as the rope only extends halfway down the pole, stopping halfway down to the base of the pot. This clever self watering setup ensures that the bottom of the pot doesn't become waterlogged, thus avoiding root rot and other related problems. The remaining bottom of the pole is moistened by gravity without flooding the root ball with water, which is a common issue with most self watering moss poles.
How To Sterilize Sphagnum Moss
If you're uncertain about the quality of your sphagnum moss, you can sterilize it at home to ensure it's free from harmful elements. Pasteurization is a straightforward method that kills fungi, bacteria, pests, nematodes, and weed seeds, while preserving the moss's beneficial properties. This is crucial for maintaining the effectiveness of your self-watering moss poles.
How To Sterilize Sphagnum Moss:
Sterilizing Sphagnum Moss in the Oven: Heat the sphagnum moss to approximately 82 °C (180 °F) for around 30 minutes in a covered, oven-proof container. This process can be easily done in most household ovens, effectively eliminating most bacteria, fungi, and pests.
Sterilizing Sphagnum Moss on the Hob: Fill a large pan with enough water to cover the sphagnum moss and bring it to a simmer. Add the moss and simmer for 30 minutes, ensuring it doesn't boil or float. We recommend using an oven safe container to line the bottom of your pan to keep the moss from direct heat.
These methods ensure your sphagnum moss remains clean and safe for use in self-watering moss poles, while retaining its superior moisture-retaining properties.
DIY Self Watering Moss Pole
How To Make a DIY Self Watering Moss Pole
Creating your own self-watering moss pole is not only cost-effective but allows for a custom fit, tailoring the height and width to your home’s space and your plants needs. At The Houseplant Shop, we have an impressive 1.5ft (ca. 46 cm) wide and 8ft (2.44 m) tall self watering moss pole for our prized highly variegated Golden Pothos, crafted from the exact materials listed below. DIY projects are typically cheaper than shop bought options and offer a personal touch. Imagine having a custom-fit, self-watering moss pole that not only supports your plants but also simplifies your care routine. By following this how-to-guide, you can create a low-maintenance self watering moss pole which stays moist and allows your plants to thrive.
How to zip up the back of the moss pole using cable ties to pull the wire closed.
How to position the jar in the moss pole, ensuring it isn't visible from the outside.
How to attach your plant to the pole with moss pins securing the stem.
DIY Moss Pole Troubleshooting:
Self Watering Moss Pole Wire Has Torn: Sometimes DIY self watering moss poles can suffer from holes and broken bits of wire when there's too much pressure on the joins. Try removing some moss from the pole to reduce the strain on the chicken wire.
Self Watering Moss Pole Won't Stay Upright: There may not be enough moss in your pole. Try adding more moss to create more of a solid structure, however, be careful not to overfill the moss pole as this can weaken the wire and cause breakages along the joints. For larger moss poles, like our 8ft (2.44 m) one, we use a wooden stake attached to the back of the pole to help give it more structure.
Self Watering Moss Pole Won't Stay Moist: If you have increased how often you fill up your self watering moss pole reservoir, and you still can't keep your moss pole moist, try changing your jar for a slightly larger one, or making a bigger moss pole. Really mature plants with established aerial roots within the moss pole typically require lots of extra water. Think of your self watering moss pole as an extension of your plant's root ball — like plants that have become root bound, the moss pole may need extra water when it's too full of roots. If your moss pole won't stay moist, it may be time to make a bigger one to upgrade your aerial roots to a new home with more space. The additional sphagnum moss in the larger pole will help to hold more moisture and to keep your moss pole moist.
White Substance All Over Moss: This is a harmless natural effect of using plant food to fill the jar within your self watering moss pole. This is a collection of minerals and salts which build up when the water dries and can be removed by gently wiping it off with a damp cloth. Other than appearances, the white marks are nothing to worry about and can be left on the moss pole if they don't bother you.
Mould Growing On Self Watering Moss Pole: This can be a sign that your pole is too wet, and the plant isn't using that moisture yet. Try cutting back how regularly you fill the self watering moss pole water reservoir until the plant's roots have established into the moss. Don't forget to keep watering the root ball itself.
Plant Has Outgrown Self Watering Moss Pole: You can extend your moss pole by following step 16 in our DIY moss pole guide.
Step-By-Step Guide To Make Your Own Self Watering Moss Pole:
Prepare Your Workspace: Choose a clean, dry area that can get wet—this process can be messy. Use a waterproof plastic sheet if necessary.
Moisten the Moss: Soak sphagnum moss in water for 30 minutes, or until fully saturated. Drain and wring out excess moisture.
Measure the Wire: Roll out the chicken wire to the desired size of your pole. Cut along the nearest edge of the square.
Add the Wooden Stake: Attach a wooden stake at the bottom to anchor the pole in your plant pot.
Cut the Rope to Size: Measure how much rope you need to get to halfway down the pole and cut it to size. Make sure you leave enough extra at the end to run down to the bottom of the jar.
Attach the Rope To the Glass Jar: Put the end of the rope into the bottom of the jar and then run it back down the outside to the bottom. Attach it with cable ties.
Add Half of the Sphagnum Moss: Measure out half of the moss and put it in the moss pole, leaving half empty to allow you to position the jar and rope.
Add the Glass Jar: First put sphagnum around the outside of the jar, then nestle it in the top of the pole, keeping your rope running down the centre of the sphagnum moss, going no further than halfway down the pole. If you have trouble getting it to stay put, you can attach the glass jar to the back of the moss pole with cable ties. Once your glass jar is in place, finish adding sphagnum moss around it to ensure that it's totally hidden from view.
Fill and Roll the Pole: Add the remaining sphagnum moss and roll the wire into shape to check fill density. Avoid overfilling to prevent stress on the joints, which could cause snapping. Regularly stand the pole up to test its structural integrity.
Insert Acetate Sheets: Cut acetate sheets to half the pole’s width and insert them at the back, under the join where you will zip it up with cable ties. This helps with the stability and structure of the pole. If you have any weak spots where the pole is bending, add extra layers of acetate to give it more structure.
Secure with Cable Ties: Pull the wire together over the acetate and secure tightly with cable ties every square or two. See the photo below for more guidance on how to zip up the chicken wire.
Cut Excess Cable Tie Tails: Trim the excess ends of the ties, being careful not to cut the heads off, as they hold the ties in place. See the photo of the back of a moss pole below for more guidance.
Clean Down The Moss Pole: Brush down the pole to remove any excess moss.
Fix Your Plant To The Moss Pole: Attach your plant to the pole using moss pins, Velcro plant ties or string, ensuring it has good contact with the moss for aerial root growth. See the photo below for more reference.
Fill Your Self Watering Reservoir: Fill your self watering moss pole's glass jar up with water. When moistening your moss pole, use dechlorinated water that's been allowed to rise to room temperature. Consider adding a fertilizer to provide nutrients to your plant's aerial roots.
How To Extend Your Self Watering Moss Pole In The Future: If you want to extend your moss pole in the future, make a new section of pole that's 5 mm (0.2 inch) smaller than the original and remove roughly 6 inches (ca. 15 cm) of sphagnum from the top of your old pole. Next, tie a new bit of rope to the old rope to extend your self watering wick, then relocate the jar to the top of the new pole. Wiggle the new pole into the empty gap in your old pole and attach using cable ties.
Enjoy Your Self Watering Moss Pole: You've finished all the steps to create your own DIY self watering moss pole. Congratulations, your plant just got a massive care upgrade!
Materials You Will Need:
Sharp scissors or wire cutters
Waterproof sheet or flooring
Dechlorinated room temperature water with added plant food
60ml — 300ml glass jar, smaller than the diameter of your pole. We use herb or pesto jars for small poles, and pasta sauce jars for large poles.
Natural cotton rope
How To Keep a Self Watering Moss Pole Moist
DIY self watering moss poles reduce the frequency of watering, and allow you to water without using spray bottles. Check the water reservoir every 5–14 days, depending on the size of your moss pole and the glass jar. Add water as required, topping up when the moss starts to visibly change colour from a dark brown to a pale sandy brown.
We recommend adding plant fertilizer, and using dechlorinated water that has been allowed to rise to room temperature to avoid shocking the aerial roots in the moss pole. This allows the plant to absorb nutrients near the active growth points, allowing the plant to use the moss pole as a secondary root system, and effectively extending your root ball.
Once the plant's aerial roots establish within the moss pole, you may need to increase how often you fill up the water reservoir in your self watering moss pole. Like the root ball in the plant's pot, the moss pole roots can become root bound when plants mature. When your moss pole is full of roots, either water more frequently or make a larger pole to keep it moist for longer.
Self Watering Moss Poles Help Aerial Roots To Develop
Self-watering moss poles are a game-changer for climbing plants, enabling aerial roots to develop into a secondary root system. This setup acts as an extension of your plant's roots, allowing them to absorb water and nutrients closer to the active growth points. Consistently moist environments, like those provided by self-watering moss poles, encourage aerial roots to thrive, leading to more robust and vigorous growth.
Aerial roots are vital for climbing plants, helping them anchor to supports and absorb moisture from their surroundings. When these roots encounter the constant hydration of a self-watering moss pole, they grow extensively into the moss, forming a secondary root system. This efficient nutrient uptake promotes larger leaves and the development of fenestrations, the characteristic splits and holes that many plant enthusiasts admire.
By giving your plants direct access to essential resources, self-watering moss poles create an optimal environment for growth. This results in healthier, more impressive plants that mimic natural habitat conditions.
How To Pin New Growth To a Self Watering Moss Pole With Pictures
Moss poles are indispensable for guiding new growth in your climbing plants, however, they often need a little help to be effective:
Secure New Growth
Use soft plant ties, moss pins, or garden twine to gently secure new growth to the pole. Be cautious not to damage the stems. Regularly check and adjust them to avoid causing permanent damage or scarring, especially with metal pins.
Regular Adjustments
As your plant continues to grow, it's important to adjust and add new ties to guide it up the pole. Aim to pin nodes as close to the pole as possible to encourage aerial roots to grow into the moss rather than down the outside.
Supporting Aerial Root Growth
If any aerial roots can't be pinned into the pole, you can direct them down the outside of the pole and back into the pot.
What To Do When Your Plant Reaches The Top of a Self Watering Moss Pole
As climbing plants thrive, they'll eventually outgrow their self-watering moss poles. This is a common scenario with most climbing houseplants, and knowing how to manage it can ensure continued healthy growth. Here's what to do when your plant reaches the top of the moss pole:
Extend the Pole
One straightforward option is to add another homemade moss pole on top of the existing one. We've covered how to extend your moss pole in our DIY guide. This gives your plant additional vertical space to climb, continuing its upward journey.
Pruning for Control
Alternatively, you can prune the top of the plant to manage its height. Use the cuttings for propagation, allowing you to grow new plants that can add density to your pot and enhance the overall foliage.
Redirect Growth
Training your plant to grow horizontally is another effective strategy. Tie the new growth to another support structure or guide it back down the pole. This method can be tricky with mature plants, as their stems may be more rigid and prone to snapping. In such cases, pruning might be the safer option. Plants will always try to right themselves, so if you pin them down, they'll grow back up again. The professional trick to get around this is to leave the stem to grow for the whole length of the moss pole. Once the plant is long enough, direct it down the pole and then pin the end with the active growth point upwards, to allow it to grow back up the pole again.
Summary of Homemade Self Watering Moss Poles
Creating your own DIY self watering moss pole is an effective, cost-efficient way to support the growth of your climbing plants. By using sterilized sphagnum moss, which excels at retaining moisture, you can ensure consistent hydration for your plants, promoting robust root development and healthier foliage.
Self-watering moss poles simplify your plant care routine by reducing the frequency of watering, thanks to their built-in reservoirs. They also provide various options for managing overgrown plants, whether through extending the pole, pruning, or redirecting growth. This practical and engaging method not only enhances the health and appearance of your plants but also brings a touch of nature into your home with minimal effort.
Ready to transform your indoor garden into a thriving, low-maintenance oasis? Dive into the world of self-watering moss poles and see the difference for yourself!
Edited & Fact Checked By: The Houseplant Shop
Article Published: 28th November 2024
About The Houseplant Shop:
Independent Houseplant Nursery
Horticultural Specialists
Managing Over 250 Houseplant Species Onsite
Over 15 Years Of Experience With Horticulture
As head of horticulture, Sarah manages the care and propagation of over 250 plant species at a commercial houseplant nursery. With over 15 years of experience in horticulture, specializing in houseplants, Sarah has extensive expertise in plant biology, soil science, and integrated pest management. She continually reviews and integrates the latest research into her plant care guides. Dedicated to educating others, Sarah has spent years diagnosing houseplant care issues and sharing her real-world experience. Her commitment to scientific accuracy and helping people diagnose plant health issues has established her as a trusted authority and expert in the field.
The Houseplant Shop is a dedicated houseplant nursery, growing all of their own stock from their botanical library of over 250 houseplant species. The nursery staff are horticultural experts who have dedicated their lives to cultivating and nurturing over 250 different species of houseplants, focusing on Aroids, tropical plants, and NOID collectables. All their plants are grown in house in Britain to be more environmentally friendly. The nursery is proud to have been featured by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) as a 100% peat free nursery.
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How We Reviewed This Article:
Our horticultural experts continually monitor the houseplant space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. We are committed to providing current and reliable information. If you have some information that you think would be helpful in this article, we'd love to hear from you. Our team works hard to revise articles for factual accuracy, and we regularly update our pages with new information, techniques, tips, images, trade secrets, and real world experience from the team here at the houseplant nursery. You can find a list of the article updates below.
Written By: Sarah Brooks, Head of Horticulture
Article Received: 22nd November 2024
Copyright: The Houseplant Shop (https://thehouseplant.shop)
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List of Article Updates:
20th December 2024: Minor UI updates
Author Bio:
Author: Sarah Brooks,
Head of Horticulture at The Houseplant Shop
