Moss pole alternative: 7 best ideas

Quite often, moss poles are found in summer cottages, which are used to support plants that climb. However, it is not always possible to build them. That is why many are interested in what moss pole alternatives for small spaces are available.

What are moss poles?

Moss poles are vertical rods of small thicknesses. There are natural materials are used in the manufacture, including bamboo.

The design is light and easy to install.

The need to find a moss pole alternative

Some gardeners are sure that it is impossible to use moss poles. Therefore, they try to use a metal pipe, tree slab, and bamboo pole. There are several reasons to look for a moss pole alternative:

• unpresentable appearance;
• climbing plants that have aerial roots have trouble climbing the moss pole;
• the appearance of mold is possible, which harms the indoor plants;
• the need to increase the height of the column as the climbing plants grow.

Moss pole alternatives

Many are interested in how do you make a mini moss pole. There are several moss pole alternatives.

Wooden slab

The peculiarity of these moss pole alternatives is that the outer part has a living edge of the tree. It seems that the bushes grow directly on a tree slab. Where can I find such moss pole alternatives? You can find wood slabs in retail.

Pay attention only to those options that differ in a live edge. Their cost is small. It is appropriate to look for the right options in carpentry and furniture-making workshops. After the purchase, the DIY moss pole needs to be tweaked a little so that the plants are comfortable.

Technique for building an ideal wooden slab

To fit the moss poles to the plants, you must follow clear instructions.

Removing the outer bark

You have to remove the bark first. Removing the bark with sharp tools, in particular, a knife is recommended. The process is not taking long.

Grinding

After, the entire surface must be treated with sandpaper. The tree should become smooth and beautiful. When doing this, pay attention to ensure that there are no sharp edges.

Coloring

If you want to acquire the desired shade, you must paint it. If you prefer traditional moss poles and natural shades, you can skip this step. For work, it is better to purchase high-quality paints. You must apply them to the surface and then left to solidify.

The process can take hours or days, so please be patient.

Sealing

When the stain is dry, start applying the sealant. It protects the painted wood from mechanical damage, which is inevitable. In this case, the coating is durable. It is allowed to apply polyurethane. Application is best done with a brush. After that, you need to wait for the sealant to dry. This takes several days.

Fastening and decoration

After preparing the tree slabs, you have to find a place where it is installed. Fix it to the wall with hooks, ropes, or threads. This prevents damage to the best moss pole alternatives. Place plants around the wood stakes and secure them to such a great moss pole alternative. Additionally, you can use ropes or threads.

Bamboo trellis

The bamboo stakes have a low cost, as well as the speed of creation. It is not difficult to find such lattices. Try to carefully insert the bamboo trellis into the soil of the plant pot. After all, there is a risk of damage to the root system.

You also need to water vining plants more frequently. Moss poles retain moisture for a long time, which cannot be said about alternative options.

The principle of creating and installing bamboo trellises is simple:

1. Cut bamboo sticks according to your requirements.
2. Fix them with fasteners in the right place.
3. Tie the plant around the trellises so that they rise.

PVC pipes

Quite frequently, PVC pipe is used as a support for a climbing plant. This is the best option for those who do not care about the appearance of the support and want to require minimal maintenance. The PVC pipe is not attractive and can saturate the soil with chemical components. However, they are more resistant to negative environmental factors.

To prevent plants from absorbing a large number of chemical components emitted by pipes, frequent transplantation is required. You can fix an unattractive look by coloring. You can wrap the PVC pipe with a wire mesh, and supplement it with sphagnum moss.

Furthermore, you also can drill holes if you need to improve the design. It is better to do this before winding with sphagnum moss.

To install PVC pipes as support, follow these steps:

1. Cut the pipe to the desired length.
2. Cover with moss and wrap with netting.
3. Place a PVC pipe in the center of the plant pot, and tie up the plant. Water it.

Wooden stakes

Differ in durability, reliability, and naturalness. However, they do not need special care. To make such stakes on your own, you need to prepare a wooden pole. You also need sphagnum. Such moss poles are appropriate for plant growth that have heavy tops and single stems. For example, corn or sunflower.

To install wooden stakes, follow these instructions:

1. Wrap a wooden pole with moss.
2. Secure the sphagnum with wire mesh.
3. Install the moss pole in the pot, and attach the plants to it. This can be done with regular tape.
4. Water the moss pole to keep it damp.

Wooden board

A wooden board is no less in demand. It resembles the previous version but is minimalist. You need to use small boards so that they fit in a plant pot.

The principle of operation is that, to begin with, a board is installed in the container. Only then can the plant be added.

This reduces the likelihood of damage to the root system.

To install a wooden board, follow these instructions:

• find a plant that suits your needs;
• place the pole on the bottom of the container;
• fill the soil, and put the roots of the plant in the center;
• fill the container with soil so that it covers the root system;
• smooth everything to make the composition look elegant.

Metal pipe

Such materials differ in a similar principle of working with PVC pipes. However, it can boast of an attractive appearance. It is appropriate to use pipes made of copper, aluminum, or stainless steel.

You get a support base that can be decorated. To do this, you can wrap the metal pipe with jute rope, coconut fiber, or other fibrous materials that have not been processed. The metal is not saturated in the soil with chemical components, so the plants are in safe. Caring for pipes is pretty easy. The difficulty lies in cutting metal pipes to the desired size.

In this case, it will be difficult for plants to fix them. It is forbidden to use options that are painted or coated with oil. After all, this is fraught with damage to plants.

To install metal pipes as support, follow these instructions:

• Cut the metal pole to size.
• Wrap with moss and secure it.
• Insert the moss pole into the ground, and tie the plant to the support.

Coconut poles

Many people wonder, do you have to use a moss pole for monstera? Coconut is the best option. If necessary, the supports can be updated, given that the material is very affordable. Coconut fiber is a natural and environmentally friendly product.

The coir pole is very strong and durable, so it is ideal for heavy plants. It has an attractive appearance and structure, which is pleasant to watch. It is resistant to mold and decay.

However, the coir pole can fill the soil with salt, so frequent top dressing will be required.

To install coir pole supports, it is recommended to follow these instructions:

1. Take a wooden stick as a basis. So the design is more stable.
2. Choose a wooden stick of optimal length.
3. Break the coir poles into the desired number of small pieces.
4. Wrap it around a stick, and fasten it securely to the pole.
5. Place coir poles in the center of the container, and water the plant.

It is rather difficult to answer the question of which is better coco pole or the moss pole.

Plastic trellis for climbing plants

You can replace moss poles with plastic trellis. They are low-cost and flexible. Therefore, you can give them different shapes. It is important to prepare bamboo support if the plants are heavy.

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To install as support, follow these instructions:

1. Shape the plastic trellis into a circle.
2. Install it in a container around the entire periphery of the soil.
3. Add a bamboo stick for added support.
4. Secure the plants with ropes.
5. Water to keep the soil moist.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many alternatives to the traditional moss pole. The choice depends on your capabilities and preferences.