Why grow vertically?
If you've ever been to Florida, you've almost certainly seen the huge, green and yellow monstera-like leaves climbing their way up palm trees and buildings.
(Spotted in Fort Lauderdale, FL)
That plant was more than likely not a monstera, though. It was your standard office pothos, like this one:
(A standard office plant, pothos are actually very dynamic when grown vertically)
Yep, the one you or at least one of your coworkers has on their desk or in some window somewhere. That kind of pothos turns into the monster you see pretty much anywhere tropical these days.
But how does it turn into that?
It grows up.
BoDurtha's specializes largely in plants called aroids. Most aroids want to grow vertically.*
Most aroids, like monstera, philodendron, syngonium, epipremnum, and even anthuriums, grow up trees and moist rock walls in the wild. They cling to them with roots called aerial roots, which not only help the plant climb, but suck up moisture and nutrients from whatever surface they're climbing.
(Golden pothos taking over a wall at Mona's Bar in Fort Lauderdale, FL)
As they grow up, they get stronger. They access better sunlight and their leaves grow larger and larger.
At BoDurtha's, we give you easy ways to replicate that.
(Golden Pothos growing its way up a plank)
Depending on the plant and your stylistic preferences, you can try growing plants up a regular old plank, a moss plank, a coir plank, a coir pole, a sphagnum moss and tree fern fiber pole or even just a bamboo stake.
As long as you can get your climbing plants to grow up, I promise you they're going to reward you in ways you never knew a plant could do.
Added Benefits
In addition to just being generally a better way to grow most of the houseplants you see on the market today, there are other benefits to growing vertically.
Keeps Plants Compact
(Moss pole grown plants from BoDurtha's collection.)
Growing vertically keeps your plants more compact and contained. Yes, the leaves will get larger than you expected, however, your plant won't be sprawled out all over your counter or workspace.
Better Pinpoint Lighting
Growing vertically allows you to hang your plants wherever you'd like, but I always suggest hanging them where they'll get the best light for their preferences. Hanging a plant on the wall or directly in a window for ideal lighting just makes things easier.
It Looks Cool
Okay, I know this is subjective, BUT, vertically-grown, mature plants just look really cool and make you look like you know what you're doing--like you've really got your s*** together. It's just the way it is.
It's Easy
Growing vertically is as easy as just giving the plant something to climb.
I learned the hard way that pothos can take paint right off the wall, for instance.
The ever-daunting moss pole is actually easier to care for than a plant that just lives in a pot!
Simply poke five small holes in a water bottle lid, fill the bottle with your preferred water/fertilizer, place the cap back on and set it upside down on the top of moss pole to slowly drain.
Alright, it's late and I could go on forever, but if I've convinced you that growing vertically is actually worth a shot to achieve REALLY cool results with your plants, check out the lineup of tools and resources we have available online or at BoDurtha's Plant Parlor in historic downtown Delaware, Ohio.
*BoDurtha's recognizes there are many variants in plant morphology, including, yes, crawling philodendron and palms and the like. I find that variety of plant largely obtrusive, however, so you're unlikely to find them here unless my attitude changes. I am, however, a Taurus. 😉
- Corey