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You can make a monstera plant grow upwards by giving it a sturdy support structure, encouraging aerial roots, and mimicking the way it naturally climbs trees in the wild.
If you’ve been wondering how to make monstera plant grow upwards without it flopping over, the good news is that this tropical beauty is actually a climbing vine by nature.
When you learn how to make a monstera plant grow upwards, you’re not forcing it into an unnatural shape, you’re simply giving it what it would have in its native jungle habitat.
In this post, we’ll dig into the best ways to make monstera grow upwards, what support materials work best, how light plays a role, and why pruning and training matter.
Let’s get your monstera reaching for the sky.
How to Make Monstera Plant Grow Upwards With Proper Support
The simplest way to make a monstera plant grow upwards is to install a support that mimics a tree trunk.
Monsteras are epiphytes, which means in the wild they cling to larger plants and climb toward the light.
If you want to make your monstera plant grow upwards, you need to give its aerial roots something to grab onto.
Here are the most effective support options to help make monstera grow upwards.
1. Use a Moss Pole to Make Monstera Grow Upwards
A moss pole is one of the best tools you can use if you want to make your monstera plant grow upwards.
The texture of the moss gives the aerial roots a rough surface to latch onto, just like tree bark.
To make monstera grow upwards with a moss pole, keep the moss slightly damp, because moisture encourages the roots to dig in.
As your monstera climbs, you’ll see the aerial roots grip the pole, and this is exactly how to make monstera plant grow upwards naturally.
2. Try a Wooden Stake or CoCo Coir Pole
If you don’t have a moss pole, a wooden stake or a coco coir pole can also help you make monstera plant grow upwards.
These supports are drier than moss, but they still give the plant something to lean against.
To make monstera grow upwards with a stake, gently tie the main stem to the stake using soft plant ties or velcro strips.
Don’t tie it too tightly, because the stem needs room to thicken as it climbs.
The goal here is to guide the plant, not strangle it, and that’s the key to making monstera grow upwards safely.
3. Build a Trellis for a Wide Monstera
For larger monstera plants, a trellis can be a fantastic way to make monstera plant grow upwards across a broader surface.
A trellis works well when you have multiple stems or a very bushy plant that needs support in several places.
You can attach the trellis to the pot or the wall behind the plant.
Then, weave the stems and aerial roots through the openings to make monstera plant grow upwards evenly.
Light and Rotation Help Monstera Grow Upwards
Another important part of how to make monstera plant grow upwards involves the lighting conditions and how you rotate the pot.
Monsteras naturally lean toward light, a behavior called phototropism.
You can use this to your advantage when you want to make monstera plant grow upwards.
1. Give It Bright, Indirect Light
If you want to make monstera plant grow upwards, place it in bright, indirect light.
Too much direct sun can scorch the leaves, but too little light makes the stems weak and leggy.
When the plant gets enough light, it produces stronger internodes, which are the spaces between leaves.
Stronger internodes make it easier for the plant to hold itself upright, which is a huge part of making monstera grow upwards.
2. Rotate the Pot Regularly
Rotating your monstera a quarter turn every week helps it grow upwards instead of bending sideways toward the window.
If you don’t rotate, the plant will stretch unevenly, and that can ruin your efforts to make monstera plant grow upwards.
Consistent rotation encourages balanced growth, so every side of the plant gets equal light.
This simple habit makes a massive difference when you’re trying to make monstera grow upwards like a proper vine.
Pruning and Training Techniques to Make Monstera Grow Upwards
Pruning might feel counterintuitive, but it’s actually one of the smartest ways to make monstera plant grow upwards.
When you remove older, droopy leaves, the plant directs its energy into new growth at the top.
Training the stem early also helps make monstera grow upwards more efficiently.
1. Trim Lower Leaves to Encourage Upward Growth
To make monstera plant grow upwards, start by trimming any yellowing or damaged leaves near the bottom.
This sends a signal to the plant that it should focus on pushing new leaves from the top.
You can also cut back stems that are growing outward or downward.
The more you guide the shape, the easier it becomes to make monstera grow upwards in the direction you want.
2. Guide Aerial Roots Back to the Support
Aerial roots are your best allies when you want to make monstera plant grow upwards.
Don’t cut them off, because they help anchor the plant to its support.
Instead, gently tuck them against the moss pole or stake.
With a little patience, these roots will attach on their own and naturally make monstera grow upwards.
3. Use Soft Ties for Extra Security
When you’re first training the plant, use soft garden ties to hold the stem against the support.
This is especially helpful if your monstera is top-heavy.
Check the ties every few weeks and loosen them as the stem thickens.
This attention to detail will help you successfully make monstera plant grow upwards without damaging the stem.
So, How Do You Make a Monstera Plant Grow Upwards?
You make a monstera plant grow upwards by providing a climbing support, placing it in bright indirect light, rotating it regularly, and pruning it strategically.
Monstera plant growth upwards doesn’t happen overnight, but with consistent care, your plant will latch onto its pole and start reaching for the ceiling.
The most important thing is to remember that monsteras are natural climbers, so you’re not working against the plant.
You’re just giving it the right tools to do what it already wants to do.
If you stick with these methods, you’ll soon see new leaves growing bigger and higher, proving that you absolutely can make monstera plant grow upwards.