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Moss Pole Alternatives: 5 Easy Options and DIY Instructions

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Moss poles are simple structures that can sometimes be difficult to access. Seeking an alternative can be a viable option as they can be very cost-effective and perform the same function as a pole made entirely of moss.

Moss poles are not always made up of moss; there are many alternatives available.   A natural bamboo or a tree slab are the perfect alternatives to a moss pole. Coir poles, wooden sticks, PVC pipes, and modern metal trellis Pinterest are also good alternatives.

These poles are used as a supportive tool for plants to grow taller. In addition, plants such as monsteras, pothos, and vines require moss poles to grow upright and maintain their structure.

Are you in search of moss pole alternatives? Do you want to choose a suitable one? This article will provide you with a range of cost-effective moss pole alternatives and how to make your own.

If you would like a cost-effective moss pole that works well. You can find it by clicking here!

The Blooming Jungle 24 Inch Moss Pole - 2 Coco Coir Poles

Moss Pole Alternatives:

Maintaining a plant’s health is very necessary for an attractive plant. A moss pole helps plants in climbing up and mimics pressure on roots for nourishment. 

They obtain nutrients and moisture essential for growth from the air and the environment due to supportive tools.

The Moss pole itself is not much strong for vines support as it bends with the plants’ weight pressure. 

See our detailed and helpful articles on Using Moss Poles for Houseplants as well as How to Keep a Moss Pole moist for a better understanding of using moss poles.

Moss pole alternatives with advantages and disadvantages are given below;

Coir Poles:

The coir is another name of coco fiber obtained from the outer fibrous covering of the coconut. 

Fiber is found between the interior hard shell and the outer surface of the coconut. Geo-coirs are purely natural; the white and brown color of coir depends upon the material used for pole construction. 

Coir-poles are formed by a simple wrapping of coir material around the wood or PVC pipe.

Advantages:

Coir-poles are highly porous, thus enhancing the plant’s high water retention capacity.
Plants grow naturally when they tightly grip their roots.
These poles can be used in nurseries, horticulture, greenhouse farming. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor farming.
Coir-poles provide faster vertical growth to the plants, e.g., to money plants. 
Other properties include biodegradable, strong, long-lasting, acceptable PH.

Disadvantages:

Pipes or wood used in coir-pole should be of high quality and wide width.
Coco-poles produce so much salt, hazardous for plant growth.
Lower cation-exchange capacity.
Gardners who switched from sphagnum to coir pole should change their fertilizers practice.
They can last only 2-4 years.

Wooden Sticks:

Wooden sticks are used in many DIY poles preparation. These sticks can be used alone but can not provide many benefits. 

Coco fibers, sphagnum moss, jute are wrapped over the wooden stick for making poles. Wooden stick is a medium only that gives support in pole manufacturing. 

Advantages:

Wooden sticks of ordinary quality are cheap (cost lower by 3.5 times), readily available. They can be made at home manually.
Lightweight, strong with a 700kg/m3 specific gravity, and elastic.
Easy transportation and installation.
No careful handling requires
Do not produce any outage lines, hence the absence of a domino effect.

Disadvantages:

Wood is strong, but concrete is rigid, they can bend in high winds.
High-risk for bugs production that reduces the durability of poles and plants.
It isn’t accessible to source wood pools due to the government’s strict wood regulation policies.
Increases the risk of fires.
The low area of humidity.

Bamboo:

Bamboo is a woody, branched, and tall tree. According to the Chinese, no country can thrive without a bamboo-like tree.  

Bamboo-pole is a natural pest-resistant and better alternative to wood and moss pole. 

Advantages:

Stylish, sturdy, and sustainable.
Hard plants sometimes have more tensile strength than steel.
Environment friendly, reduce pollution by producing 35% more oxygen.
Water barrier, stop soil erosion. 
High water nitrogen reduces water pollution.

Disadvantages:

If not treated well, the bamboo pole undergoes a fungus attack.
Bamboo shrinks greater than tree wood.
They require pre-preservation.
They are piercing the roots beneath the soil.

PVC Pipe:

PVC pipe is used as a woody, bamboo moss pole alternative. It helps in many ways by providing support to the plant. Most people prefer its use.

Advantages:

Hard to bend, stand firmly.
Sharp edge helps easy installation.
No issues like fungus or rotting.
Durable and reusable. 
Natural appearance, better than wood.

Disadvantages:

Easily crackable.
Can not install at high temperatures.
Non-decomposing but can melt at high temperatures.
No nutrition element for plants.
PVC contains chemicals that can leach into soil.

Metal Pipe:

Metal pipes are mostly steel pipes, mostly hollow tubes used for a variety of purposes. Metal mesh is also used in moss pole preparation.

Advantages:

Far more durable and long-lasting.
Improves metal corrosion properties.
Withstand plants vines pressure.
Non-reactive with water, don’t leach chemicals in the water.
It can be used for up to 50 years.

Disadvantages:

Safety concerns.
High cost, difficult to purchase.
No nutrition for plants.
High temperature in hot weather.
Not flexible, fixed once laid

Disadvantages of using an Original Moss Pole:

Original moss poles are trouble-causing agents, and sometimes they work not well for indoor plants. 

The appearance of the moss plant is the main issue; it just looks like a mulch shoved in fishnet stocking. 

Climbing plants have the natural tendency to climb over the support by themselves. In moss poles case, most often, you have to attach and climb the roots manually. 

This is a silly thing because vining plants like aroids and ivy tend to climb up naturally. 

Moss poles are not very stable, and they can mold. If you don’t notice them in time, they can cause trouble and prove unhealthy for plants. 

Sometimes plants have outgrown the moss pole, and plant owners don’t want to extend the support tool repeatedly. 

The need for this permanent problem creates a demand for moss pole alternatives.

DIY Moss Pole – How to Make a Moss Pole?

bendable moss pole

Moss poles available in markets are expensive and messy. However, you can make a high-quality DIY moss pole at your place with readily available material and simple steps. 

The procedure for preparing moss pole is given as below;

Material Required:

  • PVC pipe
  • Jute rope
  • Strong glue
  • Paint (optional)

Tools: 

  • Pair of scissors
  • Pipe Cutter

Step-by-step procedure: 

1. Cutting of PVC pipe:

Pvc pipes are entirely cheap, available in the pre-cut form. You can take a 1 1/2″ wide pipe and cut the length according to the plant pot and plant height to grow. 

Length of pipe can be taken as doubled the measured plant pot depth. 

A pipe cutter or miter saw will help cut the desired size.

Sphagnum moss or wooden pools are primarily used in traditional methods, but these two do not have a long-lasting effect. 

Wood is quite expensive, while PVC pipe is a cheap, durable, and readily available product.

2. Adhesion: 

You can take an idea of how many parts of the pipe will be inside the potting soil and mark it. Just have a rough idea with normal vision. 

Now put strong glue on one end of the jute rope and wrap it to the pipe above the marked length. Let it dry for a while.

3. Glue on PVC pipe and jute wrapping:

As a starting point, jute dries, but strong glue all over the pipe. Carefully wrap the remaining jute cord to the top of the PVC pipe. Your pipe is ready.

4. Painting (optional):

You can paint the white part of the pipe if needed for a better look. 

The Takeaway:

Moss poles provide support for plants to grow at a higher level. However, epiphytes require another surface to grow on. 

Using supportive tools, they receive air and water essential for growth.

Unfortunately, moss on poles are not always available. However, several alternative poles can be made from simple materials.   

As an alternative to moss poles, bamboo and tree slabs are perfect choices. In addition, coir poles, wooden sticks, PVC pipes, and modern metal trellis are useful alternatives. 

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