I am the proud owner of around 60 houseplants, each with its own level of maintenance. Despite my best efforts, I have learned that no plant is truly indestructible (I've had my fair share of casualties). However, one plant that has consistently thrived in various conditions is the pothos.
My oldest pothos plant boasts vines that stretch over 20 feet long, creating a lush jungle atmosphere in my dining room where I have them pinned to the ceiling. From this main plant, I have propagated several others, strategically placing them throughout my home, especially in areas with minimal natural light. Surprisingly, these golden pothos plants continue to flourish even in the dimmest corners of our shady house.
Recently, when it came time to transfer one of my pothos plants to a larger pot in the living room, I faced a dilemma on how to support its cascading vines. After some creative thinking, I may have found a solution at the Dollar Tree.
In my quest for a small trellis, I sifted through numerous options. While there were plenty of affordable choices, they all seemed too petite for the 5-foot-long vines adorning my plant. Given the low-maintenance nature of pothos plants, I intend to stick to my current routine of benign neglect. It will be a couple of years before it outgrows its current pot, so I needed a trellis that was sufficiently spacious to accommodate growth yet not overly large to appear barren.
Essential Supplies
The necessary materials for this endeavor were quite rudimentary. This pothos plant had resided in a 6-inch pot for what seemed like an eternity. Was it 5 years? Longer? I honestly couldn't tell. While it might have survived in that planter for a bit longer, the vines were starting to run amok, giving the plant a somewhat disheveled appearance. Although the leaves still retained their vitality, the vines lacked a structure to climb and were simply accumulating. I yearned to allow them to grow freely, but a certain feline companion with a penchant for houseplants would undoubtedly wreak havoc on those beautiful leaves. I also couldn't risk my curious kitty falling ill.
I already possessed an 8-inch terra cotta pot, an ideal candidate for upgrading this plant, but fitting in the trellis from Dollar Tree posed a challenge due to its excessive width. Nevertheless, standing at around 24 inches tall, it was already the perfect height for nurturing vines.
Tending to My Pothos with a Trellis
This creative project began with transferring my pothos plant into a new planter filled with fresh soil. I carefully untangled the vines, wanting to get a clear picture of their length before securing them to the trellis.
Once the pothos was settled in its new home, I had to customize the small trellis to fit the pot. Adjusting its width by removing the bottom lateral bar and bending the supports was a simple task with the help of a wire cutter. I also decided to enhance the trellis by eliminating the bottom two vertical bars, giving it a more polished appearance. With these modifications, the trellis fit perfectly within the 8-inch planter. I secured some of the vines by loosely attaching them to the bars using floral wire.
Results
The design of this trellis offered more attachment points for the vines compared to cheaper options found on Amazon. The internal bars and decorative elements on the top and sides provided ample opportunities to secure the vines. Now, the plants have space to thrive while allowing individual leaves better access to the limited light available in my home.
Indoor Trellises: A Gardener's Perspective
While these trellises are marketed for outdoor use, experienced gardeners may find them lacking in durability for robust outdoor plants. The flimsy and small design would likely be overpowered by outdoor vines and easily damaged by the elements. However, these very characteristics make them ideal for indoor use, especially for supporting houseplants. With some adjustments to fit different planter sizes, these trellises can provide much-needed support and visual appeal for a variety of easy-to-grow indoor plants.
