How to Make a Pothos Totem in 7 Simple Steps!

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Many enthusiasts suggest growing Pothos as the first houseplant when you wish to start gardening. 

Since this plant requires very little care, it will be an easy way to start your gardening journey.

This stunning plant is also known as Devil’s Ivy, and it can be conveniently grown indoors with very little care. 

Pothos plants are observed to be grown as hanging plants but what you don’t know is that growing them with support will certainly produce a bigger plant. 

Let’s learn more about making a totem for Pothos to help them grow healthier.

How to Make a Pothos Totem?

Use a support pole for making a strong Pothos totem, preferably a PVC pipe. Next, you need moss that will be wrapped around the pole. You will need hot glue and wires to secure the moss onto the pole. Now insert the pole in a pot of your choice. Wrap your Pothos onto the pole, and the plant will soon start growing upwards.

Steps for Making a Pothos Totem Using Moss

Below is a detailed guide about the steps you must follow while making a Pothos totem.

Step 1: Measuring the Pipe

You will take the pipe of your choice and place it in the pot. Measure how long you want your pipe to be extending out of the pot.

Mark the pipe and cut it using a sharp object. Also, mark the portion of the pole that will be below the soil surface. 

Step 2: Cutting the Moss

The next step is to cut your moss to wrap around your pipe. Lay the moss on the ground just like a piece of sheet.

Now place the pipe after you have cut it according to your measurements. Cut it in a triangular shape since it is quite easy to cut this way and wrapping also becomes easier.

Step 3: Sticking the Moss

You can use staples and hot glue to wrap the moss securely around the pipe. It is recommended to first staple your moss and then use glue to make it stronger and tighter.

Wrap the pipe with one layer of the moss, and then wrap the second, overlapping the two layers. Keep repeating the hot glue and staples process to secure the moss in place. 

Lastly, tuck the extra piece of the moss into the pipes hole if it has any and secure it with glue.

Step 4: Putting in the Pole

After you have properly and tightly wrapped your moss around the pipe, you can put it in your desired pot. 

Put the pole vertically, making sure the exposed area of the pipe goes into the pot, and the covered area is outside the pot.

Step 5: Adding Soil Medium

The next step is to add your soil medium to the pot. If you want good drainage, add pebbles or stones at the bottom and then add the soil medium. 

Another option for good drainage is to use pots that have already got drainage holes at the bottom. Use your hands to work the soil across your pipe, making sure it stays in place.

Step 6: Adding the Pothos

Now start adding your Pothos plant around the totem you created. If you are adding Pothos from smaller pots, you can easily add more than 4 on a single pole. 

It is recommended to add a plant with longer strands for easy wrapping around the pole. Lastly, add topsoil to the pot to cover up the roots.

Step 7: Training the Pothos

After you have wrapped the strands around the pole, use a wire to further make sure the plant stays in place and does not fall. 

Give the plant time to grow aerial roots to help the plant stay at place naturally.

You can propagate or trim your plant once it reaches the top. You can frequently spray the plant with water to keep the moss and to keep the plant humid.

What Is Better, Moss Pole or Trellis?

A trellis is an intersected structure made of wood or metal. It is also often used for growing climbing plants.

While a moss pole is a long pole of PVC wrapped with moss all over it. It is frequently used by gardeners to grow their plants with aerial roots.

The question is, what is better? And in my opinion, growing your Pothos on a moss pole is much better. 

I tried growing it on a trellis, it did work for some time, but the plant stopped growing further.

The reason being the trellis does not provide Pothos the humidity it needs to grow. In contrast, moss will stay moist for a longer time.

Trellis, on the other hand, has no material that will hold humidity for the plant.

Tips for Growing a Healthy Pothos on a Totem

1. Place your Pothos totem indoors, at a spot that receives bright indirect light. Pothos is one lucky plant that will tolerate low light also.
2. When you notice pale leaves, it indicates the plant’s receiving too much sunlight. Likewise, yellow leaves indicate too little light.
3. Pothos totem prefers dry soil between its watering schedule, hence follow a strict watering schedule. 
4. Drooping of the leaves means your plant needs water as it is thirsty.
5. The plant hates soggy and flooded roots. Hence grow your Pothos in well-draining soil.
6. Pothos won’t trouble you with its feeding schedule. Application of balanced fertilizer once monthly is the very least it’ll need to thrive.

Frequently Asked Questions about How to Make a Pothos Totem

Should I mist the Pothos totem frequently?

Pothos are native to tropical areas and thus need a lot of humid environments. Misting your Pothos totem on a regular basis is very important. It will help the moss and the plant stays humid, which is necessary for the healthy growth of the plant.

How to prune a climbing Pothos?

To prune your climbing Pothos choose a vine that is overgrowing the pot. Cut the vine at around ¼ inches above the leaf, keep repeating the pruning process until you are satisfied. Remember to prune the leafless vines also as they won’t regrow.