Houseplants such as Monstera, Philodendron, Scindapsus and Syngonium They naturally grow upwards along trees and rough structures. They do this because they want to reach sunlight in order to survive. Without support, they will droop, produce smaller leaves, and lose their natural shape.
Therefore, many people use a classic Mossstock. But anyone who delves into the various options quickly discovers that most solutions are far from ideal.
In this article, we compare the three most commonly used plant stakes and show which alternative is becoming increasingly popular among plant enthusiasts.
1. The traditional moss pole (coir)
The classic moss pole consists of dried coir the surrounding one PVC pipe is being wrapped.
At first glance, this appears to be a natural product, but in reality, there are several problems with it:
Problems with traditional moss poles
Untidy structure
The loose coco fibre breaks down over time. This quickly makes the pole messy and less effective.
2. Extremely dry material
Coconut fibre holds onto moisture very poorly. For plants, this means aerial roots find it difficult to attach themselves.
3. Not user-friendly
Omdat de plant nauwelijks grip heeft, moet je hem vaak ondersteunen tie up with wire or plastic binders.
4. Dangerous metal staples
The coir is usually secured with Steel staples. These can come loose and are not ideal for indoor use.
5. Concealed plastic (PVC)
The biggest problem is internal:
the core almost always consists of PVC.
When a plant is eventually thrown away, the stake often ends up in the compost hoop. Because the coconut fibre covers the plastic, the PVC is barely visible, meaning it unconsciously ends up in the compost and contaminates the material for years to come.
FUN FACT: Did you know that the moss stick used to be made of actual moss, helping the plant to attach itself? When that was banned due to the damage to nature, companies thought of wrapping coconut fibre around PVC. For the past 30 years, that has been sold as ‘the market standard’...
2. The Sphagnum moss stick
This stick is made of damp sphagnum moss that is in a plastic mesh or tube construction.
Advantages
Sphagnum has one major advantage:
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aerial roots can to become embedded in the moss
This allows plants to:
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larger leaves make
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grow faster
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develop deeper leaf colours
Cons
However, this method also has clear disadvantages.
1. High maintenance
Sphagnum dries out quickly. To remain effective, the stick made wet regularly.
Time-consuming
Many plant lovers have to water the stick several times a week.
3. Still tethering
Since the structure offers little natural grip, you often have to plant tie with wire or clips.
4. Plastic construction
As with traditional moss sticks, the base usually consists of plastic tubes or mesh.
3. Tonkin bamboo plant stakes
Another commonly used solution is Tonkin cane.
This is a hard, smooth species of bamboo often used as a plant support.
Advantages
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Natural material
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Strong and relatively durable
Cons
It works less well for climbing plants.
I'm glad
The stem is completely smooth. Aerial roots can barely anchor themselves.
2. No moisture absorption
Bamboo absorbs almost no moisture, due to which roots do not find a growth tip.
3. Poor support for climbing plants
Plants therefore remain dependent on Binding wire or clips.
The alternative: natural plant support
More and more plant lovers are therefore looking for a Plant support that is closer to nature.
An example of this is Kratiste.
Instead of coconut fibre or plastic, this approach uses 100% natural materials with a rough structure where plants can attach themselves by themselves.
Why this works better
The rough structure seems much more like:
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Tree bark
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branches
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natural faces of growth
Exactly the environment that climbing plants grow up against in nature.
This means that plants often much less help needed to grow upwards.
The benefits of Kratiste
Compared to traditional solutions, this approach offers a number of clear advantages:
Super easy to use
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Plants attach themselves
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hardly need to tie
Rough natural texture
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much more grip for aerial roots
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stimulates natural growth
Fully sustainable
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no PVC
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no hidden plastic
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fully compostable
No metal staples or wire needed
Cleaner and more aesthetic
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no messy coconut fibres
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sleek natural look
Conclusion
The traditional moss pole has been the standard for years, but has clear disadvantages: hidden plastic, messy coir fibre, and little ease of use.
Sphagnum moss poles offer better growth, but require a lot of maintenance and still consist of plastic constructions.
Bamboo canes are more durable, but offer hardly any grip for climbing plants.
Consequently, interest is growing in Climbing poles folded. The Natural plant support with a rough texture who is close to nature.
For plant lovers who want a simple, sustainable and effective solution is an interesting alternative to the classic moss pole. 🌿