Learn why you want to stake your houseplants and when to do so. This video shows you how to stake houseplants. Find out where to stick the stake in the houseplant soil, what type of stake to use, and how to properly secure the houseplant to the stake.
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Hello and welcome to Healthy Houseplants.com! We teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. Today’s video is sponsored by our Amazon affiliate link, which you’ll see in the comment section below.
Today, I’m going to show you about staking plants. Staking plants is an important thing to do, especially for aesthetics, but also for the growth of the plant. If a plant is leaning quite a bit, it can’t pull on the root system, which isn’t good for the plant. That’s one thing to consider. Additionally, when you elevate the stem, it can get better lighting that way as well, which is another good reason to stake plants. As I mentioned, it also just makes the plant look better.
This is a really cool plant; it’s an easy plant to grow. Now you can see that this one is drooping a bit—this particular branch. I am going to stake this to get it upright so that you can see it a bit better.
When you are staking plants, look for a stake that is almost to the top of what you’re staking. This stake is too short; my best bet is going to be this stake. There are bamboo stakes, wooden stakes, and you can also look at metal stakes. I’m going to put this one in about here. Now, you can let the stake just support the plant, but you will find after a while that it’s going to fall at some point. So, it’s best to secure it.
Generally speaking, you want to secure it in three spots, so I’m going to do that now. I generally like to use green tie tape; it’s a tie tape that stretches. You can even pull on it and cut it. It’s important to note that you don’t want to attach the plant stem to anything like wire or even string because it can cut into the plant stem. This will girdle the plant, cutting off its circulation. It’s like putting a rubber band on your finger; it can cut off circulation, and if it’s the main stem, you could even kill the plant.
So, you want to use something like the green tie tape. You can start at the bottom; a lot of times, I like to start at the bottom. Tie it fairly close to the stem, like I’m doing here. You want to tie it about three times for stability.
Next, do the middle piece for that, so right around the middle—just make sure you’re not tying on top of a leaf. I’m probably going to do more here, and then I’m going to do up top as well, right near the top. You can stretch this as needed; you can tie it in a knot if you want. Right now, I’m not doing that, but you can clip these off later so they’re not so visible.
You can see it’s growing nice and straight now, which makes the plant look a lot better. It will also get better lighting that way. Another option you can use is these little clips, which you can see here; those will also work for this sort of thing. However, keep in mind to check them to make sure they’re not girdling the plant. They don’t work for everything because they’re relatively small, so for a bigger plant, you’re going to need a bigger one. It would probably be easier just to use the green tie tape.
Now, with this bigger plant, I’m going to show you with a smaller plant. Once again, we want to look for something that’s going to be almost as tall as what you’re staking. You can do taller, but then it’s sticking out, which isn’t a problem because the plant will grow into it. Here’s one; it’s still a little too tall, so you want to play around and have a bunch of different stakes.
This is a Chrisandra, a really pretty plant that makes a beautiful orange blossom and grows well indoors.
Another thing to keep in mind is you don’t want to be poking everywhere when you’re trying to stake, so try to figure out where you’re going to go and make as few stabs into the soil as possible. This is to avoid disrupting the root zone. You want to get fairly close to the area you want to stake. Generally, you want to go in front of where the plant is leaning rather than behind. When you go behind, you’re pulling it forward, which puts stress on the roots.
With big plants, it tends to make it more unstable, making it more likely to tip over. But you have to experiment a bit; sometimes, if the plant is very heavy, you might want to pull it that way. However, usually, you want to stake it in front, so I’m going to put this guy right in front, pretty near the root zone.
If you have to strain too much, then you want to stop and find another spot. It’s in pretty securely now, so you can wrap the plant gently around the stake. For this one, I could try some of these little clips to see how they work; they are a faster way to do it, and they’re holding it pretty well. I can keep an eye on it and add another clip down below.
I’ll add another one midway, and you can see it’s nice and sturdy, standing up straight. It’s important for this plant to get the correct amount of light. When you stake the plant, it can receive light from all directions, unlike when it’s just lying down somewhere. Once it blooms—especially this one, which should be blooming relatively soon—the flowers will be much prettier when the plant is upright.
That’s it on staking plants for today. Oh, one other thing: the bigger the plant, the thicker a stake you’re going to need. For those big tall indoor trees, you’re going to want a stake with a pretty good diameter. Obviously, flimsy stakes aren’t going to do the trick for that. So plan for that when you’re choosing your stakes.
That is it for today on staking plants! Thank you for stopping by. Please leave any indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see, and remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video.
Staking Plants FAQ
What is staking plants and why is it important?
Staking plants is essential for aesthetics and the growth of the plant. It helps support leaning branches, allowing the plant to pull on its root system effectively, and it can improve the plant’s exposure to light.
What should I look for when choosing a stake for my plants?
When choosing a stake, look for one that is almost as tall as the part of the plant you’re staking. You can use bamboo, wooden, or metal stakes, depending on what you have available.
How should I secure the plant to the stake?
It’s best to secure the plant in three spots using a stretchy tie tape, like green tie tape. Avoid using wire or string, as these can girdle the plant stem and cut off circulation.
How do I properly tie the plant to the stake?
Start at the bottom of the plant and tie the tape close to the stem. You should tie it about three times for stability. Then repeat this process for the middle and top of the plant, avoiding tying on top of leaves.
Are there alternative methods to stake plants?
Yes, you can use small clips or hair clips to stake plants. However, these are generally more suitable for smaller plants and should be checked regularly to ensure they aren’t girdling the stem.
What should I keep in mind when staking larger plants?
For larger plants, choose a thicker stake with a larger diameter. It’s also important to minimize the number of times you poke into the soil to avoid disrupting the root zone.
Why is it important to stake plants correctly?
Correct staking ensures the plant receives adequate light from all directions, promoting healthy growth and aesthetics. It also prevents instability that can lead to tipping over.
What happens if I don’t stake my plants?
If you don’t stake your plants, they may droop or lean excessively, which can hinder their growth and lead to damage over time. This could also result in poor light exposure and overall health issues for the plant.
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