Something for me. Everything make sense. I struggle to keep my ordinary moss poles moist and this idea is a game changer. I think I will try this hack this spring
Great video, new subscriber, looking forward to your future videos. I've had plants for about 40 years & I'm constantly amazed at the new ideas you young'uns come up with! Next time I make a plant pole I'll try this, thanks.
I think your moss pole is ingenious 👍🏻👍🏻 I’ll take 2 please. I imagine you could really sell that item if it doesn’t exist already . It really is perfect.
Thank you so much just saved me so much money and anxiety with ordering online!!!!! My moss pole looks so nice and I can't wait to watch my pothos grow!!!!
I just made two 2½ foot ones. Instead of that garden mesh, I used gutter guard worked perfect for .5in diameter pvc. If a bigger pipe is needed I guess I could link 2 pieces of gutter guard before wrapping.
how does the water come out through the PVC? the external cotton wrapped around, what does this do? Love anything titled "self watering". 😊🌿 Many thanks for the video.
@Jodie Benson Hi, there! Glad you stumbled upon my little video! To answer your question, the rope acts as the wicking material and the pipe acts as the water reservoir. The cord runs from the inside to the exterior of the pipe, hence why it's wrapped around it. The PVC pipe is sealed with a cap at the bottom. All you have to do is pour water inside the pipe from the top and the rope will pull the water up and keep the moss wrapped around the pipe moist. It works really well for thicker and shorter moss poles! 😊
This was great 😁 straight forward instructions! I'm still debating on whether or not to just do a simple moss pole for my mature monstera deliciosa or add the self watering technique haha
I'm glad you found it helpful! 😊 If you live somewhere fairly humid, self-watering moss poles work great! I live in Arizona so I still spray mine with water frequently, especially when i'm making something longer than 2ft.
@@FoxxandFlora I live in Ontario Canada! So it's not humid here haha Also, my RT is super tall right now, but I have a bamboo stick and wooden skid on the wall to support it haha I'm also thinking of making one of these for that plant too. We will see 😁🌿
@@FoxxandFlora okay great! I'll check it out. I also saw that a hardware shop down the street from me sells the polyester/cotton mix that you were suggesting
Just a friendly compliment () when I saw you in the very beginning slipping the cord all the way through the tube before capping it off I was like...yeah she's smart! I saw a video where a girl tried putting the cord in after the cap in my world I would put a little fishing weight on the end of the cord then rub a little PVC glue on the cap and bam you have the cord at the very bottom where you want it and a tight seal on the pipe... I have another top secret that escalates growth on the pole and eliminates fungal growth problems with the roots over time as sphagnum tends to break down and become very acidic etc...my channel isn't up yet but stay tuned and you are also doing great...keep it up! "D"
@@lke1 I'm working on plugging my channel into the network...its all in my presentations can't give it all away hun... sorry but I'm from New Orleans and I have a closeness to nature that's not seen by most normal people...when I go into the woods or swamps I tuck my socks in my shoes and leave them behind because I like the feel of nature all around me other than mosquitoes lol but I've been up close and personal with many things that people see in zoos and pet shops. I've found ways to duplicate and emulate natural elements that promote cooperative favorable results
I love this idea! Can you please do an update on how your Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is growing with this type of self-watering moss pole??? Thx in advance! ☺️
I would love to do this but I actually pruned it to propagate it! It did grow quite a lot and was as tall as the pole before I cut it in half. The pole was about 4ft long and I realized that with anything taller than 2ft, you'd want to use a thicker pipe. It was drying out quicker than the smaller ones I have but it was manageable as long as I watered it every day! 😊
@@FoxxandFlora hi, new sub here, loved the video! im just wondering if you increase the pvc width, will your mesh still fit around it? or did you cut it width wise too? TY
Nice video. Very comprehensive. I just wish you had shown an image of the entire plant, top to bottom, once complete instead of half the moss pole and half the pot.
Finally a good video of how to make a smart moss pole! Thank you for that! I was wondering what kind of cap you use? It isn't clear for me in the video...
I'm glad you found it helpful! I don't really keep track of the caps I'm using but I usually just pick up the same type as the PVC pipe (since there are different kinds). I think it doesn't really matter what kind as long as it's plastic and it fits really snug!
It would be helpful if you link the items you used in the description box. But other than that this a great video and very helpful :) nice pole. I’m trying to do this to my plant which is kinda trailing already. It was gifted to me, and it’s bigger
Please provide an update on this moss pole effectiveness? I heard the wick only manages to keep the top few inches moist, and the rest are dry. Have you tried the plastic backed poles?
Thank you for the video, you done it neatly, loved it! I am totally going to copy you. Can you tell me what kind of garden mesh are you using? Are the kind of flimsy? And where did you buy it? Thanks again 🙏
Wicks are "supposedly" water resistant which makes all of those that you mentioned great materials for wicking. In fact nylon is what most people consider to be the best wicking material for plants because wicking is basically the act of pulling away moisture. Of course if you saturate any of those materials enough, they can get wet. A simple google search of wick cords will bring up some that are made out of a polyester blend.
Did the same, even with a special self watering wick for plants and it doesnt work at wall. The water stays inside the pipe, i wrapped the wick neatly around the pipe, just as you did and it does exactly nothing for me. The moss dries out and i end up spraying it with water from the outside to keep it moist. Saw some people using 3 vertical lined up wicks, perhaps for exactly that reason because the wick you wrap around just doesnt transport the water well enough.
All of these depend on how long and thick your pipe is and how damp your moss is to begin with. It even depends on whether the pipe is sealed well enough. If your pipe is longer than 2ft, it will be harder to keep the moss damp. I do spray the moss pole as well to make sure it doesn't dry out. I live in a dry area so it's not unusual for me to have a moss pole dry out within a day and self-watering moss poles are just there to ensure that my pole won't dry out completely so I don't start from scratch.
Hi! Those are great questions. Personally I haven't had problems with algae on my moss poles BUT I've had them on the moss I plant my Carnivorous Plants in and I do have quite a lot of those. From experience the algae forms if the moss is constantly wet AND is under intense bright light. It's typically harmless but it does look unappealing. As for when the moss degrades, it's just the reality of using sphagnum moss. It can last anywhere between half a year to maybe 5 years! You just have to replace it! 😊
Actually, nylon and polyester are good wicking materials! The point of wicking is to pull water away, not absorb it, so water-resistant materials are best suited for wicking 😊
If I'm not mistaken the pole is about 0.5" in diameter and 4ft long. But I suggest getting a thicker pole if you’re gonna make something that long! As for the garden mesh, I just bought a roll of the tenax hardware net and cut it depending on each pole I make so I can't really give measurements for that but I hope this helps! 😊
Hello im following your plans but cant locate a non cotton wick. Can you tell me which one you used and where you got it please? I just subd and going through the rest of ur videos. Keep up the great work!
Hi! I actually used a cotton wick for this video but if you go on Amazon and look up self watering wick cords, you should be able to find something! I'm glad you found my little channel! 😊
Not really. It takes a while for it to actually rot and usually by that time, you can upgrade the pole and switch it out. But like I mentioned in the video, a polyester blend would be a lot better than cotton.
I just use a watering can! The IKEA ones are great for this! Also, if you plan on making a longer pole (more than 2ft), I suggest using a thicker pole. It would be easier to water too. That's the one thing I would change in this video if I could! 😊
Hi! You put it on the bottom end. It's to keep the water from seeping into the soil and prevent overwatering! You pour the water from the top of the pipe to water the moss! Depending on how thick your pole is, you might need to still spray the moss with water once in a while! 😊
It depends on how big the moss pole is! I never measured how much I used so it's a good idea to just have quite a bit on hand but also, don't use too much! You don't really need a thick layer. 😊
Hi! You just pour water into the pipe from the top! If you find that your moss pole dries quickly, you can also spray it using a spray bottle. This method only works if you don't let your moss pole dry out completely! 😊
You pour water inside the pole. How long the moss pole stays wet/moist depends on the relative humidity in your area and how long the pole is. In my area for example, the relative humidity stays at around 30 so I tend to spray it throughout the day on top of watering it to keep it moist. Once it fully dries out it's almost impossible to get it wet again unless you soak it in water.
I feel like that would definitely be a good alternative for people who live in naturally humid areas. But in super dry areas, plants may have a harder time attaching to coco coir without supplemental humidity. While they both can hold quite a bit of water, coco coir doesn't retain water as long as sphagnum moss! 😊
This video is awesome! Good technique spiraling the cord down instead of using multiple cords like I’ve seen in other tutorials. How long was your PVC pipe? And what kind of mesh do you use?
Thank you! I'm using a 4ft PVC Pipe but I suggest using a thicker one for anything longer than 2ft! The mesh, I believe, is the Tenax hardware net in black. 😊
I don’t how much one cost at the store but here in Germany they cost 3,50€ or 4 bucks for a 3 1/2 foot moss pole. I think in material alone you paid more then that? How much total did you spend? The Moss was probably the most expensive to buy, the Pipe was 1 buck as well as the Mesh. I don’t want to throw shade on your video because I think it’s very practical, and I don’t think there’s a Self Watering Moss Pole on the Market. I was going to make a Normal climbing Pole put it’s cheaper to buy one. But when I do I would maybe buy a 4 foot Pipe of maybe an 1 1/2 and 2 inch diameter and a 4 foot pipe 1 1/2 inches and cut them in half. Then make 4 sections and use the half sections as long as the plant is young, but when it out grows the 2 feet, simply pichle the 1 1/2 inch pipe into the 2 inch pipe and let the plant climb further. This watering stays the same because when you fill the new 1 1/2 pipe the water runs into the 2 inch pipe. Just a suggestion. But I will try it some day. Thanks for the video.
@@brianhardaway9716 It definitely costs more upfront to buy all the materials than to just buy a moss pole! But having said that, if you make a bunch of them (maybe 3 to 5), you'll end up saving more in the long run! 😊
I did something similar, but I think the cap wasn't tight enough since the moss kept drying out no matter how much water I kept pouring into the pipe. I might try using PVC cement next time just in case. Did you use anything to secure the cap, and do you find yours leaking at all?
Hi! I've never had to use PVC cement to seal my pipes before but it's worth a shot! It does leak a little bit but it's pretty secure. I find that self-watering poles work better if the pipe isn't too long (2ft or less). I put water in daily and I still spray it once in a while. Right now it dries out a little faster 'cause it's Winter and less humid. What kind of wick cord did you use? 😊
@@FoxxandFlora I used 100% cotton; however, I went a bit overboard and didn't space them out too much. In hindsight, I think that may have been a major contributor to my moss not staying moist.
@@EpiphanyX5323 You can find self-watering wick cords on Amazon and those work really well! I also use them for self watering pots! I hope your next moss pole works well. Good luck! 😊
Hi! In the video I'm using a pure cotton rope but I suggest looking for self-watering wick cords on Amazon! They work really well and most self-watering planters use those! 😊
Hi! I placed it in the back 'cause my plant kind of grew in a 'J' shape. I didn't want to squish the roots so I intentionally left space for it in the front! 😊
Hey hey! Ive rebuilt one of these for my Esqueleto. But it dried out almost fully in a span of around 3 days... is there a trick on how far apart to out the cord? I made quite little "loops"and wrapped it around quite often with a difference of around 3 cm. TYIA!
I normally do about an inch in between but there are other factors like how thick your PVC pipe is and how tightly it's sealed. What kind of cord are you using? Also, if you're doing a longer pole, you should use a somewhat thicker pipe. How long your moss pole will stay moist or wet will depend on your ambient humidity. If you live in a naturally dry area, it's not unusual for a moss pole to dry out within a day. Also, make sure the moss pole doesn't dry out completely as it will be harder to keep it moist. If you use a thick coat of moss, it's probable that the inside isn't getting completely saturated which can dry out the pole faster! I hope that helps! 😊
'Cause it might cause root rot! I only bring it down just slightly above where the soil ends. It's only meant to water the moss, not the soil. You still have to water the roots normally. 😊
Just a random question, what medium or soil are you using? I got a cutting from a friend and preparing to transfer it and potting it after propogating in water for a few weeks. Please let me know. Thank you!
Hi there! For most indoor plants I like to do 2/3 Fox Farm Ocean Forest and 1/3 Perlite. If my plants need something a little more "airy" I tend to do 1/3 Fox Farm Ocean Forest, 1/3 Fox Farm Bush Doctor Coco-Loco and 1/3 Perlite! 😊
I was just thinking about this today and I forgot to mention something so I figured I'd add to this! If you propagated in water, your cutting's going to need a little more water than usual while it's adjusting to the soil so I suggest keeping the soil moist at all times then gradually cutting back on watering! 😊
Hi! Oh nice! Thank you for the info on the mix you did. If I use a non draining pot would that help with it being moist enough? I am planning to use a glass vase. :)
@@Whoholokout I always suggest using a pot with drainage holes because it's so easy for plants to develop root rot when it sits in water too long! While this specific plant can tolerate sitting in moist soil longer, you won't want it to sit in water! 😊
@@FoxxandFlora Sounds good, right now my cutting is propogated in water but the root is growing in an upward motion. Not sure is that a problem, it is almost an inch long now. Did you ever encounter or heard anything like this?
Hi! I think I spent roughly $50. It really all went to the sphagnum moss and the roll of garden mesh. The roll is pretty big so you can probably make more than 10 moss poles with it! 😊
Dried moss. It works well as long as you make sure it doesn't dry out completely. With longer moss poles (more than 2ft), you might need to also spray it with water, especially if the humidity in your area is pretty low. 😊
I wouldn't necessarily say they're better. It depends on the use. Coir poles retain less water so if your main purpose for it is just support, then that's great. But when you want your plants to grow aerial roots and bigger leaves, plants tend to attach easier to sphagnum moss. Coir needs more supplemental humidity. Of course, if you live somewhere where humidity isn't an issue, it would be easy to say coir poles need less maintenance but in drier areas like where I live, they're both the same amount of work. 😊
I'm not sure if you mean longer or thicker. A thicker PVC pipe would actually be better for a moss pole this tall but a good wick cord, slowly pouring water in, and never letting it completely dry helps a lot! Though I would say a pipe this thick works well for moss poles up to 2ft! 😊
Hi, my moss pole normally stays on the dry side 'cause the humidity is pretty low where I'm from. It's pretty hard to overwater it. If you live in a very humid area, just slowly pour water and wait for it to be completely absorbed before adding more. If your moss pole tends to stay really wet for a long time, you can opt to just spray it once in a while. 😊
@@FoxxandFlora mine tends to be pretty dry but when I water it the water just seems to more or less make its way down to the soil and then the soil stays wet longer while the moss drys out in 2 days 🙈
@@xONati Does it make its way down to the soil from the bottom of the pole? Like it seeps out from the bottom? Or does it overflow from the top? If it's seeping out from the bottom, it might be an issue with the PVC cap or whatever method you used to seal it. If it's overflowing from the top, it could be that you're just filling it up way too fast or the spacing between the cord wrapped on the outside is too much! My soil tends to get really wet when I let the water overflow from the top so I tend to just fill it up to the brim and wait till the wick cord absorbs everything while I spray the pole, then refill it when the pipe is empty. You might have to do this a couple of times but it's really that way when you live in a dry area! 😊
@@FoxxandFlora so I try to fill it slowly but usually a few inches from the top, it tends to seep out the sides and causing it to soak the soil .. I've tried both ways with the moss pole inside and outside the netting but seem to have the same issue... do you think maybe it has to much moss? I mean I do try to not put it so compact 🤷🏻♀️
I've actually thought about this and I'm looking at alternatives for the PVC and the mesh! It's just hard to find materials that won't rot when constantly wet and metal pipes are prone to rusting. Still, I'm definitely looking into it!
