how does this thing climb? like, what does it use to hold onto things? and when it does start to climb, what do i use to give it support? i am experimenting with this in a sheltered corner next to my house. will it climb on the house?
monstera deliciosa
There are a couple good pics on this page at Esteban McGrath's Loresco Tropicals in Puerto Rico: http://www.lorescotropicalplants.com/MonsteraPage.html
It will climb on the house eventually, if it survives in your zone. It needs something thick to climb - for example in a conservatory setting a 2 by 4 will help. It wants a tree trunk or a wall to climb ideally. Not something you could train up a wire. Mine tends not to go up as much as spread- depending on the location in the property. When the light and tropical conditions are excellent it can behave like a shrub.
The plant will pull the paint/stucco off your house if it grabs ahold and needs to be pulled off later. I'd recommend at least a 4x4 post, pressure treated, set in some concrete if possible, to support this plant for any length of time --she gets big and heavy quick under good growing circumstances, and you need to anticipate this, or face the risk of having to cut the plant back to retrofit a proper post later.
ok thanks it probably will survive i think beacuse i have heard good things about it around here in the warmer spots, and it is in the most protected place in the yard
Good luck! I think they are lovely tropical plants.
I had friends that tied it to the tree with bands of regular hemp twine (the brown scratchy kind) Eventually it degrades, while the roots adhere to the bark. The next summer, they just trimmed off the remaining pieces of twine that remained, the roots had already taken hold.
Diehrd: I'll be interested to hear how yours does. Mine get very big over the summer and then I have to drag 'em in for winter, sadly. One is so big, I'm going to have to give it something to climb soon, I think.
ok i'll try to keep yall updated. right now there is a dead bird next to the plant, and i dont feel like moving it, so i have only gotten to check from the window. it looks pretty happy. i guess i'll just wait til the bird is gone