So…like many others (myself included), you’ve jumped on the climbing Philodendron bandwagon, wanting to fill your home with tons of leafy vines. That’s great! Also like me, you may have tons of varieties that are all different shapes and sizes, but are quickly running out of space to display your beauties. What can you do?
Whether you train them up supports or let them trail, there are no limits to the different ways you can display your climbing Philodendron. You can start them in tabletop pots or let them trail over containers. As they grow, allow them to climb by getting creative with different support structures that complement your space.
Climbing Philodendrons are super versatile plants that can be adapted to work in different areas of your home. Because they grow rather quickly, are easy to care for, and can tolerate different light levels, you can have lots of fun getting creative in how you choose to display them. In this article, I’ll cover several different ideas to spark your creativity. Think of this as a starting point, and see where it takes you.
Do All Philodendrons Climb (or Trail)?
Before we dive into all the different display ideas, let’s quickly go over the different growth habits that Philodendrons in your home might have. Not every variety of this genus is a climber, so it’s good to know what to expect from your plant so you know how to display it properly.
Climbing Philodendrons, if not the most common, are likely the most familiar to plant enthusiasts around the world. Climbers include most vining varieties, including the popular “heartleaf” varieties, and can typically be identified by the presence of many, often smaller, leaves growing from long, vining stems.
These are sometimes referred to as just “vining” Philodendrons, or may be called “hanging” or “trailing” varieties. This is because a climbing plant does just fine growing from a pot without any kind of support structure, still producing several vines thick with leafy foliage.
Crawling Philodendrons can look similar to climbing varieties, but rather than growing easily up support structures, these plants prefer to fill horizontal space, spreading their reach by pushing modified stems called “stolons” across the soil. Crawlers can often be trained to climb, but won’t take to their support structures as easily as climbers.
Lastly, there are upright, or self-heading varieties of Philodendron. These plants have all their leaves growing from one compact stem, giving them a tree-like appearance. These varieties do not create vines that trail or climb, do not need additional support, and are often best displayed on table tops, in plant stands, or in floor containers.
Remember that the display ideas listed below are geared towards those Philodendron varieties that are considered “climbers”. If you want to learn more about the different growth habits of Philodendrons, you can read an article I wrote about it HERE.
How to Display Your Climbing Philodendrons
As I said, a climbing Philodendron is a versatile plant, so figuring out the best way to display it in your home comes down to whether you want it to hang or climb, how to best incorporate it into your overall style, and how much money you want to spend on supplies. Other than that, the word is your oyster. Here are just a few ideas to use as a jumping-off point!
Table Top Pots
Most Philodendrons start small, so put them in a container that fits on your dining table or desk. The plant will look good slowly spilling over the edges of the container. If you want to keep it short and small, you’ll have to prune it regularly. Otherwise, plan to pot it up and transition it to a hanging or climbing plant when it really starts putting out new growth.
If you like the idea of your Philodendron sending out several vines that create a hanging curtain of leaves, these displays are for you:
High Shelves
Take a spin around your space and place your Philodendrons anywhere there is room to trail. Bookshelves, fireplace mantels, tops of dressers, or any other perch that has a few feet of open space below it. The leafy vines add a lot of texture and can soften the edges of tall furniture.
Hanging Pots
Another option is to plant your Philodendrons in hanging pots that can be displayed from ceiling hooks. This option is great for spaces with higher ceilings, empty room corners, and even more helpful when sunlight is at a premium. I often run out of tabletop space near bright windows, so installing hooks from above allows more space for sun-seeking plants to soak it up.
Macrame/Rope Hangers
Turn any pot into a hanging pot by throwing it into a macrame plant hanger. These are nice because you don’t need to repot your Philodendron to use them. These plant hangers often come in many different styles and colors, so you can achieve anything from modern design to boho-chic, depending on the type you choose.
Floating Wall Shelves
Floating shelves can be very handy displays because you can set them at any height and put them in places that are beneficial to the plant. I’ve seen great displays of trailing Philodendrons where floating shelves were installed above windows, creating literal curtains of foliage.
Climbing Displays
Things get interesting when you are eager to have your Philodendrons start to climb. Here are a few ideas to get them growing upward:
Poles
Let’s start with the basics. Some of the best support structures for climbing Philodendrons are metal, plastic, bamboo, or moss poles. Easy to install, easy to attach to, and very straightforward, any type of pole shoved into your plant’s soil is a great start to train it to grow upward.
Trellises
Similar to poles, trellises are very popular support structures for these plants because they are easy to install, offer a lot of support for the plant to climb, and come in tons of different styles. Is your home modern? Opt for something with clean lines. Country? Reclaimed or whitewashed wood completes the look. Victorian or Gothic? Wrought iron could be a bold choice.
Strings/Wires
Some of the neatest Philodendron displays I’ve ever seen consisted of vines trained up strings or wires. These displays can be simple, like a length of string running from the pot to a high spot on the wall. Or, you can get creative and run grids or patterns across larger spaces to produce living art.
Clear Command Strips
Forget the strings altogether and pick up a value pack of clear Command Strip hooks from your local hardware store. As your Philodendron vines grow, install a hook on the wall and gently clip the vine in place. These give you the freedom to train your plant however you want and won’t leave any gouges or holes in your wall.
Hanging Florist Rings
Try connecting numerous florist rings together and training vines up the hoops for a modern look. You can use wire or rope to hang the support from the ceiling. I like to use gold rings, attaching them together and hanging them with strong fishing line to give the whole support a floating appearance. Also, spray paint them any color to match your décor.
Rolling Clothes Rack
This idea works equally well for trailing or climbing Philodendrons. Hang your Philodendrons from the rod of a clothes rack, or place them on the bottom and allow vines to climb up the supports or installed wires to create a moveable plant stand that can work as a privacy wall or room divider.
Wooden Ladder
We’ve all seen old, wooden ladders leaned against a wall, repurposed as blanket holders. Well, if you want to go full cottage-core with your houseplants, set your potted Philodendron at the base of a ladder and watch it climb to the top in no time. Hang the ladder horizontally on your wall (near a little shelf for your pot) and create an eye-catching living art piece.
Furniture Supports
You can even use your furniture as a support system for your Philodendrons. This works best if you have more open-concept furniture, like a book or storage shelf without sides or a back. Place your plant on a shelf and train its vines to crawl up the supports of the furniture piece. This works better with metal or plastic materials since the plant might ruin wooden finishes.
The list goes on and on and most Philodendrons can easily adapt to different display options. Use the opportunity to show how cool these plants can be while still representing your unique style.
Depending on how you decide to display your plants, you may benefit from learning a few tips and tricks on how to train and care for your climbing Philodendrons, which you can read about in this article.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of whether you want your Philodendrons to trail or climb, there are several different ways to display your plants that fit into your space, décor, and sense of style. We covered a handful already, but use this as an opportunity to stand out and get creative. Likely, you’re Philodendron will do great, and you’ll have some stunning plants to show off in your home. Good luck and have fun!