Ditch the Standard Moss Pole - Here's How I make My Pole Stay Moist

[@wanderotter4667]

I recently started making thinner poles with wicks trough the moss into the leca and out the bottom into the resevoir. It really works, they stay moist without watering! I just refill the resevoir like usual with nutrient solution. I don't know if this works as well for thicker and wider moss poles.

[@TheLecaQueen]

That is an interesting idea for thinner poles. I might have to give that a try. How do you anchor the wick at the top of the pole?

[@wanderotter4667]

@@TheLecaQueen I use zip ties and then let the wick go back down in the pole again, into the net pot, and te resevoir. :) It does stay more moist at the bottom of the moss pole, and slightly moist on top. I don't think it will work for really long poles, but perhaps there's a thicker wick that can distribute the water up higher?

[@jonisolis9645]

Note that wicking water can only go up so high, "the science of capillary action determines that the vertical wicking distance is generally around 300mm."

[@jonisolis9645]

You can use poly felt in a wider width to spread the water into a wider area @@TheLecaQueen

[@TheLecaQueen]

@@jonisolis9645 thank you for your insightful comments. I appreciate it.

[@michelleconrey4171]

❤ Love the idea to use a tree fern sphagnum mix!

[@TheLecaQueen]

That mix has changed my life!! True story!

[@carolstuff]

Nicely done Nora! I made my poles initially from your vid & continue to upgrade as you upgrade. Thanks so much for sharing your insight, tips & knowledge with us!

[@TheLecaQueen]

You are very welcome, and I appreciate your consistent support!

[@joanneyeomans6294]

This is a fantastic video, Thankyou. I've just got together all the supplies (in the UK) from one of your previous videos about the plastic sheet backing. I have lots of poles to make!

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it! All the best with all your pole making!

[@prodical666]

Where did you get your plastic sheeting from?

[@joanneyeomans6294]

@@prodical666 Hi, I got it from Kitronik Ltd.

[@prodical666]

@@joanneyeomans6294 thanks! Can you point me to which perspex you got? They seem to offer a lot at various thicknesses too

[@autiebleSam]

Some notes I have for when I've tried to replicate this (I live in the US): - TAP Plastics sells 2'x4' HDPE sheets at 1/32" thick. I've found this to be the best material to work with as well as the cheapest. The natural color is translucent enough that you'll be able to see root growth as well as moss moisture through the plastic, or you can get one of the solid colors to style your pole as you desire. I get four 3' poles and an additional four 18" poles out of a single $9.65 USD sheet. - Instead of the horizontal holes in the middle of the back for the garden stakes, I make them vertical. I then tie in a permanent zip as tight as possible, then thread an additional ziptie through the now easily-accessible loop on the back that the first ziptie has created to secure the garden stake. This allows me to cut the garden stake off without having to dismantle the pole or fight with trying to rethread that ziptie - I use a drill instead of a hole punch or soldering iron as I can adjust the thickness of the drill bit to make the holes closer to the zip tie width and therefore less visible.

[@aldomz219]

Hi, do you have a link to the type of sheets that you get from TAP plastics? I've been looking through their website but it's quite difficult to navigate.

[@autiebleSam]

@@aldomz219 I'll post the link in my next comment because KZbin is sometimes weird about deleting comments containing links. You'll find them under Shop by Department>Cut-to-Size. If you click Starboard HDPE sheets, you can find HDPE Matte/Matte sheets, which is the listing for what I got. Actual dimensions are 1/32"x24"x47". I recommend natural if you're looking for the translucent quality.

[@autiebleSam]

My comment with the link has been removed by KZbin.

[@aldomz219]

@@autiebleSam I didn't consider that youtube would delete links, but thanks to your detailed description I was still able to find them anyways! Thank you!

[@deniz1473]

I use PVC pipes for my poles. I cut the pipes in half (you can also ask your hardware store to do it, depending on the locality) and cut the wire mesh accordinly and stick it to the pipe using hot silicone glue. I use coco coir (dry, I find that using wet coco coir for constructing it is counterproductive as it becomes spacious as it dries) and some tree bark for support so it doesn't fall out. It saves me from the cost of sphagnum moss and has worked fine thus far!

[@wanderotter4667]

You can also get pvc rain gutters, thats what I do. :)

[@jillianleblanc9370]

Thank you for sharing beautiful and amazing plants lovely collection beautiful houseplants lovely collection beautiful

[@ThanhXuanDo-y9j]

From Vietnam, tks very much!

[@TheLecaQueen]

You are very welcome

[@DivineMissV]

A few days ago, I made four according to your specs. So far, so good!

[@TheLecaQueen]

Great to hear!

[@Im4realtryme]

I definitely need to upgrade some of my poles as well as make some new ones. I will be using this video next week!

[@msladyjune3285]

I buy this type of moss pole. Not assembled, I request this from the salesman. I like the holes in the middle to attach the pole. Substrate is tree fir fiber, Aroid mix and 50% moss. Certainly cheaper to make poles. I have 4 poles. I’m a small collector of my favorite plants. 👍🏾Love your video and is encouraged by your joy for plants. June in The Junegle, Virginia USA 🪴Happy Planting🌿

[@TheLecaQueen]

Hey June in the Jungle!!! Thank you for your lovely comment. Making a pole, buying a pole, as long as the plant has one it doesn't care! 😁

[@pudik2008]

Love this video,very good tips and great looking pole! 💚🪴🌿

[@marilynellis4007]

Thanks for the great tips❤

[@furenberger]

Ah very clever! 🎉. Good work

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you! 😊

[@Frederik95Kirk]

Great video as always. I wondered about two things. 1. Do you have any experience using LECA as the substrate in your poles? 2. Do you have experience using wicks to help with keeping your moss poles moist? I was thinking of putting some wicks in mine when I make them, and having the wicks going into the reservoir of my self watering pots?

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you. For your questions, I refer you to the Moss pole Q & A video I did. There are time stamps for each question. I have not used wicks but someone has mentioned that they use them for their thinner poles and it works! Find the video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bX_Vimppj5KtnZo

[@Frederik95Kirk]

Thank you very much - I really enjoy your videos. They inspired me to start using semihydro and my plants that I've transferred using your videos absolutely thrive.

[@TheLecaQueen]

@@Frederik95Kirk so glad to hear it

[@0banon]

Pro tip! the perforator also works as a perfect tool to add additional desirable fenestration to your leaves!

[@kurks001]

You can also use tall water bottles cut in half long ways for the backs. The Kirkland Alkaline Water 1L and Essentia 1.5L bottles for example work well :)

[@LadyKatDee]

The sheet you show is much larger than what the link opens, is there a link for the larger plastic sheet please

[@Horsewoman-pt2ku]

Thank you. How do you extend that?

[@TheLecaQueen]

Hello, see how I extend a pole like this in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGOllauEm9SpeJY

[@Horsewoman-pt2ku]

@@TheLecaQueen thank you!!

[@Horsewoman-pt2ku]

@@TheLecaQueennow to find plastic in the US

[@joanneyeomans6294]

Hello, I have some plants that are still in the peaty, water retentive soil from the grower that I want to put on these moss poles with a chunkier, free draining soil mix.. Do I need to remove all of the other soil from the plant or just some of it please? I don't want the roots to rot.

[@jessicapetrin1655]

What size is the plastic sheet

[@TheLecaQueen]

It is A2 size

[@margimorris7360]

I only have one large pole and the plant has outgrown it. So undecided what to do and then I see this 🤣. Also wondering where you bought the plastic pot you used in your Cane Begonia video

[@ammrro]

Thank youuuuuu!!!!

[@jwoyshnar]

Are you still using your automatic waterer?

[@AnonymousAmyMakes]

Do you make your poles wider for bigger plants? I'm really struggling to make a d shaped pole for my huge neon. It's currently on a smaller round moss pole. I've made a d shaped pole to attempt to transition it to that but the new pole is far too wide and heavy. I'm not sure how to go about adding a new pole to it.

[@TheLecaQueen]

Yes I do! Check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYKzoWd_qJhghcU

[@merrilynwallis1106]

As per usual, just when I find out what the plastic is, Amazon say it is out of stock and don't know when or if it will be restocked. Back to the drawing board.

[@TheLecaQueen]

Oh no. I know some officeworks stores have it.

[@tripleJs2009]

Has anyone tried a clear plastic placemat? Amazon (US) is selling for 50 pcs (11x17) for $25.99

[@Zzont0pp11]

Is it ok to use plastic mesh?

[@TheLecaQueen]

You can use plastic mesh and lots of people do. I use metal mesh as I think the metal adds the stability to the pole overall.