Learn How to Train Pothos to Cover a Wall Without Damaging Paint and create a living scenery in your home with lush greenery.
Pothos is a popular indoor plant because it is beautiful, low-maintenance, and fast-growing. One of the most incredible things you can do with pothos is train it to climb and cover a wall. But how do you do this without damaging the paint on your walls? Here’s a step-by-step guide that shows you how to train your pothos to grow across a wall safely.
How to Train Pothos to Cover a Wall Without Damaging Paint
1. Choose the Right Spot
Select a wall that gets bright, indirect sunlight. Keep in mind that pothos doesn’t like strong, direct sunlight as it can burn the leaves. A wall near a window with filtered light or soft morning sun is perfect. Also, make sure there is a space for the plant to grow both upward and sideways.
2. Get a Healthy Pothos Plant
Start with a healthy, mature pothos plant. It should already have a few long vines. If your plant is still young, give it time to grow before training it. The longer the vines, the easier it will be to train them across a wall.
3. Clean the Wall Surface
Before you begin, wipe down your wall with a soft, dry cloth. This removes dust and helps any adhesive tools (like hooks or clips) stick better. Make sure the wall is completely dry before moving on.
4. Use Paint-Friendly Tools
To avoid peeling or damaging your wall paint, avoid the use of nails, screws, or anything that digs into the wall. Instead, use these gentle options:
- Use Adhesive wall hooks with removable adhesive backing (like Command hooks).
- Wall-safe clips hold the vines in place without poking holes in the wall.
- Plant tape or twist ties are soft and flexible; they are perfect for gently guiding the vines.
Note: All of these are easy to remove later and won’t ruin your paint.
5. Start Training the Vines
Take each vine and guide it gently toward the wall. Loop it around a hook or clip. Start near the base of the plant. Place more hooks along the path you want the vine to follow; upward, sideways, or even in a creative shape.
6. Add Support with Growth
Pothos grows fast in the warmer months. Check on your plant every week. As the vines get longer, add more clips or hooks to support them. You have to keep guiding the new growth along your chosen path.
7. Prune for a Fuller Look
If your pothos starts getting too long and leggy, then trim the ends. This encourages the plant to grow more side shoots. You can also use the cuttings to grow new plants!
8. Keep It Watered and Clean
Water your pothos when the top inch of soil feels dry. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so make sure your pot has drainage holes.
Also, dust the leaves every few weeks with a soft cloth. Clean leaves help the plant breathe and absorb light better.
What to Avoid
Do not use glue or sticky tape on the vines or the wall. These can harm the plant and damage your paint. Don’t let the vines attach directly to the wall like ivy does outdoors—pothos is not a natural clinger and needs gentle support.
Avoid skipping checking on the plant. Regular care keeps it healthy and stops problems before they start.
