The Clever Way To Use Dollar Tree Hair Rollers When Growing Plants

If your houseplant is beginning to lean over — and the chopstick propping it up is now useless — it may be time for a moss pole. But what exactly is a moss pole, and why should you add one to your plants? Essentially, it is a stick wrapped in sphagnum moss used to support vining or trailing plants, mimicking the way they wind around larger trees in the wild, and also keeping them from looking unruly. 

You can buy moss poles online or at local plant shops, but we've seen quite a few DIY versions that cost a fraction of what you'd pay for one. One DIY Dollar Tree moss pole incorporates a metal paper towel holder and wire mesh (and requires some soldering), while another hack is to build a moss pole with a pool noodle. There's even a moss pole DIY that uses PVC. While these ideas will give you what you need, we're intrigued by another creative solution that is even easier.

TikTok user @plantsanonymous shared a version of an easy DIY pole that uses easy-to-find plastic hair rollers and zip ties and doesn't require much time, skill, or power tools. Because the rollers are each only a few inches long, this moss pole works particularly well for smaller plants that may not require the longer length of store-bought moss poles, which are typically 12 to 16 inches. We also love the budget-friendly aspect of this project. Dollar Tree sells a four-pack of large hair rollers and zip ties — both for $1.25 each. For this project, Dollar Tree's 8-inch ties, which come in a pack of 65, are sufficient.

First, using scissors or a knife, make a slit down the length of each hair roller and peel away the fuzzy pink top layer. This leaves you with clear plastic casing underneath. Next, create a tube by stacking two rollers on top of each other and connecting them with zip ties. @plantsanonymous uses three zip ties evenly spaced around the diameter of the roller. Tighten the zip ties in place and cut off the excess plastic. Some DIYers have used super glue, but using zip ties eliminates the drying time and inevitable mess and stickiness of glue.

Once all the rollers have been connected, use two zip ties to form an "X" across the opening of one end of the tube to keep moss from spilling out. Next, pack the tube with sphagnum moss, like Better-Gro Sphagnum Moss. Stuff it firmly enough so the moss retains its moisture, but not so tightly that aerial roots cannot grow into the moss, if needed. 

Whether you're inserting your pole into an existing plant or starting with an empty pot, cover the bottom few inches of the pole with soil. Firmly tamp down the dirt to securely keep the pole in place. Finally, attach your plant to the pole using MYLTW's Reusable Plant Ties for Climbing Plants.

If you're wondering which plants are ideal candidates for moss poles, you can't go wrong with any of the popular vining houseplants, like philodendron, monstera, hoya, or pothos, which may actually benefit from growing on a moss pole. In the case of pothos plants, they're likely to develop larger leaves when they're allowed to climb, because their leaves can access more overhead sunlight. 

To keep your plant and pole happiest, mist them both several times a week. You can even pour water down the center of your hair roller tube, thoroughly wetting the moss within. This is especially important during the winter when your heater is on full blast and can quickly dry out the moss and soil. It's important to keep the moss moist, because it serves as a water source for your plant's aerial roots. Also, as your plant grows, continue adding more hair rollers for height and moss, if needed, and reposition the ties that are holding your plant to the pole.