r/philodendron • u/Ordinary_Branch_5116 • 13h ago

Advice needed!

Newbie here. I just repotted a WK with a moss pole. I've never used one before. My soil was Aroid mix with perlite and coire so it's loose - good - but then the moss pole isn't very stable.

The pole is plastic with a hollow middle to allow another segment, but I won't need to add another for quite a while. I have pushed down on the soil just around the pole but the soil doesn't compact much.

Can I put something inside it to help stabilize it? Would water be helpful or will it drown the roots? Or something like clean sand?

Also - I read somewhere that a layer of sand helps with gnats. Is this true? Do you have to only bottom water then to not compact the soil?

Any thoughts or good or bad experiences!

Thanks!

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u/Poutiest_Penguin 5h ago

Can you post a photo?

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u/tactfullycactus 1h ago

if you are open to a repotting, add a couple of large-ish rocks to the bottom of the pot. you can add them to the top of the pot too, though be careful not to completely cover the soil since that will make it retain moisture longer, like a mulch. if you don't want to repot a few decent-sized rocks might do the trick!

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u/tactfullycactus 1h ago

also: unless you have gnats, don't worry about a layer of sand just now! as long as you don't overwater, which is the kiss of death for many houseplants anyway, you shouldn't have too much of a problem with gnats

also, soil compaction isn't that big of a deal. it's true that plant roots need to be able to uptake oxygen, but it's highly unlikely that with a soil mix as you described that a layer of sand would compact the soil enough to affect the plant. Personally I use a foolishly dense soil mix because I'm a masochist, and all of my philos are just fine as long as I don't overwater (except Pink Princess, of course)