Woman Reveals the Trick That Perfectly Tamed Her Giant House Plant

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I love my Faustino’s Giant plant (Anthurium faustomirandae). Her name is Sylvia, and I never know what to do with her. Not only is she a big girl, but she also spreads out around her. We even like to joke that she’s “acting dramatic” in the winter when her big leaves begin to droop.

But I wish she looked full and lush year-round. That’s why I was so excited when I stumbled on this TikTok from Dana – Leafy Diva (@leafydiva) on how to get your large plants to grow vertically in a small space.

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The Space Problem

Sylvia is wide. She takes up a lot of space, and she’s always a little in the way. The fix for this is a simple hack from Dana, who uses plant stakes and any kind of tie or clip to keep the stems of her Faustino’s Giant upright rather than flowing outward.

The effect is a lovely, tall, leafy giant that takes up vertical space. Dana’s key is to organize the front leaves and stems so they hide the stakes and provide support. For me, this is the perfect solution to Sylvia’s girth.

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But aesthetics aren’t the only reason this hack is good for your leafy giants. Planet House Plant teaches us that staking them provides support, yes, but also allows them to grow bigger leaves.

Support is still crucial for preventing plants from flopping over, according to Stone Post Gardens. The stakes support weak stems, likely the cause of Sylvia’s dramatic winter drooping. This technique is space-saving and good for your greenery.

Gardens For Small Spaces

If you love your big leafy plants but can’t imagine where they’ll go in your small space, consider this method. Sylvia is almost 6 years old, and this would work fine even though she’s been in her pot for a while. You can start with a new plant from the home and garden store or the farmer’s market, or help prop up one you already have at home.

Sylvia’s stems are about 3 feet tall, so if I want to use Dana’s method and hide the supporting stakes, I’ll need poles that size or smaller. Dana also uses ties, clips, and Velcro to stabilize the plant.

Using vertical storage to organize small spaces has been a common theme for organizers and decorators for ages, and using vertical space for your plants absolutely makes sense.

Vertical Growing For Small Spaces

If you have a large plant like Sylvia, you can prop it up however you like, but this method can be replicated with other plants. Consider buying a small trellis and planting climbing ivy, or creating a dramatic wall art piece with air plants.

The idea is to use the vertical space in your home. Not only is it visually interesting, drawing the eye up, but it also gives you something you normally wouldn’t. Even if you don’t have 14-foot ceilings, you can utilize vertical space to make something that’s both pretty and functional.

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Do It Yourself

So head to the garden section of your local dollar store, craft store, or home and garden center for the stakes. You can use zip ties (keep them loose as Dana does in the video), plant clips, pieces of Velcro or twine, or whatever else you have. Dana says she makes do with what she’s got.

You’ll want to make sure the stakes are firmly in the soil; then all you need to do is anchor your stems, and you’re ready to go.

Now, excuse me while I go turn Sylvia from a wide girl into a tall beauty.

This story was originally published by Dengarden on Jul 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Gardening section. Add Dengarden as a Preferred Source by clicking here.