How to Care for Monstera Deliciosa
- Sunlight. Make sure to provide your monstera with lots of bright, indirect sunlight. This will help the plant make the...
- Water. Monstera deliciosa likes evenly moist but not soggy soil. Water when the top few inches of potting mix feel dry...
- Humidity and Temperature. You’re caring for a rainforest plant here, so make sure to provide...
How much light does a Monstera need?
The number of hours your Monstera receives light is as important as the intensity of the light. This is called the duration of light. Monsteras need at least 5 or 6 hours of light a day but do best with 8 to 12 hours of light. Measure the duration of light exposure by observing the plant throughout the day and noting when it receives light.
Is Monstera toxic to cats and dogs?
The genus monstera is listed by aspca as toxic to pets. The only real danger is if an uncommon swelling reaction occurs. Monstera plant is not poisonous but highly toxic to both cats and dogs if they ingest the leaves or any other part of the plant.
How often do Monstera grow new leaves?
Monstera plants grow new leaves every 4 to 6 weeks, one at each growth point. As the plant continues to grow, the rate of growth will begin to increase too. This is because more nodes exist, therefore more new leaves can be produced. Monstera plants have been known to grow up to 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide outside. Indoors, the growth tends to be capped at around 9 feet.
Can I keep Monstera plant in water?
Very few of the usual house plants can grow in water forever. Many non-aquatic plants can adapt to growing in just water. Many folks keep cuttings in vases for years. In water, your Monstera will not grow as vigorously as it would in soil. Be sure to change the water regularly and place it near a moderately sunny window.
How do you care for an indoor Monstera plant?
The plant can only tolerate direct sun in the morning; extended periods of direct light can burn the foliage. Water your Monstera Dubia when the soil is 50-75% dry. Water thoroughly until water comes out of the drainage holes, and be sure to empty the saucer of any excess water. This plant is sensitive to overwatering.
How much light does a Monstera need?
5 to 8 hoursTypically, Monsteras need 5 to 8 hours of bright indirect light a day to thrive. Variegated varieties, like the Thai Constellation Monstera deliciosa or Variegatta Monstera deliciosa, need more light to bring out their beautiful coloration.
How often should I water my Monstera?
every 1-2 weeksWater every 1-2 weeks, allowing soil to dry out between waterings. Expect to water more often in brighter light and less often in lower light.
How do you know if your Monstera is happy?
4. Your Monstera's Leaves are Brown, Yellow, or Dead. Leaf discoloration on your Monstera can be cause for alarm. A healthy, happy Monstera has deep green, waxy leaves (though younger plants or new leaves may be lighter green).
Where should I put Monstera in my house?
Place your Monstera where it can receive medium to bright indirect light. While it is tolerant of lower light conditions, you may notice leggy growth as a result, so a spot where it will receive bright indirect light a few feet removed from a southern, western, or eastern facing window is ideal.
Do Monsteras like small pots?
Monstera love to be cramped in their pots. They will grow huge regardless of their pot size. If you pot your monstera into a huge pot it not grow any faster or larger, most likely it will get root rot from all the excess wet soil, or it will direct more energy to root growth instead of growing any leaves.
Should I mist my Monstera?
Monstera Deliciosa enjoys a humid environment, which is why we recommend frequent misting of its leaves. Alternatively, you can place your plant close to other plants, which increases the humidity of the air around them.
Do you water Monstera from top or bottom?
bottomOverall, monsteras typically do well with bottom watering and the risks of trying it are relatively low. As long as you keep a close eye on your plant whenever you try a new technique, you'll be able to catch and correct any potential issues early on!
Is Monstera a good indoor plant?
Monstera is native to tropical rainforests from southern Mexico to Panama so it comes as no surprise that it favours a warm, humid environment, making them ideal for indoors. According to Georgina Reid, writer, founding editor of Wonderground, "Monsteras like shade, warmth and moisture.
Why is my monstera plant crying?
Guttation, which is sometimes referred to as “sweating,” “weeping,” or “crying,” is a completely natural process where liquid droplets form on the tips or surface of perfectly healthy leaves. While the droplets look like water, it is actually a combination of excess water and minerals called xylem sap.
Can I put my Monstera outside?
A Monstera's ability to survive outside depends on the climate of the region in which you live. Ideally, a Monstera will do best outside all year in areas with a USDA hardiness zone of 10-12. Locations prone to freezes won't be able to host a Monstera outside in the winter but may be able to do so in the summer.
When should I repot Monstera?
Early spring before new leaves occur is when to repot Monstera for the best results.
Can Monstera grow under LED light?
Can Monstera grow under LED light? Monstera plants grow well under LED lights, and they can actually be the best option when compared to incandescent grow lights. This is because, unlike incandescent grow lights, LED bulbs don't overheat and have less chance of burning the Monstera plant's leaves.
Can a Monstera live in low light?
Monsteras are pretty hardy and can survive just fine in low light. So if you live in a home without a lot of natural light, you can still enjoy a beautiful monstera! The only caveat here is that your monstera won't grow as quickly or as much as it would with bright, indirect light.
Can Monstera grow in shade?
They can actually grow in deep shade, but may not exhibit as much of the cut leaf foliage. If you live in zones 10 or 11, you can grow it outdoors in a shady spot. Monstera likes moist soil, but not one that stays soggy or overly wet. Make sure the pot has good drainage.
Is my Monstera getting too much light?
If Monstera is given too much sun, the leaves will yellow. If it's left in the dark, the plant will exhibit something called negative phototropism, where new leaves grow towards the dark, rather than the light.
How to make a humid environment for Monstera deliciosa?
Group your houseplants together to create localized increased humidity that all your houseplants can benefit from. Place the container on a large, pebble-lined tray.
How long does it take for Monstera deliciosa to flush?
If the Monstera deliciosa is too large to flush indoors, you can take the plant outside to a hose and allow the water to run slowly through the soil for around five minutes. Once the excess water drains from the container, you can bring it back indoors.
How does humidity work on Monstera deliciosa?
Humidity is created around the Monstera deliciosa as the moisture in the tray evaporates. If there’s appropriate space and lighting in your bathroom, you can successfully grow your Monstera deliciosa there.
What kind of soil should I use for Monstera?
Planting in a well-draining peat-based potting mix is a good choice. I use an equal mix of potting soil, peat and perlite for my Monstera and it seems to work very well. Whatever choice in soil you decide on, just make sure it is rich in organic materials and has good drainage.
How wide are monstera deliciosa leaves?
Outdoors in their preferred climate, Monstera deliciosa leaves can reach over 3 feet wide. The large leaves form along thick green stems lined with long aerial roots that resemble tannish cords. These aerial roots assist the plant in climbing up and upon a structure, if one is used.
What are some names for Monstera deliciosa?
Monstera deliciosa goes by a wealth of common names due to the splits in the leaves. Names like Swiss cheese plant, split-leaf philodendron (although not a philodendron) and fruit salad plant, due to the edible fruit, are all common names for this plant.
Why does my Monstera deliciosa have webbing?
If you notice a fine webbing covering portions of your Monstera deliciosa, you have a spider mite problem. These tiny insects suck the inner sap from the plant and if left unchecked can eventually weaken the plant to death. Mealybugs typically cover where the leaf joins to the stem in a clump of a cottony mass.
How to fertilize Deliciosa?
To fertilize your Deliciosa plants, you can use a liquid fertilizer. Add about half a teaspoon of the liquid fertilizer to a half-gallon of water. Drench the soil thoroughly. Be certain to get rid of any excess water from the plant's reservoir .
Where does Deliciosa come from?
The origins of the Deliciosa are southern Mexico and several countries in South America. It is a tropical plant; therefore, its most natural habitat is a rainforest-type atmosphere. Despite this, you can find it in the southeastern portion of the United States also. This plant is what's known as an epiphyte.
How old was Marissa Morris when she started gardening?
Marissa Morris began gardening over 30 years ago at the age of 6. After seeing her mother in the garden for years she decided to join her one day and has been an avid gardener ever since! Marissa is well known in the gardening industry and considered an expert by many of her peers.
Can animals eat Monstera deliciosa?
Sadly, no type of animal should come into contact with the Monstera deliciosa. The plant's leaves and stems are toxic to pets like cats and dogs, so it's best to choose a safer plant option if you have pets around.
Monstera Deliciosa care guide
Monstera Deliciosa is a popular plant among plant lovers worldwide, due to mostly the fact that it’s easy to take care of it and it looks beautiful when it gets bigger. It originates from Central America and it’s mostly known as “Swiss cheese plant” or “Split-leaf philodendron” although it has a lot of common names.
When to Repot Monstera Deliciosa?
Whenever you choose a pot for your Monstera it’s a good ideea to get a pot a little bit bigger than its roots because it tends to grow fast and you don’t want to repot it too often. In the ideal situation you will need to repot your Monstera every two years.
How to propagate Monstera?
Before propagating your Monstera you need to decide how you want to do this. You have a few options: stem cuttings in water, stem cuttings in soil or air layering. Many people consider the stem cuttings in water the best and easiest Monstera propagation technique and I also agree with this.
Monstera Deliciosa Common Pests
As long as your Monstera is healthy, it won’t be affected by any pests, but under certain circumstances there’s a chance that you’ll encounter a variety of pests.
How to tell if a monstera plant is drying out?
Another sign that your plant is starting to dry out is when you notice brown and crispy edges on the leaves. If you water the Monstera too much or too often, the plant will also tell you.
How to propagate a monstera?
The first way is to prune your Monstera and cut off a larger part of the stem. This way you give your Monstera enough moisture and nutrients to start growing roots on its own. Another way is to wait until the Monstera starts to grow air roots. Your Monstera is now telling you it's ready to be propagated. You can now cut off the stem below the air roots.
What does it mean when your monstera leaves turn yellow?
When you see yellow, brown, or black tips on your Monstera leaves, it's a clear sign of overwatering. The best thing to do right now is stop any watering, drain the excess water from the soil and then let the soil dry out before watering again.
How does a monstera grow?
This helps to keep the growth in check. As you might notice, when the Monstera is growing over a period of a few months, it grows horizontally by nature. This is where that moss pole comes in that you might have seen before. This moss pole trains the Monstera to grow vertically instead of horizontally.
What kind of light does a monstera like?
The Monstera prefers in bright, indirect sunlight. This is a tropical plant and thrives if you can give it the light it gets in its native environment. In nature, it's on the ground under large trees in very sunny areas, so this plant loves bright, indirect sunlight.
How long can you keep monsteras?
By taking care of Monsteras properly, you'll be able to enjoy this plant for many years and grow it as large as you want to. If you have small children or pets, you might need to take some precautions to protect them and your plant, because it is toxic.
Why do monsteras drop their leaves?
Monsteras will drop their old leaves when they're putting out new leaves. The plant is dropping the older leaves to be able to provide the new stems and leaves with nutrients to grow big and strong. So this is completely natural and not a reason to worry about the health of your plant.
Caring For The Monstera Deliciosa
This plant has actually been temperamental with me. If you don’t water just right she gets pretty moody. Often times you will hear me telling you to dry out the plants completely before watering but the Monstera gets thirsty right before drying out. Which can be hard to get just right in between watering’s.
How To Care For The Monstera Deliciosa
Set in a well lit room but far enough away from a direct window shining bright light in. If she gets direct sunlight her leaves start to burn. These plants tolerate low light rooms so don’t be afraid to leave her in a room with barely any light.
Monstera Plant Care Guide
The luscious leaves on the Monstera Deliciosa will remain healthy as long as you do these simple things:
