How To Take Care Of A Monstera Plant
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Monstera plant! A stunning tropical houseplant with glossy, heart-shaped split leaves! These beautiful plants are a favorite among indoor plant enthusiasts and I mean can you blame them?! They are easy to care for and fast growers. In just three years, your Monstera plant can be fully mature, making it essential to understand how to keep it healthy and thriving. In this guide, we’ll explore the key signs of a healthy Monstera plant and provide you with the care tips you need for keeping your gorgeous jungle plant lush and vibrant!
Monstera Plant Care Tips
Maintaining a Monstera is not as complicated as your might think. They are very adaptable plants. However creating their ideal growing conditions will bring out their best dense and lushes foliage! Here are some care tips when growing this tropical plant.
- To keep your Monstera plant happy, it needs access to a warm and humid environment. While average indoor humidity is typically sufficient, these tropical beauties prefer higher moisture levels for optimal growth.
“If you’re wondering how to create the best conditions for your Monstera plant, consider using a humidifier or misting the leaves to boost the humidity levels.”
- Giving your monstera plant a watering every 1-3 weeks will give the soil enough time to dry out. Monsteras will prefer temperatures between 65°F-85°F. They grow best in humid and warm environments.
“Acidic or neutral, well-draining soil is their go-to.”
- Monstera plants do best in bright to medium indirect light. They do not like intense, direct sunlight. A corner of a room that has bright light is a good option. Alternatively you can put a sheer curtain in front of a sunlit window to create dappled shade. This is ideal as this tropical plant grows in the dappled shade provided by other plants in the rainforests.
Best Soil for A Monstera Plant
Monstera plants need moist potting soil that drains well and is mixed with perlite or shredded bark to help with structure, aeration, and improved drainage. Create a mixture that has equal parts of coconut coir, perlite, peat moss, orchid bark and a high quality potting mix. This will create the ideal soil blend for this tropical plant. It will provide good drainage to reduce the risk of root rot while at the same time retain enough moisture needed for the roots.
Monstera Plant Sunlight Requirements
Your Monstera plant will do best in bright to medium indirect light. They do not like intense, direct sunlight as this can burn their foliage. This is why most people place it near a south or east-facing window. Avoid a west-facing window as this will shine direct sunlight on your monstera leaves in the afternoon and can cause sunburn. To help with sunlight you can add a grow light to encourage their lush green growth. The Monstera plant can grow in full or partial shade when outside.
“Adding a sheer curtain in front of a window with direct sunlight will give dappled shade which is often found in the rainforests.”
Creating the right lighting conditions for your tropical plant will enhance its lushes green split leaves.
Signs your plant needs more light
- Slow or stunted growth. Low lighting conditions means slow growth as it needs to conserve its energy.
- Soil stays damp too long and you’re watering less. Less light means your monstera plant cannot absorb the nutrients in the soil.
- Leaves are turning yellow or spotted. Monstera’s use energy stored in their leaves so if they pull this energy out from lack of lighting they will start to turn yellow.
- Leaves are not splitting. If your monstera is not splitting its leaves it might have a lack of energy.
Watering Tips For A Healthy Monstera
A good rule of thumb to follow, especially if you’re new to growing a monstera plant is to water it once the first few inches of the soil are dry. Water it slowly and deeply until some of the excess water runs out the bottom. Your soil should not be moist all the time but it should be allowed to dry out between watering times. If you notice your monstera plant leaves going limp or curling this is a common sign that your monstera plant needs to be watered.
“During its growing season, a monstera in bright, indirect light might need watering more often than in the colder months.“
Rainwater has a slightly acidic pH level which makes it beneficial for tropical plants. In their natural habitat these plants have access to rainwater that is nutritional so it would make sense that watering with rainwater would have health benefits. If you can collect rainwater to give to your plant.
Fertilizing a Monstera Plant
Monstera plants need fertilizer every few weeks during their active growing season. To fertilize a monstera deliciosa plant, you want to choose a balanced liquid 8-6-6 fertilizer. You can dilute some of this liquid gold in a gallon of water. Pour this mixture into your monsteras soil until it starts to flow out of the drainage holes.
Monsteras need essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These provide the nutrients needed to grow the deep green foliage that everyone loves! Secondary nutrients include magnesium, calcium, and sulfur. These nutrients provide the plant with strong cell walls which promote healthy sturdy growth.
“Fertilizing with a liquid 8-6-6 fertilizer that is designed for tropical plants will give your Monstera the necessary nutrients for healthy growth. Fertilizing prevents yellowing leaves, wilting and strengthens your plant. “
Benefits of fertilizing
- Assists with photosynthesis
- Adds nitrogen
- Encourages stem elongation
- Leaf development
- Reproductive growth
- Prevents issues like leaf curling and weak stems
- Provides the deep green color of the leaves
- Helps regulate water and nutrient transport
- Enhances overall plant health and disease resistance
- Supports strong root development
- Necessary for photosynthesis and protein formation
Humidity For Monstera Plant Growth
A Monstera grows best in temperatures between 65°F and 85°F. It can tolerate temperatures down to 50°F and up to 90°F but will stop growing at these temperatures. It prefers high humidity, around 60%. To increase the moisture in your home you can add a humidifier or mist it every few days. If you notice your Monstera leaves curling up or loosing structure this is due to lack of moisture levels in the air. Use a humidifier, group your plants together, mist the leaves or use pebble trays to help raise humidity levels.
For more help with Monstera humidity click here!
Pruning Your Monstera Plant
Aerial roots can be trimmed down so they don’t get out of hand however tucking them back into the soil is better for the plant. This will create a stronger root system for your monstera allowing it to absorb more nutrients. The stems and leaves respond very well to trimming which is why they can be used for propagation.
Potting A Monstera Plant
Your monstera will most likely outgrow its pot every two years. At this time you can transplant it into a pot that is a few inches wider and deeper to help with new growth. This plant will prefer well-draining pots, like terra-cotta or ceramic because they like airflow and drainage. You can check out our repotting monstera plant post for help with repotting.
Signs of a Healthy Monstera Plant
Your Monstera will let you know how it is doing. Whether good or bad it will give you signs to help you know what it needs. Here are some signs that your Monstera will show if it is in good health.
- Glossy green leaves
- Splits or holes in leaves
- Consistent new leaf growth
- Firm roots
- Moist but not waterlogged soil
- No visible pests or damage
- Firm stems
- Healthy white aerial roots
Common Problems With A Monstera Plant
The Monstera is an easy-going plant and is generally pest-free. If you notice any pests or diseases treat them right away before they spread.  Regularly wiping down your monstera plant will help avoid common pests and diseases.
Yellowing leaves
Most likely being overwatered. If there is no wilting or rotting underfeeding is probably the cause. If only your monstera plants’ lower leaves are affected, look for brown spots and small dark new leaves, these are signs of underwatering. Pale leaves with straw or colored patches indicate too much direct sunlight.
Leaves Wet At The End (Weeping)
This indicates that your soil is too wet. Let your monstera soil dry out before watering again. Also increase the time in between your watering schedule to help keep consistently moist soil.
Rotting Stems
Stem rot disease usually occurs during the winter months. It is encouraged by too much moisture and too little heat. It might be possible to save your monstera plant by repotting it and keeping its soil dry and warm.
Loss Of Leaves
It is normal for the lower leaves of your Monstera to drop with age. If you think there is an abnormal amount of leaf failure then any serious condition could be the cause. Always look for further symptoms on the upper leaves. If your monstera leaves turn brown and dry before falling off then it’s too warm. This is a common problem in the winter when the pot is kept too close to a radiator.
No Holes In Leaves
It is normal for the leaves on your Monstera to be uncut and not perforated if it’s a young plant. In mature leaves, the most likely causes are lack of light, cold air, too little water, and underfeeding. If your monstera is tall the most likely reason is the failure of water and food to reach the top leaves. Aerial roots should be pushed back into the soil or allowed to grow into a moist support pole like a moss pole. If you need help staking your monstera click here.
Leaves With Brown And Papery Tips & Edges
Dry air is the most probable cause. Mist the leaves or surround the monstera plant with damp peat. A pool-bound plant will show similar symptoms. Brown tips are also a symptom of overwatering, but general yellowing will also be present if waterlogging is the cause.
Brown Spots Along Veins
Red spider mites.
Leggy Growth, Small Pale Leaves
Lower lighting conditions are the first thing to look for. A Monstera plant will not thrive in deep shade.
FAQ About How To Take Care Of A Monstera Plant
How do you care for a monstera indoors?
- Water your Monstera plant when its soil is dry
- Place your Monstera in bright indirect light.
- Mist regularly (depending on the season) to encourage growth.
- Keep out of reach of children and animals.
- Clean regularly with a natural solution to keep the dust away.
Tips To keep Monstera happy
- Avoid direct sunlight but find a spot with good indirect light
- Only water when your soil has dried out a bit between watering
- Aim for temperatures between 15°C and 30°C.
- Misting your monstera plant leaves will help with humidity and help keep dust away
- Use a moss pole for physical support.
How much light does a Monstera need?
Your Monstera can grow in lower lighting conditions but will grow faster in a spot with access to indirect bright light. Try to avoid strong, direct sunlight because it may burn the leaves.
How often should you water a Monstera?
Watering your Monstera plant once every 1-3 weeks will let the soil dry out between waterings.
Should I mist my monstera every day?
Watering your Monstera at night can cause fungal growth on its leaves. Mist your plant once or twice a day depending on how dry your home environment is. Misting too much may lead to overwatering, which can cause root rot and other issues.
What to feed A Tropical Plant?
Compost, organic fertilizer, slow-release fertilizer, granular fertilizer, and synthetic fertilizer are good options for fertilizing your monstera plant.
How do we encourage Monstera’s growth?
Your monstera’s active growth period is from spring through fall. It will need bright indirect light. This will encourage the best color and leaf development. Monsteras are tropical, but they prefer that their soil dries out when actively growing.
