When Do Monstera Leaves Split? Hidden Secrets

If you are….

a plant lover like me you might be wondering when do Monstera leaves split? But what if your Monstera is not growing them? You might be wondering what you have done wrong or if there is anything you can do to help. Understanding when these split leaves develop and under what growing conditions will help you improve your plant’s growing environment and get those gorgeous fenestrations you’re after!

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In this post, we will explore when Monstera plants get holes, why they might not be forming, and how to care for your Monstera to help promote new healthy leaves with splits!

Potted Paradise Garden - When Do Monstera Leaves Split?

When Do Monstera Leaves Split? Common Issues

Some Monsteras do not develop holes in their leaves. This can be due to the variety of Monstera you have or your growing conditions. Some of these include the following.

Plant Age and Maturity
Insufficient Light
Lack of Climbing Support
Low Humidity Levels
Genetic Variability and Plant Variety
Temperature Fluctuations
Nutritional Deficiency

Adjusting your growing conditions and giving your plant time to mature to age 2-3 will help with leaf development. Adjusting these factors will increase the likelihood of your Monstera developing the holes in its leaves.

When Do Monstera Leaves Split? Age Related

Monstera plants usually develop leaf splits and holes around ages 2-3. However, this timeline can be shortened or delayed due to growing conditions. If you have a younger plant it is normal for there to not yet be leaf holes. It will develop them as it gets older.

Growing conditions that impact leaf holes:

Age and Maturity
Support for Climbing
Species and Variety Differences
Humidity Levels
Soil Conditions
Lighting
Watering Schedule
Fertilization

“With general healthy growing environments that mimic the natural rainforests of the Monstera, you will see new leaf development with holes and splits at around ages 2-3. How exciting!”

Potted Paradise Garden - When Do Monstera Plants Get Holes?

When Do Monstera Leaves Split? Tips For Faster Leaf Development

There are a few things you can do to help increase the speed of how fast your Monstera will develop its leaves and overall growth. Obviously, we can’t speed it up drastically but there are some things we can do to help it gain more nutrients for faster leaf development.

Rotate Your Plant to Mimic Natural Sunlight Movement

In the Monstera natural growing environment the light will filter through its split leaves and other vegetation. This lets them have access to a variety of light angles. To mimic this environment you want to rotate your plant about 90 degrees every 1-2 weeks to promote new and even growth.

“This will encourage your Monstera to develop even larger more split leaves as you are allowing it to follow the sunlight naturally instead of having light on just one half of the plant.”

Stress

This might sound a little out there but some light stress improves plant stimulation for new growth. Your Monstera loves consistent and constant moisture. However, even in nature, they will experience occasional drought periods. This very mild but controlled drought period will stress your plant causing a signal to produce larger leaves. This is because it signals itself to capture more light and water in the stress period, which can then lead to more leaf fenestrations! How cool!

“To mimic this let the top two inches of your soil mixture dry out between your waterings, especially in spring. However, you don’t want your plant to dry completely and leave it in a desert! A very mild drought is the end goal to signal new growth.”

Root-Pruning

Pruning the roots of your Monstera can help stimulate the plant so it focuses more of its energy on new leaf growth. So the next time you repot your tropical beauty trim back about 10% of the older roots. This will signal the plant to redirect its energy to new leaf production. Be careful that you do not over-prune the roots as this can then lead to health issues.

Sunlight

Placing your Monstera in direct sunlight is a big no-no! This will lead to leaf burn and your plant dying of heat stroke. However, placing your Monstera in direct sunlight during the gentle morning and eve sun for a minute or so can provide an extra sudden boost of energy that could help your plant grow larger leaves with more fenestrations. This minute of direct sunlight mimics the occasional direct sunlight that is found in the natural environment of the Monstera.

Seaweed or Kelp Solution

Giving your plant a diluted solution of seaweed or kelp will stimulate new growth. Seaweed and kelp contain natural growth hormones called Auxins and cytokines. These help boost the cell division in your plant and stimulate leaf development. Dilute a seaweed or kelp solution to about half the recommended strength in some water. Use this to water your Monstera once a month in their active growing season to help promote new, hole-filled leaves!

“Using these techniques can not only help your Monstera with overall health and strength but you might be surprised at the bigger leaves it produces with healthy splits for everyone to fall in love with!”

When Do Monstera Leaves Split? Key Factors

If you have been trying to get your leaves to develop splits in your Monstera plant there might be some key aspects that are being overlooked or missing. Monsteras will not develop fenestrations in leaves if their growing conditions do not meet their standard! Here are some things to remember if your Monstera is not developing split leaves.

Humidity Levels

High humidity is one aspect that will affect how big, healthy, and strong your Monstera is. Low humidity can cause leaf health issues and could be why you don’t have split leaves. Too high humidity and your plant will stop growing due to being stressed from overheating. Creating an environment between 60%-80% humidity mimics your Monstera’s natural tropical environment.

“This will support the lush growth and leaf holes you desire.”

Light Levels

Without sufficient lighting, your tropical plant will not get the necessary nutrients to develop new growth including fenestrations in the leaves. This can be a daunting process as Monsteras require bright indirect lighting to gain the necessary nutrients needed for healthy leaf development. An east or west-facing window will give the right indirect bright light. Having low light levels will result in stunted growth or no growth at all so if your home does not get much indirect light you can substitute with an indoor grow light.

“Do not shine directly onto your plant as this will cause sunburn on the leaves.”

Nutrition

Just like us our plants need a balanced meal plan! Giving your plant the necessary food will allow it to develop bigger healthier leaves. If you notice your Monstera is producing solid small leaves this can be due to a lack of nutrients. Using a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4-6 weeks will make sure your plant is getting everything it needs. Fertilize only during their growing season in spring and summer. Avoiding fertilization in the fall and winter will support robust, fenestrated leaf growth as this is your plant’s dormant season.

Genetic and Age Factors

If you have done almost everything but there’s no result and your still wondering when do Monstera leaves split? Different Monstera types have different growth habits. Monstera deliciosa has those large leaves with fenestrations while other varieties might have fewer splits or none at all.

“If you are after leaf splits specifically in a Monstera make sure you get the right variety so you know what to expect.”

Age also plays an important role in leaf development. Younger Monsteras before the age of 2 only develop solid small leaves so don’t worry if your Monstera is younger. Once it reaches ages 2 and 3 you will notice leaf splits, bigger leaves, and overall new growth.

“Adjusting your growing environment and knowing what to expect from your Monstera will help you set it up for success with all the nutrients and environmental factors needed for healthy growth.”

When Do Monstera Leaves Split? Optimal Growing Conditions

To get your Monstera to develop splits in its foliage, creating the best growing conditions is an essential part. Let’s get into what this will look like.

Lighting

When it comes to lighting your Monstera will not settle. Without adequate lighting, your Monstera cannot get the energy needed to develop new growth or splits in its leaves. Bright, indirect light is what this tropical plant needs. Avoid putting it in direct sunlight as this will burn the foliage resulting in dead pieces on your plant. An east or west-facing window is ideal as it provides bright indirect light that will be perfect for new growth development.

“If you lack bright light during the day, you can substitute with an indoor grow light. The right lighting is not something to skip, as it will give your Monstera the nutrients needed to grow larger leaves that develop those splits everyone loves.”

Watering Schedule

When watering make sure the top 1-2 inches of the soil are dry and then water till some runs out the bottom drainage holes. If you struggle with overwatering you can get a moisture reader to help dry out your soil to avoid root rot. Once a week or every two weeks will help dry out your soil between your waterings.

Humidity Levels

High humidity is very important for tropical plants. It will help stimulate large healthy growth. Humidity should be between 60%-80% for Monsteras. This will mimic their natural tropical environment. Using a humidity tray or humidifier will help increase your humidity levels. Alternatively, you can place bowls full of water around your plant if you don’t want to invest in new gadgets.

Temperature is also an important part of producing split leaves. Without a warm environment, your Monstera will not develop new growth and can die. Keep your temperatures between 65-85°F. Any hotter it can cause your plant stress which will impact the growth rate.

Fertilization Tips on When Do Monstera Leaves Split?

Fertilizing is still important for a tropical plant as they need essential nutrients like potassium to develop healthy leaves with splits. A water-soluble fertilizer is a great option, especially during their active growing season which is in spring and summer. Fertilizing in the fall and winter months is not necessary because these are your plant’s dormant seasons where new growth will not be very frequent.

“Give your plant fertilizer every 4-6 weeks in their growing seasons, but avoid over-fertilizing. Too much food can cause leaves to burn and lack of splits and holes in the foliage.”

Support Pole

Monsteras climb trees with their aerial roots in their natural environment. Providing a moss pole or structure for them to grab onto will help mimic their natural state and will help stimulate bigger new growth. If using a moss pole you want to wet it every few days to help with humidity, this will also help the aerial roots grab onto the pole.

“By creating the best growing conditions for your tropical plants you can help stimulate larger, fenestrated leaves! Then you can showcase your stunning Monstera to all your friends and family to make them jealous!”

FAQ: When Do Monstera Leaves Split?

When do Monstera plants get holes? Your common questions are answered!

How long does it take for a Monstera to get holes?

Your Monstera will split leaves generally when it is 2-3 years old. Before 2 years of age, the leaves will be small and solid slowly increasing in size as it gets closer to 2-3 years of age.

Why is my Monstera not getting holes?

If your Monstera is younger it will not start to show split leaves until it reaches ages 2-3. If your Monstera is older without showing any split leaves this can be a cause of lack of light, cold temperatures, lack of moisture, or lack of nutrition! Creating these healthy growing conditions will improve those gorgeous split leaves that everyone loves!

How do you encourage holes in Monstera?

Want to encourage your Monstera to develop more splits in the leaves? To achieve this you can find a spot that has bright, indirect light. A common spot is by a south or east-facing window. This will not only help create more splits in the foliage but also encourage faster and larger growth.