Monstera Plant Care

The Monstera plant is not a highly demanding one to take care of, but you need to follow some simple directions.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Monsteras need lots of space
• Don’t water it excessively, but mist it occasionally
• Get a well-draining soil and don’t fertilize it too often
• Prune it to keep it healthy and good looking
• Repot it once in every two to three years

Keep reading to find out more about how to water Monsteras, what are their light, and temperature requirements, how complicated is repotting, and much more.

How and When You Should Water Your Monstera?

What all Monstera varieties have in common is that they don’t require daily watering.

Great news if you are forgetful! 🙂

You can do it several times a week, or even one weekly watering will be more than enough- of course, depending on the overall conditions.

During summer when the temperature is higher, the plant will be thirstier, while its demands for liquid will decrease during colder months.

It’s important to check the soil before you water it, and you can simply insert the finger in the soil- when it is dry about an inch below the surface, it needs liquid.

No Monstera likes wet feet, so don’t water it too much and too often.

If you can get distilled or rainwater, those are the best for plants, if not, tap water is fine as well, just leave it overnight.

What about humidity?

All Monstera varieties like humidity, so the best way to give them enough of it is to mist them regularly.

If you leave in the area where the air is already humid enough, then you won’t have to worry about it so much, but if the air is dry- misting is a must!

Aside from this, a pebble tray under the pot, and it will receive the necessary moisture from underneath.

In case you still think that your plant is not receiving enough moisture, then humidifier would be a good solution.

Also, if you accommodate several plants in one room, they will create some sort of microclimate, which will help them thrive mutually.

Related: Best Plant Humidifiers and a Buying Guide.

What are Temperature and Light Requirements for Monstera Plants?

While outdoors the plant adapts to call conditions itself, when you keep it at home, you need to make sure all the requirements are met.

Monstera varieties don’t like excessively hot temperatures, something moderate, like around 13 to 27°C (55° to 80°F) is the most suitable.

What actually matters, even more, is that your plant is accommodated someplace where the temperature is stable, without fluctuations.

Also, make sure there’s enough air in the room, your plant needs to breathe- just like you have to.

The draft is damaging, though. 

As for the light requirements, it doesn’t tolerate direct sunlight, and if it is exposed more than a maximum of six hours daily, the leaves will get burnt.

The best would be to place it someplace where it will receive light in the morning.

If you still think it is overly exposed, you could try to diffuse it with some shades.

How to Find Perfect Soil for Monstera Varieties?

Knowing that Monsteras don’t like wet feet, soggy soil, too much water in general, what you need is a well-draining soil.

Mixes for aroids are not so difficult to find, so you can get one without any problem, in some flower shop or online, explore a bit.

Or if you have enough time, you can make your own combo.

Aside from quality potting soil, you also need perlite, coco coir, and pine bark, and when those are mixed, you will get a soil which perfectly caters to this plant’s needs.

Do I Need to Fertilize Monstera Plants Often?

You’re gonna need a quality fertilizer for your Monstera, but good thing is that you won’t have to fertilize it too often.

My advice is to opt for a liquid food which has a balanced level of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K).

But, if you want, you can use granular as well, a slow-release one, just make sure you follow the instructions.

As for the frequency, it can be done three times a year (when you opt for liquid one), or even less than that, depending on your plant’s condition and overall climate and environment.

When you pour the food, you can water it a bit, so that it absorbs the given nutrients even easier.

ABCs on Monstera Pruning

Pruning is done for two reasons- to keep your plant happy and good-looking, as simple as that.

Knowing that majority of Monsteras can grow really large in height, you need to control their size, and that’s where pruning helps.

What you should do first is take your plant and observe it, to analyze its overall appearance,

If you notice any dead or dying leaves, crispy edges, or anything else that is not in a description of a healthy-looking green plant, remove it.

You need an adequate, sharp, and sterile tool- pruning shears or knife, or some scissors, whatever you want.

Cut/ remove the diseased or infected parts of the leaves, and if you want to get rid of an entire leaf, then cut at the base of the stem.

If you want to propagate the plant, you should cut the leaf below the node.

A cutting (trimming) is also done to encourage the plant’s growth, and if you are doing it for that purpose, then spring is the ideal time for it.

The recovery process is smoother and faster.

Is it Difficult to Repot Monstera Plant and How it’s Done?

It’s not difficult, but if you are planning to transplant a larger Monstera, then invite someone to help you.

Two people will handle a larger plant much easier, then you alone performing acrobatics trying not to damage it.

Repotting is usually done approximately every two to three years, depending on how fast your Monstera develops.

It’s also done to replenish the soil a bit, as the level of nutrients decreases over time.

If you do that to add new soil, then you can use the same container, but make sure you wash it first.

That way you will remove tiny particles and bacteria.

If you are doing so to provide your plant a more comfortable home, then get a pot that is next in size compared to the one you currently have.

Transplantation is done in the spring or summer, as that’s when plants grow and develop.

By following the natural cycle, you boost chances for plants to adapt to the new environment faster and easier.

Also, to soften the soil, water it a day before repotting.

So, the process- fill a third of the clean container with soil, put the plant, and add the rest, then press the soil gently until you feel that your Monstera can stand firmly.

Water it, and don’t fertilize it at least ten to 15 days, until it gets used to new soil and new pot.

When choosing the pot, there’s one thing that matters more than the material- drainage holes.

Make sure the container comes with as many of them as possible, as multiple holes will allow water to run freely.

Learning More about Monstera Propagation

Like I mentioned in the part about pruning, if you want to propagate the plant using a leaf, leave a node, as this will later transform into an aerial root.

Also, propagation is done in the spring or summer, so that the parent plant could recover faster and the baby plant could establish and adapt easier.

It is possible to establish a plant using a stem only, but it’s much better if there are leaves.

They absorb the light, and that way they will support and promote further development.

Common Monstera Problems (and Solutions)

Every single plant has its ups and downs, and you as its owner need to be well-prepared and react on time to prevent its death.

Sorry for me being so overly dramatic, but if you take good care of your plant and inspect it from time to time, chances to encounter some serious issues with any of the Monstera varieties are minimal.

But, if you neglect it, then you will end up with a sad and dying Monstera.

Yellow or brown leaves, these things happen- but they can be fixed.

Yellow leaves

Simple fix: If you notice leaves turning yellow and it appears to be dry, the problem is an excessive amount of light, so relocate it.

If you notice leaves turning yellow and it appears to be dry, the problem is an excessive amount of light, so relocate it.

Sometimes it could be excessive watering, so adjust your watering schedule.

Brown edges on the leaves

Simple fix: Brown edges on the leaves is another signal of too much exposure to direct light- again, find a more suitable place for your plant.

It can be a signal that you are not watering it enough, so this situation also requires you to be more careful with the amount of water and watering frequency.

Sometimes it can happen as a result of overly dry air, so you will either mist your plant daily or get a humidifier.

Rotting roots

Rotting roots happen if your plant has wet feet, meaning- too much water.

Simple fix: This requires roots inspection, which further can result in two situations- if the infected part is not too large, then remove it and repot it; if there’s not much to be done, perhaps you can try with the healthy part, which can become the new plant.

If the upper part of your plant stagnates, especially with larger Monstera varieties, then consider repoting it- all they want is a more comfortable home.

Pests

As for the common pests, those are spider mites, leaf spots, and scale insects, and they are removed by rubbing.

Simple fix: What you need is a mild water and soap solution, and a soft cloth.

In the case of bacterial or fungal issues, which may attack the roots of Monstera varieties, you need some adequate disinfectant or fungicide, depending on the level of infection.