How to Care for your Monstera Deliciosa

If you’ve read some of our previous work, we love having plants in our home. They bring a breath of fresh air to the space and brightens the atmosphere. However, understanding our plants is a great skill to have, and various species require specific care depending on what they are. The Monstera is a popular house plant to own, but many plant owners out there do not know the specifics of what this tropical plant requires. We are here to help with an in-depth account of the Monstera plant.

Origins

Monstera deliciosa, often known as the "tropical split-leaf philodendron," is a plant native to Central America's jungles. This easy-to-grow climbing evergreen is a popular choice among plant lovers. The plant grows to about two feet tall inside, with leathery, glossy, split and heart-shaped leaves. The Monstera forms complicated aerial roots that can be used to make ropes and baskets. Monstera deliciosa grows well in high humidity, produces tan-cream flowers that are pollinated by bees, and bears a tasty, luscious fruit with a pineapple/banana flavour. Fruiting in houseplants is uncommon.

Plant Care

Choose a deep pot with plenty of drainage holes if you're going to use it as a houseplant. Fill the bottom third of the pot with peaty potting soil and gently secure a stake for the stem to ascend. Fill the container with the roots. Surround the roots with earth. Surround the stake with soil and secure the stem to the stake using plant ties. The Monstera deliciosa will probably outgrow its pot every two years or so, so make sure you change when necessary.

Light

This evergreen needs bright, indirect sunlight and stable temperatures of 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. During the summer months, too much direct light can cause the leaves to burn. To encourage lush growth, bring indoor plants outside in bright sunshine at least once a year. Monstera deliciosa can be found growing in full shade in deep woodlands and semi-shade in light forests.

Soil

It requires peat-based potting material to establish itself in a container. It thrives in acidic or neutral pH light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils outdoors. Despite this, it prefers moist, well-drained soil.

Water

Throughout the growing season, give the plant regular waterings. In between, the soil should be slightly dry. In the fall and winter, only water on a sporadic basis. Mist the vegetation with a spray bottle of demineralised water or rainfall to boost humidity indoors.

Fertilisers

Use a balanced liquid fertiliser every few weeks during the growing season for indoor plants if needed. The Monstera is a robust and hardy plant, so fertiliser is simply a boost.

3 P’s: Pests, Pruning and Propagation

Our plants will always face against the natural world, and pests are a common fight to have. Wiping dust or debris with a damp sponge or paper towel will keep the plant clean and avoid pests. Common pests include mealybugs, aphids, thrips, scale and spider mites. If any are found on the foliage, spray the plant with a direct water stream. Leaves can also be washed with insecticidal soap.

To boost growth, it is always good to prune your plant. If aerial roots get too rambunctious for the space, trim them back into the pot. Their roots do not damage surfaces, unlike several other houseplants.

What if you have an excellent vigorous plant and you want more Monstera around your home? Propagation is your answer. Trimming works nicely on stems and leaves. Plants can be started from cuttings. Air-layering is the most common way of growing Monstera, and it requires sharp and clean pruning shears, flowery or sphagnum moss, a plastic bag, and twist ties. First, locate a leaf that is growing from a stem and has a short aerial root beneath it. Just below that root, cut a shallow notch approximately a third of the stem's width. Next, wrap a one-inch layer of sphagnum moss around the point where the leaf meets the stem. To provide moisture to the moss, spray it with water and wrap it in plastic. Secure it with twist ties. Keep the moss moist until the roots emerge. Finally, cut the stem of the young plant and plant it in the soil.

I hope that you gained a deeper understanding of what your Monstera requires from you to thrive. All plants deserve our care, so let’s do our homework, pull up our sleeves, and get to work!

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