Monstera Deliciosa Care: How to Grow Monstera Deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa also popularly known as “Swiss cheese plant”, are famous for their natural leaf-holes, low maintenance and easy to care nature. In this article, I am going to share with you complete monstera deliciosa care guide.
This plant grows really really big.I think that’s why it is called monstera and if you bring a Monstera back home you will see that your home will feel like a jungle.
What is a Monstera Deliciosa/ A little about Monstera Deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa is a species of flowering plant native to tropical forests of southern Mexico, south to Panama. The monstera plants are actually known for the holes on the leaves that’s why this plant is also commonly known as a swiss cheese plant because it looks like swiss cheese and sometimes the leaves already come out with holes. The holes actually grow towards the edge and then they open up as they mature.
Monstera Deliciosa Quick Care & Info
Origin | Tropical America |
Botanical Name | Monstera deliciosa |
Nickname | Swiss Cheese Plant, Split Leaf Philodendron, Mexican breadfruit, Hurricane Plant |
Height | 10 feet or more |
Air Purifying | Yes |
Light | Grows well in medium to bright indirect light but can tolerate low light |
Water | Water when top 2-3 inches of soil becomes dry |
Temperature | Average to warm probably about 65-85°F |
Humidity | Average household humidity (will benefit from a boost in humidity) |
Soil | All-purpose houseplant potting mix |
Toxicity | Toxic to humans and pets if ingested |
Where to grow | Bright indoors, shaded outdoors |
Maintenace Level | Low maintenance |
Monstera Deliciosa Care: Monstera will thrive in bright or medium indirect light in a room that is between 18 to 30 degrees celsius. Average household humidity is ok for them but they will benefit from a boost in humidity. Use an all-purpose houseplant potting mix for your Monstera and place in a pot which has drainage holes. Water them when the topsoil becomes dry.
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Monstera Deliciosa Light Requirements
So how much light does a monstera need? When we talk about light, the monstera will thrive in bright or medium indirect light. But always try to keep her away from intense direct sunlight. This is very important that you provide bright sunlight but not direct sunlight as this may damage the leaves.
Monstera Deliciosa Watering
You can water your Monstera every week during the growing season but what I recommend is that you always check the soil. I find that it is better to let the soil dry in between waterings so we prevent over watering our plant. The way that I check if my plant needs water is with my finger. So I put my finger at the top 2 inches down in the soil. Once I feel that the soil is dry then I water. You can also check the moisture level using a moisture meter.
In the winter, you need to check the soil because soil tends to take longer to dry out in between waterings. So then you don’t need to water as often.
Monstera Deliciosa Temperature Requirements
Since the Monstera Deliciosa are originally from tropical areas they prefer warmer temperatures. So keep your monstera in a room that is between 18 to 30 degrees celsius. I think the lowest that we can go so our monstera keeps healthy is 15 degrees celsius but no lower than that.
Monstera Deliciosa Humidity Requirements
When we talk about humidity, room humidity should be fine for Monstera Deliciosa. But of course, it will be ideal if you can provide more humidity, especially in the winter months. I find that in the winter months the air in our place becomes drier because we use a lot of heating systems and this is not good for our Monsteras because remember this plant comes from the tropics so they like humidity.
If you find that the air in your home is very dry you can put your Monstera on a humidity tray or in a room with a humidifier. Another way that you can increase humidity is to place your plant with other tropical plants because they help each other with humidity levels.
Best Soil for Monstera Deliciosa
Let’s talk about soil, good news is this plant is really adaptable. When it comes to potting mix, use an all-purpose houseplant potting mix for your Monstera. If you want to make your own potting mix I would recommend that you add two parts of perlite or pumice for drainage, two parts of worm castings for nutrition and seven parts of coconut ware so you retain moisture.
Fertilizer for Monstera Deliciosa
You can fertilize your Monsters monthly during the growing season which is from spring to summer. Use an organic fertilizer because organic fertilizers tend to be less concentrated than synthetic fertilizers. But of course even if you have an organic fertilizer I recommend that you check the instructions in the package, so you don’t overfeed your plants.
Monstera Deliciosa Repotting
Spring, summer, and early fall are the perfect times for repotting a Monstera but If you live in a region where winter comes early, then spring and summer will be the best. when you see that roots are coming out from the drainage hole or your pot looks too small then repot your Monstera in a one size larger pot, then water thoroughly. Don’t choose a pot much larger than the previous pot, as this could drown the plant’s roots.
Monstera Deliciosa Propagation
When we talk about propagation, propagating the monstera is really easy and there are several ways of doing this. First, you need to find a node and basically a node is where you see that one branch becomes two stems. Generally you will also see an arrow root coming out of the node. So you can cut below the node. This is where the roots are gonna come. But I usually like to propagate in water because it’s really cool to see the roots actually growing in the water and you can see how your plant is doing.
Monstera Deliciosa Pruning
Save any major pruning of your Monstera for the spring and summer months but you can remove dry or dead leaves all year round. This frees up energy and encourages healthy growth. When pruning your swiss cheese plant, use clean, sharp shears and cut any excessive growth at the base of the stem.
Monstera Deliciosa Toxicity
According to the ASPCA the monstera is toxic to humans and also for cats and dogs. Fruit is edible to humans. So the best advice is to keep your plant out of the reach of small children and pets. Because ingesting it will irritate mouths, tongues and lips and cause vomiting, drooling and difficulty swallowing.
Monstera Deliciosa Common Problems
Monstera deliciosa yellow leaves: Maximum cases yellowing leaves occur due to over or underwatering. If you see a combination of both yellow and brown on the same leaf, it is typically due to overwatering you Monstera. If you found fully yellow leaves, along with some brown crispy spots on additional leaves occur then it could be for underwatering.
Monstera leaves turning brown and crisps at the edges: This may be caused by two factors. The first one is underwatering. So always try to keep the soil moist but not wet. I usually water every week but please check the soil to make sure that it is drying out.
The second cause for this is salt buildup. In some regions in the world the tap water has lots of minerals, salts and chemicals and this can be damaging to our plants. So in order to prevent this you can use filter water, rain water or distilled water. I filter my water and it is usually fine with our plants. You can also put the water that you’re gonna use in a bucket and let it stand for 24 to 48 hours before you use it to water your plant. This will get rid of some of the chemicals in the water.
Leaves Curling: If the leaves of your Monstera deliciosa are curling then your plant is most likely under-watered. You can easily fix this problem by giving your plant a thorough “shower”. Give her plenty of water and let it drain out completely before putting it back in its own pot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often to water monstera deliciosa?
Always try to keep the soil moist but not wet. Please check the soil of your monstera to make sure that it is drying out and then water. Water thoroughly when the topsoil is dry and avoid overwatering.During winter months your watering schedule may be less frequent.
How big does monstera deliciosa grow?
Monstera is a tropical plant and it can grow very tall in nature. It only measures between 6 to 10 feet when grown indoors. The leaves are large and heart-shaped. It leaves alone can measure up to 2-3 feet long.
This was all about monstera deliciosa care guide. If I miss anything or if you have any questions, feel free to ask.