Monsteras are prized for their gorgeous foliage and upright climbing capabilities. With a simple care regimen and tolerance for a wide range of light conditions, these tropical houseplants are worth the investment.
Keeping your Monstera deliciosa thriving to its fullest potential doesn’t take much, but the beauty they offer to the room is plenty; they can live for several decades with the proper care and look absolutely stunning. With these best practices, you can provide proper care to your monstera with little stress! Here is what you need to know.
Is a Monstera a Good Indoor Plant?
Monsteras thrive in warm, humid environments, making them perfect for growing indoors and outdoors in our gorgeous Southern Florida weather. They are one of the easier houseplants to keep happy and are tolerant of low light conditions but should be placed in a spot where they can receive bright, indirect light. These plants grow under taller foliage in their native habitat, so direct sunbeams can burn their leaves!
These plants serve as interesting decorative features that add a refreshing tropical feel to the rooms or outdoor gardens in which they live. Tropical house plants like Monstera deliciosa or Monstera adansonii are used to humid environments; otherwise, their leaves will start to get crispy.
How Much Sun Do I Give My Monstera?
As mentioned, your monstera plants are tolerant of low light conditions but should be in an area where they can receive medium to low indirect light inside the home for between 5 and 8 hours a day. Inside the home, place it in a bright room next to a window that doesn’t get much direct sunlight, like an east-facing window.
Outdoors, they thrive in areas with filtered light and partial shade. Ensure your plant isn’t receiving too much sun, especially outside, as their leaves will burn and soil will dry out if they catch too many rays!
How Much Water Does My Monstera Need?
To keep soil healthy, you’ll want to allow your soil time to dry out in between waterings, hydrating it with a routine watering every 1-2 weeks. Monsteras placed in brighter locations may require more frequent watering. Soil should be moist but not soggy; ensure that the soil never dries completely. Stick your finger deep into the soil to monitor the moisture levels. If the soil is dry on the surface and wet below, it’s at the ideal level. If it’s feeling drier than that, it’s time to pour your monstera a fresh glass of water!
How Do I Know My Monstera Is Happy?
A healthy monstera is always distinguished by deep green, waxy leaves, with the exception of younger plants and new leaves being a paler shade of green. Monsteras are easy to care for, so this should be pretty fool-proof to maintain!
Your monstera will communicate how it’s feeling with you through its foliage. If the leaves appear discolored and yellow, your plant might need more water. Try filling up a bucket of room-temperature water and placing your plant inside. Continue to soak it for about half an hour, eventually placing it back inside its pot to let it dry. Water your plant often over the next week or two before returning to a normal routine. This process will help restore hydration throughout the roots of your plant.
Training Your Monstera
One of the greatest parts about this plant is using it for vertical decoration on your walls. To train your monstera to climb, provide a support structure such as a trellis or moss pole that helps it grow in a vertical direction. Monsteras climb in their natural habitat, so you might get larger, healthier leaves if you train it! An adequate watering schedule, organic fertilizer, and receiving the necessary amounts of bright indirect sunlight will all give your monstera what it needs to climb.
Aerial roots from climbing plants can be prone to destroying the surfaces they attach to, but not monsteras! These climbing plants are the gentle giants of the plant world, supporting and providing food for your plant when you lead them toward the soil. For more information on caring for and training your monstera and other tropical plants, visit us at Living Color Garden Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, today.