This easy-to-grow climbing evergreen provides a dramatic focal point due to its size and unique shape.
Monstera deliciosa has glossy, heart-shaped split leaves and is relatively easy to care for.
This beautiful plant is toxic to humans and pets.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
This evergreen prefers bright, indirect sunlight between 65F and 75F.
Too much direct light in warmer months may burn the foliage.
Add a grow light to encourage lush growth.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
What bang out of Potting Soil Is Best for Monsteras?
A mix of three parts indoor houseplant soil, two parts shredded and one part perlite should work well.
How Should I Water a Monstera Deliciosa?
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Water your monstera once the first few inches of soil are dry.
Limp and curling leaves are a common signyour monstera needs water.
During the growing season, a monstera in bright, indirect light might need watering once a week.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
In winter months, it may only need watering every few weeks.
What Temperature and Humidity Do Monsteras Need?
Monstera deliciosa grows best in temperatures between 65F and 85F.
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It can tolerate temperatures down to 50F and up to 90F but will stop growing at these extremes.
It prefers high humidity, about 60%.
To increase humidity indoors,add a humidifier.
Do I Need to Fertilize a Monstera Deliciosa?
Monstera Deliciosas need to be fertilized every few weeks during the growing season.
To fertilize a monstera deliciosa, choose a balanced liquid fertilizer with a 1-1-1ratioor a 3-1-2 ratio.
Dissolve the fertilizer in water and give it to the plant in place of a usual watering.
Want more gardening tips?
Try providing it with a moss pole.
The only pruning the plant needs would be to keep the size under control.
you might propagate any cuttings to make a new plant for yourself or to give to a friend.
Propagating Monstera Deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa can be easilypropagatedby stem cuttings from pruning.
However, the most popular method of propagatingMonstera deliciosais air layering.
Transplant into a pot a few inches wider and deeper to accommodate growth.
If the largest leaf is 8 inches wide, choose a pot that’s 8 inches in diameter.
Check outour favorite indoor plantersfor your next pick.
If any are found on the foliage, spray the plant with a direct water stream.
Leaves can also be washed withinsecticidal soap.
For spider mites, clean the leaves with a soft cloth with neem oil, which repels these pests.
The best way todeal with fungus gnatsflies is with sticky traps.
Improving air circulation around the plant can help to prevent powdery mildew and leaf spot.
Figure out the cause of your sickly plant and how it can bounce back.
Review these common symptoms of failing health.
Remove the affected leaves.
Remove the affected leaves and let the plant dry out before watering.
The fungus likely got there because of overwatering or keeping the plant in overly wet soil for too long.
Yellow Leaves or Light Brown Spots
Yellowing leavesare an indication of dry soil.
The oldest leaves on the plant will turn yellow first.
Remove the affected leaves.
The plant is either overwatered or underwatered.
It’s underwatered if the first few inches of surface soil are dry.
Try taking the plant out of the pot to evaluate the roots.
If it’s overwatered, the plant could be suffering from root rot.
Clean the roots, prune off mushy parts, and repot in new soil.
if the spots have a dry texture, or a powdery finish, it could indicate a fungal disease.
Both of these issues can be worsened by too little air circulation and too much humidity.
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As a houseplant, monstera deliciosa is easy to grow and maintain.
Outdoors, however, you better live in the right warm and humid environment for it to thrive.
Fenestrated leavesrequire a lot of energy to split.
The more light the plant receives, the more it will split.
Less light produces smaller, less showy leaves.
It can tolerate some shade, but too much shade will make it leggy.
Both monstera plants are known as Swiss cheese plants, but what differs is the size of their leaves.
Monstera deliciosa’s leaves are significantly larger than the petite leaves of Monstera adansonii.
A larger plant requires more resources to care for and transport.
No, monstera deliciosa is not toxic to touch.
Safe and poisonous garden plants.
University of California, Davis.
