Monstera is a tropical plant. Its name comes from a Latin word that means “abnormal” and belongs to Araceae family. The name is given it due to its odd-looking perforated leaves. Many gardeners grow these plants because of their distinctive leaf patterns.
Monsteras are unique and easygoing plants with dramatic leaves having amazing hole formation. These are vining plants that love to climb. They can grow up to dozens of feet tall and their leaves can spread to nearly 2 feet wide.
The most common variety of this plant is Mexican Breadfruit or Monstera Deliciosa. It produces corncob-shaped fruit that is not delicious at all. The plant itself is poisonous. And, eating its fruit before ripening can be a cause of mouth irritation. In this article, we will cover monstera care tips. Let’s get started…
Monstra VS Split-leaf Philodendron
Many people mix this plant with split-leaf philodendron, especially, when both plants are less mature. Although both plants belong to the same family, they have different leaves. The family is the only thing common between the two. However, you can easily differentiate between both plants by looking at the leaves. Unlike Monstra, split-leaf philodendron has perforated leaves but lack holes.
Monstera Care Tips
These plants are very simple to take care of. They need the right balance between sunlight, temperature, and water. Here are a few essential monstera caring tips, especially for beginner gardeners:
1. Sunlight
Like other plants, the sunlight is very essential for the proper development of monsteras’ leaf. Try to grow these plants at a place where they can receive filtered and indirect sunlight. If you are growing your monstera in a pot, place it under the indirect sunlight. Too much direct sunlight will turn the leaves of the plant yellow.
You should rotate your plant regularly to make sure that the plant is getting the right amount of light from all sides. The right amount of sunlight keeps the plant healthy.
2. Water
Water the plants every 1-2 weeks and let the soil dry out between watering. These plants like peaty and well-drained soil. Don’t use overly-most soil because it can lead the plant to root rot. Always check the dryness of the soil by poking your figure into it before watering. If you feel that the first few inches of soil are dry, water the plants.
Sometimes, these plants grow aerial roots over time. So, it’s good to cover the roots using moist sphagnum moss so that they can also get plenty of water. You can also direct the aerial roots to the soil for getting water.
3. Temperatures
Monsteras originally belong to tropical rain forests. Therefore, you should try to provide them a similar tropical and humid atmosphere. They thrive in normal room temperatures between 68 and 86o F. If you live in a dry area, try to mist your plants once a week to increase the humidity around the plant.
4. Toxicity
All parts of the plants are poisonous to humans and pets except its ripe fruit. Many people don’t consider it an ideal choice for pet owners or a house with small children. This plant can be a cause of stomach pain if ingested. Similarly, it can cause skin irritation if touched because of calcium oxalates found in its sap.
Being a poisonous plant doesn’t mean you shouldn’t grow it in your home. It’s still safe to grow in your home, as long as you don’t ingest it. Plus, try to be very careful when handling this plant. You can also keep it in a safe place like shelves.
Pests and Other Problems
It’s essential to provide the necessary ingredients to the plants to keep them healthy. Besides this, you should also prevent your plants from pests and other problems as well.
Also read: Garden Pests
Monstera Care from Pests
These plants are prone to many pests such as mealybugs, aphids, scales, and spider mites. All these pests attack the plants under their leaves. You should wipe their leaves down about once a week to get rid of these pests. Remove dust from the leaves. This routine maintenance keeps the plant healthy and shiny. You can also use an insecticide to remove the pests from the leaves.
Other Problems
Are your monstera’s leaves not splitting properly? If so, try to move it to a better lit area. Insufficient light can also affect plants’ growth so try to place it under indirect sunlight. Their leaves turn yellow when overwatering. So don’t overwater the plants. If no solution is working, try to fertilize your plants.