The Monstera is one of the most unique looking plants that you can find in the nursery. It’s an instant head-turner, and attracts quite a bit of attention.
Needless to say, most people buy monstera of various types and place them in their homes. Known as the Swiss cheese plant, one look at the plant is enough to give you a better idea about why it’s called that.
The tropical leaves of the plant are riddled with holes of varying sizes, thus looking similar to a “Swiss cheese” slice. The Monstera is a massive floor plant, and usually thrives in larger pots.
You can also keep the plant in any room of the house, as long as you make sure that the conditions are correct. The plant gets its name from the holes and the iconic splits found in the leaves.
The plant is native to many rainforests spread throughout Panama and Mexico. These are evergreen perennial plants that tend to climb on any surface close by, and can reach heights up to 60 feet or more, especially in their natural habitat.
However, in a home, the circumstances are different, so they are mostly able to reach around 8 to 10 feet. For the larger plants, just the leaves can grow up to two feet long. Because of their impressive height, it’s recommended that you install a trellis or sticks covered by moss.
Monstera plants generally grow quite quickly. If you make sure that the conditions are right, the plant will begin to grow relatively quickly.
You won’t need to worry about spending a lot of money on buying a bigger plant, especially if you can alter the conditions according to its preferences. You will notice that the conditions are right when your Monstera starts to sprout new leaves on a monthly basis.
However, a lot of people skimp out on routine maintenance of the Monstera plant, and this creates a problem.
Here are a few things that you should know about the plant’s routine maintenance if you want it to grow properly.
Routine Maintenance
Before you water the plant on your own, it’s important for you to assess the plant’s watering needs first.
To do that, you will want to check the level of moisture within the soil. You need to make sure that the soil isn’t overly moist before you pour in more water.
Also, you should consider aerating the soil before you water the plant for the very first time. Most companies that sell the Monstera plant usually compact the soil considerably before shipping it off, so you will want to aerate it to ensure that the plant is able to breathe and the moisture can be released.
This type of plant usually prefers soil that remains a bit moist. The plant is incredibly sensitive to overwatering, so you need to make sure that the soil isn’t soggy.
The best way to check it is by using your fingers and putting them at least two inches in the soil. If the top two inches of the soil are dry, the plant could use a bit of water.
On top of that, you need to also rotate the plant from time to time. This is important because it will allow the plant to grow evenly on all sides.
Dust that has gathered on the leaves from time to time will also be cleaned out when you rotate the plant. This improves the efficiency of photosynthesis in the plant.
More importantly, you need to investigate the underside of the plant and keep a lookout for signs of pests. Tiny pests such as mealy bugs or white flies can often infest the Monstera plant, and you might not be able to detect the infestation until it’s too late.
If your plant is dying and you are unable to find a reason why, it’s best to check the underside of the leaves.
How to Grow Your Monstera Faster
There are a series of different things that you can do to improve the rate of growth of the plant. The best thing to do is improve the rate of humidity in your house.
The Monstera hails from the tropical regions, where moisture is aplenty. Needless to say, if the air in your house remains a bit dry, you might want to consider using a humidifier in the process.
More importantly, these plants require quite a bit of natural light, so it’s best if you place them in a bright bathroom or a kitchen that receives plenty of natural light. We have already talked about the watering requirements of this plant, but a common mistake that many people make is that they tend to stick to a standard watering schedule.
You need to avoid that from happening, as the amount of water retention within the soil primarily depends on the soil itself. If it’s too compact, the water is going to retain within the soil, and the plant will suffer.
Another thing that you should know about these plants is about trimming the leaves. Many people are scared about trimming the massive leaves on their Monstera plants, wondering whether it’s going to stop the plant from growing or not.
However, there’s no need to be worried about trimming the plant. Instead, you should trim it whenever you feel like it.
The Monstera is an evergreen plant, so it’s going to grow new leaves throughout the year. You can trim the old ones without worry, and the new ones will take their place.
Also, make sure that you do not keep your Monstera in a doorway, or in an area that receives blasts of cold or hot air. This can cause the leaves to turn yellow and the plant might start to die.
If you are careful and provide the right conditions, your Monstera plant is only going to grow and you won’t have to worry about any yellowing leaves either!
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.