Monstera
Monstera deliciosa
Through the year 🗓️
☀️ Summer now
Peak growth and best fenestrations; water roughly weekly and wipe the big leaves.
🍂 Fall
Give the last feed; unfurling slows with the shorter days.
❄️ Winter
Pause fertilizer, let the soil dry deeper, and be patient with slow new leaves.
🌱 Spring
New-leaf season: repot, refresh the chunky mix, and extend the moss pole.
The details
Light & placement
- Light
- Bright indirect; tolerates medium light (fewer splits); no harsh midday sun
- Ideal PPFD
- 200–400 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
- Grow-light distance
- 18–24 in below LED
Water & feed
- Watering method
- Water thoroughly when the top 2 in of soil are dry; let it drain fully. Roughly every week or two in summer, less in winter.
- Fertilizer
- Balanced liquid feed at ½ strength, monthly in spring–summer.
Home & habit
- Soil
- Chunky aroid mix (potting soil + bark + perlite); pH 5.5–7.0
- Humidity
- Average–high (50%+); loves a humid corner
- Temperature
- 65–85 °F
- Mature size
- 6–8 ft indoors with support
- Repotting
- Every 1–2 yrs; give it a moss pole to climb
- Propagation
- Stem cuttings with a node and aerial root, in water or moss. Very reliable.
When something looks wrong
- Overwatering signs
- Yellowing lower leaves, black stem spots, wet soil that never dries
- Underwatering signs
- Drooping, curling leaves; dry crispy edges
- Common pests
- Spider mites, thrips, scale, mealybugs
Common problems 🩺
The usual suspects when Monstera looks unhappy. Most houseplant trouble is watering or light, not disease — see all plant problems if you are not sure which plant is the culprit.
Yellow leaves
Likely cause
Overwatering, especially in a pot that stays soggy.
What to do
Let the top 2 inches dry before watering and make sure the pot drains freely.
Brown crispy edges
Likely cause
Low humidity or underwatering.
What to do
Water on a steadier schedule and raise humidity; it likes 50%+.
New leaves have no splits or holes
Likely cause
Young plant or too little light — fenestration needs maturity and bright light.
What to do
Be patient and move it to brighter indirect light; splits arrive as it matures.
Weak stems flopping over
Likely cause
No support — it is a climber that wants something to grip.
What to do
Add a moss pole or stake; the plant strengthens as it climbs.
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