Monstera Care

Your Monstera can grow just about anywhere in your home! It tolerates low light, but grows faster and becomes more dramatic in a spot with indirect bright light. That said, avoid strong, direct sunlight because it may burn the leaves. If you don’t have a location with ideal lighting for your Monstera, use a Grow Light.

Monstera deliciosa

Split-leaf philodendron is not actually a philodendron but a woody, perennial, broadleaf evergreen, climbing vine in the Araceae (arum) family. It is native from Mexico to Panama and can grow to 70 feet tall, though it stays between 6 to 8 feet in most home environments. In North Carolina it is grown as a houseplant.

It prefers an average warm temperature of 60 to 85 degrees F, moderate brightness but not direct sunlight, and high humidity. Variegated cultivars will need more sunlight than darker green cultivars. Water this plant thoroughly, then allow the top quarter to one-third part to dry between watering. Misting leaves helps increase the humidity in dry interior settings. Sturdy support is necessary to prevent the stems from breaking. Prune or re-pot if needed in the spring and wipe dust off of the leaves regularly. Propagate by layering or stem cutting.

In its native habitat it starts its life as a terrestrial plant, turning epiphytic once it comes into contact with a sturdy tree it can climb. While It typically does not produce flowers or fruits in interior landscapes, it can produce an edible fruit that is said to taste like a cross between a banana and pineapple.

Quick ID Hints:

• Gigantic pinnately-lobed leaves with internal holes
• Leaves are broadly ovate to cordate
• Junction between leaf blade and petiole is present on mature leaves

Insects, Disease, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.

VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for “Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti”, a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

• ‘Albo Variegata’
  Variegated leaves
• ‘Thai Constellation’
  Leaves are variegated with white spots and blotches.

• ‘Albo Variegata’
  Variegated leaves
• ‘Thai Constellation’
  Leaves are variegated with white spots and blotches.

• Attributes: Genus: Monstera Species: deliciosa Family: Araceae Life Cycle: Perennial Woody Recommended Propagation Strategy: Layering Stem Cutting Country Or Region Of Origin: Mexico to Panama Climbing Method: Clinging Edibility: Only ripe fruits are edible and are used to flavor drinks and ice cream or are eaten fresh. Some people are allergic.

• Whole Plant Traits: Plant Type: Edible Houseplant Poisonous Vine Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Broadleaf Evergreen Habit/Form: Climbing Growth Rate: Rapid Maintenance: Medium Texture: Coarse

• Cultural Conditions: Light: Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours) Soil Texture: High Organic Matter Loam (Silt) Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0) Soil Drainage: Good Drainage Moist Available Space To Plant: 6-feet-12 feet USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b

• Fruit: Fruit Color: Cream/Tan Green White Fruit Value To Gardener: Edible Fruit Type: Aggregate Berry Fruit Length: > 3 inches Fruit Width: 1-3 inches Fruit Description: This plant produces an aggregate of creamy-white berries covered by green hexagonal “scales”; the fruit is ripe once the scale covering it falls off naturally. These berries are edible and taste like a mixture of banana and pineapple. Rarely produces fruit as a houseplant.

• Flowers: Flower Color: Green White Flower Inflorescence: Spadix Flower Value To Gardener: Long-lasting Flower Petals: Bracts Flower Size: > 6 inches Flower Description: The inflorescence is a spadix and spathe. Spathes are large, creamy-white, and up to 1′ in size. The spadix is shorter than the spathe at 10″ long and an inch thick. Rarely flowers as a house plant.

• Leaves: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Broadleaf Evergreen Leaf Color: Green Variegated Leaf Feel: Glossy Leathery Leaf Value To Gardener: Long-lasting Showy Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Leaf Shape: Cordate Ovate Pinnatifid Leaf Margin: Lobed Hairs Present: No Leaf Length: > 6 inches Leaf Width: > 6 inches Leaf Description: Leaves are gigantic, up to 1 foot or more, dark green, glossy, long petiolate, heart-shaped, perforated with several holes throughout the blade, some extending to margin and splitting margin to appear deeply lobed to pinnatifid. Only mature leaves have these holes, developing as the leaf grows. The leaves have a distinct junction where the blade meets the petiole. Some cultivars are variegated.

• Stem: Stem Color: Green Stem Is Aromatic: No Stem Description: Stems are thick, long, and leafy.

• Landscape: Landscape Location: Container Houseplants Design Feature: Specimen Problems: Contact Dermatitis Poisonous to Humans Problem for Cats Problem for Dogs Problem for Horses

• Poisonous to Humans: Poison Severity: Low Poison Symptoms: Intense burning of mouth, tongue, and throat; nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, drooling, and diarrhea may also occur; contact with cell sap may cause skin irritation. Only if eaten in large quantities. Poison Toxic Principle: Needle-like calcium oxalate crystals; possibly other unidentified toxins Causes Contact Dermatitis: Yes Poison Part: Bark Flowers Fruits Leaves Roots Seeds Stems

Monstera deliciosa

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Monstera Care

Monsteras are unique, easygoing houseplants whose dramatic leaves are adorned with dramatic hole formations. Monsteras are vining plants and love to trail over the pot or climb along a stake or trellis.

How to care for your Monstera

Use these instructions to care for a Monstera. This guide will tell you how to water a Monstera; its light, temperature, humidity preferences and any additional care it might need to help it grow.

Monstera

Your Monstera can grow just about anywhere in your home! It tolerates low light, but grows faster and becomes more dramatic in a spot with indirect bright light. That said, avoid strong, direct sunlight because it may burn the leaves. If you don’t have a location with ideal lighting for your Monstera, use a Grow Light.

Water your Monstera when the top 50–75% of the soil is dry. Water until liquid flows through the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and discard any water that has accumulated in the saucer.

This plant will thrive in almost any environment, but if you want to give it a special treat, gently mist it once a week using a Mister. It’s best to mist your Monstera in the morning so the water has plenty of time to evaporate before evening.

Normal room temperatures between 60–80 degrees are great for your Monstera. It will not tolerate temperatures under 55 degrees or sudden drops in temperature. Avoid cold drafts and direct airflow from heaters in the winter months.

For best results, feed your plant once a month throughout the spring and summer, such as our All Purpose Fertilizer (20-20-20). A little bit of food will go a long way to encourage growth and root health. No fertilizer is necessary during the winter—it’s important to give your Monstera a chance to rest during the cooler time of year.

Monstera leaves are mildly toxic to pets and humans. Typically, ingestion will cause mouth and stomach irritation and possible vomiting.

Large leaves can collect dust. If you notice the leaves are dirty or dusty, wipe the leaves with Microfiber Dusting Gloves to keep them clean and healthy. In the wild, Monstera plants like to climb. To encourage your Monstera to climb upwards, you can stake wild offshoots with a dowel or use a moss pole. To trim your Monstera, be sure to use clean, sharp Plant Snips.

Monstera Adansonii

Your Monstera Adansonii prefers bright indirect light. It can survive in lower light conditions but growth may slow. Keep out of direct sunlight for extended periods, as it can burn the leaves. If you don’t have a location with ideal lighting for your Monstera Adansonii, use a Grow Light!

Water your Monstera Adansonii when the top 75% of soil is dry. Never allow your plant to sit in water or soggy soil, as this can lead to root rot and the eventual death of your plant.

Your Monstera Adansonii will do well in average household humidity, but will benefit from a boost in humidity. Mist the leaves regularly using a Mister, placing a humidifier nearby, or using a pebble tray are great ways to boost humidity for your plant.

Normal room temperatures between 60–80 degrees are great for your Monstera Adansonii. It will not tolerate temperatures under 55 degrees or sudden drops in temperature. Avoid cold drafts and direct airflow from heaters in the winter months.

From spring to the end of summer, feed your plant once a month with a general houseplant fertilizer diluted to half the recommended strength, such as our All Purpose Fertilizer (20-20-20).

Your Monstera Adansonii is moderately toxic to pets and humans and can cause swelling, vomiting, or burning. It is not pet-friendly.

These plants love to vine and climb. If you desire, you can train your Monstera Adansonii to climb up a stake or a wall. Do this by using garden ties or hooks to guide it where you would like. If your Monstera Adansonii is in need of a trim, clean up your plant using clean, sharp Plant Snips.

Monstera sp. ‘Peru’

Your Monstera Peru will perform best in bright to medium-bright indirect light. It can tolerate direct morning sun but avoid areas in which it will be exposed to harsh afternoon sun. It can also tolerate low light levels but will exhibit slower leggy growth.

Water your Monstera Peru when 50-75% of the soil volume is dry. Water thoroughly, and be sure to empty the saucer of any excess water to prevent root rot.

Your Monstera Peru does fine in an average household environment, but will not mind added humidity.

Your Monstera Peru prefers temperatures between 65-80°F. Avoid cold drafts and sudden temperature changes.

For best results, use a liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half the recommended strength once a month during the spring and summer. Never apply fertilizer to dry soil; always make sure the soil is damp before feeding your plant.

Your Monstera Peru is considered to be toxic to pets and humans if ingested.

These plants love to vine and climb. You can train your monstera to climb up a stake, moss pole, or a wall. Do this by using garden ties or hooks to guide it where you would like. This will also encourage larger leaf growth.

Monstera Dubia

Your Monstera Dubia can survive in low light conditions, but grows faster and produces more variegation in bright indirect light. The plant can only tolerate direct sun in the morning; extended periods of direct light can burn the foliage.

Water your Monstera Dubia when the soil is 50-75% dry. Water thoroughly until water comes out of the drainage holes, and be sure to empty the saucer of any excess water. This plant is sensitive to overwatering. If the soil remains constantly wet, the roots will rot.

Basic household humidity is fine for your Monstera Dubia, but higher humidity encourages larger leaves. Your plant will benefit from a pebble tray or adding a humidifier.

Your plant will grow well in temperatures between 65-80°F. Keep away from drafts, especially during the winter months.

Feed your Monstera Dubia monthly in the spring and summer with a general-purpose fertilizer. No fertilizer is needed in the fall and winter months when the plant is dormant. Always fertilize on moist soil, never dry as it can burn the roots.

This plant is toxic to pets and humans if ingested.

As your Monstera Dubia grows, you will need to add more wood planks or you can transfer it to a large moss pole. Doing so ensures the plant keeps its broad shingle-like appearance and encourages large leaf growth.

Monstera Standleyana Albo

Your Monstera Standleyana Albo can survive in low light conditions, but grows faster and produces more white variegation in bright indirect light. The plant can only tolerate some direct sun in the morning; extended periods of direct light can burn the foliage.

Water your Monstera Standleyana Albo when the soil is 50-75% dry. Water thoroughly until water comes out of the drainage holes, and be sure to empty the saucer of any excess water. This plant is sensitive to overwatering. If the soil remains constantly wet, the roots will rot.

Basic household humidity is fine for your Monstera Standleyana Albo but higher humidity encourages larger leaves. Your plant will benefit from a pebble tray or adding a humidifier.

Your Monstera Standleyana Albo will grow well in temperatures between 65-80°F. Keep away from drafts, especially during the winter months.

Feed your Monstera Standleyana Albo monthly in the spring and summer with a general-purpose fertilizer. No fertilizer is needed in the fall and winter months when the plant is dormant. Always fertilize on moist soil, never dry as it can burn the roots.

This plant is toxic to pets and humans if ingested.

Trim out any dead, discolored, or damaged leaves using clean, sharp scissors. As the plant ages, the older leaves will naturally turn yellow or brown and fall off. Your Monstera Standleyana Albo is a vining plant, so consider providing a trellis or moss pole for it to climb on.

Common Issues for your Monstera

Common Issue

Why are the leaves on my Monstera turning yellow?

Common Issue

Why are the leaves on my Monstera limp and drooping?

Common Issue

Why is my Monstera falling over?

Grow Beyond Expectations

What’s a Monstera?

Botanical Classification: Monstera deliciosa

About

Monsteras are unique, easygoing houseplants whose dramatic leaves are adorned with dramatic hole formations. Monsteras are vining plants and love to trail over the pot or climb along a stake or trellis.

They love bright, indirect light, but will be happy under fluorescent lights as well. Monsteras are climbers, so as they grow, they will want to vine out. These impressive plants are also tolerant of the occasional missed watering, making them ideal for inexperienced plant parents.

Fun Fact

Monstera plants are known for their distinctive leaf patterns. The slits and holes in Monstera leaves are called fenestrations.

Monstera

Lively and wild with large, tropical leaves. Also known as the Swiss Cheese Plant.

very easy, perfect for beginners, low to bright indirect light

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