{"id":7972,"date":"2023-06-14T02:19:46","date_gmt":"2023-06-14T06:19:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/?p=7972"},"modified":"2023-06-14T02:21:01","modified_gmt":"2023-06-14T06:21:01","slug":"how-to-grow-and-care-for-a-monstera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/2023\/06\/14\/how-to-grow-and-care-for-a-monstera\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Grow and Care for a Monstera"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Bring houseplant royalty into your home and keep your monstera happy with this guide.<\/p>

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PHOTO:\u00a0<\/span>

TORRIPHOTO \/ GETTY IMAGES<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Nicknamed the swiss cheese plant, monsteras are hard to miss with their large, distinctive leaves. They’ve become an iconic tropical houseplant with foliage ranging from emerald to forest green. These vining plants are originally native to rainforests in Central America. For the majority of growers, monsteras are houseplants. But, if you live in\u00a0USDA Hardiness Zones 9 or 10, these beauties can be grown in your front yard. Outdoors, monsteras can reach up to 60 feet high with leaves spanning two feet long. When grown indoors, their size is much smaller due to container size, variety, and available light.<\/p>

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Monstera Overview<\/h3>
GENUS NAME<\/td>Monstera<\/td><\/tr>
COMMON NAME<\/td>Monstera<\/td><\/tr>
ADDITIONAL COMMON NAMES<\/td>Swiss cheese plant<\/td><\/tr>
PLANT TYPE<\/td>Houseplant, Vine<\/td><\/tr>
LIGHT<\/td>Part Sun<\/td><\/tr>
HEIGHT<\/td>4 to 15 Feet<\/td><\/tr>
WIDTH<\/td>3 to 8 Feet<\/td><\/tr>
FOLIAGE COLOR<\/td>Blue\/Green<\/td><\/tr>
SPECIAL FEATURES<\/td>Good for Containers, Low Maintenance<\/td><\/tr>
PROPAGATION<\/td>Division, Layering, Stem Cuttings<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>
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Toxic to Pets<\/h3>

Pet owners take caution!\u00a0Monsteras are toxic, but not fatal to cats and dogs.\u00a0If your furry friend nibbles on one of the leaves, symptoms such as vomiting, trouble swallowing, drooling, and irritation of the mouth, tongue, and lips may occur.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/span>

Monstera Must-Know Care Tips<\/span><\/h2>

Monsteras might look intimidating to the new houseplant aficionado, but they\u2019re actually\u00a0pretty low maintenance plants. Regardless of skill level, any plant lover can grow this enticing plant in their home.<\/p>

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Light<\/span><\/h3>

These native tropical plants need lots of light. Aim to give your monstera around 5-8 hours of indirect but bright light. If you own a variegated variety of monstera, the plant will need more light to develop the colors in their leaves. Aim to give variegated monsteras 5-12 hours of light a day. Place your monstera in front a north- or south-facing window to get the most natural indirect sunlight. Depending on location or during winter months it might be challenging to meet the light needs of your monstera.\u00a0Purchase a grow lamp to avoid this issue\u00a0and keep your monstera growing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

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Soil and Water<\/span><\/h3>

Plan on watering every 1-2 weeks.\u00a0Fully saturate the soil with water and make sure it drains\u00a0from the pot. Empty excess water from the saucer or add water where the pot can drain freely (like a patio, shower, or sink). Let the soil dry between waterings to avoid root rot. Use a soil mix that drains well.<\/p>

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Temperature and Humidity<\/span><\/h3>

Like most houseplants, monsteras prefer a range between 65-85\u00b0F. Don\u2019t let your home\u2019s temperature dip below 60\u00b0F. The cold shock will cause your monstera to stop growing.\u00a0<\/p>

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Typically, your home\u2019s normal humidity will work. If your home tends to err on the dry side, think about investing in a humidifier. To best cater to the plants needs,\u00a0try to mist your monstera\u00a0once a week. This will help mimic the tropical environment it prefers.<\/p>

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Fertilizer<\/span><\/h3>

For this quick-growing plant, fertilizer is a must. Aim to fertilize your monstera once a month during the growing season (spring and summer). For easy application, use a 20-20-20\u00a0liquid all purpose fertilizer.<\/p>

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How to Prune a Monstera<\/span><\/h2>

Monsteras are fast growers, gaining 1-2 feet a year. With all that growth, it\u2019s important to\u00a0remember to prune the plant. Make sure to cut back any yellowing leaves or dying stems to promote the overall health of the plant.<\/p>

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How to Pot and Repot a Monstera\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>

Monsteras typically need to be\u00a0repotted every 2-3 years\u00a0to support healthy growth. Some telltale signs that your monstera is ready for a larger pot include: roots coming out of drainage holes, slow\/no growth, soil dries out quicker, or has many dying leaves. The\u00a0best pot size for your plant\u00a0can vary based on the size and speed of growth. Make sure to gradually increase the pot size. If there\u2019s too much additional soil, your monstera will be more susceptible to root rot. Try to select an unglazed clay or terracotta pot to keep the soil dry, but the roots well hydrated.\u00a0<\/p>

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It\u2019s easy to damage or break off parts of your monstera during the repotting process, so make sure to support the long stems and broad leaves while working with the plant. Implement a moss pole to stabilize the plant. This gives your plant something to stabilize itself on. This also benefits the aerial roots when they begin climbing.\u00a0<\/p>

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How to Propagate a Monstera<\/span><\/h2>

it’s super easy to propagate monsteras! The easiest method is to\u00a0take a stem cutting. Start by choosing a healthy stem with a few leaves. To take the cutting, snip below the leaf node (the point where leaves join the main stem). Then place the cutting into a glass of water and wait for a root system to grow. This should take 2-3 weeks. Remember to change the water every 3-5 days. Otherwise, the cutting could start to rot.\u00a0<\/p>

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You can also propagate your monstera by dividing the plant, or separating a part from the parent plant. The best time to implement this method is when you’re repotting your plant. This gives you a full view of the root system. Select which part of the plant you want to remove and carefully separate that section, roots and all, from the rest of the plant. Then repot both plants.<\/p>

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Additionally, you can\u00a0try air layering your plant. You’ll need plastic wrap, twine or twist tie, and sphagnum moss. Cut a square of plastic wrap large enough to hold a clump of moss around a section of stem. Then, soak the moss and squeeze out excess water. Select the stem and node you want to propagate and place the moss around the area. Wrap the plastic square around the moss and tie shut. When roots form in the sphagnum moss, cut the stem below the roots and repot.<\/p>

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Pests and Problems<\/span><\/h2>

Typically, a monstera is an easy-to-maintain\u00a0plant that\u2019s usually pest free. The most common issues are yellowing leaves or curling leaves, which are related to watering. The leaves will curl from a lack of proper water and will yellow when overwatered.\u00a0<\/p>

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Part of having a monstera is getting those gorgeous splits in the broad leaves. If your monstera lacks these splits, it\u2019s most likely because your plant hasn\u2019t matured enough. The leaves will split when the plant is 2-3 years old. If your monstera is old enough, consider providing your plant with more light, either from a window or a grow lamp.<\/p>

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Types of Monstera<\/span><\/h2>

Monstera Deliciosa<\/span><\/h3>

This is the most common of the variety of monstera with leaf fenestrations on the heart-shaped foliage.<\/p>

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Variegated Monstera Deliciosa<\/span><\/h3>

The leaves on this monstera variety have a unique coloring of white and lighter green splotches. Additionally, it grows faster than the non-variegated\u00a0Monstera Deliciosa.<\/em><\/p>

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Monstera Obliqua<\/span><\/h3>

Instead of splits that reach the edge of the leave, this variety has enclosed holes on the foliage. Mature leaves are smaller than other types of monsteras.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bring houseplant royalty into your home and keep your monstera happy with this guide. PHOTO:\u00a0 TORRIPHOTO \/ GETTY IMAGES Nicknamed the swiss cheese plant, monsteras are hard to miss with their large, distinctive leaves. They’ve become an iconic tropical houseplant with foliage ranging from emerald to forest green. These vining plants are originally native to rainforests in Central America. For the majority of growers, monsteras are houseplants. But, if you live in\u00a0USDA Hardiness Zones 9 or 10, these beauties can be grown in your front yard. Outdoors, monsteras can reach up to 60 feet high with leaves spanning two feet long. When grown indoors, their size is much smaller due to container size, variety, and available light. \u00a0 Monstera Overview GENUS NAME Monstera COMMON NAME Monstera ADDITIONAL COMMON NAMES Swiss cheese plant PLANT TYPE Houseplant, Vine LIGHT Part Sun HEIGHT 4 to 15 Feet WIDTH 3 to 8 Feet FOLIAGE…<\/p>\n

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