Monstera
Kiersten Rankel
Kiersten lives in New Orleans, LA and graduated with her masters degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University in 2019.
She has conducted or assisted on research studies covering trees such as the bald cypress, swamp maple, and water tupelo, as well as important marsh grasses including Juncus, Spartina, and Phragmites.
Kiersten is a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist and regularly volunteers with local community gardens and nonprofits to help restore critical ecosystems along the Gulf Coast.
4.8 out of 5 (1789 experiences)
About Monstera
Monstera deliciosa is a species of flowering plant native to the tropical rainforests of southern Mexico down to Colombia. Both the root and leaf have a long history of use in traditional medicine. In Mexico, a leaf or root infusion is taken daily to relieve arthritis. In Martinique, the root is used in remedies for snakebites. 🤒 The holes in Monstera leaves let water drip close to the roots, and they absorb the scattered beams of sunlight that make it down through the forest canopy. Their fruit also tastes like a mix of pineapple and banana! 🍍🍌
Taxonomy
Monstera deliciosa
Monstera
Araceae
Alismatales
Also known as
Swiss Cheese Plant and Philodendron Monstera
How to care for Monstera
How often to water your Monstera
Monstera needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for Monstera in your home
Monstera may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Monstera in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Monstera
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Monstera after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
-
Glenda my #monstera gas grown five new leaves and a new growth point! 🥺 #plantsmakepeoplehappy #happyplants #greggang
-
I know, I know… enough about Kendall & #WetheWild but I can’t get enough of it! I swear every time I water her, she gets bigger and happier This is and has been by far my happiest plant & im so proud! She currently has 3 new leaves working on unfurling too 😍 #Monstera #HappyPlants #PlantAddict #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantTherapy #GregGang #Greggers #elise
-
BUGS I noticed these bugs on the leaves of the Monstera. What could it be? #BugsBeGone #Monstera #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantTherapy
-
Are coffee grounds good for houseplants? I have started to empty my used coffee pods in my houseplant mix (indoor soil, orchid bark, perlite, sprinkle of compost and shake/feed). Is that good or bad? Does it hurt or help them? I've used the mix to repot my Deliciosa, she's still standing, soooo... 🤪 #coffeegrounds #Monstera
-
How many plants is this? I have my first monstera deliciosa from my ikea trip last week. (They always get me with their plant section!) I read something about cutting off the small, lower old leaves to get new big ones with fenestrations, but I don’t know if that’s what these leaves are or if they’re even on the same plant? #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #MonsteraMonday #Monstera
-
Leaves curling Wondering what could be causing leaves to curl inward. I inherited this plant, so I am not keen on how they behave or what they may be sensitive to. Per her card: —She’s in an East-facing window, only gets 15 minutes of direct light in the wee morning then it’s bright indirect for the rest of the day. Weather has been on the warmer side so no sudden cool drafts by this window. —Humidity is 68% around her. —Potting mix is tropical blend that I’ve added peat moss, perlite, course sand, orchid bark and worm casings to. Has drainage. Was just planted in this pot and soil beginning of April. Rootball is very tiny, previous owner had her in a pot that was triple this size. —No signs of pests. #Monstera
-
Help Me!🥹 I don’t know if I’m over watering or under. She looks sad #Monstera
-
Hi - during transit, one of the leafs was damaged. Do I cut the whole piece or leave it alone? #Monstera
-
Monstera help! I’ve had my monstera for about 7 years and I was very negligent about trimming it. I started trimming recently but it’s still very leggy. I’d like for it to be more full and less vine-y. What’s the best way to go about trimming to get a fuller plant with larger leaves? I was planning on repotting it in a larger pot. Should I repot before or after trimming? Thanks!!
-
Update on my baby monstera deliciosa! 2/8 of them have unfurled their first leaves and they are the cutest little baby plants! 🌱 I also separated them into their own little pots on Friday before the roots got too tangled together. I wasn’t expecting 8/10 seeds to make it so far and I definitely won’t have the space for 9 monstera for at least another year so I’m going to have to give some out to family and friends or something. 😅
Care Summary for Monstera
Monstera
Greg recommends:
0.5 cups every 9 days
< 3ft from a window
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Big but can be trained vertically if you stay on it as it grows. Build yourself a big moss pole. Plan for 6 ft. Can get brown tips if you are not regular with your watering but reasonably robust. Likes light a grow light over head works though I’ve had reasonable success with an “up light” grow light.
Trending in your area
Similar to Monstera
Aglaonema 'Golden Bay'
Aglaonema 'Tigress'
Aglaonema 'Yellow Coc…
Alocasia
Alocasia Green Shield
Alocasia Antoro Velvet
Ace of Spades
Aglaonema 'Super Whit…
Aglaonema 'Pink Katri…
Aglaonema 'Favonian'
Alocasia 'Imperial Re…
Alocasia California
alocasia jacklyn
Aglaonema 'Sparkling …
Aglaonema
Alocasia 'Ebony'
Aglaonema 'Cutlass'
Aglaonema
✨ Discover rare plants
Stomatium acutifolium
Haworthia emelyae com…
Tillandsia caerulea A…
Graptoveria 'Douglas …
Hoya fitchii
Scindapsus pictus 'Si…
Hoya pottsii 'Khao Ya…
Lavandula Pedunculata
Anastasia Weeping Fig
Begonia lubbersii
Philodendron 'Gabby'
Chinese Evergreen 'Go…
Blushing Aeonium
Echeveria Esther
Ruby Ball
Astroloba congesta
Caladium
Thelocactus macdowell…
Greg’s plant care information is derived from first-principles biology and physics and supported by peer-reviewed research, academic institutions, and industry experts. We are committed to providing the highest-quality plant care information available, so if you have any concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to our support.
- Plants for a Future. “Plant Database.” pfaf.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
- Encyclopedia of Life. “Encyclopedia of Life.” eol.org. N.p., n.d. Web.