The monstera genus is one of the most common for indoor plant owners and includes some of the hardiest varieties like Deliciosa or Adansonii but there are a few things you should know to help these plants thrive in your home and I'm sharing them with you!
1. Most monsteras prefer a well-draining mix and like to dry out between waterings.
Monsteras generally have thick and vigiourous root systems that allow them to pull in a lot of moisture once watered but they don't like to have wet feet for too long. Keeping them in a mix like Chunky & Funky Indoor Plant Mix which contains aerating ingredients like multiple sizes of perlite, pumice, and orchid bark that will allow for the balance of moisture when the plant needs it but also will keep a good amount of oxygen to minimise the risk of root rot.
If you already have a bag of potting mix at home and are worried it may be too moisture retentive you can supplement with Aeration Aid (I recommend 2 parts of your mix to 1 part Aeration Aid) to break up that dense mix a perfect blend of the key ingredients we use in Chunky & Funky Indoor Plant Mix like charcoal, pumice, and orchid bark.
2. To grow large monsteras indoors, consider using trellises or moss poles for stability.
Depending on the type of monstera you have but considering some of the more common types like Deliciosa and the variegated varieties like Albo, Aurea, or Thai Constellation you're likely after large, beautiful leaves and the easiest way to help your plant size up is give it some kind of support. A stake or a trellis is great if you're after something low-maintenance that can slowly help your plant feel more stable and produce larger leaves but you can also go for a moss pole like the ones from Leafy.
If you're wanting to set up a Leafy Pole I show you exactly how to do so in this blog post with video!
3. Bright, indirect light is their happy place.
Monsteras tend to really suit the classic position for indoor plants of bright, indirect light. As we head into the warmer months, the temperature and UV will spike and the hard afternoon sun could burn the foliage of a younger plant or a more delicate leaf like Monstera Siltepecana (shown below)
My recommendation is to position your plant somewhere that gets great light throughout the day (don't sweat a little morning sun before 9am especially on a more mature plant) and ideally at least one meter away from a window in case the UV is a little stronger than you think!
4. Monsteras in general are fast growers but you're wanting to encourage even faster growth make sure you're giving them the right nutrition!
While these hardy plants tend to grow pretty well even in the worst conditions, you probably want to to consider feeding them something extra to help support larger, more lush foliage. The top recommendation we have is Foliage Focus by Growth Technology which contains all twelve minerals that plants need to support their growth.
Bonus - I recommend pairing Foliage Focus with Rootzone which aims to strengthen and support strong, healthy roots (Healthy roots, happy plant). You can even add Support Pellets into your soil when you're repotting to have a slow-release food option.
5. Keep the foliage clean and prevent pests to ensure your plant stays happy and healthy!
While most common monsteras are fairly hardy it doesn't mean they're not prone to pests. The most common culprit I've had on mine before are thrips which can be treated with a good foliage clean with something like Protect Spray (Which pairs perfectly with our Planti Leaf Cleaning & Care Gloves) and including a granular insecticide like Bug Killa into the soil every 2-3 months.
Practice these tips and I have no doubt your plant will flourish! For our local Canberrans, we've always got a few varieties of monstera in the shop and you can check out what we have here.
Still have questions? Leave a comment as I'd be more than happy to help!
- Josh, Founder of Planti Peeps