You should have an idea of the type of pot you want to buy for your Monstera before you visit a store (in person or online) to look at them. The finest material and design for your Monstera’s new home will depend on a few factors that you must take into account.
You should consider:
- Drainage
- Watering custom
- Climate and temperature
- Whether your monstera is an indoor or outdoor pet
Drainage is a Must
The pot for your monstera must have drainage. Because they are prone to root rot, monsteras dislike it when their soil is damp for an extended period of time.
A cachepot, or pot without drainage, will retain more water at the bottom and make it more likely that the roots will begin to rot.
If you insist on using a cachepot for your Monstera, you have two options:
- Make a hole in the ground or
- Place your Monstera within the attractive cachepot in a plastic nursery pot.
Unless you are certain you know exactly how much water your Monstera needs, it is not advised to pot it directly into a cachepot without drainage.
Pots for Overwaterers
Overwatering is a common habit for plant mothers. When this is the case, a container with a free-draining bottom is ideal for your Monstera so that there is no standing water. When their soil is overly damp for an extended period of time, monsteras are highly sensitive to root rot.
If you have a tendency to overwater your Monstera, terracotta is a suitable material to use for the pot because it is porous and will wick away extra moisture.
Pots for Underwaterers
Do you frequently forget about your plants? Do you forget to water them and allow them go wilted? That’s alright!
Longer-lasting than unglazed terracotta, materials like plastic and glazed terracotta will retain moisture in the soil.
Never place your Monstera in a pot without any drainage, not even if you submerge it.
Does Monstera require drainage to survive?
Monstera plants require well-draining soil. Use an excellent indoor potting soil that is well-draining because they prefer moist soil but struggle to grow in wetness. It will help promote proper drainage and ward off root rot to use a pot with a drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. Never forget to remove extra water from the tray underneath your pot so that it doesn’t soak back into your plant!
Does Monstera require soil that drains quickly?
Moisture can be distributed more evenly thanks to soil aeration. More significantly, it facilitates the movement of oxygen via the roots of the plant.
Similar to this, efficient soil drainage enables water to percolate through the soil at a slow rate without puddling, giving plants enough time to absorb the water.
Remember that plants cannot adequately absorb water from the soil when it drains too quickly. While root rot could result from slow drainage.
Overhead Watering
You may irrigate your Monstera Deliciosa by using the overhead irrigation technique. You may water it in this way with a variety of equipment.
To water your plant from the top, you can use a watering can, hose, or pipe. It enables you to wash the Monstera leaves. Monstera leaves gradually accumulate dust. Additionally, it is a quicker approach to hydrate your foliage.
Bottom Watering
A Monstera Deliciosa is watered using the bottom watering technique. Your plant’s roots become stronger when you water it from the bottom up because they are constantly spreading downward toward the moisture.
Put your pot in a container that has been filled with water to accomplish this. Check to see if your plant has absorbed enough water after 10 minutes. If not, give it another ten minutes in the water bath.
Do monsteras prefer soil with good drainage?
Use peat moss-rich, high-quality potting soil that drains well when you plant your Monstera in a container with drainage holes. The plants flourish best in dense, nutrient-rich soil; however, they struggle in potting soils that contain compost or bark. Make a few in the bottom of your container if it doesn’t already have any drainage holes. Standing water might cause the roots to decay.
How much light is required by a Monstera plant? Give your Monstera filtered, inconspicuous light rather than direct sunshine, which can burn the leaves. The plant is typically receiving too much sun if the leaves turn yellow.
Use a sheer drape to help filter the light and keep your plant out of the hot, direct sun if you keep it close to a southern or western exposure. Although they won’t produce as many eye-catching leaf perforations as usual and may stretch in the direction of the light source, monsteras can adapt to low light settings.
Rotate the plant once a week for optimal results to ensure even growth. Without it, it might tilt toward the light and become top heavy.
Snake Plant
The Snake plant is one of our top picks for plants that don’t need drainage holes and is one of the best indoor plants for beginners. These plants, which are native to West Africa’s tropical region, are well-known for having blade-shaped leaves that are always upright. Although the snake plant is typically grown in a pot filled with soil, it can also be grown in a bowl of water.
Simply place some plant cuttings in a small basin of water, and then wait a few days. You will observe that the cuttings gradually transform into lovely snake plants during the next days. Just be careful while tying the plant’s base as it grows higher because this will make the leaves stand up straight.
Oleander Plant
The oleander plant, which belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is best known as a shrub, is a plant. None of us are certain of the plant’s genuine origin because it is grown practically anywhere in the world, while some specialists assert that it is from the Southwestern regions of Asia.
Interestingly, although being renowned for its vivid and lovely blossoms, oleander plants can also produce deadly blooms. Some gardeners assert that the plant itself is poisonous. For this reason, if you have children or pets in your home, we will not advise using oleander.
Although it can be planted outside, the oleander is typically grown indoors. Their ability to survive with little or no water is their greatest strength. The soil also doesn’t matter much to oleander, unlike its picky relatives. All you have to do is provide the plant with one to two inches of water. Perform this once each week or every ten days. Ensure that the plant receives enough sunshine, but watch out for harsh or excessive rays that could hinder the plant’s growth.
Chinese Evergreen
Chinese Evergreens are well-liked plants that don’t need drainage holes because of their long, silvery leaves with a hint of green. It’s important to remember that the Chinese Evergreen prefers moist settings even though drainage holes aren’t a big problem for them. For optimal results, make sure the soil is evenly moistened without being overly saturated with water for an extended period of time. For this reason, it is preferable to hold off and let the soil dry out before thinking about adding the next round of water.
Is a planter usable without drainage?
Different pots have different drainage systems. Although it seems like a simple differentiation, the size of the hole at the bottom of your pot makes a huge difference in terms of potting, plant maintenance, and plant care.
How to plant in pots without drainage holes is a topic that we get a lot of inquiries about. Some advise against it altogether, claiming that drainage holes are essential for plant health. Can you keep your plant in a pot that doesn’t have drainage holes? Our recommendation is to proceed cautiously.
What does a drainage hole serve? Water is essential for plant survival. But the most typical—and maybe quickest—way to kill a houseplant is overwatering. After watering, drainage holes let extra water to drain out of pots, preventing water from pooling at the base and safeguarding delicate roots from rot, fungus, and bacteria.
Here are some things to keep in mind when caring for plants in containers without drainage.
Rules for Planting: Pots Without Drainage Holes
A small amount of water has a big impact. When a plant is in a pot without drainage, you should make careful to water it sparingly and gradually rather than fully saturating it and letting the extra water run out the drainage hole as we generally advise. Every water drop you add to the pot will remain there. Additionally, watering slowly encourages the soil to absorb water evenly rather than collecting at the bottom.
Use soil modifications The soil of your houseplant doesn’t get compacted or water-repellent thanks to soil additives. These additives not only allow for aeration but also aid in more even water distribution throughout the soil. Perlite, pumice, vermiculite, orchid bark, and horticulture charcoal are examples of typical additives.
When soil without amendments dries out, it frequently repels water and makes caring for indoor plants more challenging. The little pieces of porous rock and bark assist provide water with additional pathways to hydrate the roots of your plant.
Employ activated charcoal. High temperature heating boosts the naturally absorptive qualities of activated charcoal. This implies that, in the event of overwatering, a thin coating of activated charcoal at the bottom of your pot can actually remove some of the extra water, making your plant very happy.
Fungal and bacterial illness are additional problems brought on by over irrigation. Natural microbial features of activated charcoal can aid in warding off those dangerous insects. Added benefit!
Do you feel you overwatered? Shake it off. Yep To enable the extra water to drain, gently flip the pot to the side (or upside down, if feasible) while holding the soil back with one hand. Any soil that is lost can be replaced later.
Avoid being showered on Unless the plant will be protected from rain, you probably shouldn’t use a pot for an outside plant if it doesn’t include a drainage hole. You must carefully control how much water goes into your pot because everything might be lost if it gets soaked during a downpour. Use the appropriate size More soil means longer-lasting moisture. We never advise transferring a plant to a pot with a diameter more than 1 or 2 inches. This is particularly true if your pot lacks drainage holes because the soil will remain moist for longer and you may unintentionally overwater if there isn’t enough root mass to fill the container. Hoya, Jungle Cacti, Tradescantia, and Epipremnum are some examples of the plants we prefer to pot because they enjoy being rootbound into these pots without drainage.
Repot is the last resort. You must pay attention to your plant. In a pot without drainage, your plant may flourish or suffer depending on your environment and personal watering habits. Gently take the plant out of the pot if it isn’t flourishing and examine the roots. Overwatering is indicated by roots that are mushy, black, or brown. In order to repot the plant in a pot with drainage holes and keep it merely damp until it begins to recover, try trimming off any roots that appear to be injured.
Make it a cachepot, expert advice Here’s a tip if you’re a little daunted by the added effort required to put a plant in a pot without drainage. Find a plastic container that is just little smaller than your planter and has drainage holes. Set the plastic pot with your plant into the planter after you’ve potted it. If done correctly, the plastic should be concealed, giving the impression that your plant has been potted right into the planter. Utilizing the drainage holes in the plastic pot, you can then take it outside to water.
Do you have any suggestions on whether to pot plants with or without drainage holes? Let us know in the comments. Happy gardening!
Does Monstera prefer large pots?
Unquestionably, one of the most well-known indoor plants in history is the monstera deliciosa. The characteristic leaves are frequently seen in movies, video games, and printed on at least three pillows at your neighborhood home goods store. In addition to being a true fashion classic, it is also a very resilient and adaptable plant. We delve into the requirements for caring for this plant in this article.
Other names for Monstera deliciosa include “fruit salad plant,” “elephant ear plant,” and “swiss cheese plant.”
When should I water my Monstera deliciosa?
During the warmer months of the year, wait until the soil has dried to at least 50% of its depth. Allow the soil to totally dry up before watering in the winter.
How much light does a Monstera need?
Although they can withstand medium to low light, monstera prefer bright light. A decent test is a room with enough light to read a book by. They will develop more quickly and larger the more light they receive.
When should I fertilize my Monstera?
Mid-Spring to mid-Autumn, apply a liquid fertilizer every other time you water. You can fertilize your plants every time you water them if they are growing quickly in the summer. Fertilize not during the winter.
Should I re-pot my Monstera?
The majority of indoor plants are content to grow in small containers and will even profit from being somewhat root-bound. There is never a rush to increase the size of your pot until all the soil has had roots grow through it, just an inch or two.
Light
It is preferable to place your Monstera in the brightest area possible when it is cultivated indoors. A excellent place to start is with enough natural light to comfortably read a book. Make sure your plant doesn’t receive too much afternoon sun in the summer to avoid burning it. Even while a location may be ideal throughout the year, on a day with a temperature of +40°C, the heat and light may be too much for the plant to take.
Monstera may thrive in low-light conditions, however the smaller the leaves are, the less fenestration there will be to grow.
Fenestration refers to the distinctive holes that make a monstera leaf so simple to recognize. Faster growth, bigger leaves, and more fenestration will occur as a result of increased light levels.
Watering
The majority of indoor plants are vulnerable to overwatering. During warm weather, we advise you to water this plant just after the top half of the soil has dried out. Try to let the soil dry up almost completely over the winter.
Depending on the time of year, the location of the plant, and the flow of air, this will take two to four weeks. Please be aware that this is the shortest length of time you can wait; especially in the winter, you can wait much longer!
In severe circumstances, overwatering this plant can cause root rot, darkened leaf tips, and even plant death. However, if you skip watering for a week or two, the plant may not even notice or may simply wilt, giving you a very clear indication that it’s time to water.
Fertiliser
As a plant with a potential for rapid growth, monstera will undoubtedly profit from routine applications of liquid fertilizer. Every second cycle of watering throughout the warmer months of the year—spring and summer—can include some fertilizer. If your plant continues to develop during the winter, you could consider reducing the intensity of your fertilizer and using it less frequently.
Although products made from seaweed, like Seasol, are low in the essential elements for development (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), they are excellent soil conditioners and helpful for avoiding hydrophobia and pot shock.
Repotting
Monstera enjoy being crammed within their containers. Regardless of the size of the pot, they will grow enormous. Your monstera won’t grow any bigger or faster if you put it in a big pot; most likely, all the extra damp soil will cause root rot, or your monstera will focus more energy on growing roots than leaves. It is preferable to concentrate more on a pot that complements your aesthetic while repotting and to use that pot for a few years.
It’s better to repot during the warmer months of the year if you do decide to do so. Be cautious to plant it in a container with sufficient drainage (at least one big drainage hole). The soil may dry up a little bit quicker if you choose to use a porous terracotta pot, which can be quite beneficial in preventing over-watering. A premium potting mix is an excellent place to start, but a cacti/succulent mix or even chunky orchid mix works great to help with drainage. Monstera flourish in a well-draining potting mix.
Propagation
After a year or two, Monstera deliciosa’s size as a vine can become painfully obvious. This plant will spread across the ground and climb trees in the wild. You might need to stake the plant as it gets bigger in order to sustain this sprawling epiphyte and keep it standing erect. You can take a clip from the lead portion of the stem if you think the plant is getting too long. This will stop the stem’s growth and promote new shoots to emerge from the lowest parts of the plant.
The cutting can either be submerged in water or planted in wet ground. A node should be present on the stem of your stem cutting for about one inch. If the cutting already has an aerial root, it will grow considerably more quickly. Don’t worry if your cutting loses its leaves; they are not at all necessary because the stems can photosynthesise.
Common Problems
Overwatering is the most frequent problem that you may encounter. This will result in wilting, root rot, blackened leaf tips, and frequently white mold on the soil. Check to see if your pot is emptying and if you are watering excessively. Once it is dried, stop watering it again! In extreme circumstances, you might replace the moist soil with dry soil or move the plant outside into a covered area to hasten the drying process. Simply wait. Although this plant is unbreakable, it will take some time. A lot of good airflow will be quite beneficial.
If your plant isn’t getting enough light, it will grow long, lanky, and floppy to help it reach a potential light source. The internodes will be longer and the leaves will be more sparse. Stake the plant and/or relocate it to a more sunny area. It must be a permanent shift; periodically moving the plant into a light area would not work.
The most frequent pests are mealybugs, scale, and gnat flies, but I have never found M. deliciosa to be particularly vulnerable to insect invasion. The best course of action is to manually remove them to halt the spread right away, and then obtain a solution like neem oil, which will eradicate a variety of unpleasant creatures while being extremely safe and non-toxic.
Outdoors Care
When Monstera is outdoors, it is ideal to keep it in a semi-sheltered area. Try to locate a location where they are protected from the wind, frost, and hot afternoon sun. It should be mentioned that Monstera deliciosado does not need warm temperatures or high humidity. Although they will develop more quickly in the warmth, they can stay outside throughout winter in Melbourne. They will benefit much from the morning sun, which is completely OK.
This is the ideal place to start if you’re looking for a plant for your balcony or courtyard. This plant will grow quickly thanks to the additional bright light and the great airflow. Increased airflow around the plant will help to lower the risk of overwatering and the likelihood that viruses may infect the plants. I’ve discovered that in this posture, the leaves will also grow bigger and have more fenestration. You’re welcome to plant one right away in a garden bed!