If you notice your plant’s leaves drooping or changing color, it may be time to repot it since your plant needs fresh soil. Although you can repot your Monstera at any time of the year, it is best to wait until spring. Your plant will be able to regenerate and develop better leaves in a larger area. Repotting young Monstera plants annually is a smart choice. On the other hand, older plants can still thrive even if their pots are changed every two years.
When should I plant another season of Monstera?
You might be asking what you should do to maintain the health of your Monstera deliciosa if you’ve had it for a long. The solution (in part) is to periodically repot it into a bigger container to give it the space it needs to grow. Long-term storage of monsteras in small containers prevents them from ever reaching their “monster potential.”
Every two years, a Monstera deliciosa should be replanted, ideally in the spring as it starts to grow. Overgrown roots, a lack of new growth, and poor water retention are indications that a Monstera needs to be transplanted sooner rather than later.
This article will discuss some of these signals’ meanings and physical characteristics. It will be simpler to determine when a plant is prepared to go up to the next size of planter once you are aware of how a Monstera responds to being left in a pot that is too tiny.
Is winter a good time to replant Monstera?
Repotting Monsteras is best done in the spring, summer, and through the beginning of fall. The ideal seasons to live in if you have an early winter are spring and summer. In Tucson, the fall season lasts just until the end of October.
Repotting should ideally be avoided in the winter if at all possible because plants like to rest then. I replanted this plant in mid-April, by the way.
Soil Mix to Use When Repotting Monstera Deliciosa
Note: For a Monstera, this mixture is ideal. I repot a lot of plants—both indoor and outdoor—and have a large collection. Additionally, there is a garage where all the material bags can be kept. If you only have a small amount of room, I’ve provided you with a few alternate combinations that need fewer components.
Monsteras want a compost that is well-drained and high in peat (I use coco fiber, which is comparable to peat moss but more environmentally friendly). This mixture replicates the plant components that fall on them from above and give them the nutrition they require. They grow near the bottom of the tropical rainforest floor.
When should I no longer repot Monstera?
You will slow down your Monstera plant’s growth and never realize the full potential of these lovely plants if you keep it in the same pot for an extended period of time.
Here are 5 indicators that your Monstera is ready for a larger pot that you may watch out for. It can be difficult to tell if your plant is ripe, but if you read this post, it will become evident.
Roots coming out of the drainage holes
This is an unmistakable indication that your Monstera deliciosa probably requires a new pot. Find a pot that is one size larger if you notice roots poking through the drainage holes.
For instance, only use pots with a maximum diameter of 10 inches if your plant is in an 8 inch pot. The potting mix will dry out in a decent amount of time while allowing for more growth to take place.
I’ll provide you with a complete list of more Monstera blog posts at the end of this article, as well as a link to my in-depth Monstera care and repotting piece that you can use to repot your own plant.
Your plant has slowed down in growth (or even stopped)
Even with abundant light, if your Monstera is excessively root-bound, the development will drastically slow down.
It’s time for a bigger pot if you’ve discovered that your plant isn’t growing any longer despite favorable conditions and is badly root-bound.
Your potting mix is drying out much faster than it used to
You might find it difficult to provide adequate water to your Monstera plant when the pot fills up with roots.
Additionally, if you have been strictly adhering to a watering schedule (such as once per week), you might discover that your plant needs water more frequently than once per week.
For those of you who don’t know me, I firmly think that you shouldn’t water your plants according to a precise schedule because your plant’s water requirements can change based on the season, how tightly its roots are tied, and many other things.
Over time, roots may fill the pot, potting soil may have been rinsed out from repeated waterings, and it gets harder and harder to maintain optimum moisture levels for your plant. In these situations, it’s likely that you also have roots poking through the drainage hole, which means you need to repot the plant.
You’re starting to get a lot of yellow leaves and brown crispy leaves
Continuing from the last point, if your plant is root-bound and you’re still following a tight watering schedule, this may be the reason why the bottom leaves on your plant are turning yellow.
Your watering regimen might have worked for a while, but as soon as your plant develops root rot, it will stop working.
Feel your potting mix as soon as you notice any yellow leaves (which can have a variety of causes). Your Monstera will likely grow yellow leaves if your plant is very root-bound and you aren’t watering it frequently enough.
Another potential symptom of a severely root-bound Monstera is the development of crispy, brown leaf tips.
For a few years, my plant in the picture above has been growing in the same 14-inch-diameter pot.
Even though I’ve noticed that it’s drying out much more fast than it used to, I’m not sure whether I want to repot a plant that is taller than me.
I will thus need to water my plant much more carefully in the meantime as I wait to find the motivation to repot such a large plant in order to maintain it healthy.
Also, keep in mind that pruning your Monstera’s brown leaf tips is quite OK!
It’s been more than 2-3 years since you last repotted
Even though the passage of time alone isn’t always a reliable indicator of whether your plant needs to be repotted, if 2-3 years have passed and you haven’t done so, especially if it’s in a smaller pot or is a young plant, it’s probably time!
It’s probably time for a bigger pot if you’ve observed a combination of at least two of the aforementioned characteristics, if not more.
Here are a few more blog pieces I published about caring for Monstera plants that you might like. I hope you enjoyed this one on when to repot Monstera.
Can Monstera be repotted with fresh leaves?
When your monstera plant is young, it should always be repotted. It is significant because throughout the first few years of life, it grows quickly. To realize its full potential, it requires a bigger pot each year.
In fact, it is among the houseplants with the fastest growth rates. This can boost your self-esteem when you’re still developing your green thumb, but it also highlights how crucial regular repotting is. At first, you might be shocked at how quickly it develops.
Your plant’s growth will slow as it gets older. If the plant appears to be doing well, you might be able to go two years without repotting it.
The ideal approach when repotting your Monstera is to pick a pot that is bigger than the one you are currently using. Make sure the roots are well-supported in this new pot and top dress the plant with nutrient-rich fresh soil.
Early in the spring, before the new leaves emerge, is the ideal time of year to repot your plant. If you wait too long, the plant will have far too much new growth for you to be able to repot it. It will be considerably harder on the Monstera if you attempt it after the new growth has appeared. Mark your calendars to ensure you don’t miss the perfect repotting window because it recovers more quickly in the early spring.
Do plants experience shock when being replanted?
While most container plants occasionally require repotting to make room for their growing roots, transplanting might stress the plant. Because it occurs frequently enough, transplant shock has a name. A huge plant may suffer from transplant shock, but it is not always fatal.
Do Monstera plants enjoy being rooted?
Monstera plants don’t prefer to be root-bound, thus no. The plant won’t be able to develop and support itself if there isn’t room for the roots to expand and reach additional nutrients and water in the soil.
Since new plants develop relatively quickly for the first four years or so, they should be repotted once a year. Every two to three years, older plants can be checked or given a new pot.
Even in otherwise ideal growing conditions, root-bound plants are stressed plants and will not fare as well as they otherwise could. They must use their meager energy reserves to concentrate on staying alive rather than producing new growth.
In fact, this may be the reason if you’ve noticed that your Monstera hasn’t sprouted any new leaves or, if this is still happening, that the existing leaves aren’t splitting. Because of this, Monstera plants should periodically be examined and replanted as necessary.
What does it mean for a plant to be root bound?
When someone refers to a plant as being “root bound” or “pot bound,” they are essentially saying that it has outgrown its container and has no room for its roots. A plant’s roots will begin to grow in circles along the pot’s outer border if it is kept in a container that is too small for it.
The name refers to how the pot’s available space limits how much room the plant’s roots can spread out. In certain situations, the plant’s roots will eventually encircle themselves, obstructing the soil’s ability to absorb nutrients, water, or air.
The concept is pretty similar to foot binding if you’ve ever heard of it, with the feet being deformed as they are kept in a small area. When plant roots become pot-bound or root-bound, the same thing takes place.
When grown outside and to some extent indoors, certain Monstera species can reach heights of up to twelve feet, therefore its root system is much more crucial than that of other small houseplants.
Sadly, many Monstera plants cultivated inside or outside in pots never achieve their full beauty and size simply because their root systems are confined in containers that are much too tiny for them.
Repotting in the winter is it bad?
As they mature, plants prefer to be potted up into bigger containers. More dirt can feed the root systems in larger containers. Years of growing in a pot can cause plants to become root-bound, which can result in death. The opportunity to repot indoor plants in the winter allows the ardent gardener to avoid frostbite on their thumbs!
If you notice roots on the surface of your pots, that is a sign that your plant needs to be replanted. Another indication is the presence of roots emerging from the drainage holes at the base of your containers. Another indication that your plants are root-bound is slow growth. Look to check if the roots are wrapping around the pot’s edge. Repotting your plant is necessary if the roots are swirling around the rootball.
Make sure the pot you choose matches the decor in your house and is the right size for the plant. If you’re repotting, avoid using large pots. Generally speaking, you should make the present container two inches bigger. The roots may rot if the new pot is too large and can contain too much water. To allow water to permeate the soil, ensure that the containers include drainage holes. Choose a saucer that matches the new pot to protect your carpet or hardwood flooring.
As the planting media, use a premium potting soil blend that has been fertilized. For the majority of indoor plants, the potting soils from Espoma Organic are good choices.
Use the following tips to make repotting easy:
- Remove the plant from its current container. To dislodge the plant, you might need to run a knife or trowel along the side.
- If the roots are coiled, pull them apart or, if they are very root-bound, trim them.
- After placing the plant in the center of the new pot and filling it with quality potting soil, add soil to the bottom of the pot.
- Water deeply to settle the dirt and wet the roots.
After being replanted, it is normal for the plant to experience shock. While the plant heals, try to keep it out of direct sunlight for a few weeks and maintain a consistent moisture level in the soil.
Can I repot indoor plants in the fall?
Repotting indoor plants is best done in the autumn. Plants will benefit from fresh soil and space for new root development as we head into the winter.
What factors should you think about while selecting a new container? There are a number of significant items. A new pot should, of course, be aesthetically pleasing and draw attention to the plant or the surroundings. However, you should also take into account the pot’s size, color, and material. These elements affect how simple it is to move the container and how frequently the plant has to be watered.
The new pot needs to be at least 2-4 inches larger in diameter than the old one if you are repotting a houseplant or another plant that has become root-bound. That provides adequate room for fresh root growth without significantly adding weight to the pot. In general, it’s recommended to increase pot size gradually.
Also take into account the container’s weight and porosity. Heavy ceramic or terra cotta pots will be more difficult to move than lightweight plastic or foam pots. Water evaporates through the sides of terra cotta pots because they are porous as well. The container dries out more quickly than plastic or ceramic pots, despite the fact that this is helpful for aerating the soil. Additionally, dark-colored pots in sunny locations warm up and dry out more quickly than light-colored ones.
Houseplants should be carefully taken out of their current pots and replanted. If you water the plant a few days before to transplanting, the process will probably go more smoothly because the soil will be moist. Place your hand over the top of the plant to grab the root ball before removing it. Turn the entire plant over and release the root ball by tapping the pot’s rim on a hard surface. Before the root ball can be gently pulled out of a larger plant, you might need to run an old knife over the margins of the plant. You might need to break the pot if the plant still won’t come out of a clay or ceramic container. Put it in a bag or cover it with an old sheet to do this. Use a hammer to pound the pot until it cracks.
Fill the bottom of the new pot with potting soil to the point where the top of the root ball is at least an inch below the rim. After placing the plant in the pot, fill the sides with potting soil. Water wisely. Add extra dirt as necessary.