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.
Do Monstera’s clay pots suit her?
If you’ve ever encountered a Monstera plant, you might have noted its stunning appearance right away. These lovely plants have an exotic appearance and are surprisingly simple to maintain. So Monsteras can be the plant you’re looking for if you want to transform your house into a lush garden. Although they are simple to care for, there are a few things you should know, such as how to pick the correct pot.
You must consider the pot’s size and material while selecting the perfect pot for your Monstera. The finest containers for Monstera plants are generally made of concrete, terracotta, or unglazed clay, and the pot should be about two inches wider than the roots’ present spread.
Of course, each plant is unique, just as each home is. Let’s take a closer look at plant pots to learn exactly how to pick the right one for your Monstera so that it stays happy and healthy and may develop to its full potential.
Which plants thrive in terracotta containers?
Which Plants Grow Well in Terracotta Containers?
- Cacti.
- Succulents.
- Orchids.
- Peperomias.
- Sansevierias.
- Philodendrons.
- Hoyas.
- Pileas.
Is Monstera Adansonii suitable for terracotta pots?
The top trending houseplant for 2020 is now Monstera adansonii. Everyone wants one, but finding one can be difficult. In case you’re wondering, Monstera was also the most popular plant in 2019. You’d be right, but that Monstera was of a different variety!
Monstera deliciosa was everyone’s favorite plant the previous year. Despite sharing the name “Swiss Cheese Plant,” they are slightly dissimilar. Monstera deliciosa grows to a height of up to 8 feet indoors and has leaves that can reach 2 feet long, but Monstera adansonii is considerably smaller but still has the striking perforated leaves.
Even in a small flat, Monstera adansonii still enables you to enjoy the striking, lovely foliage of Monstera. A trellis or hanging baskets are excellent uses for Adansonii. This Monstera can still occupy space despite being shorter and having smaller leaves thanks to its up to 20-foot-long vines!
How To Care for Monstera Adansonii
The majority of Monsteras that are offered for sale as houseplants require essentially the same amount of light, humidity, and air movement between waterings. For adansonii, this is mainly true, albeit it loves indirect light. Keep your adansonii close to a window, but avoid letting the sun directly hit the foliage. If you like, you can even send it outside for the summer; just be sure to keep it in a somewhat shaded area.
The best thing you can do for your Monstera if the air in your home is dry is to keep a humidifier running nearby. Although a pebble tray might also be helpful, a humidifier is the best solution. If misting is your only choice, go ahead and do it, but be prepared to sprinkle the area around your Monstera frequently throughout the day.
There are several options for potting your Monstera, but one of the better ones is a terra cotta pot with a drainage hole. The porous nature of terra cotta aids in wicking rainwater away from the roots. Monsteras dislike having wet bottoms.
You can’t actually water your Monstera on a strict schedule, like you can with most plants. The amount of light it receives, how warm and humid your home is, the season, and how root-bound the plant are all factors that affect how often it has to be watered.
The best technique to determine whether your Monstera needs water is to bury your finger up to your second knuckle in the soil. It’s time to water if the soil feels just a little bit damp. The Adansonii variety does not enjoy drying out as much as other types. Check the soil regularly, ideally once per week.
Supporting Monstera Adansonii
Monstera Adansonii enjoys scaling walls. The easiest method to prevent ivy from creeping up your walls is to put it in a hanging basket because it looks lovely there. You can offer it some support if you’d rather watch it climb.
A Monstera adansonii plant can be supported by a trellis or lattice, plant pegs, or even a moss pole. Because you may frequently soak moss poles in water to increase the humidity for your plant, they are fantastic. Additionally, a trellis may be quite beneficial because it makes it simple to direct the vines where you want them to grow to produce a stunning display of those dramatic leaves.
You can also let adansonii’s wild spirit to roam free. Strong roots along the vine allow them to cling to almost anything, including an empty wall. The only issue with this approach is that those little roots are really powerful, and if you ever decide to move it, there’s a good risk they’ll peel tiny flecks of paint off your walls.
Monstera enjoys 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!