Professional growers frequently start out by propagating many plants in the same pot. A fuller plant does result from it.
It is far more challenging to combine mature sperate plants with their individual rootballs. When dirt is put around the various rootballs, they can only fit into a very large pot, which dramatically increases the likelihood of accidental overwatering. You run the risk of damaging a significant number of the root hairs if you remove a lot of soil from each individual rootball.
You can do it, but you should be aware of the hazards. Additionally, think about leaving them in their individual pots and combining those pots in a sizable container or planter without harming the roots.
Can more than one Monstera be grown in a pot?
Most people simply place one houseplant in a pot, but is it possible to cultivate multiple houseplants in the same container? Yes. In fact, placing several houseplants in one container gives a space more flair. Combining indoor plants that complement one another is the key.
Pick your timing
The optimum time to divide or propagate your monstera is in the early spring because that is when it grows. They’ll have a better chance of overcoming root stress and resuming growth.
Water before you split
Before splitting the root ball, it should be well-hydrated. Give the roots a good soak a week before you carry out the deed so that water begins to flow out of the bottom of the pot. (Your pot has effective drainage, correct?)
Make the split
Carefully tip the pot on its side and slip the plant out when you’re ready to split your monstera. To avoid breaking anything, you might need assistance holding the plant or pot.
Use a garden shovel to gently encourage the plant out if it won’t come up on its own. Do not pull the plant out of the pot under any circumstances! There is no way you want to break any stems or leaves since they won’t grow back.
Once the monstera has been removed from the pot, divide the root ball into two or more plants using a sharp, clean knife. To ensure that each new plant has lots of roots and stems, look for natural sections and divisions in the existing plant.
This is something you kind of have to eyeball and look for any locations where the plant has already divided up. This will guarantee that the plant will rapidly begin growing after the split has healed.
Plant the new monsteras
It’s time to move the individual plants into their new pots after you’ve divided your monstera into two or more plants.
Perhaps you need containers that are smaller than the one the large plant was in. Select containers with sufficient drainage that are 2-4 inches wider than the new plants’ roots. Plant in a soil with peat, such as our specialty monstera soil, that drains well.
When the plants are in their new pots, give them some water, and position them somewhere with bright, indirect light.
To promote recuperation and new development, you can begin fertilizing the plants around a month after you separate them!
Is it possible to pot monsteras jointly?
This is very reliant on your surroundings, which will undoubtedly have the most influence on the growth of any indoor plants you have. The amount of light, temperature, humidity, and watering practices will all affect how quickly your plant grows. However, generally speaking, in my experience, growth is moderate during the spring and summer, but it decreases over the fall and winter, and if temperatures are low enough, it will completely cease. My plant has been with me for about four years, and growth from a rather little plant to how it appears now has been constant. My plants have reached the point where they require annual repotting, but I hold off until the roots have completely encircled the base of the plant pot. Keep an eye out for signs that your plant needs to be watered more frequently, such as drooping or browned leaf tips. Because I prefer to keep the plant more snug in the container and can handle it better in my area this way, I only typically go up one pot size at a time.
Do you only keep one monstera plant per pot generally? Are different plants required to be kept apart?
When you start the process of repotting a monstera that has outgrown its container, you can discover numerous plants in each pot. Since many plants, like pothos, are frequently propagated from cuttings, growing them will accustom you to seeing how this appears in a single pot. However, if you’re not used to it, you might be quite surprised to learn that your plant is actually a collection of lesser plants. As long as there is adequate space for all of the plants’ parts to grow properly, whether you opt to separate these plants or not won’t have a negative impact on the plant. You might opt to separate them later on. I usually retain 1-3 plants in each pot, but sometimes tiny growths appear at the base; I’ve removed a couple of these and let them continue to grow. Here is a picture of one of them as it currently appears, which was formerly a little two-leaf plant at the foot of my large monstera:
Although I just recently repotted my monstera, why are its roots emerging from the pot’s base?
As I was checking on my plants to make this piece, I just so happened to realize that this had also recently happened to me! Monstera plants do grow strongly in the spring and summer, and your plant may be so content in a new (slightly larger) pot that it will quickly overrun its current location once more! I usually leave it for a bit because I just recently re-potted it and can already see the roots poking through the drainage holes of the planter. A few weeks later, when the roots are actually coming out of the holes, I’ll remove the pot and pick up the plant by the base and lift it out (this can be challenging if the plant is large, though!). Place back into the pot after adding about an inch of potting soil. It won’t require a major re-poting for a lot longer thanks to this extra space. Don’t repot monsteras too frequently because they usually grow best while slightly rootbound! You can also prune your roots, but we’ll get to that later.
How can you encourage leaf holes? Most of mine are lovely heart forms, but without holes.
It might surprise you to learn that there are numerous varieties of monsteras being cultivated, yet this is a very frequent query! The Monstera deliciosa ‘borsigiana’ cultivar is one of the many plants that have been designed to fit our homes and are available on the market today. Especially in the UK, this variety of monstera is most likely what you will find at your typical nursery or plant store. These plants can develop into huge specimens thanks to their smaller leaves and more compact growth habits, but their leaves lack the size and the stunning, many fenestrations of a “real” mature monstera.
As the plant ages, some people like to remove the ‘non-holey’ leaves to encourage the plant to produce more mature leaves (often with slits/holes!) In speaking, younger plants do not split until they are about 2-3 years old (see my baby plant above).
The other choice to be mindful of is growing plants from cuttings. Cuttings taken from an established plant can also yield larger, more mature leaves and avoid the problem of immature leaves with no holes.
When a moss pole is completely encircling the roots of a large monstera, how should it be re-potted?
If you can create a new moss pole that connects to the existing one, that would be wonderful because I prefer to keep the pole that holds my main plant in tact if possible. Removing the poles during the second time I replanted my two monsteras is covered in detail HERE on my blog.
This spring, when I repotted my plants, I discovered that the pole had retained some of its original position even after loosening the roots. Just a few of the stems and knots needed adjusting.
What are the aerial roots used for? Can you even cut them? I’ve tucked them inside the basket that my monstera is sitting in and wrapped them over the plastic pot it is planted in, but I’m concerned that this will harm them.
I am aware that some people choose to trim the aerial roots or gather them into a ponytail at the base of their plants. Since my plant is more developed and I can see the benefits of feeding them back into the pot’s soil, I personally don’t cut them. You can train them to hold on the support pole if they aren’t long enough. If you have a moss pole, you can water it to make it moist so that the aerial roots can absorb moisture from the support.
What size Monstera pot should I use?
It would also be preferable if you avoided planting your Monstera in a pot that is too tiny. Following are some indicators that your Monstera is ready for a new pot:
- The plant topples over or is unstable.
- The leaves are thirsty and drooping.
- The soil no longer retains water or dries up too rapidly.
- You can see roots sticking out of the pot’s bottom.
Living in a pot that is too small can cause root crowding, stunted growth, and underwatering, especially when Monstera is young. Find a bigger pot now!
A seasoned Monstera accepts a little pot-boundness. Keeping your Monstera in the same-sized pot will stop it from growing as quickly once it reaches a large size and you don’t want it to become any bigger.
It will still require attention to prevent becoming very pot-bound. Every year in the early spring, you can trim the roots and top-dress your Monstera with new soil.
How to choose the perfect pot size
When repotting, select a pot with a diameter that is 2 inches (5 cm) greater than the existing size. This is just enough to allow the roots to spread and flourish, but not too much that a too-large pot will cause the soil to get soggy.
Does the height of the pot matter?
The ratio of height to depth is generally not dramatically different between pots. When it comes to the pot’s depth, monsteras are not very choosy.
Make sure the pot for your Monstera has enough depth to prevent a stake or moss pole from tipping over.
After repotting, do Monsteras experience shock?
After being moved, repotted Monsteras frequently experience transplant shock. This is typical and happens to some extent after plants have been transplanted in many cases. There are, however, certain measures to reduce the commotion.
- When you take the Monstera out of its old pot, try to avoid disturbing the roots too much and transfer as many roots as you can to the new pot.
- Avoid damaging the root ball or shaking soil from the Monstera’s rigid roots when removing it from the pot. Attempt to maintain moisture in the root ball when it is out of the pot at all times. The plant may suffer harm as a result of a dry root ball.
- After your Monstera has established into its new container, give it a good watering to hydrate it. It can become acclimated to its new environment and lower the danger of transplant shock by drinking plenty of water.
Once your plant has been repotted, don’t forget to exercise caution. Watch it closely and look out for any indications that your Swiss cheese is in trouble. Among the primary indications of distress are:
- drop-dead leaves
- colored leaves
- fading leaves
If you see these symptoms, take good care of your Monstera by providing it with the proper quantity of moisture, light, nutrients, and humidity so that it has the best chance of healing. Additionally, you will need to be patient as your Monstera heals itself. While mature Monstera may take months or even years to recover, younger Monstera usually does so in a matter of weeks.
Best After Care for Repotting
Put the Monstera back in its original spot once it has settled into the new pot. Transplant shock is less likely if you maintain the same circumstances for the plant. The same environment must be maintained as a result.
Watering the Monstera well right away after relocating it is one of the most crucial measures. Don’t overlook this step because it can lower the possibility of transplant shock while also promoting the growth of your plant. Avoid overwatering the plant when you water it because it’s important to prevent the roots from getting soaked.
Additionally, refrain from applying any fertilizer for around 4 weeks after transplant. By doing this, the burning of the young roots can be avoided.
Last but not least, it should have a lot of humidity and ample bright indirect sunlight. The plant will develop most quickly and have the best chance of avoiding shock if it is kept by a northern window.
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.