PRO HINT: Although Monstera are normally sluggish growers, you can stimulate new growth by fertilizing them with organic fertilizer once a month in the spring and summer.
Always evaluate your plant’s watering requirements as soon as you get one. It is important to check the soil’s moisture content first to make sure it isn’t wet directly under the surface before giving your plant a drink. Additionally, think about aerating your plant’s soil before to the first watering. Aerating can help the soil breathe and enable rainwater to escape since we compact the soil to prevent it from shifting while being transported.
Monsteras love somewhat damp soil, and they typically like a little amount of drying time in between waterings. They don’t want to sit in moist soil because they are epiphytes with aerial roots and are sensitive to overwatering. Your plant may need water once the top 2 to 4 inches of the soil are dry.
To promote even development on all sides, rotate your Monstera occasionally, and dust the leaves frequently to help the plant photosynthesize well. Take the chance to check the undersides of the leaves when dusting them and keep an eye out for bugs. Despite being more pest-resistant than many other low-light tropical plants, Monsteras are susceptible to both thrips and mealybugs.
Keep in mind that every plant is a distinct living creature with different demands depending on where it is. You can have a long and fulfilling relationship with your Monstera if you pay attention to its health and its watering requirements.
How wettish do Monsteras enjoy it?
“Moderate watering” is good for monsteras. When it comes to indoor plants, moderate watering refers to watering when the soil is damp one to two inches below the surface.
How can you test this?
Three options exist:
Use your finger to gently probe the ground up to about two knuckles deep. You can postpone watering if the soil feels damp all the way down. It could be time to give your monstera a drink if it’s dry.
Stick-poking technique: Drive a wooden stick, such as a chopstick or dowel, into the ground. If it’s clear, the soil is dry and watering is necessary. Your monstera is still on the moist side if it emerges soggy with particles of dark soil attached to it.
Moisture meter: This is a more sophisticated technique, but it can actually show you how much water the roots of your monstera are retaining. One of these can be purchased online or at merchants like Lowe’s and Home Depot. For you to recognize whether the reading is dry or wet, the majority of them will be color-coded.
Simply place the sensor of a moisture meter into the soil midway between the plant’s base and the side of the pot and halfway down into the pot to use it. The land is drying out and ready for water when the meter reads around a 3.
How long should the soil in Monstera remain wet?
When watering Monstera indoor plants, there are a few issues that might be very problematic. To try to steer you clear of these problems, I’ll discuss a few of the crucial ones.
Not Emptying Drip Trays And Cache Pots
While it may be tempting to simply walk over to your plants wherever they are located in your home and water them, I usually advise against doing this. Excess water will drain into the drip tray or cache pot after watering your Monstera. The roots that are present in the bottom inch or so of soil are left submerged in water as a result.
It is incredibly simple to forget to empty the drip tray or cache pot after watering, which results in the roots of your plant being submerged. This may cause root rot to appear within a few days. It is best to avoid taking the chance because root rot can be so destructive to Monstera houseplants and all houseplants in general.
Watering On A Schedule
On a schedule is the worst way to water a Monstera. Despite how simple it is to form a routine of watering your plants on a particular day, your plants won’t appreciate this treatment if they are receiving too much or too little water.
A sick plant that has been either overwatered or underwatered is almost certain to result from watering according to a timetable.
Every two to three days is how I like to check on my plants. I stroll about examining the leaves, touching the ground, and weighing the pots. I then bring the plants I believe need watering to the kitchen sink.
I make a note of those who could require watering in the coming days and make sure to check back in with them to make sure they receive it.
Your Monstera Is Taking Too Long To Dry Out
Although it’s not a good idea to water your plants on a schedule, I’ve found that Monsteras that require watering every 5–10 days or so are typically content plants. Consider whether there is an issue that is causing the soil to remain moist if it is still wet after two weeks.
Think about the following concerns that might be preventing your Monstera’s soil from drying out:
- Is there not enough light reaching your Monstera? In stronger light, plants develop more quickly and require more water as they do so. Additionally, more water is lost through transpiration and evaporation. Your Monstera plant is at risk of developing root rot if you observe that the soil is taking a while to dry out.
- The pot might be too big. The Monstera plant will take a long time to use the water in the soil if it is housed in a small pot. Your plant should not have a ton of spare space in its pot; it should fit snugly.
- Does the soil not drain efficiently? After watering, if water remains on the soil’s surface for longer than 10 seconds, the soil is probably not draining properly. Change to a better draining potting mix, such as one that contains equal amounts of perlite, orchid bark, and coco coir. To learn more, see my post on creating and selecting potting soil for your plants.
- Does the pot have a lot of holes for drainage? Make sure the container you pick for your Monstera has many of drainage holes so that any extra water can readily drain out. In order to prevent water from pooling, make sure the drainage holes are located directly at the bottom of the pot.
- What kind of pot do you have? The soil dries considerably more quickly when using porous pot materials like terracotta than when using a plastic or metal pot. Consider using a terracotta container if the soil is taking too long to dry out. In this article, I go into more detail on selecting a pot for houseplants.
Using The Wrong Type Of Water
The majority of tap water is suitable for Monsteras, however if your water is heavily mineralized or has high levels of fluoride or chloramines, you may experience problems. Brown leaf tips, edges, or even brown blotches are frequently the outcome of this.
If you are experiencing issues, think about switching to rainwater or distilled water if you are satisfied that all other parts of care are being taken care of. Find out more about the effects of water quality on indoor plant health here.
Using The Wrong Amount Of Water
When watering houseplants like Monstera, many people add too little water. This may cause the soil’s surface to become wet while the majority of the soil deeper in the pot stays dry. Because of this, you might believe your plant is receiving enough water while in fact the roots are begging for a drink.
When watering your Monstera, be sure to wet the soil completely and then let as much of the extra water drain out.
What percentage of moisture should I water my Monstera at?
The most crucial factor is knowing where to direct your reading. You want to take a reading that is close to the root ball’s core.
To accomplish this, place the sensor in the soil halfway between the pot’s edge and the plant’s base. Insert the sensor into the pot approximately halfway down, then wait for a reading.
When the moisture meter registers between 3 and 4, you should water your monstera. Give it additional time if your reading is higher than that. (If it has been a while since you last watered, you may be feeding your monstera too much water or it may want more light in order to use water more effectively.) Give the poor thing a drink if your reading level is lower than that!
After using the moisture meter, take it out of the pot, clean the sensor, and store it in a secure location. Leave the meter out of the pot. This will damage it and make it malfunction, necessitating the purchase of a new meter and possibly putting your plant at risk of over- or underwatering if you’re receiving inaccurate readings.
If the monstera needs watering, slowly add water until the dirt barely begins to flow out of the bottom of the container. Either do this in the sink or immediately empty the drainage tray.
Once you’ve used a moisture meter a few times, it’s simple to operate, and you’ll appreciate the accuracy of this approach.
Why is the soil in my Monstera so wet?
These plants suffer when the soil remains very wet, therefore having an overwatered Monstera is a regular issue. The roots of the plant cannot receive any oxygen when the soil is completely saturated with water. This implies that they are unable to absorb water and nutrients and function properly.
Overwatering or excessive watering that is not stopped right away can also result in root rot, which can be fatal to your Monstera plant. It’s critical to determine whether your Monstera plant is being overwatered and to take immediate action to remedy the situation.
Drooping or wilting leaves
Monstera leaves that are wilting and drooping are indicative of a dry environment, and this association is valid. Wilting is an indication that the leaves and stems are not receiving enough water to keep the turgor pressure inside the plant tissue at the right level to support the plant.
Many people are shocked to hear that having too much water in the soil can also make leaves and stems wilt and droop. When water completely covers the soil, it plugs the pores that ordinarily contain oxygen, shutting off the roots’ access to oxygen.
For the purpose of absorbing water and nutrients for the rest of the plant, all plant roots require oxygen. As moist soil can also interfere with the effective transfer of water to plant tissues, drooping or wilting Monstera leaves and stems may indicate overwatering.
Yellowed leaves
Overwatering may be to blame if your Monstera has previously thrived in its existing location, receives adequate light, and suddenly starts to produce yellowing leaves.
Dark brown spots
The absence of water and nutrients might also result in your Monstera plant’s leaves becoming yellow and developing dark brown blotches on the leaves.
If yellowing leaves are ignored, dark brown patches usually form, signaling a more serious overwatering problem. Dark brown patches on your Monstera plant’s leaves could be the first indication of root rot brought on by wet soil.
Soil that remains wet and soggy
As this is a plant that will undoubtedly suffer in saturated soil, the best soil for Monstera plants is well-draining soil that allows the plant to get evenly moist. An overwatered Monstera or poor drainage is probably to blame if the soil in the plant’s pot takes more than a week or so to dry out.
In order to prevent the soil from becoming soggy and suffocating the roots with oxygen, water your Monstera plant when the top two inches of the soil feel dry to the touch and then let it dry before watering it again.
Every few days, check the soil in the pot to see if it takes too long to dry out, and then alter your watering schedule accordingly. Repot your Monstera plant in a high-quality aroid soil mixture if you believe the soil is wet because it doesn’t drain well.
Mold or fungi on the soil
Mold and fungi can grow easily in wet, muddy soil. The soil is definitely too damp if there is white, gray, or green fuzz on the surface.
Mold and fungi can resemble a thin covering of tiny moss and can also appear on the plant stem close to the soil line.
Water drops on the foliage
Water droplets may start to form on the tips or edges of the leaf if your Monstera plant is overwatered and the soil remains wet. This closely resembles your Monstera perspiring, which it kind of is. As the plant makes an effort to expel extra water through the tissues, water drops start to develop.
Droplets of water on the foliage are a warning indication that something is wrong and typically suggests overwatering.
How can you cheer up Monstera?
PRO HINT: Monsteras love to climb up vertical surfaces because they are climbing plants. Use pegs or moss sticks to direct your Monstera’s growth upward if you prefer it to grow tall rather than wide.
A tough and simple-to-care-for species of flowering plant native to southern Mexico and Panama called Monstera deliciosa is also known as the “Due to the distinctive growth of ridges and holes, or fenestrations, on its more mature leaves, the Swiss cheese plant is called that. The “The fruit that the plant produces in its native environment, which resembles a pineapple, gives the plant its deliciosa moniker.
A warm, humid environment with plenty of water and soft sunlight are preferred by monsteras. Put your Monstera in an area with indirect light that ranges from moderate to bright. Even though it can tolerate lower light levels, you can notice lanky growth as a result, so the optimum location is a few feet away from a window that faces the south, west, or east and provides brilliant indirect light.
We offer a guide on how to measure light in your environment if you are unclear of the lighting conditions in your house or place of business.
Only the most mature leaves of the Monstera typically develop the distinctive splits, and even so, only under optimal circumstances. Just wait if yours has plenty of light but no splits.