The perennial Monstera flower blooms every year. They are frequently referred to as heritage plants because they can live for more than 40 years. The plants’ lengthy lifespan, however, is highly reliant on their ability to thrive and be properly taken care of.
The ability of Monstera plants to experience periods of dormancy is one of the factors contributing to their lengthy longevity. The plant will halt its growth when circumstances are not optimal and wait for things to get better. This enables the plant to preserve energy and prolong its lifespan.
The Araceae family includes the roughly 50 different species of Monstera plants. The Monstera deliciosa, sometimes referred to as the Swiss cheese plant or split-leaf philodendron, is the most prevalent variety.
These plants are extremely hardy and durable due to their adaptation to the harsh jungle environment, which may extend their lifespans. When there are strong gusts or heavy rains, the plant benefits from the well-known holes in its leaves that keep the leaf surface from ripping.
They are also substantial and rather huge. Monstera plants can grow up to 70 feet long when left outside. However, you may anticipate your Monstera plant to grow to a height of around 6 feet indoors.
How long does a Monstera grow indoors?
You’re interested in growing your own plant and seeing if it can beat any records now that you know that houseplants can essentially live forever, or at least nearly so. There are several hardy indoor plants that are renowned for having longer lives, yet a houseplant’s lifetime isn’t always influenced by its species.
All of them would be wonderful additions to your indoor garden, and many of them have well-known names from previous discussions on this blog. Let’s continue our discussion of the longest-living houseplants.
(As a warning, we want to emphasize that we cannot guarantee a houseplant will live for many years. Your indoor plant can only have a long, healthy, and happy existence with your constant care.)
Succulents
These days, it seems like succulents are everywhere. Due to their ease of maintenance, indoor and outdoor gardeners both have become fans of these fleshy houseplants. Succulents require far less frequent watering than typical houseplants, as we’ve discussed on this blog. They are accustomed to growing in desert conditions and may go for weeks without water.
Succulents provide an unmistakable appeal to your house or office, from the spiral aloe that has a pleasing appearance to the aloe vera and burro’s tail. The shortest lifespan of a succulent is six years, though it might vary from species to species. If you take good care of them, some can continue to grow for many years.
Cycads
The cycad, or Cycadophyta, resembles a palm tree in appearance, but its evergreen leaves are usually stiffer. Additionally, a cycad’s trunk is frequently much thicker than a palm’s. This houseplant can be grown indoors or outdoors. Hold off watering it during the cooler months; otherwise, give it water twice a week.
If you recall from earlier in this post, an Eastern Cape cycad holds the title for being one of the longest-living indoor plants ever. The fact that this plant has survived for more than 200 years is not surprising given that natural trees have an average lifespan of 1,000 years!
Cacti
Cacti are without a doubt the type of succulent that is most known. There are around 1,750 distinct species in the Cactaceae family. Like many types of succulents, they prefer water every two weeks and lots of sunlight.
When grown outside, the cactus will live longer than some of the other plants on this list. If the conditions are appropriate, it can survive there for anything between 10 and 200 years. But that doesn’t imply you should stop appreciating cactus as indoor plants. Choose the Christmas cactus instead, which can live for 20 to 30 years even when cultivated inside.
Table Palms
Although it would be great, it is regrettably not possible to cultivate a full-fledged palm tree in your home. The table palm is a good middle ground. Without all the tree growth, you may now experience a tropical atmosphere whenever you want at your house, place of business, or apartment. This evergreen houseplant has the kind of adaptability that makes it ideal for beginning gardeners because it can thrive in either full or partial shade.
The table palm belongs to the Arecaceae family, so we were unable to determine the exact lifespan of this plant, however it may be up to 100 years. In actuality, unlike the majority of houseplants, palm trees have a definite lifespan, with some passing away at about 80 years old and others living for 20 more years.
ZZ Plant
Some gardeners claim that the ZZ plant, also known as the Zanzibar jewel or Zamioculcas, is invincible. Of course, that is not the case. All indoor plants, including the ZZ plant, can perish, as we’ve already mentioned. Just getting there is challenging.
For instance, this houseplant may go for extended periods of time without water, possibly even up to four months. That has to do with the water content of the petiole and leaf, of which the former contains 91% water and the latter, 95%. The ZZ plant is unaffected by dim lighting in a house or place of business.
Spider Plant
Do you currently have a spider plant or Chlorophytum comosum in your hanging basket? If so, be sure to give this perennial extra attention. They dislike damp soil since it indicates a danger of overwatering the plant. The spider plant does well in indirect sun and on soil that drains quickly.
Root rot is one of the main enemies of spider plants. Because of this, you should really develop the habit of determining when to water this houseplant by gently feeling the soil with your fingertips. For your efforts, you can receive a lovely hanging plant that endures for a very long time.
Hoya
The hoya has been discussed on this site before; in fact, it has come up a few times. In case you missed it, the hoya belongs to the Asclepias genus, which has more than 300 species of tropical plants. Particularly the hoya grows throughout Asia, including in Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, China, and India. It can be identified by its tiny, rubbery-appearing leaves.
Another plant whose lifespan is unknown to science is the hoya, yet it may live a very long time. Check to see whether your hoya is flowering if you’re looking for a sign that it’s going to live a long time. The lovely purple, pink, or white blooms that your hoya may produce are a sign of a strong plant.
Aspidistra Cast Iron Plant
The Aspidistra cast iron plant is a member of the Asparagaceae family, however we haven’t yet presented it to you. Change that, then. This houseplant is known as baran or haran in Japan. It is known as the cast iron plant or the bar-room plant in other regions of the world. The Aspidistra elatior is its official scientific name.
This indoor plant, which is native to Taiwan and Japan, can grow to a height of two feet. The long, towering leaves resemble philodendrons in some ways, but they are neater and cleaner looking. The cast iron plant Aspidistra can withstand neglect without dying on you, which makes it conducive to a surprisingly long existence.
Bird of Paradise
The presence of the bird of paradise plant on this list may surprise you. Fair enough. The Strelitzia, which belongs to the family Strelitziaceae, is from South Africa. The appearance of the plant isn’t very noteworthy. The beautiful blooms are what really make the bird of paradise so adored. Long, pointed orange petals with touches of deep, rich blue, vibrant pink, white, or sunny yellow characterize these flowers.
You can plant your bird of paradise and then wait for the blossoms to bloom. The bird of paradise plants will take their sweet time to grow the magnificent flowers, possibly up to 20 years, so you best have some patience!
Monstera
Let’s review the Swiss cheese plant and Monstera deliciosa as we haven’t discussed them in a while. This plant is native to southern Mexico and is also found in Hawaii, the Society Islands, Ascension Island, and the Seychelles. The monstera almost seems like a philodendron at first glance, but the rounded shape of the leaves distinguishes these two houseplants.
What is the lifespan of your monster? Don’t be duped if you’ve heard that an average lifespan is five years. There’s a lot of false information out there. Monstera is a houseplant that can live up to 40 years or longer, like many others. It all depends on how well you take care of this tropical indoor plant, such as by giving it plenty of strong light.
Philodendron
The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families estimates that the Araceae family member philodendron contains about 490 species, while there may be more or less. The philodendron and monstera have different leaf shapes, with the former’s having a distinctive teardrop or heart shape. You have many alternatives for outfitting your interior garden with philodendrons because they may liven up a pot or a hanging basket.
As we previously stated, the Pennsylvania woman owned her philodendron for forty years, which was long enough for her to include it in her will. This houseplant is capable of living even longer, in our opinion. Why not try growing some yourself and observe?
English Ivy
Unlike English ivy, pothos vines may live for much longer periods of time—up to 30 years—than pothos vines can. There is no defined lifespan, so if you follow a regular maintenance schedule, you can anticipate owning your Hedera helix for many years. You should have plenty of time to take in its amazing growth, with the longest English ivy reaching lengths of approximately 50 feet!
Insects like spider mites are one of the main obstacles to your English ivy living a long life. The mites should stay away if you fill a spray bottle with soft water and shower the plant once a week. For the ivy, you must also keep your house or workplace relatively damp, even in the winter.
Weeping Fig
The weeping fig, or Ficus benjamina, is an evergreen with a reputation for elegance. It prefers rich, swiftly draining soil. Make sure you allot space in your house or apartment for this houseplant because a weeping fig can grow up to six feet tall.
The weeping fig, in contrast to several of the other plants on the list, won’t grow well in any lighting. Instead, it requires a mix of largely indirect and some direct light, preferably in the morning. Additionally, you must frequently water this plant and keep it moist. The weeping fig remains with you once you do so for years to come.
Snake Plant
You kind of had to expect to find the snake plant, also known as Sansevieria trifasciata, on this list as it is another member of the Asparagaceae family. While its lighting needs are rather flexible (indirect light is ideal, but low light and sunlight won’t harm it either), overwatering could cause your snake plant to pass away before its time. Please take caution.
Undoubtedly, the snake plant has a five to ten year lifespan on average. However, many people who grow plants indoors have their snake plants for far longer, often up to 25 years or more. That is why giving indoor plants good care is so important.
How can I determine the age of my Monstera?
To begin with, the age of the plant affects the shape of Monstera leaves. You might observe that the splits emerge on the newest leaves if your monstera has some leaves with fenestrations and some leaves without. When the Monstera is old and content enough to produce mature leaves with splits, fenestrations start to form.
When a Monstera matures and forms its first fenestrations, it will be between one and three years old. When my Monsteras, which thrive in strong light conditions, generate 5–6 tiny leaves on the same stem, they usually obtain their initial split leaves. The precise quantity will change depending on your growing environment. In our article, you can read more about the ideal lighting for Monstera.
Last but not least, huge Monsteras that are 3 years or older to a few decades old can produce massive leaves. Even more fenestrations, which appear as extra rows of holes inside the splits, may arise.
It was probably propagated from a top cutting if you notice a monstera plant with enormous split leaves and no tiny baby leaves (learn more about propagating monstera in our ultimate guide). By doing this, the new plant was able to advance the maturity of its leaves.
A Monstera can grow for how long?
Monsteras can grow to enormous heights in their natural tropical habitat because to aerial roots. Aerial roots, which anchor plants to trees, buildings, and other above-ground surfaces instead of the plant’s normal roots, allow the plant to climb.
Despite not growing to jungle heights in your home, monsteras still develop in the same manner. Create a moss pole to sustain the ambitions of your monstera. Your monstera’s aerial roots will develop into the moss and anchor it as it soars.
With the proper care and support, Monstera deliciosa are long-lived plants that may reach heights of 10 to 15 feet indoors, spread out over an area of 8 feet, and have leaves that are at least 18 inches broad.
1 Indoors, variegated monstera rarely grow to that large and develop considerably more slowly.
Expect the leaf splits and holes to change considerably as your monstera gets older. Leaf holes can develop into pronounced split leaves depending on the plant’s kind and growing environment. Proper lighting levels are particularly crucial. Splits and holes are inhibited by low light. 3
Do houseplants have an eternal life?
The typical lifespan of a houseplant is thought to be between two and five years, but even that isn’t the be-all and end-all. Annual plants are the only ones whose lifespan can be accurately predicted because they only have one growing season. The truth is that with proper care, houseplants can occasionally live for decades.
Houseplants normally don’t pass away at a specific age or as they mature, unlike people or animals. (Some plants, like grafted cacti, do have a shorter lifespan as a result of being made up of two different plant parts, though.) The majority of plant deaths are caused by environmental, climatic, and care-related causes.
Can Monstera live indefinitely?
Perennial monstera plants have an annual blooming cycle. Because they can live for more than 40 years, they are frequently referred to as heirloom plants.
Do plants have a maximum age?
In this blog, I talked about a long-lived plant of mine with a notorious past. I utilized the six-foot tree, which my mother gave me in 1970, to decorate the stage for comedian Joan Rivers in 1980. She wanted to keep it because she liked it so much. But I wouldn’t allow her keep a gift that belonged to my mother! She declined to accept it until I offered to explain it to her, and as a result, I was able to obtain an autographed flier. It was tragically lost in the 2003 Cedar Fire along with all of my other plants at my Muth Valley house. If not, it would be 48 years old right now.
All plants eventually pass away. According to scientists at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, however, all plants, with the exception of those referred to as “Annuals are plants that only have one growth season before they perish. This is inherited. With the exception of annuals, the care, the environment, and the type of home plants affect how long they live.
This implies that you have practically complete control over a plant’s lifespan. House plants will thrive if you give them exactly what they need. Due to variances in soil, temperature, and light needs, it is not as simple as it may seem. Genetics and other factors mean that some plants have a considerably higher probability of living into their senior years.
In contrast to mammals, plants do not have a fixed size or age at which they are “mature” or even “aged. Phytes have “unrestricted expansion. If the circumstances are favorable, they practically have no boundaries on their growth.
Almost! Two restrictions apply. First off, a house plant can ultimately get so huge that, if it isn’t pruned, it won’t be able to support its own weight and water won’t flow from the roots up to the branches. Compare this to other animals and people. The same thing would happen if you continued to eat and develop, eventually becoming so tall that you couldn’t eat enough to support your body or fit into any structures. Don’t even think about driving a car!
An additional distinction between plants and animals is the type of tissue “meristems. Plant roots and tips are where meristemic plant cells are found. They have the ability to transform into a different cell type at any time, dividing countless times in the process. Being is what this is “Plants can continue to grow endlessly since they are always in the embryonic stage. For this reason, if you put a leaf or stem in a glass of water, it will develop into a full-grown plant.
Plants are unaffected by the causes of animal death. Numerous tree species can live for thousands of years. However, because conditions are never ideal for an extended period of time, natural forces may work against this. Plants can die from drought, floods, wildfires, or disease. Additionally, global warming is growing in importance. Additionally, it’s conceivable for a plant to run out of soil nutrients and starve to death.
Returning to your indoor plants now. How long do you think they will live? Some indoor plants live for few years, while others live for many, many years, depending on a variety of circumstances.
At the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington, DC, there is a Yamaki bonsai tree on display.
With the right care, bonsai trees can survive for many hundred years. According to reports, there are bonsai trees in Japan that are over 800 years old. A Japanese white pine tree that has been maintained by six generations of the same family, the Yamaki family, is one of the most well-known bonsai trees. It endured the 1945 bombardment of Hiroshima, Japan. You can view it on display when you go to the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington, DC, where it was donated.
A 242-year-old Eastern Cape cycad has reportedly been flourishing in a planter at London’s Kew Gardens since 1775.
According to the London-based Royal Horticulture Society, Wisley Gardens has aspidistras, or cast iron plants, that are more than a century old. Cast iron plants received their moniker because they could withstand the same gaslight gases that killed other plants in the Victorian era. It is true that they are essentially unkillable.
In 2014, there were reports that a Philadelphia plant owner made a bequest to her 42-year-old philodendron so that it would be cared for after her passing.
Some plant species can endure long enough to be passed down from one generation to the next:
- Cactus of Christmas (Schlumbergera)
- Jade Trees (Crassula)
- Brooklyn Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis)
- Rubber Trees (Ficus elastic)
- Viper Plants (Sanseveria)
- Fig Weeping (Ficus Benjamina)
- Venomous Plants (Chlorophytum comosum)
House plants are not among the oldest plants. It’s a tree. Oak trees have a long lifespan. Bristlecone pines and giant sequoias can live for several thousand years. A type of pine tree is the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva). It can be found throughout the Western United States, primarily in California, Nevada, and Utah. One of these trees is 5,065 years old, according to measurements! It is thus the non-clonal organism that has survived the longest on Earth.