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.
How challenging is it to maintain a Monstera?
- Find a balance between sun and shade. The leaves of Monstera become yellow when exposed to excessive sunlight. The plant will display a condition known as negative phototropism, in which new leaves develop toward the darkness rather than the light, if kept in the dark. (It’s a really cunning trick: in the jungle, nighttime indicates the presence of a taller tree that Monstera can scale to reach the sun.) Indirect sunlight is preferable because this isn’t attainable in a living room.
- Water Monstera once a week, evenly and moderately. Prior to adding more water, allow the soil to become somewhat dry. Keep in a relatively humid setting.
- Avoid repotting too frequently and trim regularly by pinching off new growth to control excessive growth.
Scientists have proposed the following theories as to why Monstera leaves have holes: The ability to capture sunlight on the rainforest floor is increased, according to one idea, by this puncture. According to the other theory, it allows tropical downpours to pass through the leaves, preventing harm to the plant. This explains Hurricane Plant, another name for Monstera.
Note that some of our favorite indoor plants are native to the tropics. Check out Tropical Plants 101: A Guide to Planting, Care & Design for more information. More ideas for indoor plants can be found at:
How long does a plant in a pot live?
Indoor plants should typically last between two and five years. But a lot depends on the kind of houseplants you have and how dedicated you are to taking care of them. Some indoor plant species can live up to 20 years without dying!
Early indoor plant deaths are typically caused by a few common issues. Let’s examine the potential causes of plant mortality and how you might lengthen the life of your plant by avoiding these common blunders.
Underwatering: If a houseplant doesn’t receive enough water, it wilts and may quickly perish. This is frequently the leading cause of death among plant owners who are newer.
Overwatering is another issue, particularly for plants that don’t necessarily need as much moisture. Maintain a consistent schedule and pay attention to some of the advice we cover in more detail below to avoid overwatering.
Too Much Sun: Indoor plants that just require a few hours of direct sunshine a day will suffer if they are put in a windowsill with excessive quantities of indirect sunlight. Be sure to know what kind of plant you have and how much sunlight it needs.
Lack of Sun: Some plants don’t receive enough light, which is similar to receiving too much sun. This is particularly valid for plants that are kept in gloomy spaces for an extended period of time. Make sure your plant receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis and to remain healthy.
Wrong Soil: The incorrect kind of soil can also hasten a plant’s demise. Some plants like soil that drains easily, while others need soil that is consistently damp. The kind of plant will have a total impact on this.
Overfertilization: Your indoor plant could burn if it receives too much fertilizer. As a result, you’ll notice that the leaves are becoming brittle and crisp. If you fertilize your plant, be sure to apply the precise amount recommended by the fertilizer manufacturer.