I frequently get asked how I take care of my monstera, so I thought I’d provide some information about it here, along with affiliate links to some of the things I use and like. Using these links to make purchases helps support this blog.
Do I need to train my Monstera deliciosa?
Yes! The Monstera deliciosa grows in a manner akin to a pothos vine that just keeps getting longer. Pothos can be allowed to dangle off the side of the pot due of its smaller overall size. A few vines hanging out of the pot would swiftly fill an entire room because the monstera’s natural size is significantly larger! As a result, you should attach the vines to a reliable trellis so they may climb it.
What about using a moss pole?
The purpose of the moss pole is to offer a surface for the aerial roots to adhere to, just like they would in the natural. The only issue with attempting to do this indoors is that you have to constantly keep the moss damp. Since the air doesn’t move as much as it does outside or in a nursery, this is not advised. Mold and undesirable microorganisms thrive in stagnant air and perpetually damp environments.
A monstera’s vine can be rather heavy, even if you are successful in keeping the air clean. A single post trellis won’t be as reliable as one with multiple posts.
The Metal Trellis
Attaching my monstera vines to a strong metal trellis, such as the Panacea Garden Ladder, is how I train my plants. It is far more sturdy thanks to the triangular profile than a flat, fence-like form. Panacea Garden Plant Support Ladder, Red, from Amazon
Soft Rubber Ties
Even if wires or thread will eventually pierce the monstera vine’s strong skin, I find that this will happen. I do this by using these Soft Rubber Ties. They won’t damage the plant, are sturdy, and won’t slip after they’ve been twisted against one another. They are simple to trim to the length you require. Link to Soft Rubber Tie on Amazon (Brown) Link to Soft Rubber Tie on Amazon (Light Green)
The vines usually won’t dangle off the side of the container for a few months when your monstera is young, straight from the nursery. When provided with adequate light and moisture, those vines will appear to crawl outwards; at this point, you should secure them to a trellis.
How can a Monstera be taught to scale a trellis?
Despite being natural climbers that easily attach their aerial roots to uneven surfaces to grow upwards, Monstera plants occasionally need a little assistance from you to get started. This knowledge can help you train a Monstera to climb if you’ve been wondering how to do it.
- Use soft plant ties to fasten the thickest stems to the trellis. A cut piece of pantyhose can also be used as a plant tie. The knot needs to be secure enough to retain the vine against the trellis while remaining flexible enough to allow the vine to expand. Less obvious ties include those that are green or mix in with the color of the bark or moss.
- Depending on the size and weight of the vine, attach the stems to the trellis at various points, spacing them 4 to 8 inches apart. When the aerial roots take up the role of giving the vines an anchor to the support or trellis, you can remove the ties if you think they’re unsightly.
- Eliminate horizontal vines that sprout from the primary vines. Removing them enables the main stem to climb the trellis or other plant support while also causing the plant to create more vertical stems.
How can you create Monstera support?
Bamboo stakes and coir or moss poles are the two most common types of garden stakes for indoor plants. Stakes made of bamboo are inexpensive, beautiful, and simple to handle. They are incredibly versatile and have thin diameters. Coir (coconut fiber) poles are made of hardwood bases covered in coconut husk and are noticeably thicker. Because the coconut husk is so absorbent, you may water right onto the pole and your plant will benefit from the humidity. Moss poles, which resemble coir poles but are typically covered with sphagnum moss, are another well-liked option.
Insert The Stake Into The Soil
Locate the parts of your Monstera that contain the thickest, heaviest stems and require the most support at the base (bottom). Once you’ve located these spots, dig a few little holes with a trowel and insert the stakes there. Make sure the stake is firmly planted in the ground and buried deep enough to prevent wiggle or sag. For further support, drive the stake all the way into the Monstera plant’s pot.
Utilize Support Ties
When staking plants, specific support ties are not required. You can use cloth strips, twine, or plant tie tape. Just make sure that you don’t connect the Monstera stems to the stakes too firmly so as to injure them. They ought to be firmly fastened but not choked.
About one to two inches above the point where the base of your plant meets the soil, start attaching your support ties. Your plant will be able to stretch upward more readily as it grows if it has more support at its base. Repeat the ties at several-inch intervals (about every three to eight inches, depending on the size of your Monstera).
And That’s That!
You’ll see an improvement in your Monstera’s overall form and health now that it has been staked, and its epiphytic nature will have more room to flourish. The future will be bright for you and your Monstera if you use our comprehensive care guide to keep your plant healthy over time and add more support ties or stakes when required.
What climbing aids can I use for my Monstera?
When Monstera deliciosa is young, it typically grows vertically on a small number of stems, but as it becomes older and heavier, it begins to grow horizontally. It may startle new plant owners to discover that their once-vertical house plant is beginning to occupy an increasing amount of horizontal space.
By using a support like a moss pole, coco coir pole, trellis, or stakes, you can train your Monstera to grow upward. However, given that Monsteras can acclimate to climbing on various supports, you also have other possibilities.
Light
Mini monsteras enjoy bright, indirect sunshine just like the majority of tropical plants, including monsteras. This indicates not directly in the sun’s beams, but next to or in a very bright window. Typically, an east-facing window is the ideal.
Water
When the top two inches of soil are dry, add water to the soil until it begins to drip out the bottom of the pot since mini monsteras prefer a modest amount of water. then right away empty the drainage pan.
It’s crucial to avoid overwatering because it can promote root rot. Repotting and our Root Rot Treatment can cure this disease, but if you don’t catch it in time, it can kill a plant.
Never let the soil get completely dry, on the opposite end of the watering range, or you’ll have a dried-out, perhaps dead micro monstera on your hands!
Soil and Potting
To prevent your mini monstera’s roots from sitting in water (hello, root rot! ), choose a soil and container that drain properly.
Consider adding some orchid bark to your indoor potting mix and using a plastic or ceramic container with one or more drainage holes.
Fertilizer
In the spring and summer, Rhaphidophora tetrasperma grows quickly, so it’s crucial to fertilize it many times per month with liquid fertilizer mixed in with its water.
Because I can use Indoor Plant Food for ALL of my indoor plants, even micro monsteras, I use it every week in my watering can. It removes all of the uncertainty about fertilizing schedules because it is intended to be applied with each watering. There’s no easier way to put it than that!
Climbing
To give the aerial roots of mini monsteras something to hold onto when climbing, place a moss pole or trellis in or close to the container. A small or tall moss pole can be bought, or you can even create your own.
Temperature and Humidity
These plants perform well in conditions resembling those of their native environments in Thailand and Malaysia, however they are a little more adaptable to temperature and humidity than monstera deliciosa.
The ideal temperatures for mini monsteras are between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (aka average room temperatures). They are able to handle typical indoor humidity levels, but they value the added moisture from a humidifier or pebble tray.
(To set up a pebble tray, just add water and pebbles to a shallow tray, then place your potted plant on top so that the roots and soil are not in contact with the water.)
A Fun New Plant for Monstera Lovers
Try the small monstera if you enjoy other monstera variations! It’s the ideal addition to your collection and is becoming accessible (and inexpensive). They are available online and in certain local nurseries.
Do I need to secure my monstera?
Your Monstera plant will require assistance if you want it to grow higher. The most typical supports are a hardwood slab, a pole covered in jute, or a stake covered in moss. Monstera plants do not, however, have to be grown absolutely erect on a pole or stake.
They can be cultivated as vining plants instead and put in planters or hanging baskets where their lovely vines can hang over the sides. Any office is made more cheerful by Monsteras that are trailing while showcasing their spectacular foliage on top of bookcases, filing cabinets, or room dividers.
It is up to you whether you stake your Monstera or let it grow as a trailing vine; the plant will happily accept either approach.
Is a moss pole necessary for my monstera?
Although Monsteras can flourish without a moss pole, including one more closely resembles their natural habitat. As epiphytes, monsteras rely on the support of tree trunks to flourish. They cling by inserting their aerial roots into the structure’s framework. You may create a more natural growing environment for your Monstera indoors with the aid of a moss pole. By clicking the image or link, you can check the price on Amazon.
How is a monstera guided?
- Balance the sun’s and the shade’s intensity. 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:
Bamboo canes
A wonderful moss pole substitute if you don’t want to spend a lot of money is bamboo canes (or stakes). They may be easily trimmed to the right size and are generally accessible. In fact, if you know where to search, you might be able to get some at a gardening supply store for no cost. They do not, however, offer the same nutritional advantages as a moss pole.
Coir poles
In essence, a coir pole is a moss pole composed of coco coir fiber. Its resistance to decay and mold makes it a good substitute for moss poles. But because coir can release salts into the soil, you’ll need to alter your fertilization schedule. You may either purchase coco coir poles or create your own by utilizing the same process as with moss poles.
- suitable for outdoor use
- well-maintains water
- enduring longer than moss
PVC pipe
If you’re looking for something entirely weather-resistant, PVC piping is a good alternative to moss poles. It can also cause the soil to absorb chemicals and has a poor appearance. Instead of being used as a plant stake, it creates a good trellis or frame. Don’t stress out too much about the chemical leaching issue because PVC pipe is frequently used as the core in DIY moss pole instructions. Repotting on a regular basis can avoid the issue.
- straightforward to cut to the necessary length
- outstanding for support frames
Metal pipeor Stake
If you want something weatherproof, another moss pole alternative is metal pipe. Similar in function as PVC pipe, but with a superior aesthetic and no chemical leaching into the soil. The biggest drawbacks, though, are that it’s heavy, tough to cut, and unattractive to plants. For this reason, metal pipes should only be used as a last resort or if they truly complement your architectural preferences.
- more attractive than PVC pipe
- Weather-resistant
- not a chemical leak
- a challenge to work with
- Plants can’t easily scale metal.
Wood stakes
Along with bamboo canes, wood stakes are one of the more common choices. Any type of wood product, including unused or recycled lumber, new wood, tree branches, etc., may be used. Make sure the wood wasn’t painted or chemically treated if it is reclaimed.
- a logical choice
- If you know where to look, they may be free.
- Branching from trees has a nicer mood and might be nourishing.
- Avoid using wood that has been chemically treated.
How can you keep Monstera from growing too long?
Like all plants, a Monstera deliciosa can become sparse and lanky from a lack of sunshine. The issue itself is simple to identify, but how can you put a stop to it? How do you mend a Monstera that is “leggy” and what does that mean?
When a Monstera doesn’t receive enough light, it becomes leggy and becomes elongated and sparse. Once a leggy Monstera has been identified, it can be treated by cutting back the leggy growth and making sure the plant continues to receive enough sunshine going ahead.
It can be frightening whenever your plant starts to appear less than healthy. Leggy, fortunately, is a simple problem to resolve. So don’t be afraid! Continue reading to learn what the issue is, how to resolve it, what kind of light a Monstera requires, and how to accommodate Monsteras in low-light conditions.