Pruning is a crucial component of any plant care regimen. Pruning gets rid of leaves that no longer help the plant but are still consuming its resources. As a result, the healthy leaves and new growth can be supported with more energy! You may manage a plant’s size and shape via pruning. Therefore, remember to prune your monstera!
Additionally, pruning can help your plant grow and allow you to manage where it produces new leaves (and in the case of some plants, branches).
Because your monstera occasionally needs a little additional assistance getting rid of dead or dying leaves, pruning is especially crucial.
However, pruning is primarily a useful method for managing a monstera’s size. This plant grows really big! If you live in an apartment with 8-foot ceilings, this is crucial because monsteras can grow up to 30 feet outdoors and 10 feet indoors.
Do I need to trim the tiny Monstera leaves?
Depending on why you are pruning your Monstera, choose where to cut it. Simply clip off the old leaves from the main stem to eliminate them. However, the cutting must have at least one node if you plan to use the Monstera parts that you have pruned for propagation. If so, trim the stem an inch below the node.
Yellowed leaves cannot be used to root or spread your Monstera since they are past rescuing. After all, Monstera cannot spread without a node. That’s because the area between nodes, known as internodes, will not root or sprout new growth, making nodes the sole location on the stem where new growth can be produced.
Look for the region where your Monstera’s aerial roots or leaves develop to find the node. Around the stem, this region has thicker tissue and may take the form of a raised ring. The cutting should then be rooted in a glass of water or a moist potting mixture after being cut slightly below the node.
Make sure to only cut the lateral roots when trimming your Monstera plant’s roots to limit its size and growth. You shouldn’t cut or trim the main root because it is stronger and thicker. When pruning the roots, trim lateral roots by one-third of their length.
Should I cut off small Monstera leaves?
Small Monstera leaves can be removed if you wish to promote growth and are concerned that they are utilizing too many resources for your plant. Pruning Monstera small leaves won’t address the underlying issues causing this, though, as little leaves on your Monstera plant typically indicate that its developing demands are not being addressed.
Instead, a change in location, sparingly watering your Monstera plant, and providing it with the right nutrients will stimulate it to grow bigger leaves. Make sure your Monstera plant’s growing requirements are satisfied if you’re experiencing problems with little leaves. Here is a quick rundown of all the elements a Monstera plant requires to develop large, lush leaves and strong development.
- Light Monstera plants thrive in a sunny window’s bright illumination. They are able to tolerate direct sunshine from an eastern window, but not from a western or southern window. Verify that your Monstera plant receives at least six hours every day of bright, indirect light.
- WaterMonsteras can be particular about how much water they require to survive. They thrive in evenly damp soil that has the top 2 to 3 inches of the pot left to dry out in between waterings. Establish the routine of regularly checking the soil’s moisture level and watering the Monstera plant when the top inch or two are dry to prevent overwatering or underwatering the plant.
- HumidityMonstera is a tropical plant that requires high degrees of humidity to survive. The winter, when your home’s air is dry, is when this problem most frequently arises. To increase the humidity level close to your Monstera plants, use a humidifier or pebble trays.
How to cut yellow leaves off Monstera
Follow the stem of the yellow leaf back to the main branch or stem to clip yellow leaves off of Monstera. Trim the leaf stem so that it is near the main vine or stem. After that, discard the old leaves or put them in the compost bin because yellow leaves cannot root and won’t produce new growth.
To maintain the Monstera’s appearance, yellow leaves should be routinely removed. Older leaves naturally turn yellow and die as fresh growth takes their place. The process of cutting them from the plant is straightforward.
What happens if you cut a Monstera leaf?
Many gardeners are eager to root and spread their plants by saving cuttings from their plants. Some plants, such as begonias and African violets, may have their leaves used to make new plants, but Monsteras cannot.
Monstera leaves are unable to grow new roots or branches. A node is the only component of a Monstera plant that generates new plant tissues. The plant’s leaf stems lack nodes, but its main or lateral vines do have nodes.
Throw the leaf you unintentionally cut off your Monstera plant in the garbage or the compost bin.
Q:Should I cut small leaves off monstera?
A: You can cut your monstera’s little leaves. Cutting off stems with little leaves would cause your plant to respond by producing new ones. They would expand if they had the resources they required.
Q: Do monstera leaves grow bigger?
A: If monstera leaves have enough light, water, humidity, and nutrients, they can grow larger. Additionally, you can encourage leaf growth by staking your monstera plant rather than propagating it.
Q:Why are my monstera leaves not splitting?
A: If your monster leaves aren’t separating, they could not be receiving enough light. Watch it split as you move it to a more well-lit area.
Why are the leaves on my Monstera growing smaller?
When a Monstera is two years old and still appears underdeveloped and is producing little, uninteresting leaves, there may be a problem hindering its development. These can be challenging to diagnose, but in most cases, there are just a few factors that can prevent a Monstera from developing large leaves.
Reason 1: Your Monstera Needs More Sunlight
Smaller leaves are most frequently caused by insufficient sunshine. A Monstera deliciosa’s large leaves serve a number of functions, one of which is to capture more light (and photosynthesize better). Monsteras don’t actually respond to reduced lighting by producing bigger leaves, despite the fact that this may seem like a good idea.
Just like a Monstera that isn’t getting enough water, one that doesn’t get enough light is stressed. Regardless of its age level, this almost always manifests as a Monstera producing little, non-fenestrated leaves. Insufficient sunshine may also cause monsteras to have thin, pale-colored leaves.
If you’ve seen these indications, you might want to look into the illumination your Monstera prefers. A minimum of six hours a day of direct, bright sunlight are required for monsteras. For Monsteras, windows with a west, east, or south orientation are ideal.
However, it’s not always possible to position windows perfectly, particularly in flats with dim daylight. In this case, using a grow lamp to complement the available sunshine is a great idea. For those wishing to support their plants, there are several solutions available at different price ranges and in a variety of patterns and styles.
Reason 2: Your Monstera is Underwatered
If you’ve read up on Monsteras, you might have noticed that one of the first things you should check when a plant isn’t doing well is its hydration. Underwatering is a serious issue that can harm a Monstera deliciosa that is otherwise healthy and stop it from developing into a stunning, dramatic plant.
If your Monstera is submerged, it commonly dries out excessively and develops leaves that are noticeably droopy. Feel the soil in its pot to determine the problem. After the first inch, it needs to be watered if it is completely dry.
Instead, water a Monstera when the top inch or two of soil have dried out. This occurs for many people roughly once per week. However, don’t rely on that advice. The humidity levels in your home and the kind of pot your plant is in, among other factors, might affect how quickly it dries up. You can use your finger or a tiny instrument called a moisture meter to measure the soil’s moisture content.
Reason 3: Your Monstera is Overwatered
Overwatering is a far more serious problem than underwatering, as with any problem involving a Monstera deliciosa. Although both stress the plant, excessive watering can result in other issues including fungus gnats and root rot. Your Monstera may die as a result of root rot, which is a major problem. (Read more about root rot here!)
By measuring the moisture level of the soil, overwatering can be identified. Is the soil typically moist, soggy, or mushy where your Monstera is growing? Have you ever noticed that drying takes more than a week? Both of these are plausible indicators that there is a drainage, soil, or hydration issue. These problems need to be resolved right away.
Let your Monstera dry out after overwatering it once or twice before giving it another drink. Although it’s a good idea to let the soil dry even more after realizing that it’s been overwatered, the top inch or so should be dry. Once you’ve done this, you may stop the problem from getting worse by giving it a good watering and only draining any extra water until the soil is completely dry.
Reason 4: Your Monstera Needs To Be Repotted
A Monstera needs a lot of space for its roots to expand in order to produce the gigantic leaves that make the plant so desirable. A Monstera won’t have the room it needs to continue developing roots that will support its new leaves if its container isn’t the right size. Repotting is essential if you want your Monstera to produce large leaves.
Monsteras should typically be replanted every two years. There is a lot of variation in this, just like there is in everything. How frequently your Monstera needs to be transplanted into a bigger pot can depend on its size, its growth rate, and the other circumstances in the house.
If your Monstera isn’t growing large leaves as it should be, but you’re not sure if it needs to be replanted, consider inspecting the roots. The potential exists that the plant is now root-bound. When a Monstera’s pot is full, it develops root bound. If this is the case, the root ball will fill the pot and the amount of soil inside the vessel will be minimal.
If this is what’s happening, your Monstera has to be repotted. Check out this comprehensive tutorial we have on how to achieve that. Everything you need to know about correctly replanting a Monstera is covered in this post.
Reason 5: Your Monstera Needs To Be Fertilized
The nutrition a Monstera has access to is another factor that can hinder it from developing large leaves. Potassium, nitrogen, and a number of other nutrients are essential to all plants’ growth processes. Monsteras can’t survive without these.
You won’t need to worry about this right now if you’re transplanting your Monstera.
The nutrients that plants require to flourish are added to new soil. However, if replanting your Monstera is still a while off, the next best thing to do is to give it healthy doses of a liquid fertilizer that has been diluted.
Reason 6: Your Monstera Needs Better Water
The best water is a crucial issue that frequently goes unmentioned but may play a role in why your Monstera isn’t producing large leaves. Many people water their Monsteras using tap water, especially those who are just beginning to keep houseplants. Although it needn’t be a major issue, too much hard water might reduce a plant’s quality of life.
Calcium, chlorine, and fluoride are just a few of the several chemicals and compounds found in hard water. Low absorption will be the result when these compounds accumulate over time on the roots and in the soil. Similar to what happens when a plant isn’t fertilized, this consequence occurs.
“Spring water,” as it’s frequently referred as in stores, rarely originates from actual springs and isn’t advised in order to prevent this buildup. Keep in mind that this type of water is typically bottled from the same source as tap water. During a downpour, rainwater can be gathered; all you need to do is place a jar out to catch it! Learn more about the advantages of rainwater here.
Why are my plant’s leaves getting so small?
Despite being small, new leaves can appear to be mature and robust. There are a variety of explanations as to why a plant could not grow leaves that are the size you anticipate.
Small leaves may be a sign of more severe issues including food deficits, heat stress, or water stress. Smaller leaves indicate a shortage of one or more factors, such as light, water, or fertilizer. This immaturity of the leaves can also be brought on by excessive watering and frequent fertilizing.
Do Monstera leaves expand after spreading out?
The splits that the leaf will have once it has successfully developed and is prepared to unfold on its own are already present on the newly produced leaf.
However, if your plant previously had splits but now the new leaves are completely unsplit, this is a sign that it requires more indirect sunlight.
On the leaf, the fenestrations are already developed. They might be visible to you before they unfold. However, there won’t likely be any further fenestration when the leaf unfolds.
Prior to it developing new leaves, you can always prepare the environment by moving it to a window with more sunlight so that you can observe what works and what needs to be changed.
Just keep in mind that they need to be at least 2-3 years old before fenestrations begin to form. Therefore, if you want them to split, patience is essential.