All About Monstera Deliciosa Care

Swiss cheese plant, Mexican Breadfruit Plant, Split-leaf philodendron

Monstera Deliciosa is a large aroid native to Central America. It is named for the edible fruit “deliciosa” and abnormal leaves “monstera”. This showy plant is a favorite among hobbyists and is grown in homes all over the world. Monsteras are loved for their ease of care and dramatic appearance.

Young plants have tall stems with heart-shaped leaves (shown below). As the plants mature, the leaves develop more holes and splits giving it the nickname Split-leaf Philodendron; although it is not a true philodendron. It is rare to see the most mature leaf pattern (shown above) in home environments.

Tips for Monstera Deliciosa Care

Monsteras are from tropical regions where they grow along the forest floor. Once they find something to climb, they use their aerial roots to attach to and grow up trees. They are understory plants that love bright, indirect light. Just as they get growing under trees.

The large leaves of Monsteras are more likely to sunburn than smaller-leafed plants. Take care when moving monstera outdoors for the summer. They’ll need a shady porch and a few weeks to acclimate to the increase in light. Once they are accustomed to higher light, they’ll love it. Tip: move your plant closer to the light over a 2-3 week period. A little closer every day.

The average temperature and humidity in most home environments is perfect for these tropical plants. If you live in an arid region, consider ways to increase humidity.

They need a deeper pot than most houseplants to make room for their thick roots. Once your plant has significant foliage growth, you’ll also need a pot heavy enough to counter the weight of the foliage. If the pot is too light, the plant will continuously fall over from the foliage weight. You can pot them up an inch or two once the roots start growing out of the bottom of the pot; however, they prefer to be slightly root bound.

Many hobbyists prefer to grow Monsteras on totem or moss poles. This gives the aerial roots something to attach to and trains an upright growth pattern. If you prefer to have a wider, bushy plant, don’t use a moss pole. Check out our article on How to Make a Moss Pole.

Care Summary

Division

1. This is easily done while repotting your plant. Once you have the rootball out of the pot, use a sharp knife to cut individual offsets away from the main plant. Make sure to get enough roots to support the new offset.

2. Likewise you can also loosen the rootball with your fingers and gently separate the offset from the main plant.

3. Plant your new offset into a rooting medium, keep moist and wait for the plant to establish.

4. Once your offset is established and growing well. Repot into a pot that is 1 inch larger than the rootball and enjoy your new plant!

Stem Cuttings

1. Take cuttings of healthy stems making sure to get the node. The “node” is where the aerial root grows. This aerial root or node will change into soil roots. Without the node, no roots will grow.

2. Plant the stem with node(s) into a rooting medium and keep the growing medium moist, not wet. Ensure that the node is in the rooting medium, not above it.

3. If possible cover with a clear plastic or glass dome so that the leaves do not dry out. Seed starting kits and propagation boxes work well for this.

4. Place your cuttings/ prop box in a warm area with bright indirect light and keep growing medium moist, not wet.

5. Wait for new growth. Once you have a thriving plant-let, repot, and slowly acclimate to a less humid environment.

6. Monstera Deliciosa also roots very well in water. Use a clear glass of water and place the node below the water line. Put the glass in a warm, sunny spot and change the water weekly. Wait for roots to grow, then pot in loose soil.

Air Layer

1. Choose a stem with 3 or more nodes.

2. Using a clean, sharp knife cut a notch right below the node, about 1/3 into the stem. Don’t sever the stem, just create a wound.

3. Wrap a 1-inch layer of moist sphagnum moss around the node and wound.

4. Wrap the moss in plastic wrap and secure it with ties. Not tight enough to damage the stem but not so loose that it’ll fall off.

5. Once roots have developed, cut off the “new” plant. Cut where the original wound was created and sever the stem. Plant the “new” plant in loose soil.

I hope this article helps you grow a gorgeous Monstera Deliciosa! Have any other questions about Monsertas? Drop a comment or send a message.

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