Monstera
Kiersten Rankel
Kiersten lives in New Orleans, LA and graduated with her masters degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University in 2019.
She has conducted or assisted on research studies covering trees such as the bald cypress, swamp maple, and water tupelo, as well as important marsh grasses including Juncus, Spartina, and Phragmites.
Kiersten is a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist and regularly volunteers with local community gardens and nonprofits to help restore critical ecosystems along the Gulf Coast.
4.8 out of 5 (1780 experiences)
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
About Monstera
Monstera deliciosa is a species of flowering plant native to the tropical rainforests of southern Mexico down to Colombia. Both the root and leaf have a long history of use in traditional medicine. In Mexico, a leaf or root infusion is taken daily to relieve arthritis. In Martinique, the root is used in remedies for snakebites. 🤒 The holes in Monstera leaves let water drip close to the roots, and they absorb the scattered beams of sunlight that make it down through the forest canopy. Their fruit also tastes like a mix of pineapple and banana! 🍍🍌
Taxonomy
Monstera deliciosa
Monstera
Araceae
Alismatales
Also known as
Swiss Cheese Plant and Philodendron Monstera
How to care for Monstera
How often to water your Monstera
every 9
Monstera needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for Monstera in your home
a window
Monstera may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Monstera in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Monstera
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Monstera after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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I got this Monstera as a gift from friends, and it’s my first time with a plant this large. She desperately needs to be repotted - the soil and the drainage needs to be better (I have practice with lots of philodendrons and I know they like chunky airy mix and this guy is similar) my question relates to trying to get her to grow a bit more upright and less to the side. In the nursery here they don’t support them and it’s evident with her going to the side under the weight I think. I’m trying to figure out if I should remove the pups on there and grow them separately and then try and turn the mother plant so she’s more straight and then obviously I’ll pole her. I have no idea what I’m doing and this girl is so big 🤣🥲 #Monstera
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Aerial root or new growth? Hi there, I’m still a little new to monstera care, and I just found this little nub near the base of a new leaf. Is it an aerial root or a new stem? Any help is appreciated! #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #Monstera #MonsteraMob
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Gnat/pest for monstera? Replanted two monsteras in fresh soil and noticed some small gnats near the soil. Are these pests? Thanks!
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My monstera is finally an old enough gal! yayyy! check out her beauty! #Monstera #monsteradeliciosa #MonsteraMonday
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how do i encourage growth on my monstera? this monstera is at least 4 years old, quite tall, and only has a few leaves at its top. can i activate some of the growth points? one is still green and white but the others are quite heavily corked #Monstera
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#PropagationStation 🌱 This little guy broke off my big #Monstera back in July! He not only has been thriving but he has finally given me my first fenestrated leaf, and this plant momma is so proud! 🥹 #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #NewGrowth #propagationnewbie #PlantTherapy #PlantLove #GregGang
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I spy with my little eye… 2 NEW LEAVES UNFURLING on Lucy! She L🪴VESSSSS being outside on the screened in porch!
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I've been so busy that I forgot to post my baby Monstera’s first hole leaf 🥹. It feels like getting a drawing from a kindergartener. Sure, it's not very impressive and certainly isn't a master piece, but they made it for you, so of course, it's an exceptional work of art 🥺. #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #NewGrowth #FreshLeafFriday #Monstera #monsteradeliciosa
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Any Albo advice #monsteramonday monster is getting big. My Albo and Thai gotta catch up.
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Monstera leaf isn’t uncurling? Hello! I received this beautiful cutting from a friend a month ago. At the time, it had a new leaf that was in the process of uncurling. I put it in a north facing window as I thought that it’s the best spot in my house for bright, indirect light. Since then, it hasn’t darkened or uncurled any further. SO, a couple days ago I moved it to an East facing window, but I think the new leaf is distressed from the direct sunlight. Today I’ve moved it to a South facing window, and I’m hoping that will be best for indirect, bright light. I know monsteras LOVE light so I’m thinking that I just don’t have a good option in my house that’ll give it enough light. Any thoughts on the state of the leaf, and placement? I checked the soil and it’s dry on the top but still damp a couple inches down. #Monstera #help
Care Summary for Monstera
Monstera
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 9 days
Placement
< 3ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Large, lush leaves 1541
Fast grower 980
Survivor 719
Easy to propagate 513
Browns easily 129
Blooms easily 96
Pest magnet 46
04/09/2022
-Needs drainage
-Moss poles make it grow quickly
-likes bright indirect
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
Fast grower
04/07/2022
Don’t over water…. Let dry out between watering a bit and don’t put in direct sunlight
Large, lush leaves
Browns easily
03/30/2022
Great and beautiful plant!
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
03/22/2022
They are stunningly gorgeous and can be a centerpiece of any room. We’ve put ours through so much and they are still ticking, even when we thought there is no hope. They require some care, but fully worth every effort.
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
Survivor
Fast grower
03/19/2022
My favorite plant! 💕🪴
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Survivor
03/13/2022
This plant is easy to care for, I follow the water recommendations from the App and I haven’t had any problems.
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
03/09/2022
Love my Monsteras! Always fun to see how the new leaves will unroll!!
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily
03/06/2022
I love this plant. I really don’t do anything special to her. I just let her be and water when she is half way dry. Seems to like being next to my east facing window. I love her lush green leaves.
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
02/27/2022
Beautiful lush green leaves!
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
02/26/2022
Get a humidifier
Large, lush leaves
02/24/2022
Such a lovely plant, excited to watch it grow. Easy to care for just water once soil dry.
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
Survivor
02/22/2022
Big but can be trained vertically if you stay on it as it grows. Build yourself a big moss pole. Plan for 6 ft. Can get brown tips if you are not regular with your watering but reasonably robust. Likes light a grow light over head works though I’ve had reasonable success with an “up light” grow light.
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
Survivor
02/19/2022
10/10
Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily
Fast grower
02/15/2022
It’s a beautiful, long, lush plant. It’s not too finicky and fills my space perfectly
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
02/06/2022
Monstera's are happy, until they're not. 😅 Definitely not a fan of Summer heatwaves and no air con. 🙅🏼♂️
Large, lush leaves
02/06/2022
so pretty 😩
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
Browns easily
02/06/2022
so pretty 😩
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
Browns easily
02/04/2022
Just a great plant ;);)
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Survivor
02/04/2022
Get a grow light and watch this baby grow!!!
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
02/03/2022
I love this plant that much that I actually have 3!!! Hoping to grow them over time and propagate more to share with loved ones as these can be expensive where I live!!
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Survivor
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Greg’s plant care information is derived from first-principles biology and physics and supported by peer-reviewed research, academic institutions, and industry experts. We are committed to providing the highest-quality plant care information available, so if you have any concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to our support.
- Plants for a Future. “Plant Database.” pfaf.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
- Encyclopedia of Life. “Encyclopedia of Life.” eol.org. N.p., n.d. Web.