Need tips for caring for Monstera plants! I want to add o...
Need tips for caring for Monstera plants! I want to add one to a corner window in my office. Any suggestions would be helpful! I’ve never owned one and would like to care for it properly!
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Hi Emily 👋
Monsteras are honestly pretty easy once you get the basics down! I’d give it as much bright indirect light as you can (some gentle direct sun is fine once acclimated), and use a chunky, well-draining aroid mix. You can do something like 30% perlite, 20% quality soil, 40% orchid bark, 10% lecca or pumice or anything like that.
Personally, I order this Orchid potting mix on Amazon- and mix a couple other things into. ITS PERFECT. And my monsteras love it. However, because it works for me- doesn’t automatically mean it will work for you. Different airflow, light, temperature, humidity.
Water thoroughly when the top couple inches of soil have dried rather than watering on a schedule. Make sure the pot has drainage, and don’t go crazy with the pot size. They would rather be a little snug than sitting in wet soil. If you want big mature leaves with lots of fenestrations, give it something sturdy to climb like a moss pole or coco coir pole. As it attaches itself to the pole, it will think it’s climbing a tree- like in nature. So the plant gets HUGE.
I also like to gently remind , always check you plants for pests or any disease before putting it with your other plants :)
PS: if and when you use a moss pole- account for the water that will drop down into the soil. It can cause issues , as I learned from our great friends here on Greg!
You got this! Any questions , we’re here to answer.
Monsteras are honestly pretty easy once you get the basics down! I’d give it as much bright indirect light as you can (some gentle direct sun is fine once acclimated), and use a chunky, well-draining aroid mix. You can do something like 30% perlite, 20% quality soil, 40% orchid bark, 10% lecca or pumice or anything like that.
Personally, I order this Orchid potting mix on Amazon- and mix a couple other things into. ITS PERFECT. And my monsteras love it. However, because it works for me- doesn’t automatically mean it will work for you. Different airflow, light, temperature, humidity.
Water thoroughly when the top couple inches of soil have dried rather than watering on a schedule. Make sure the pot has drainage, and don’t go crazy with the pot size. They would rather be a little snug than sitting in wet soil. If you want big mature leaves with lots of fenestrations, give it something sturdy to climb like a moss pole or coco coir pole. As it attaches itself to the pole, it will think it’s climbing a tree- like in nature. So the plant gets HUGE.
I also like to gently remind , always check you plants for pests or any disease before putting it with your other plants :)
PS: if and when you use a moss pole- account for the water that will drop down into the soil. It can cause issues , as I learned from our great friends here on Greg!
You got this! Any questions , we’re here to answer.
@Hydrahydrangea To care for a Monstera, place it in bright, indirect light and water it when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry. Use a chunky, well-draining soil mix, provide a moss pole for climbing, and keep room temperatures between 65°F and 85°F. Light and TemperatureBright, indirect light: Place near an east-, south-, or west-facing window (use a sheer curtain for harsh southern exposure).Avoid direct sun: Intense rays will scorch and burn the leaves.Ideal temperature: Maintain 65°F to 85°F and protect the plant from cold drafts or AC vents. Soil and WateringWatering frequency: Allow the top half of the soil to dry out completely before watering thoroughly.Drainage is essential: Always use a pot with drainage holes to prevent soggy soil and root rot.Soil mix: Use a loose, chunky aroid mix combining standard potting soil, perlite, and orchid bark. Maintenance and SupportClimbing support: Add a moss pole or trellis early on to encourage larger, split leaves.Clean the leaves: Wipe dust off the wide leaves with a damp cloth every few weeks to help the plant absorb light.Fertilizing: Feed with a balanced, diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer once a month during the spring and summer growing season.
In my opinion, people waste a lot of money on soil and ima build a soil person. But do things myself cheap. fun fact you don’t have to have $1000 worth of soil to grow at $10,000 plant. You can use a cheap bag of potting mix take a full bag of perlite and dump it into the full bag of potting mix. that’s typically 8qt perlite to a 1sqft bag of potting mix.
Potting mix is mostly used forest products why would you pay an inflated price for the same thing that’s 8$ pine bark lol turns soil acidic. I live in one of the areas that the Venus fly trap grows at, “only 85 sq miles in the world” and it grows here because the soil sucks because of the pine trees. if your plant needs to be slightly acidic, like blueberries, you can plant here directly in the ground and they thrive just like my blue hydrangeas everyone’s are pink here they are blue because acidity. 
Personally, you will never see me buying woodchips as soil. Orchid mix or not I don’t promote perlite because it is an extensive process of destroying the world to make it. I would definitely use pummus if possible. that being said you can get a bag of river pebbles a 50 pound bag for six dollars at Walmart perlite has doubled if not tripled in price over the last 4 months not sure if it’s because of summer or what but it used to be 6$ now it’s 18 at Walmart 🙄 at that price it’s cheaper to buy pumice or roughly the same price 15qts of pumice was $30 was Wally World also.
Now this is just my opinion, but it’s pretty factual. 

Potting mix is mostly used forest products why would you pay an inflated price for the same thing that’s 8$ pine bark lol turns soil acidic. I live in one of the areas that the Venus fly trap grows at, “only 85 sq miles in the world” and it grows here because the soil sucks because of the pine trees. if your plant needs to be slightly acidic, like blueberries, you can plant here directly in the ground and they thrive just like my blue hydrangeas everyone’s are pink here they are blue because acidity. 
Personally, you will never see me buying woodchips as soil. Orchid mix or not I don’t promote perlite because it is an extensive process of destroying the world to make it. I would definitely use pummus if possible. that being said you can get a bag of river pebbles a 50 pound bag for six dollars at Walmart perlite has doubled if not tripled in price over the last 4 months not sure if it’s because of summer or what but it used to be 6$ now it’s 18 at Walmart 🙄 at that price it’s cheaper to buy pumice or roughly the same price 15qts of pumice was $30 was Wally World also.
Now this is just my opinion, but it’s pretty factual. 

