If I Only Knew These Monstera Tips 5 Years Ago

Summary

The presenter shares Monstera-care lessons learned over five years, focusing on light, aerial roots, potting, pruning, and choosing a plant with the growth characteristics you want.

Light

• Give it plenty of light. Long gaps between leaves and slow growth can indicate insufficient light. The presenter compares a Monstera kept about two metres from a bedroom window with one on a living-room windowsill. The windowsill plant receives more light and has shorter gaps between its leaves.
• Assess the view from the plant’s position. Get down to the plant’s level and check how much sky it can “see.” Walls, ceilings, or trees blocking the view suggest lower natural light; a more open view means more light reaches the plant.
• Acclimate it gradually to direct sun. A Monstera can adapt to some direct sunlight, but don’t move it abruptly from a dim spot to a sunny window. Start a few feet away and move it closer over several weeks. Slow down if the leaves change colour or show stress.
• Use grow lights when natural light is limited. The presenter says Monsteras can benefit from 12 or more hours of light, particularly in a cloudy climate or a home with less-sunny windows.
• Understand leaf holes and splits. The presenter explains that stronger light encourages more mature, fenestrated leaves, while a plant in a dark corner may grow slowly and develop fewer cuts and holes.

Roots, potting, and pruning

• Keep aerial roots or guide them into the soil. Cutting them is not necessarily harmful, but directing them into the pot can help anchor and stabilize a wobbly plant. Added roots may make the pot feel crowded.
• Don’t rush to repot a root-filled Monstera. Monsteras can tolerate being snug in their pots, provided they get adequate water and nutrients. The presenter usually waits until the roots fill the pot before repotting.
• Prioritize root oxygen and drainage. Root rot is linked not only to excess water but also to roots lacking oxygen. Use a well-aerated mix and a pot with drainage holes. The presenter’s suggested mix is five parts compost to two parts perlite.
• Be cautious about pruning. Unlike some climbing houseplants, a Monstera cut back from a stem with mature, fenestrated leaves may initially produce new growth with simpler, juvenile leaves. The presenter generally avoids pruning unless dealing with pests or disease.
• Avoid repotting immediately after purchase unless needed. Changing the soil right away can add stress while a plant adjusts to its new home, and nursery soil may be suitable.

Choosing a Monstera

The presenter contrasts the commonly sold Monstera borsigiana with Monstera deliciosa, saying the latter can grow larger leaves and develop more holes and splits when mature. They note that the common form sold at places such as IKEA may not reach the size of a large deliciosa.

Locations, products, and speaker

• Locations: The presenter’s bedroom and living room; north-, south-, and west-facing windows; IKEA.
• Products and materials: Sansi plant lights; compost and perlite for the suggested potting mix. The subtitles mention the discount code “Shuffle15.”
• Speaker: The presenter from Sheffield Made Plants.