Monstera is a plant that can grow 10 to 15 feet tall and has large leaves that can span up to 1.5 feet. How do i know if my monstera is happy? Remember that this plant needs plenty of water, fertilizer, and sunlight. It is also important not to overwater the plant, as this can lead to root rot.
The best way to tell if your Monstera is happy or not is to watch how it acts. Look for signs of health such as bright colors and no apparent problems. Make sure to give them a well-lit place with plenty of water and the right plants, and give them things to do, like toys, moss, and fresh fruit.
I’m happy to say that I have a few Monstera plants. After a few months, I’ve grown so fond of the Swiss Cheese plant that I want to tell you how to take care of your Monstera.
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How Do I Know If My Monstera Is Happy-Plant Basic
| Scientific name | Monstera deliciosa |
| Common Name | Swiss-Cheese Plant |
| Family | Araceae |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Native Range | Mexico, Central America |
| Adult Size | 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide, with 18-inch leaves |
| Soil Type | Moist, Well-drained |
| Soil pH | Acidic, Neutral (between 5.5 and 7) |
| Temperature | 60°F to 85°F |
| Exposure to sunlight | Bright indirect sunlight or shade with high humidity |
| Water | Ideally, every two to four weeks |
| Preferable fertilizer | Balanced houseplant fertilizer, 6-12-6 NPK, and using 20-20-20 liquid fertilizer |
| Flower Color | Cream / Off-White, White |
| Bloom Time | During any month long as the plant matures |
| Toxicity | Mildly toxic for humans and dogs/cats |
Care And Maintenance Of A Monstera Plant
The Monstera might be the perfect candidate if you are in the market for a low-maintenance plant. With a moderate water regimen and occasional fertilization, these plants can last for many years with minimal fuss. Here are a few tips for caring for your Monstera:
1. Water Requirements
Keep your Monstera healthy and happy by watering it regularly, but not too much. Generally, it would help if you watered them every 7 to 10 days. In colder weather, you should water them a little less often. Even so, this is a good rule of thumb, but most fans agree that it’s better to only water monstera when it needs it, not to overdo it.
To see if your Monstera needs water, gently stick your fingertip to your first knuckle into its soil. Give your Monstera a good soaking if the top inch or two of soil is noticeably dry, but don’t let it stand in water. It would help to let the top few inches of soil dry out between waterings, so your plant isn’t always in heavy, wet soil.
If you’re still unsure when to water your Monstera, buy a moisture meter from a garden center or nursery. The level of water in a Monstera should stay between 1 and 2.
2. Light Requirements
Ensuring your Monstera gets the right amount of light is just as important as getting enough water and humidity. A Monstera plant needs 10 to 12 hours of sunlight daily to get the energy it needs to grow. Too much direct sunlight, however, will damage the leaves and make it hard for the Monstera to get the energy it needs to grow.
This plant grows in the wild in tropical rainforests with a lot of sunlight. Still, there is plenty of shade and places to hide.
So, Monstera doesn’t care what kind of light it gets. It will grow in any light. It does best on a bright windowsill but can also do well in a room with less sunlight.
But if it is in a place with very little light, you may need to give it grow lights for at least twelve hours a day to grow.
3. Soil Mixture
The soil could be to blame if the Monstera you bought isn’t growing as well as you’d like. Check the soil to see if it is too hard, too wet, or doesn’t have enough nutrients.
Monstera knows what kind of soil works best for them. These big, beautiful green plants need good soil that drains well and holds air and water. It also needs nutrients that Monstera’s roots and stems can use.
Most garden centers sell soil made especially for Monstera plants, but you only need a few key ingredients to make your own. Start with good potting soil that includes perlite. Put in some bark from an orchid and activated charcoal. For good measure, you can also add some sphagnum moss.
This mix of ingredients will make soil that can hold water without getting muddy, is full of nutrients, and has a good pH of 5.5 to 7. You should replace the soil every two to three years to keep it fresh and full of vitamins and minerals.
4. Fertilizing
Many people think you don’t need to fertilize Monstera plants when caring for them. But it can affect how healthy your plant is and whether or not it has enough energy to grow and do well.
You can tell if your Monstera isn’t getting enough food if the leaves start to turn yellow, wilt, or get long and thin. Another sign is that your Monstera will grow slowly and have fewer flowers.
During the growing season, which goes from the end of March to the middle of November, I give my Monstera 20-20-20 liquid fertilizer once a month. Mixing about half a teaspoon of liquid fertilizer with about a gallon of water is a good way to do this.
In the winter, many people choose not to fertilize their plants. This is because it’s harder for a plant to take in food when it’s cold. Giving fertilizer to a Monstera in the winter can hurt the plant more than help it.
5. Temperature
Monstera is a plant that is native to tropical rainforests. It does well in temperate climates, but if you live where it freezes in the winter, you should only keep it inside.
The Monstera plant does best in places where the temperature is between 60°F (16°C) and 80°F (27°C). Still, growth will stop if the temperature stays below 50°F/10°C for more than a few days.
6. Humidity Level
Monstera likes a level of humidity between 60% and 80%. When the humidity drops below 50%, it will become stressed. Because of this, low humidity is one of the most common reasons why Monstera grows slowly.
You can use a hygrometer to measure the level of humidity. Remember that the reading may differ in different rooms with different humidity levels.
Misting is a quick way to fix dry air, but it doesn’t do a good job. If you want long-term humidity relief, you need a humidifier or a pebble tray to raise the humidity around the plants.
You could also grow them in a place with more moisture, like a bathroom, a greenhouse, or a conservatory.
7. Pruning
Pruning is important for your Monstera. You should reserve its energy by cutting away all the dead or needlessly developed leaves. Pruning should be done in the late winter when the plant is dormant.
When you prune, leave a 1-2 inch (2.5-5 cm) gap between the new and old leaves. This will help to promote new growth.
Also, avoid removing the stem at the base of the plant. Doing so will prevent the plant from getting water and nutrients from the ground.
8. Propagation Techniques
Please don’t throw away the Monstera cuttings you make when you trim them. You put them in water instead and watch as roots grow! There are many ways to spread Monstera, but this is the easiest and fun.
You can take small cuttings with just one or two leaves or cut a full cutting with four or five leaves and nodes from one vine. It’s also good if your cutting has some roots that grow upward.
Put the cuttings in a vase or jar filled with rainwater or distilled water, and put the vase in bright, indirect sunlight.
After two to three weeks, roots should start to grow. Keep the cuttings in the water until they have about 10 to 15 new roots, each about 2 to 3 cm long, and then plant them in the soil. It might take a few weeks, but the wait will be well worth it.
9. Repotting
Repotting your Monstera is important for its overall health and growth. As these plants grow, they may require more space in their pots. If your Monstera grows slowly, you can usually get away with repotting it every two years or less. Some plants may need new pots every 12 to 18 months if they grow quickly.
Another reason to report is to get rid of diseases like root rot. Plants that are sick can benefit a lot from new soil. It should be considered if you can’t determine what’s getting your Monstera down.
When repotting, use fresh, sterilized soil and water the plant well before re-planting.
The Common Challenges You Can Face With Monstera
Monstera is a low-maintenance houseplant, but there are still a few issues you could run across. Here, I will discuss some of the most common challenges and the solutions to them:
1. Leaves Turn Yellow Or Brown
When the monstera plant leaves turn yellow or brown, it’s usually because the plant isn’t getting enough water, light, or food or because the environment has changed. It can also signify pests like mealybugs, thrips, or spider mites.
To find out why the Monstera changed color, you will need to look at its soil and roots. If your Monstera’s leaves are turning yellow or brown because it isn’t getting enough water, you may give it too much or too little. Make sure the soil drains well and lets it dry out between waterings.
Root rot can happen if you water plants too much. Anaerobic bacteria eat away at the plant’s roots, killing it. If pests are the problem, find out what kind of pests are hurting it and treat them accordingly. Many of them eat the plant’s roots or drink its sap.
2. Drooping Leaves
Drooping leaves or branches are common problems for many plants, but they particularly problematic for Monstera. The root system is typically very dense and poorly developed, making it difficult for the plant to absorb water and nutrients. Poor drainage can also lead to leaf drops. Additionally, over-fertilization can cause a plant to grow too quickly, which can stress the roots and result in leaves becoming droopy.
3. Root Rot
The cause of root rot in your Monstera may be several factors. If the plant is in poor condition, waterlogged soil or inadequate drainage may contribute to the problem.
Additionally, suppose your plant receives too much fertilizer or neglects regular watering. In that case, high salts and other minerals can accumulate in the soil, leading to rot.
Finally, if you have a snake or other animal that likes to enchase your plants, their sharp teeth and claws can damage roots and promote rot. In any case, if you notice any signs of root rot, such as brown patches on the surface of the root system or wilting leaves, you must take action and get your plant treated by a professional.
4. Pest On Monstera
Some bugs that can attack your Monstera are mealybugs, thrips, scale, fungus gnats, and spider mites.
If you clean your Monstera leaves often, you’ll be able to spot early signs of pests and treat them before they become a problem. Also, look for signs of pests if you think your plant is sick or isn’t growing like it used to.
I usually get rid of bugs on Monstera by doing the following:
- Scales: They are oval, white, and hard to see. They are usually on the stems. You can get rid of them with an alcohol-soaked cotton swab or your fingernail.
- Mealybugs: Most mealybugs live on the undersides of leaves. They look like tiny cotton balls stuck to the leaf’s surface. In the same way, use an alcohol-soaked Q-tip or scrape them off the leaves.
- Thrips: Thrips are hard to find and only live for a short time. Look for little black spots on the leaves.
- Fungus gnats: Fungus gnats stuck to the leaf’s surface ants potting soil. You can get rid of them by spraying them with a mixture of water and 3% hydrogen peroxide or by sterilizing the topsoil with more horticultural charcoal.
Also, it’s best to keep new plants separate from your other plants for at least one month to make sure pests don’t spread to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is My Monstera Growing So Slowly?
There are a few reasons why your Monstera may be growing slowly.
- First, ensure that you give the correct amount of water and sunlight.
- Second, you may need to repot it into a larger container if it is not growing as fast as you would like.
- Finally, be sure to fertilize it regularly with a balanced fertilizer to help ensure healthy growth.
Why Doesn’t My Monstera Have Holes?
Different varieties of Monstera may have different hole patterns. A Monstera’s most common type of hole pattern is called a “pentagonal star.” Pentagonal stars are made up of five holes in a row, side by side. You can also find some other types of hole patterns on particular varieties of Monstera, but pentagonal stars are the most common.
One reason pentagonal stars are the most common is that they make it easy for water to penetrate the plant. When water hits the holes in a pentagonal star, it spreads quickly and evenly throughout the plant. This helps to keep the plant moist and healthy.
Other reasons why some Monstera varieties may have pentagonal stars while others don’t have holes include how easy it is to propagate those plants and how well they perform in the sun.
Why Does Some Monstera Leave Not Split?
Your monster plant is too young, which is one of the main reasons its leaves won’t split. Before the holes in the leaves of this plant show up, it needs to be about 2 to 3 years old. Since evolution is the cause of the splitting, the young Monstera will need to grow bigger leaves before it needs to make fenestrations. The faster a plant grows leaves with holes, the older it is.
If a mature Monstera is not splitting, it is not getting as much care as it would in its natural environment. Monstera might not split if it doesn’t get enough light, if the soil doesn’t drain well, or if it doesn’t get enough food. Try giving your mature Monstera more sunlight if it isn’t splitting. The Monstera doesn’t split because it is old and doesn’t get enough sunlight.
How To Make Monstera Albo Grow Faster?
To make your Monstera Albo grow faster, you’ll need to give it the proper care. Here are some tips to help:
- Give your Monstera Albo a consistent amount of light. Around six or seven hours of direct sunlight is ideal for most plants.
- Do not overwater your Monstera Albo. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, and do not overwater again until the next watering cycle.
- Fertilize your Monstera Albo every two weeks with a balanced fertilizer that contains nitrogen and potassium. Always read the ingredients carefully before using any fertilizer, as many contain harmful pesticides and other chemicals.
- Prune off unwanted branches and leaves as they begin to grow too long or become diseased.
Final Touch
If you are looking for a way to assess if your Monstera is happy, consider asking how it is doing and watching its body language. Additionally, paying attention to the environment in which your Monstera resides, including its plants and decorations, can also help give you an idea of whether or not it is content. Finally, make sure to provide your Monstera with plenty of love and attention to ensure that it feels happy and fulfilled.
I’m Md. Mahfuz Anam always enjoys taking care of plants and gardening. I find it therapeutic and a great way to relax. I have also always been interested in learning about different types of plants and how to care for them.
