How do you grow a monstera? All about care

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Josh Cochrane
1 December 2020
Garden and terrace

In recent years, monstera has become particularly popular. This unique indoor climber can become a beautiful addition to the office. This does not change the fact that the monstera requires proper care.

How fast does the monstera grow?

What are the characteristics of the monstera? It is a plant with slow growth. It produces only 1-2 leaves per year . Young leaves have a characteristic heart shape. Then they are also devoid of holes, which appear over time. The leaves become not only serrated and pitted, but also characteristically leathery. Then they can be up to 60 cm in diameter, and the flowers take on a flask shape. This view, however, is difficult to experience at home.

What kind of monstera can we find in the store?

For breeding at home are prepared plants sold when they are about 50 cm tall. When we purchase a monstera, it is essential to inspect the plant so that it has undamaged leaves. Any injury to the leaves will be recognized by the brown edges of the holes. If they have such a color, the leaf is damaged, and the hole does not have a natural source.

In what company will work the monstera?

We often wonder in what compositions will work young monstera and mature specimens. Smaller monstera, that is, plants still young, it is worth placing near plants with decorative leaves. This will provide us with an appropriate visual composition. However, we should remember that monstera eventually reaches incredibly large sizes. Therefore, older specimens need to grow in solitude. If we properly follow the requirements of the monstera and cultivate it properly, it can reach a height of even more than 2 m.

Monstera requirements

Hole monstera is extremely often chosen for offices and apartments precisely because it has a high tolerance for different conditions. Still, it does not like certain circumstances, so it is worth taking this into account when choosing a location for the monstera. What are these conditions?

Sunlight – monstera does not like direct sunlight and grows best if placed about 2-3 m from a window. Too much sun can cause burning of the leaves. This condition can be recognized by the appearance of yellow spots with holes. At the same time, this is a plant that can not be completely deprived of access to light. If it gets too little sun, the monstera will remain small and even wither.
Temperature – the optimal temperature for the monstera is 24 degrees Celsius in summer. It is advisable that the temperature does not drop to 13 in winter, as low temperatures can cause dark spots on the leaves. It is advisable to ensure that room temperature conditions prevail.
Draughts – definitely avoid exposing the monstera to draughts. So, the surroundings of a tilting window will not be the best place to put this plant.

>> See also: How to prolong the freshness of cut flowers?

How to care for monstera?

The basic care is proper watering. Monstera likes to stay in a high humidity, so the optimum will be regular sprinkling with water up to 2 times a week, it should also be removed from sources of heat. Avoid overwatering the plant. In summer it is sufficient to water the monstera once a week. The best substrate for the monstera is peat substrate. It is worth fertilizing it with a fertilizer for green plants from the beginning of spring until autumn. Fertilizing should be done approximately every 2-3 weeks.

Monstera definitely does not like to stay in one place. So it is worth repotting it every spring. If the age and size of the plant no longer allow it, it is necessary to replace at least the top layer of its substrate. Although the monstera does not require pruning, in case of very large plants we can cut off the top part and root it. This process is best done in the spring, and the rooting itself should be done in water or a special rooting medium.