Monstera Care

Keep these requirements in mind when caring for monstera.

Light

Monstera prefers bright, indirect sunlight. "Leaves will develop more fenestrations—holes—in locations with brighter light," says Beatriz Garces of Nature's Way Farms. "In low light conditions, it's likely plants will stay smaller, and leaves will stay whole." But be careful not to give monstera plants too much sun, as direct light can burn the foliage.

Soil

Monstera should be potted in porous, well-draining soil, such as a mix of bark and peat moss. "Thick monstera roots do not like wet feet and do better with a soil that can drain freely," says Garces.

Water

Monstera plants do well when they have easy access to moisture. Many varieties are native to regions where it rains daily or several times per week. Water monstera when the top 25 to 30 percent or so of the potting mix is dry to the touch, says Justin Hancock, horticulturist for Costa Farms. This provides the plant with enough moisture but not so much that it drowns and kills the roots.

Temperature

Monstera grows best in warmer temperatures that range from 65 degrees to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. These plants typically prefer above-average relative humidity levels inside, but most do well in average relative humidity levels (40 to 60 percent), says Hancock. "As a general rule, the thinner a monstera’s leaf is, the more susceptible they are to suffering in dry air," he says.

Fertilizer

Regular fertilization is important to encourage foliage growth. Use a balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10 or 20-20-20) and feed it to your monstera plant a few times throughout the growing season according to the instructions on the packaging.