About a year ago, on a warm September day, I received a text from my dear friend, Emma (have you heard of her?), asking if I wanted to be cared for and cared for. owns one of her houseplants.
A picture of the largest Monstera Deliciosa I have ever seen with the words: “Do you want to take this split leaf? I’ve had her for a few years but she’s been losing leaves recently and I’m just worried my house won’t work for her. … She is huge, as you can see. ”
My answer was very interesting and “yes”, but when I reread her message and stared at the photo, I realized that all my botanical dreams have come true! I am the owner of a trendy leaf fiddle.
Sure, I already own a mini Monstera. But this? This is a Monstera the size of a PLANT! I was simultaneously thrilled because I was the lucky one to get rid of it, and extremely worried I wouldn’t be able to bring it back to life.
And so I began my journey of tending to the glorious Monstera Deliciosa whom I now affectionately call Fran.
As soon as I got Fran home safely (no small feat!), I knew I needed to diagnose the problem Emma was having so I could try to help her thrive again. She is very tall, but has only four leaves on her body, and almost all of them are wilted and curled.
Emma told me she hasn’t watered the plant much in the past few months because she’s afraid she’s over-watered and she’s also concerned that she’s placed it in a poorly lit place.
After capturing these facts, testing Fran, and doing a bit of research, I quickly diagnosed the problem as watering.
When Monstera’s soil is dry to the touch (Fran’s), and their leaves curl and turn brown and brittle at the tips, it means the plant isn’t getting enough water. In over-watering situations, leaves turn yellow and may have black stems.
Fran has no yellowing leaves, no blackish stems, but very curly leaves and three out of four are brown at the tips.
I’ve learned a lot since Fran came to live with me, and am happy to announce that she is thriving and has grown a total of seven new leaves in less than a year!
Because Monsteras are so popular right now (and they should be – they’re gorgeous!), it seems my knowledge is useful and should be passed on!
Whether you’re the owner of a new Monstera Deliciosa, or you’re a seasoned mama (or dad!) Planter just looking to gather some knowledge, these tips can help you maintain your Monstera. adorable and can solve any problems you have while taking care of it.
Monsteras are actually pretty easy to care for (sorry, Emma)! They are native to southern Mexico and Panama, and because of the holes they make when mature, they are commonly known as the Philodendron Split Leaf or Swiss Cheese Plant.
I read somewhere that the holes are a by-product originating from the rainforest, where the vegetation above blocks sunlight. So these holes are to allow sunlight to hit the bottom leaves as well as the top.
I can’t remember where I read it, nor can I find that information, but it’s nice to think of Monstera as a very beautiful housekeeper who knows how to share.
My first tip when caring for your Monstera is to water it regularly. Monsteras like slightly moist soil and usually just want to dry out a little between waterings.
They are epiphytes with aerial roots (a plant that grows on top of another tree in its natural habitat), so they do not tolerate soggy soil. As a general rule, once the top 2 to 4 inches of soil are dry, your Monstera can use a little watering.
Since Fran is in a large pot, I give her quite a bit of water once a week during the growing season, spring through early fall, and then I reduce it quite a bit in winter.
As most plant parents know, it can be difficult to diagnose over-watering or under-watering when plants show signs of stress, so watering on schedule is my number one tip. all of General houseplant care.
A long time ago, I decided to water all of my houseplants once a week, choosing Saturday as the day I remember most to do it, and I’ve stuck to that plan for a while. many years.
I adjust the amount of water I give each plant based on how the soil feels when I test it, as well as the plant itself, knowing some plants like more water, some like less.
If the soil is soggy, I skip watering that week. By scheduling weekly waterings for every houseplant, I never forget to water the plants, and set aside a separate time each week to check them for signs of stress or pests, dust them or prune them. necessary.
My second tip on Monstera care is fertilizing. Fertilizers can be tricky, so when I found a fertilizer that I could use on all my houseplants, I bought a giant bottle and that’s it.
The fertilizer I use is one I add to the water, so I fertilize once a month during the growing season at the beginning of each month with SUPERthrive. It’s a bit expensive, but in my experience it has kept my plants healthy and eating better than any other fertilizer I’ve come across. I swear by it!
Third, Monsteras like bright Indirect light. They can adjust to medium light, but can be constrained in that environment. Before Fran came to live with me, Emma left her in a place without much light. So when I brought her home, I put her in a room with a large window facing west.
The windows were on the other side of the room from where Fran sat, but the room had enough light in the afternoons and evenings that she seemed to enjoy being in that position. (In fact, all of my plants love that room, no matter where they sit).
She never gets direct beams of light so her leaves won’t burn, important to consider when choosing a spot for Monstera and she will show up as the biggest in a room full of plants. grass.
If you love the outdoors and plants, check it out 25+ DIY Outdoor Tools + Tips for Planting Ladies!
My next tip on Monstera care is zoning! In the wild, Monsteras climb other trees as they grow and can grow up to 66 feet tall! Internally they can only be about 9 feet tall and will use a stake (preferably covered with moss but not mine) as their internal host.
I learned the hard way that depositing is a must for Monsteras through tending to another smaller, but busier one that I have in another room. It hadn’t been staked for a long time, until one day, while I was dusting the leaves, I knocked the whole thing over on the table below where it sat, and sadly many of the trunks ripped the tree off. main.
I was able to propagate some of those stems, thank goodness, but I’ve learned my lesson. The stakes help the plant grow upwards and can really help keep all the big leaves in balance.
A side note: I actually grew some of the stems that I bred with Fran in her pot! I think there’s enough space and Fran could use a bit of company, and the addition makes Fran’s bottom half more proportional to her huge top half.
She has some new smaller leaves from a node at the bottom of her stem, but the rest of the leaves are from another Monstera.
My final and final tip is a bit odd and might be seen as “disappointing” for some, but I believe in going above and beyond to add a little love to the tree. his mortar, and Fran was no exception.
Not only did I name her and give her the best seat in my house, but I also put moss on top of her soil as well as various rocks and shells I’ve found in some of his travels over the years.
Collecting rocks and shells has always been a “thing” for me, but I find putting them on top of the crop’s soil adds a little more love for the plant, (or at least it’s in my head), and it makes the tree look better and adds a special touch!
It’s because of my tricks on how I got Fran from Sad-but-Giant-Monstera to Gorgeous-OMG-knock-my-socks-off-Giant-Monstera!
I hope you find something useful in all that I’ve learned taking care of her! Feel free to add any tips or tricks you know about caring for Monsteras in the comments! -Michelle
Love trees? Payment procedures …
Credit // Author: Michelle Houghton. Photographer: Janae Hardy.
