How to Grow Monstera
Monstera deliciosa
Monstera is a striking tropical houseplant with large, deeply split leaves that makes a bold statement in any room. It thrives in bright indirect light but tolerates lower light, and prefers well-draining soil kept lightly moist. Provide a moss pole to support its aerial roots as the plant matures. Wipe the leaves occasionally with a damp cloth to keep them glossy and dust-free, which also helps the plant photosynthesise more efficiently.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertiliser from spring through summer. Reduce to every 6–8 weeks in autumn and stop feeding entirely in winter when growth slows.
Watch For
- Root rot from overwatering (yellowing, mushy roots)
- Scale insects on stems and leaf undersides
- Mealybug in leaf axils
- Red spider mite in dry conditions
- Bacterial leaf spot (water-soaked patches)
Track your Monstera care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Bright indirect light; tolerates lower light
Place in a spot that receives bright, filtered light — near a north- or east-facing window is ideal in the UK. Avoid direct summer sun, which scorches the large leaves. Monstera tolerates lower light better than most tropical plants, but growth slows significantly and fenestrations become less pronounced in deep shade.
💧 Watering
Water when top 3–4 cm of soil dries out
Push your finger 3–4 cm into the compost; water thoroughly when it feels dry at that depth. In spring and summer this may be every 7–10 days; in autumn and winter reduce to every 2–3 weeks. Always allow excess water to drain freely and empty saucers after 30 minutes to prevent waterlogging.
🌱 Fertilizing
Monthly feed spring to summer
Feed once a month from March to August with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to the recommended strength. Reduce to every 6–8 weeks in September and October, then stop feeding entirely from November to February when growth is minimal.
✂️ Pruning
Remove yellowed leaves and trim aerial roots as needed
Cut away any yellowed, damaged, or dead leaves at the base of their petiole with clean, sharp scissors. Aerial roots can be tucked into the moss pole, guided into the soil, or trimmed if they become unmanageable — this does not harm the plant. If the plant becomes too large, cut stems back to a node; the plant will reshoot from below the cut.
🌿 Humidity
Moderate to high humidity preferred
Monstera thrives at 50–70% relative humidity. In UK homes with central heating, humidity can drop below 30% in winter — group plants together, use a pebble tray with water beneath the pot, or run a room humidifier nearby. Misting provides only brief relief and can encourage fungal issues if leaves stay wet; a humidifier is more effective.
Growing Tips
Provide a moss pole
Aerial roots need something to climb — without support the leaves stay smaller and the plant won't reach its full size. Fix a moss pole in the pot when the plant is young.
Wipe the leaves monthly
Dust blocks light and reduces photosynthesis efficiency. Wipe each large leaf with a damp cloth once a month to keep them glossy and productive.
Fenestrations come with maturity
Young leaves are entire (no splits or holes) — this is completely normal. The characteristic Swiss-cheese perforations only appear once the plant is several years old.
Water by feel, not by schedule
Water when the top 3–4 cm of compost feel dry. Frequency drops significantly in autumn and winter — adjust rather than sticking to a fixed watering day.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Scale Insects
Identification: Brown or tan dome-shaped bumps (2–5 mm) fixed to stems and leaf undersides. Sticky honeydew deposits below infested areas; sooty mould may follow.
- Scrape off individual scales with a soft toothbrush or cotton bud dipped in rubbing alcohol, then wipe the area clean.
- Apply a neem oil spray (5 ml neem oil + 1 ml washing-up liquid per litre of water) every 7 days for 3–4 weeks.
- Spray with a systemic insecticide containing acetamiprid or imidacloprid, following label rates. Keep away from pollinators.
Pest Mealybug
Identification: White, waxy, cotton-wool-like clusters in leaf axils, along stems, and on the undersides of leaves. Leaves may yellow and drop in heavy infestations.
- Dab individual colonies with a cotton bud soaked in isopropyl alcohol (70%), which dissolves the protective wax coat on contact.
- Spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap solution (diluted soft soap) every 5–7 days, ensuring coverage of all leaf axils.
- Use a systemic spray containing acetamiprid. Apply in the evening to avoid leaf scorch and repeat after 10–14 days.
Pest Red Spider Mite
Identification: Fine pale stippling on leaf surfaces; look for tiny red or green mites (< 1 mm) and delicate webbing on leaf undersides and between petioles.
- Increase humidity around the plant — spider mites thrive in dry air. Mist leaves daily and place the pot on a pebble tray with water.
- Wipe leaves with a damp cloth to remove mites physically, then spray with diluted neem oil every 5–7 days.
- Apply an acaricide spray (e.g. containing bifenazate or abamectin) as a fine mist to all leaf surfaces, including undersides. Repeat after 7 days.
Disease Root Rot Pythium spp.
Symptoms: Yellowing lower leaves, wilting despite moist soil, soft brown or black roots, and a sour smell from the potting mix.
Treatment: Remove the plant from the pot, cut away all blackened and mushy roots with clean scissors, and dust cut surfaces with powdered cinnamon or sulphur. Repot into fresh, well-draining compost and a clean pot. Reduce watering significantly.
Prevention: Always use a pot with drainage holes. Allow the top 3–4 cm of compost to dry out between waterings. Avoid standing the pot in a saucer of water for extended periods.
Disease Bacterial Leaf Spot Pseudomonas spp.
Symptoms: Water-soaked, dark-edged spots on leaves, often with a yellow halo. Spots may coalesce and turn brown. Affected tissue sometimes has an unpleasant odour.
Treatment: Remove and bin all affected leaves. Avoid wetting the foliage when watering. Improve air circulation around the plant. There is no curative spray — management is cultural.
Prevention: Water at the base, not overhead. Keep leaves dry. Avoid crowding plants together. Sterilise pruning tools between uses.
Log Monstera in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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