How to Care for a Monstera Deliciosa

The Monstera Deliciosa is the fastest way to make a room feel alive. It's forgiving, dramatic, and — with a little structure — grows huge, fenestrated leaves indoors. This guide walks you through everything a healthy Monstera actually needs, without the folklore.

Light

Monsteras want bright, indirect light. Think a spot two to three metres back from a south- or west-facing window, or right next to an east-facing one. Direct midday sun scorches the leaves and turns them pale. Deep shade, on the other hand, is the number one reason people ask why their Monstera stopped producing splits — a mature Monstera needs real light to fenestrate.

Watering

Water when the top 2–3 cm of the soil is dry to the touch. In a warm, bright room that usually means once a week; in winter, every 10–14 days. Water deeply until it runs from the drainage holes, then empty the saucer. Monsteras hate sitting in water — soggy roots are the fastest route to yellow, mushy stems.

Humidity and temperature

Anything above 50% humidity keeps a Monstera happy; 60–70% is ideal. Grouping plants, running a small humidifier, or moving it to a bright bathroom all work. Keep it between 18–27°C and away from radiators and cold draughts.

Soil and pot

Use a chunky, airy mix — a standard houseplant compost cut with orchid bark, perlite, and a handful of coco coir. Any pot is fine so long as it has drainage. Repot every 18–24 months, one size up.

Support and pruning

A moss pole or coir pole encourages bigger, more fenestrated leaves — the aerial roots grip and the plant reads it as a tree to climb. Prune leggy stems just above a node; they'll root easily in water.

Common problems

• Yellow leaves usually mean overwatering. Check the roots for mush.
• Brown crispy edges point to low humidity or tap-water salts.
• No splits on new leaves? Move it closer to the light.
• Sudden leaf drop is almost always cold shock or a dried-out root ball.

If you're not sure what's wrong, snap a photo and let PlantMe diagnose it — the app cross-checks the leaf pattern against a database of common Monstera problems and returns a treatment plan in seconds.