The queen of the large-leaved tropicals, no houseplant collection is complete without a Monstera! Monsteras are a genus of tropical plants native to Central and South America. They begin life on the ground and, as they mature, climb trees with aerial roots. This allows them to burst through the dense rainforest canopies to reach maximum sunlight!
To maximize growth, place your Monstera in a very bright window that gets lots of indirect light and make sure to maintain high humidity. You want to simulate a steamy jungle as best as you can! Watering varies on the size of your pot, but generally every week is a good starting point. Monsteras like moderately dry soil, but don’t want to dry out completely in between waterings. Mixing some orchid bark into a cactus potting mix will provide the best balance between moist and well-draining substrate. This will make your Monstera feel like it’s in Mexico, climbing up the bark of a giant tree!
As for the aerial roots, they are not a sign of any issues, they’re simply natural. You have a couple options on how to deal with them. First, you can provide a structure for them to climb up. Moss poles are best for this, if kept moist, they allow the Monstera roots to attach to them and grow upwards. This won’t happen without your help, so make sure to secure one of the stems to your pole with a strong plant tie. Another option is to train them into the soil to soak up more nutrients. Lastly, if you don’t want to look at them, simply cut them off! Your Monstera will not mind in the least!
While there exist 59 species of Monstera, most have wide, rounded leaves branching off of thick, sturdy stems. When their leaves first emerge and unfold, they are whole. As they mature, splits develop on either side of the central vein, creating a gorgeous stencil of negative space. This phenomenon is actually an adaptation that allows light to reach the lower leaves of the plant and allows heavy rains of the rainforest to run through rather than collect as heavy pools that may break their limbs! When have experienced sunlight casting shadows off your Monstera, you have seen true beauty!
An outstanding choice for both novice and seasoned houseplant parents, Monsteras are straight-forward and highly rewarding. Nothing rivals their monstrous leaves that can grow up to 2-3 feet indoors! The most common variety is the Monstera deliciosa. This is the classic beauty with big, split leaves that stay glossy and green. Adamsoni or “swiss cheese” Monsteras have holes in the middle of their leaves instead of splits. A rare and expensive variety, the Thai Constellation, has variegated leaves, speckled with white “stars”. The beauty of the Monstera is that it is the belle of the ball without any drama. You’ll know what we mean when you get one of your own!
