3 ways to keep your Monstera Deliciosa plant happy

The monstera deliciosa and other plant variations have steadily risen in popularity during the past few years, and honestly, who’s surprised?

The size and fenestrations of the large form deliciosa variant of the Swiss cheese plant make it near irresistible, but like any other plant, it can’t reach its peak without the appropriate care. Despite being quite an easy-to-care-for plant, there are still some rules you should follow to grow a big and healthy monstera.

1. Give it light

It is a common misconception that monsteras can only thrive in indirect light, but this isn’t entirely true. Most monstera plants will thrive in bright light, dependent on the time of day and year. During the summer, when it’s the warmest, placing your plant directly in front of a south-facing window mid-day might not be wise and could burn the leaves, but morning and afternoon sun will always work in your favour.

Many of those who own a variegated monstera are even more hesitant to give their plant direct light because of the possibility of browning, especially with the monstera albo. This will only heighten the risk of the plant reverting or becoming unhealthy since photosynthesis is already limited for these plants, so give them as much light as possible but with some limitations in the summer to avoid burning.

2. Feed your plant

Monsteras enjoy being root bound, so they shouldn’t get new soil often, but there are only so many nutrients a plant can find when confined to a pot for a certain amount of time which is why regular fertilisation is vital. Depending on the type of fertiliser used, most monsteras can be fertilised twice a month during the growing season, from late February to roughly the end of August. It’s also worth noting that if your plant is still actively growing towards the end of the growing season, minimising fertilisation is unnecessary as it’ll still be using all those nutrients.

Liquid Gold Leaf has been deemed one of the best UK fertilisers on the market, and it’s the only fertiliser in the country to include every nutrient needed for healthy plant growth. Liquid Gold Leaf also balances the pH of tap water, so letting your water sit or boil and using rainwater is not necessary when using this fertiliser.

It also doesn’t burn plant roots, so over-fertilising is not too much of a concern. As far as natural fertilisers go, worm castings are a popular go-to for monsteras and other outdoor and indoor plants. Worm castings are slow-releasing and affordable and go deeper into the soil with every water. Still, it’s worth remembering that this is a natural fertiliser, so using a well-balanced fertiliser alongside it is vital to give your plant all the nutrients it needs.

3. Let it climb

In Central America, where these plants grow, they enjoy climbing trees, so replicating this in your home is a wise idea. Depending on the size of the plant, adding a pole or trellis of some sort when repotting will do your plant a lot of good. Giving your plant something to climb will let it feel supported, which will, in turn, mean they produce much bigger leaves, giving you a fuller-looking plant. No matter what plant you have, replicating its natural environment will guarantee a happy and healthy plant, so it’s always a good idea to do some research before buying a new plant to ensure that you can replicate its natural growing conditions in your home as accurately as possible.