Monsteras | The easy to care for plant of your dreams
Monsteras
The easy to care for plant of your dreams
With the boost in popularity of houseplants, everyone is on the hunt for the best plant to add to their home. Well, look no further than Monsteras, aka the Monstera Deliciosa.
Monsteras have become a staple in homes and on everything including home décor, clothes, and art. What makes Monsteras so popular is their ability to grow into fairly large plants that effortlessly stand out in a room while also being an easy plant to maintain and keep healthy. Monsteras are able to grow in a variety of soils and even directly in water making them versatile for just about anywhere in the house. Monsteras are also light forgiving plants that can thrive in heavily shaded areas or in bright indirect light. But the ease of care isn’t the only reason Monsteras have become a household favorite.
Monsteras are easy plants to manage and can grow very large
If you guessed that Monstera Deliciosa means “Delicious Monster”, you would be right. In the wild, Monsteras use their aerial roots to attach to the bark of other trees and climb them in search of sunlight. To aid in their growth, the leaves of the Monstera naturally grow in the direction of the sun, and their beautiful split leaf pattern ensures light is able to reach lower leaves as the Monstera climbs higher and higher. It is important to keep this in mind when potting or bringing a Monstera home. Including a moss pole in their pot can support the organic growth of the plant and satisfy their “monstrous” need to climb up something.
This “Delicious Monster” knows how to take care of itself but be sure to give it something to climb or it will find something itself
Monsteras date back to the 16th century. They have long been loved and cherished as a symbol of abundance and prosperity. Also, having a Monstera in your home is believed to bring you luck and longevity. It’s no surprise seeing as Mosteras can be quite awe inspiring with some growing up to 60 feet tall in the wild. These aerial root wonders come in 59 different species (including the Swiss Cheese plant, Mini Monstera and Thai Constellation). Since Monsteras are native to the tropical forests of Southern Mexico and Central America, they are the easiest way to bring the tropics to your home.
Being symbols of abundance, prosperity, luck, longevity, and tropical-vibes, Monsteras are a great addition to any home
HousePlantSitter Care Tips for Monsteras
Water, humidity, and the Monstera Deliciosa
Monstera Deliciosa has adapted to thrive in warm and humid environments. It’s important to keep this in mind when finding the right spot for your plant. Monsteras don’t like to be near air vents. You will also notice leaf browning and spotting if the air is too dry. The preferred room temperature for Monsteras room temperature of 65-80 degrees during the day and slightly cooler at night. Humidifiers are a great addition to any room with Monsteras (or any tropical houseplants). They can help ensure that your plant family does not dry out. Misting Monsteras with distilled water is also a great way to increase their overall humidity. A spray bottle with a fine mist is ideal. This will prevent large droplets of water from sitting on the leaves for too long.
These monsters prefer indirect light
Monsteras grow in the shaded canopies of much taller trees under a lot of filtered light. This means that they do great in rooms with plenty of bright indirect light. They can also grow in areas with less light but at a slower rate than normal. If the leaves of your Monstera are not splitting, this could be a sign that it is not getting enough light. Leaf fenestration, “leaf openings”, only occurs when Monsteras are getting enough light. However, if many of the leaves are solid green without perforation, then your Monstera is probably just too young for its leaves to start splitting.
Monsteras like their soil moist, but not too moist
For soil, the keyword with Monsteras is drainage. Monsteras like moist but not soggy soil. If the soil retains water for extended periods of time, your Monstera Deliciosa will not be happy. To keep your Monstera healthy, water it only when the topsoil is completely dry and make sure your planter has adequate drainage holes.
Monster Deliciosa Fun Fact!
Monstera Deliciosa is a fruit plant. It is edible and safe for humans but there are a few precautions to take before searching for this tropical delicacy. Unripe Monstera fruits contain a large amount of oxalic acid, a bleaching agent to remove rust and clean metals. This makes Monstera Deliciosa fruit not fit for consumption when unripe. When ripe, the fruit is described as one of the best tasting fruits in the world. It’s flavor profile has been described as a mix of banana, coconut, and pineapple. You can eat this fruit by itself or in fruit cups and ice cream.
Not all plants are as easy as Monsterras, but HousePlantSitter is here to help you with the more demanding ones.
Reach out to us today to have a plant expert come assist you in your home.