Monstera deliciosa care guide: how to grow it and what to watch out for
Monstera deliciosa, also known as Penglai banana, wire fern, and perforated philodendron, is a perennial woody climbing evergreen shrub of the genus Monstera in the Araceae family. In Europe, America, and Japan it is often used as a potted plant to accent living rooms and windowsills. In China it is grown outdoors in places such as Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan, while in Beijing, Hubei, and other places it is mostly grown in greenhouses. Let us take a look below at the care methods and precautions for Monstera deliciosa!
Propagation methods for Monstera deliciosa
1. Sowing: Before sowing Monstera deliciosa, soak the seeds in warm water at 40°C for 10 hours. The sowing soil should be sterilized at high temperature. Spot sowing can be used. After sowing, keep the room temperature at 20-25°C, cover the box opening with plastic film, and maintain humidity above 80%. After sowing, germination generally occurs in 20-25 days.
2. Cuttings: For Monstera deliciosa cutting propagation, spring from April to May and autumn from September to October give the best results. Select current-year side shoots with solid stem tissue and robust growth as cuttings. Use a mixed substrate of coarse sand and peat or leaf mold for the cutting bed. Rooting begins only about 1 month after insertion.
3. Division: Division propagation of Monstera deliciosa is generally carried out in summer and autumn. Cut off an entire section of a side shoot from a large Monstera deliciosa, keeping some aerial roots, and plant it directly in a wooden tub or pot. This not only gives a high survival rate but also produces a well-formed plant quickly.
How to grow Monstera deliciosa
1. Soil: Monstera deliciosa prefers loose, well-drained soil. Before adding soil, place some hoof pieces, crushed bone, and other materials at the bottom of the pot as base fertilizer, then fill in a culture soil mixed from 1/3 leaf mold, 1/3 garden soil, and 1/3 sandy soil.
2. Sunlight: Monstera deliciosa is relatively shade-tolerant, dislikes scorching sun, and prefers scattered light. If the sunlight is too strong, the leaves will be scorched; if the light is too dim, the leaf color will fade. In summer, the flower pot can be placed by a north window, but in winter it needs sufficient sunlight.
3. Temperature: Monstera deliciosa prefers warmth and is not cold-tolerant. The suitable growth temperature is 15-25°C. When the winter temperature drops to 5°C, it should be moved indoors for warmth. Keeping the indoor temperature between 15-20°C allows it to overwinter safely.
4. Water: Monstera deliciosa prefers moisture. It is best to keep the potting soil dry without cracking and moist without being soggy. An air humidity of 60% is ideal. In summer, spray and water the leaf surface every day. In winter, do not spray water on the leaf surface, otherwise black spots may appear or even blackening and rot.
5. Fertilizing: For Monstera deliciosa, April to September is the vigorous growth period. Apply a thin liquid fertilizer once every half month. During the growth period, apply a 20% or 30% nitrogen liquid fertilizer about once every 2 weeks to promote robust plant growth. After autumn, increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to make the stems thick and strong and prevent lodging.
6. Pruning: After Monstera deliciosa has taken shape, when the stem nodes and leaves grow too densely and the branches and vines grow too long, pay attention to pruning the whole plant, aiming for a natural and beautiful appearance. If you want the stems and vines to grow taller quickly, you can moderately prune the lower aged leaves.
7. Pests and diseases: The pests and diseases of Monstera deliciosa include scale insects and gray spot disease. Scale insects can be killed by spraying with a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate. For gray spot disease, strengthen plant care and spray with a 1000-fold dilution of 70% thiophanate or 0.5% equal-amount Bordeaux mixture.
8. Repotting: Monstera deliciosa grows quickly and needs repotting once a year to provide sufficient space for plant growth. Repotting is carried out between March and April each year. During repotting, remove part of the old soil and dead roots and replace with a pot one size larger.
Precautions for Monstera deliciosa
1. During the growth period of Monstera deliciosa, the plant grows quickly, so the cultivation space should be spacious; otherwise it will affect the extension of stems and leaves and fail to show the beauty of the leaf shape.
2. The planting soil for Monstera deliciosa should be fertile, loose, highly water-absorbent, and water-retentive slightly acidic loam, with leaf mold or peat soil being best.
3. The suitable growth temperature for Monstera deliciosa is 20-25°C. In winter, the nighttime temperature during the seedling stage should not be lower than 10°C. Mature plants can tolerate 5°C for a short time, but are prone to frost damage.
4. In summer, Monstera deliciosa needs frequent spraying to maintain relatively high air humidity, and the leaves should be kept clean regularly to facilitate photosynthesis.
5. The sap of Monstera deliciosa is toxic and has irritating and corrosive effects on the skin. Eating the unripe fruit of Monstera deliciosa will cause burns to the mouth and tongue.
What to do if Monstera deliciosa leaves turn yellow?
1. Soil problems
[Cause] The soil is not loose enough or has not been changed on time, and the soil has become compacted, so the roots cannot get proper aeration, which hinders respiration and prevents good growth.
[Solution] Change the soil composition. Mix 2 parts cooked loess, 1 part chicken manure, and 1 part honeycomb coal ash organically. While maintaining looseness and air permeability, this can also retain the fertilizer needed.
2. Ventilation problems
[Cause] Caused by poor ventilation.
[Solution] Always maintain smooth indoor ventilation. You can also regulate it by placing it indoors for viewing during the day and moving it outdoors at night.
3. Fertilizing problems
[Cause] The soil or fertilizer lacks the iron element needed for chlorophyll, which is not conducive to the normal synthesis of chlorophyll, causing the leaves to turn yellow due to loss of green color.
[Solution] Add alum fertilizer water, or supplement by spraying a 0.1-0.3% ferrous sulfate solution.
4. Light problems
[Cause] Being placed in a shady place for a long time reduces photosynthesis, or exposure to strong sunlight causes leaf scorch.
[Solution] In summer, place it in a semi-shady spot where it can receive scattered light. In winter, it needs to be placed in the sun frequently.
5. Watering problems
[Cause] Water control is one of the key points in growing Monstera deliciosa. Watering too frequently causes root rot, while too little water is not conducive to normal growth and leads to poor development.
[Solution] Water regularly and in appropriate amounts. The soil surface should be slightly dry. If the weather is too dry, you can spray a little water on the leaves.
6. Temperature problems
[Cause] The minimum winter temperature for Monstera deliciosa seedlings should be above 10°C. Mature plants generally suffer frost damage below 5°C, which will also cause their leaves to turn yellow.
[Solution] Take appropriate warmth measures in winter, such as placing it in a greenhouse, and never let it come into direct contact with or get too close to a heat source.