Plant Profile: Monstera deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa is known commonly as the split leaf philodendron or swiss cheese plant. This flowering tropical native to southern Mexico can be found growing in the wild across parts of Asia, Australia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and even Florida. A popular indoor plant nearly everywhere else, its iconic leaves are printed on everything from clothing to dishes, jewelry, greeting cards, and all sorts of home décor. Watching new leaves of varying shapes, patterns, and sizes form is a lot of fun and makes M. deliciosa a particularly rewarding plant to grow.
Light
I’ve found most success with M. deliciosa in bright but indirect light. Too much direct light can wilt or even burn the leaves. They respond very well to being moved outside during the warmer months. Just be sure to avoid any direct sun, particularly with younger plants.
Potting Medium
Monstera will grow in a lot of different soil types, but I’ve found a chunky/loose combination of half well-draining potting mix and half orchid mix (bark, perlite, charcoal) works best. This allows me to water more often, keeping the medium damp but never soggy. Planting in regular potting mix, like Miracle Gro, is fine too although may make watering a bit trickier.
Water
This is going to vary greatly depending on your indoor conditions and potting medium used. As stated above, Monstera likes to stay moist but not soggy. You want the plant to use the water you are giving it in between watering. Absolutely never try to use a pot with no drainage. In a loose potting medium like I described above, you may find you need to water as much as twice a week to maintain ideal moisture. If yours is in just plain potting mix they will need much less. If you’re unsure whether your plant needs water, it’s always better to let the soil dry out before adding more. Monstera will definitely show you signs that it’s thirsty-but don’t let it stay dry for too long.
Feeding and Maintenance
During the spring and summer you can feed regularly. A liquid fertilizer will be absorbed best due to their epiphytic roots. Other than that, they don’t seem too picky. Any kind of all-purpose plant food or anything marketed for indoor plants should do.
