The monstera plant is prized for its huge, split leaves that look like no indoor plant. So, it is indeed frustrating when your cherished plant does not develop split leaves.
You can get your monstera leaves to split by planting them in well-draining soil, keeping them in bright, indirect light, misting them often, and feeding them. However, only the leaves of mature monstera plants split. So, if your plant is under 2-3 years old, its leaves will not split.
In this article, I will describe how you can create the ideal growing environment for your mature monstera plant to thrive and develop split leaves. The trick is to mimic the conditions found in its natural habitat.
1. Wait for the Plant To Mature
Yes, there is a reason why monstera leaves have their characteristic holes, and it is not vanity!
The mature leaves of the monstera can grow up to two feet (0.61 m) wide. These sprawling leaves can block sunlight and air from reaching the leaves growing on the lower branches. So, Mother Nature programmed monstera leaves to split to let in sunlight and promote airflow.
Monstera leaves usually start to split after a few leaves grow on a stem and create a dense canopy that blocks light from hitting the lower leaves. If you have a young monstera plant with sparse leaves or the leaves have not grown wide enough to block light, there is no need for the leaves to split.
The splits on monstera leaves also promote drainage.
Water can accumulate on the surface of these large leaves and attract pests, fungus, and mold. Wet leaves also make a plant vulnerable to root rot that eventually kills the plant.
The splits on the leaves prevent water from stagnating.
So, just wait for your plant to mature. Meanwhile, you can create a growing environment that encourages your monstera to thrive and sprout more leaves. Read on to find out how.
2. Provide Bright Indirect Light
Monstera plants are inhabitants of the tropical rainforests of the world. They receive dappled sunlight and are protected from the sun’s harsh rays by the dense canopy of tall trees.
They wilt in harsh sunlight. However, they do not tolerate shade as well. Shady conditions stunt their growth.
They need bright, indirect light to flourish. Here are some tips to help you meet your monstera’s light requirements:
- Place your monstera plant near a north-facing window.
- Place your monstera near an east-or south-facing window if the summers are not too hot in your area.
- DO NOT keep the plant near a west-facing window where it might get burned by the scorching afternoon sun.
- Cover the window with curtains or drapes to provide the plant with filtered light.
- Grow your monstera under artificial lights if there is not enough natural light inside your home.
You can keep a mature monstera with split leaves in low light. Plant parents who don’t want the plants to grow beyond a certain height adopt this ploy.
3. Ensure That the Soil Drains Well
Monstera plants grow in tropical rainforests where the environment is damp and humid. So, these plants need moisture to thrive.
However, forest soils are not wet. In fact, very little aerial moisture makes its way into the ground. So, monsteras have not evolved to withstand wet feet.
Plant your monstera in free-draining soil. Here’s what you must remember before transplanting:
- Do not use garden soil. Garden soils tend to be heavy. They may also breed harmful pathogens, such as fungus and bacteria.
- Amend a store-bought potting mix. The potting mixes you buy from the store are usually designed to retain water. They don’t drain well. Add perlite, pumice, or coarse sand to the mix to improve drainage.
- Make your own potting mix. You can easily find the ingredients at your local garden store. Some ingredients like sphagnum peat moss and coco coir hold on to water. Do not add more than one to the mix.
Read more about how to prevent indoor soil from staying wet in my article here: What to Do When Indoor Plant Soil Stays Wet
Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy. Water only after the soil has dried out somewhat.
4. Create a Humid Environment
Monsteras love humidity. Create a humid microclimate for your plant. Here are some tips:
- Mist the leaves. However, mist only in the morning to let the leaves dry. Wet leaves can attract mold and fungi.
- Keep the planter on a saucer of pebbles filled with water. The planter should sit on top of the layer of pebbles and not touch the water. The evaporation of the water will increase humidity around the plant.
- Group other plants around your monstera. Plants grouped close together create a humid microclimate. You can also place a bowl of water on the floor amid the plants to create additional humidity.
- Crank up the humidifier (but to a bearable level). Keep the comfort level of the inhabitants of the house in mind when you adjust the humidifier settings.
- Keep it in z bathroom you use. Bathrooms are moist places. Your monstera will love the damp air here.
5. Ensure the Ambient Temperature Is Not Too Low
Monsteras grow best when the temperature is between 65 and 85 °F (18 and 29 °C).
These plants originate in warm tropical rainforests. Their growth is stunted if the temperature falls below 50 °F (10 °C).
Protect your plant baby from exposure to cold drafts. Do not keep it near doors and windows through which cold drafts can enter the house.
6. Feed the Plant
A sick plant has stunted growth. Without adequate growth and ample foliage, monstera leaves do not split.
Feed your monstera with plant food that contains a balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You can use homemade compost or buy plant food specially formulated for indoor plants.
I suggest you use the Easy Peasy Liquid Plant Food available on Amazon.com.
This plant food from Easy Peasy contains a balanced mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It promotes strong roots, encourages lush foliage, and maintains plant health. It also contains sulfur, which increases nutrient uptake so that you don’t have to fertilize too often.
The Easy Peasy Liquid Indoor Plant food also gives you the most bang for your buck. It comes in a highly concentrated form. You have to add only half a teaspoon of the liquid to the water, so one bottle lasts longer than other fertilizers.
Fertilize your plant regularly in spring and summer when it grows actively.
In their natural habitat, monsteras grow in soils rich in magnesium. However, you may not have to add magnesium to the potting mix if you use a balanced fertilizer containing micronutrients.
Add magnesium only if your monster is deficient in it. Magnesium deficiency manifests as leaves turning yellow between their green veins.
You can use Epsom salt, which contains magnesium sulfate. Add about a tablespoon of Epsom salt to a gallon (3.79 l) of water and water your plant with the solution. Continue to water till water runs out of the bottom of the planter.
You can also spray the leaves with this solution.
7. Do Not Stress the Plant
Like most plants, monsteras too fail to thrive when they are stressed.
A monstera is stressed if it receives too much direct sunlight, remains waterlogged for a long time, gets too cold, or is repotted.
If you believe your monstera is stressed by one or more of these reasons, fix the issue.
Remove the plant to a sheltered and warm spot.
If the plant had been sitting in water, you might have to repot it. It may shed leaves after you have repotted it. Wait for it to adjust to its new home and recover from the stress, and it will soon start growing fresh leaves.
Remember that monsteras love to be root-bound. They need to be repotted only every 2-3 years. So, only repot when you have to.
Once you have moved the plant to a large planter that measures eight inches (20.32 cm) or more, do not repot anymore. Remove a few inches of topsoil and replace it with fresh potting soil or compost every year. This will recharge the soil and feed the plant.
Conclusion
The holes on the leaves of the monstera plant that make it so alluring are part of Mother Nature’s grand design. The leaves split only when the plant is mature and has a dense canopy.
You can speed up your 2-3-year-old monstera’s growth and support its health so that it sprouts more leaves.
