How To Properly Take Care Of A Monstera

How to properly take care of a monstera starts with understanding its natural habitat and giving it exactly what it needs to feel at home.
 
When you properly take care of a monstera, you’re basically recreating the warm, humid, and dappled-light conditions of the rainforest floor where this gorgeous plant naturally grows.
 
Proper monstera care isn’t complicated, but it does require paying attention to a few key things like watering, light, potting mix, and humidity.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how to properly take care of a monstera so your plant stays lush, vibrant, and healthy for years to come.
 
Let’s get growing!
 

How to Properly Take Care of a Monstera: The Essentials

Proper monstera care comes down to five main things, and here’s where you should start.
 

1. Give Your Monstera Bright, Indirect Light

When you properly take care of a monstera, light is one of the biggest factors in how well it grows.
 
These plants, often called Swiss cheese plants because of their iconic split leaves, can actually get sunburned if they receive too much direct sunlight.
 
But bright, indirect sunlight, like near an east-facing window or a few feet from a south-facing one, helps your monstera thrive.
 
If you notice the leaves turning yellow, that’s often a sign the light is too harsh.
 
And if the stems are getting leggy with big gaps between leaves, that means your monstera is craving more light.
 
Rotate your plant every couple of weeks so each side gets even light exposure and grows evenly.
 

2. Water Your Monstera the Right Way

Knowing how to properly take care of a monstera means mastering your watering routine.
 
Monstera plants like their soil to dry out a bit between waterings, so you never want to keep it constantly soggy.
 
Stick your finger about two inches into the soil, and if it feels dry, it’s time to give your plant a drink.
 
When you do water, give it a good soak until water runs out of the drainage holes.
 
Then let the pot drain completely so the roots aren’t sitting in standing water.
 
Overwatering is the number one way people accidentally kill their monstera, so when in doubt, water less often.
 

3. Use the Right Soil and Pot

Proper monstera care also depends on the potting mix you use.
 
A chunky, well-draining mix is ideal because monstera roots love oxygen and hate staying wet.
 
You can use a mix with peat moss, perlite, and orchid bark, or just grab a pre-made aroid mix from your local plant store.
 
Make sure your pot has drainage holes because a monstera sitting in soggy soil will quickly develop root rot.
 
If you’re not sure whether it’s time to repot, check if roots are growing out of the bottom of the pot.
 
When you do repot, only go one or two sizes up so the soil doesn’t stay wet for too long.
 

4. Boost Humidity and Temperature

Monstera plants come from tropical rainforests, so they absolutely love humidity.
 
To properly take care of a monstera indoors, try to keep the humidity around 50 percent or higher.
 
You can mist the leaves, use a pebble tray with water, or get a small humidifier for your plant corner.
 
As for temperature, keep your monstera in a spot between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
 
Avoid cold drafts from windows or air conditioners because a chilly monstera will start to struggle pretty quickly.
 

5. Clean and Support the Leaves

Dust can build up on those big, gorgeous monstera leaves and block the light they need to photosynthesize.
 
Gently wipe the leaves with a damp cloth every couple of weeks to keep them clean and shiny.
 
You can also give your monstera a moss pole or trellis to climb.
 
These plants are natural climbers, and proper monstera care includes giving them something to attach their aerial roots to.
 
When they climb, they produce bigger leaves and look even more stunning in your space.
 

Common Monstera Care Mistakes to Avoid

Even when you’re trying to properly take care of a monstera, a few common slip-ups can cause problems.
 

1. Overwatering Your Monstera

This is the most common mistake, and it’s easy to see why.
 
You might think more water equals a happier plant, but that’s just not true for monstera.
 
Yellow leaves, mushy stems, and a sour smell from the soil all point to overwatering.
 
Let the soil dry out before each watering, and your monstera will bounce back in no time.
 

2. Putting It in Direct Sunlight

Monstera leaves can burn really quickly in harsh afternoon sun.
 
The classic sign of too much sun is brown, crispy patches on the leaves.
 
Remember that bright indirect light is the sweet spot when you want to properly take care of a monstera.
 

3. Ignoring Pests

Spider mites, mealybugs, and scale can all bother a monstera.
 
Check the undersides of the leaves regularly when you’re practicing proper monstera care.
 
If you spot any bugs, wipe the leaves with a mild soap solution or use neem oil to get rid of them.
 

4. Skipping Fertilizer

When you properly take care of a monstera, you can’t forget about food.
 
These plants are active growers during spring and summer, and they need a little boost to keep pushing out new leaves.
 
Use a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season, and dilute it to half strength.
 

So, How Do You Properly Take Care of a Monstera?

How to properly take care of a monstera really comes down to giving it the right light, water, soil, humidity, and a little bit of patience.
 
When you properly take care of a monstera, you’ll be rewarded with big, beautiful fenestrated leaves that make a statement in any room.
 
It’s a learning process, but these tropical beauties are forgiving and resilient once you get the basics right.
 
With these tips, you now know how to properly take care of a monstera and keep it growing strong for many years.
 
Happy planting!