Monstera care guide – 5 expert tips to keep this tropical houseplant thriving

If you’re looking for a new houseplant to add to your collection and don’t mind a bit of unruly growth, the popular monstera is an ideal choice, and among the best indoor plants you can grow. Its iconic, fenestrated leaves, which gained it its common name of the Swiss cheese plant, provide the perfect statement for any room.

There is a whole range of monstera varieties to choose from, whether it's the smaller Monstera 'Monkey Mask' growing up to one meter tall or the larger Monstera deliciosa, which can reach between two to four meters in height when grown indoors.

While these easy-to-care-for plants are an excellent choice for beginners, there are a few things to keep in mind to keep your monstera happy. Here you can find expert advice on caring for this tropical houseplant.

5 expert tips to keep your monstera thriving

A monstera is a statement plant to add to any room for green interest. We've rounded up a handful of essential things you can do to keep yours looking its best.

1. Find the perfect place for your monstera

These plants are quite hardy and are happy to sit in a partially shaded corner of your house.

'Monsteras are lush evergreens and will reliably display gorgeous deep green, heart-shaped leaves all year round in your home. They don't mind being slightly hidden from the sun, but they will still appreciate a bright space to live in,' says Rachel Bull, Head of Gardens at Homes & Gardens. 

It's a good idea to keep these plants away from any particularly sunny spots so that their leaves don't scorch and discolor in direct sunlight.

Rachel Bull

Rachel is a gardening editor, flower grower and floral designer. Her journalism career began on Country Living magazine, sparking a love of container gardening and wild planting. After more than a decade writing for and editing a range of consumer, business and special interest titles, Rachel became editor of floral art magazine The Flower Arranger. She then trained and worked as a floral designer and stylist in London for six years, before joining the Homes & Gardens team. 

2. Keep your monstera happy with moisture 

As sub-topical plants, monsteras love humidity. Regular misting will be enjoyed by their jungle leaves and keep them bright and bold. There are lots of misters available on the market, like this plant mister from Amazon.

Be careful not to overwater these plants, however, as it could cause the leaves to droop or turn yellow. 

'Weekly watering might be necessary in warmer seasons, but always ensure the water drains away before watering your monstera again. Using a container with drain holes and a saucer can help monitor this and you can use your finger to check if the top layer of soil is dry and ready for watering,' says Rachel.

3. Wipe your monstera leaves to keep them glossy

The giant statement leaves of larger varieties of monstera are what make the plant attractive to many houseplant lovers in the first place, but their scale can also mean they quickly collect dust.

It's completely harmless to the plant but can dull the appearance of its luscious green color. All you need to do is take a damp cloth and wipe them gently to clean them and they will look as bright and bold as ever.

4. Repot your monstera when it outgrows its home

With their long aerial roots, it's likely that your monstera will eventually outgrow its pot. If you don't take care to move it into a larger container, you could risk the plant becoming pot-bound.

There are lots of signs that indicate when to repot a monstera but you can quickly check by taking it out of the pot and examining its roots. If there isn't much more room in the soil for them to grow, it's time to give it a bigger home.

'It's common to repot a monstera every couple of years. This will also help to encourage more growth as it settles into a larger space,' says Rachel.

5. Support your climbing monstera 

If you love the look of these houseplants for their beautiful perforated leaves but don't want them to spread too widely, you can use a support to train the stems. 

In their natural environment, monstera plants are climbers and can be found making their way up neighboring trees. You can use a moss pole or stake in your monstera pot and attach the stems using some twine. The plant will then start to climb the support and stand more neatly in your desired spot.

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FAQs

Monstera plants are easy to look after and will be happy to be left in a partially shaded corner of your home. Their statement leaves make the perfect addition to any indoor garden.