While Monstera plants are known for their easy-to-grow and low-maintenance nature, it’s still important to understand their watering needs to prevent common problems like overwatering and underwatering.
In this article, we’ll answer your questions regarding the watering process of monstera plants, including how often they should be watered, what factors affect their watering needs, what kind of water to use, and how much water you’ll need.
How often do I have to water monstera plants?
The frequency of watering needed by monstera plants depends on several factors. As a general rule, you should water them once every 1 to 2 weeks during summer and spring and every 2 to 3 weeks during winter.
However, this watering schedule isn’t fixed, and you should still consider your plant’s condition. Each plant, even those of the same species, has different watering needs, so you should be able to adjust to them.
If the two-inch part of the soil is already dry, you should water it even if it’s only been a few days. Similarly, if the soil is still moist even after 2 weeks, there’s no need to water the plant.
What factors affect the watering of Monstera plants?
Temperature and Humidity
Temperature and humidity are important when determining the frequency of watering monstera plants need.
The hotter the temperature is, the faster the evaporation rate will be and the faster the soil will dry. As such, you’ll need to water the plant more frequently.
Similarly, higher humidity levels will reduce the frequency of watering needed by the plants.
The use of air conditioners also affects the frequency of watering the plants need, as they tend to lower the temperature and suck out moisture from the environment.
Plants grown in places whose temperature typically ranges between 18°C and 30°C should be fine if they’re watered once every one or two weeks.
As for humidity, having a humidity level of 50% to 70% is ideal for monstera plants. Watering once every 10 or 14 days should also be enough at this humidity level.
Sunlight
Sunlight directly affects how much watering monstera plants will need. The more sunlight they receive, the more water they’ll need.
This is because evaporation increases when there’s too much sunlight, causing the soil to dry quickly. Although monstera plants can tolerate drought for a few days, it’s best to water them when the soil is already dry.
Watering every one or two weeks is only applicable to monstera plants that are grown in a place that receives bright indirect sunlight.
Soil Mix
Maintaining the right balance of soil mix is crucial for the health of your monstera plants. They prefer well-draining soil that is slightly moist but not waterlogged, so keep this in mind when preparing your soil.
Your soil mix affects how much water your soil can retain. The more organic matter you put in, the more water they’ll retain, which helps reduce the frequency of watering.
However, retaining too much water can also lead to waterlogging and root rot.
Your soil mix also affects how much nutrients are available for your monstera plant. A well-balanced mix allows your plant to get the nutrients it needs to develop a robust root system.
An ideal soil mix would be 30% potting soil, 30% perlite, 20% peat moss or coco fiber, 10% charcoal, and 10% worm casting, with a pH level between 5.5 and 7.
Do remember that this is only a recommended soil mix for a young plant. Adjust the mix according to your plant’s need for better growth.
Drainage
Proper drainage is crucial in maintaining a healthy watering schedule for your monstera plants. This will allow you to avoid overwatering your plants or worse, killing them.
When the soil lacks proper drainage, excess water can accumulate around the roots, increasing the risk of overwatering. This can lead to root rot, nutrient deficiencies, and other issues.
Proper drainage also ensures that oxygen can reach the roots. When the soil is poorly drained, the oxygen supply to the roots is limited, which can result in reduced nutrient uptake.
As such, you have to ensure that your monstera plants’ pot has drainage holes.
Plant Size
The size of monstera plants will also greatly affect how often you water them.
Younger monstera plants have smaller roots and hence have limited water-holding capacity compared to mature plants. Because of this, they’ll require more frequent watering, and the standard once every one to two weeks may not be enough.
On the other hand, mature monstera plants can go for a week or two without watering, as they have more established root systems. Unlike young monstera plants that are susceptible to dehydration, mature plants tend to be more prone to overwatering.
When is the best time to water monstera plants?
The best time to water Monstera plants is usually in the morning.
They’re active during daylight hours and perform processes like photosynthesis and nutrient uptake, so providing water during this time allows them to absorb the water efficiently.
Watering them in the morning also reduces the risk of fungal or bacterial diseases. Sunlight allows them to dry their leaves a lot quicker, thus preventing fungal and bacterial growth.
Additionally, watering in the morning allows the plant to take up water before the temperature rises and the evaporation rate increases. This means they can absorb and retain more water.
What type of water should I use when watering monstera plants?
The best type of water to use for monstera plants is room-temperature, filtered water, or rainwater. This is because both are generally free from harmful chemicals like chlorine.
Rainwater generally has a balanced pH, so it won’t have a significant effect on the soil’s pH level. It also contains a lot of natural minerals that can help plants grow better.
Tap water, on the other hand, contains a lot of minerals that can affect the pH level and nutrient availability in the soil, which can potentially harm the plant. Hence, it’s best to filter the water first or let it sit overnight before use.
While distilled and purified water is free from impurities and harmful minerals, it also lacks some minerals that can help the plants grow better. If you’re using distilled or purified water, make up for the nutrients through fertilization.
How much water should I use when watering monstera plants?
The amount of water you should use depends on the size of the monstera plant, the temperature and humidity of the environment it’s in, and other environmental factors. As such, there’s no exact measure that we can give.
As a guide, if you can see water flowing out of the drainage hole, that’s a sign you have watered the plant sufficiently. You also should make sure that the soil is watered thoroughly instead of focusing on just one area.
What are the signs of underwatering monstera plants?
Dry Soil
One of the most common signs of underwatering is dry soil. If you poke the soil and it feels dry, it’s an indication that the plant is not receiving enough water.
Yellowing Leaves
When the plant doesn’t receive adequate water, it will start conserving the little nutrients it has by prioritizing newer leaves, as older leaves tend to require more resources. This causes the leaves to turn yellow and eventually fall.
Wilting and Dry Leaves
Another sign to look out for are wilting leaves. When the leaves start appearing droopy, limp, or lifeless, this means they’re not getting the water they need to maintain turgidity.
The leaf tissues will also start drying out if they don’t receive moisture. If the leaves of your plants are starting to get wrinkly and crispy, then it’s a sign that you need to get your watering pot.
Stunted Growth
If you’re noticing that your monstera plant is growing a lot slower than it should, then it’s probably a sign that it’s not receiving enough water.
This is because underwatering limits the amount of nutrients the plant can get, affecting its growth and overall development.
What are the signs of overwatering monstera plants?
Mushy or Blackened Roots
Overwatered monstera plants typically have mushy and blackened woods. This is because they usually suffer from root rot caused by waterlogging.
The discoloration in the roots is an indicator that they’ve been damaged and are unable to absorb nutrients properly.
Foul Odor
When you overwater monstera plants, oxygen finds it hard to make it to the soil. The lack of oxygen then causes fungal and bacterial growth.
As such, you’d likely smell a foul scent coming from the plant.
Slow Growth
Similar to underwatering, overwatering can also cause a significant decrease in your monstera plant’s growth. This is because both underwatering and overwatering reduce the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients.
Overwatering can cause the roots to remain compacted within a small area, limiting the plant’s ability to explore a larger soil volume and extract the necessary resources it needs to grow.
It can also cause fungal diseases, which can weaken the plant and disrupt its normal growth processes.
To determine if it’s underwatering or overwatering your plant is suffering from, look for other signs, as stunted growth alone may not help.
Yellowing Leaves
Like underwatered plants, overwatered plants also exhibit yellowing leaves. Excessive watering can limit the soil’s oxygen level, impairing the roots’ ability to absorb nutrients.
As such, the leaves will start getting brown spots or completely turn yellow.
Mold on the Soil
Overwatering creates a consistently damp environment, which is a perfect condition for mold to grow. The lack of oxygen caused by excessive watering also promotes the growth of mold in the soil.
What should I do in between the watering cycles of monstera plants?
Monstera plants don’t require much care in between watering cycles. You just need to dust the leaves, monitor soil moisture, maintain proper humidity, and remove dead leaves.
Monstera leaves can accumulate dust over time, which can hinder their ability to photosynthesize effectively. Wipe the leaves gently with a soft cloth to help them absorb more light and enhance their overall health and appearance.
You should also regularly check the soil’s moisture level to ensure it’s not dry. Doing this helps you know whether the plants need more water or not.
Additionally, keep the humidity around the plant at a moderate or high level. You can do this by misting the leaves once in a while or putting a bowl of water near the plant.
Lastly, remove any dead leaves from the plant, as they can drain resources from the plant.
