Monstera plants’ bright green, uniquely shaped leaves make them a hit among homeowners looking to add some flare to their indoors.
Although these plants are easy to maintain, issues like under-watering and over-watering are usually the culprit behind their death.
Learning how often to water your monstera is critical to ensuring your plant thrives all year round. Read below to learn everything there is to know about the water requirements of a monstera plant.
How Often to Water Monstera
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Monstera plants, also known as the Swiss cheese plant, are tropical plants native to Southern Mexico. As a tropical plant, monstera demands irrigation every one to two weeks, depending on factors like the temperature of the season (discussed below).
This is why monstera plant owners must monitor their plants’ soil to determine if it requires watering.
It is advisable for monstera owners to only water monstera deliciosa when the first layer of soil is dry. If you last watered your monstera plant a week ago and the soil still appears moist, it is best to wait until it dries to water again.
Tweaking your watering frequency according to the soil moisture levels is the best way to prevent issues like waterlogged soil.
Factors Impacting a Monstera Plants Watering Schedules
Several factors directly impact how often you should water your monstera plant. Understanding these factors can allow you to ensure you only water a monstera plant when it requires watering. Some of these factors include:
Size
The size of a monstera plant and its pot directly impact its watering needs.
Monstera plants in smaller pots may require more frequent watering since they tend to become dry more quickly than monsteras in larger pots. Monstera plants in large-sized pots may not need irrigation for several weeks.
Temperature
The temperature surrounding your monstera plant also impacts how quickly its soil may dry and how often it requires irrigation.
A monstera plant may require more frequent watering in warmer and humid temperatures. On the other hand, it may go weeks in cooler weather before requiring another top-up.
Light Levels
The amount of light your monstera plant gets also influences its watering requirements.
A monstera plant sitting in a bright spot may dry up more quickly. In contrast, a monstera plant in a darker area may stay moist longer.
Season
Temperature changes during the seasons also affect how quickly your monstera plant may develop dry soil.
For example, your monstera plant may require more frequent watering during the growing season, which lasts from Spring to Summer. However, the plant may become dormant in winter or fall and need minimal water to thrive.
Ideally, you should water your monstera plant once a week during the hot summer days and every two to three weeks in the winter (only when the soil is dry).
Signs of Under watering in Monstera plants
Awareness of under-watering signs can help you spot any issues with your plant in the early stages and take necessary action to prevent further damage.
Some common signs of under-watering in monstera plants include:
Curling leaves
Curling leaves are a common sign of a monstera plant lacking nutrients due to under-watering.
This occurs due to the plant’s cells lacking internal pressure, which leads to the plant’s leaves being unable to retain their shape.
Drooping Leaves
When a Monstera plant becomes dehydrated and weak due to the lack of water, it may be unable to support its structure and begin to drop.
However, drooping leaves can also be an indication of over-watering.
The best way to determine if your leaves are drooping due to lack of or excess water is to check the potting soil. If the soil feels completely dry, under-watering is likely the cause of the drooping.
Stunted Growth
Water is crucial for photosynthesis, the process through which plants synthesize the energy from the sun into food.
When a plant doesn’t receive enough water, its ability to create energy gets impacted. This means the plant does not have enough nutrients to grow, which can lead to issues like stunted growth.
Yellow or Brown Leaves
Under watered monstera, plants begin to develop yellow leaves due to the absence of moisture. Issues like curling or wilting also typically accompany yellowing leaves in under-watered monsteras.
If yellowing leaves are not addressed early on, they might progress into brown leaves and eventually fall off.
In the early stages, fulfilling your monstera plants’ watering needs is all you need to do to return its color to a green hue. However, monsteras with severe cases of underwatering may be unable to regain their natural color.
Signs of Overwatering in Monstera plants
With overwatering being the most prevalent cause of monstera death, recognizing the indications of overwatering can help you avoid having to deal with an overwatered monstera. The common symptoms of overwatering in monstera plants include:
Root Rot
Root rot is one of the deadliest diseases a plant could develop due to overwatering. It can be described as the deterioration of a plant’s root system.
When your plant’s roots begin to rot due to this condition, they cannot effectively transport nutrients to the entire plant, which can cause the plant to die eventually.
Some signs of root rot include soggy soil, yellowing, distorted leaves, and wilting. If you suspect your monstera plant may be suffering from root rot, examining the plants’ roots is the best way to confirm this.
Healthy roots will feature a whitish color, whereas rotten roots may develop a brown or black hue.
Once you have confirmed the disease, the only way to save your monstera plant is to re-pot it in a fresh soil mix. To re-pot your monstera plant, gently take the plant out of its pot and wash it. Next, add new, well-draining soil into the pot and place the plant in a warm spot.
If it is not too late, your plant will slowly begin to return to optimal health.
Fungal Growth
Fungal infections like powdery mildew are another prevalent sign of overwatering in monsteras. A natural antifungal agent, like cinnamon, is the best approach to curing an infected monstera.
Inspect your plant for signs of fungal growth and dust cinnamon on those spots.
You can also sprinkle cinnamon on top of the soil to eliminate fungus within the soil or completely replace the potting mix with fresh soil mix if the potting medium is heavily infected.
Dark Brown Spots on Leaves
Dark brown spots that cover the lower foliage of your monstera plant are a common indication of root rot and overwatering. Mushy or dark stems may also accompany this.
When this occurs, acting immediately and fixing your watering schedule is critical to saving the plant.
Soil Takes over 10 Days to Dry
When you overwater a monstera plant, the soil moisture may take longer than usual to evaporate.
A healthy monstera that receives proper amounts of water may take no longer than a week to become dry in summer.
If your monstera takes longer than 10 days to dry and the soil contents remain soggy even after a few days after irrigation, that may indicate watering problems like overwatering.
Unabsorbed water on the top layer of a monstera is also a symptom of overwatering.
Tips for Watering Monstera Plants
By following the tips below, you can prevent watering problems in a monstera plant and maintain healthy growth all year round:
Create a Watering Schedule
Creating a watering schedule can be the best way to ensure you are fulfilling your plants watering needs and not supplying them with more water than they need.
If you forget to water or water more than required, setting the alarm on your phone or downloading an app like Waterbot can be a great way to create good watering habits.
Water your Monstera Plant Only When the First Two to Three Inches of Soil are Dry
As discussed above, your monster plant watering needs may change depending on the season and light levels it receives. Therefore, it can be difficult to keep track of the changing watering needs of your monstera plants.
The best solution to this issue is to water your monstera only when the top layer of the soil dries.
You can determine if the soil is dry by placing your finger into the first two or three inches of the soil or using a moisture meter.
Use room temperature filtered Water to Irrigate your Monstera Plants
Using room-temperature water is a great way to maintain your plant’s health. Moreover, watering your plant with filtered water instead of tap water can also help protect it from chlorine damage.
Choose a Pot with Drainage Holes
When choosing a pot for your monstera plants, ensure the pot you select has adequate drainage holes.
Drainage holes will let the excess water drain out of the plant and help avoid root rot or waterlogging issues.
Bottom Line
Knowing how often to water monstera plants and the factors that impact a monstera’s watering schedule can help you avoid issues like overwatering and underwatering and maintain healthy plant growth.
You can also follow the tips discussed above to prevent watering problems in monstera plants.