The monstera deliciosa is still one of the most popular houseplants. The big tropical leaf look reemerged from the 70s causing a plant craze on social media and in the home decor scene. Monstera leaves decorate tote bags, wallpaper, and even jewelry. Once a hard to find plant, now you can pick up a monstera along with your groceries or at the local hardware store. I purchased my first monstera from Ikea years ago. I didn’t know much about plants back then, and placed it in a dimly lit corner. It looked great in that spot, but was starved for light. Lack of light caused a slew of issues like yellow leaves, thrips, and root rot. These hard lessons turned into wisdom and eventually taught me how to cultivate a beautiful monstera deliciosa. Here’s a few pointers so you can avoid my mistakes.  

More Light Than You Think

Sunlight is everything. Like most tropical houseplants, the monstera deliciosa is marketed as a “low light” plant. This may be the case outdoors or in the wild, but inside your home, a monstera will need bright light. If you live in the northern hemisphere, definitely place your monstera in a spot with some direct sunlight, especially over winter when sunlight is weaker. My monsteras grow giant leaves when they receive a few hours of direct, east-facing sunlight. During the winter I move them to a spot with direct, south-facing sunlight and they continue to thrive. 

Aerial Roots Are The Key To A Big Monstera

Aerial roots will inevitably show up on a healthy monstera. In the wild, aerial roots help mature monsteras absorb moisture above ground and anchor the climbing vines. In your home, aerial roots look awkward, but can hold the key to a bigger monstera. If you don’t like the look of aerial roots, catch them in the early stages and angle them into the potting soil. They will sense the moisture and grow inward. If they’ve already gotten too long, give them their own water source. Set a jar of water next to your plant, and submerge the aerial roots inside. When aerial roots get nourishment, your monstera will thrive.  

Why Cleaning Makes A Difference

Cleaning may seem mundane, but it makes all the difference in cultivating a beautiful monstera. Not only will it keep your leaves shiny, but cleaning accomplishes two other important things. One, it removes the thin layer of dust between the leaves and the sunlight. Two, dusting the leaves prevents tiny bugs like thrips, spider mites, and mealy bugs from infesting your monstera. Use a damp paper towel and gently wipe off both the front and back sides of your monstera leaves. This will remove any small, invisible bugs before they become a problem. 

Propagate When Necessary

Lastly, if you’ve made some mistakes and your monstera is unhappy, you can always start fresh. Monsteras root easily when you cut the vine below the node and place it in water. Monstera leaves also look pretty in a vase, so you’ll enjoy the plant while it’s rooting.