Some links in the post are affiliate links and I get a commission from purchases made through some links found in the post.
Are you searching for the best and correct information about the monstera watering schedule?
Let’s discuss the monstera watering schedule in detail. When you get a new houseplant, you should research how much and how often to water it.
Watering your plants too much or too little can cause problems. Over-watering can lead to root rot and fungal growth. On the other hand, under-watering can kill your plant completely. It can also make the leaves crispy and brown.
Moreover, this is a very precarious equilibrium!
Now, how much water should you give your brand-new Monstera? How frequently should you water your plants? How can you avoid having problems with watering? What is the monstera watering schedule?
Let’s review the basics of watering for the Monstera plant. Luckily, this plant is quite tolerant.
A monstera does not need a strict watering schedule. It does not like being too dry or too wet. You should adjust your watering to keep your monstera happy. They prefer that their soil remains on the border between the two.
Here’s a little secret: I overwatered my Swiss cheese plant before. I listened to most people in the forum. They said to water it once a week.
I realized I made a mistake. I didn’t consider other factors. The Monstera plant was dormant during a cold winter. It needed less water than usual.
Monstera Watering Schedule Can Be Affected By a Variety of Factors
Seasonality:
Monstera plants need different amounts of water in Summer and Winter.
Monstera plants go dormant in winter. The cold and low humidity make it hard for them to photosynthesize.
However, this indicates that the roots do not have to take in as much water as they did previously.
If you water the plant too much now, the roots may stay wet for too long. This can cause root rot.
You shouldn’t water the soil to saturation during the Winter. It is best to water the soil lightly. Do this once every two to three weeks. Only water after the soil is completely dry.
Light:
Monsteras grow best in bright, indirect sunlight. They thrive when placed near windows that face south or east.
These Monstera plants require only an inch of water each week to thrive.
Temperature and Humidity:
The frequency at which water is lost from monstera watering schedule transportation is determined by temperature and humidity.
In response to an increase in the transpiration rate, the roots absorb more water to preserve their turgidity.
It is better to water more often. This helps keep the soil wet enough for the plant to grow.
It would be best if you watered Monstera plants every two to three days in hotter, more humid climates every two to three days.
My friends in Singapore and the Philippines care for their monsteras. Because of this, I see that their monsteras are thriving.
Soil Mixture:
You likely know that this tropical plant needs the right growing conditions. Avoid compacted soil. Instead, use a soil mix that drains well and allows air to flow.
From my experience of making a mistake, here’s the situation: I used to add too much perlite and bark to my soil. Now, it drains too quickly and doesn’t hold moisture like it used to.
Because of this, I had to give my Monstera an almost daily soaking to maintain its hydration. In the end, I had to repot it into a better mix. This new mix helped water drain and kept the soil moist.
The Pot and the Drainage:
The frequency with which you need to water your Monstera will vary depending on the size and type of pot you use.
Porous containers, like terracotta or ceramic, help water evaporate faster. This reduces the risk of root rot. On the other hand, this may result in a higher frequency of the need to water your plant.
While a larger pot may seem like it can hold more soil and keep moisture longer, it is not wise to plant your Monstera in a pot that is too big.
Did you ever wonder why? If the roots of your Monstera do not reach the water on the other side of the pot, the wet soil can attract bacteria. This bacteria can cause root rot. However, this may occur if the roots cannot reach the water.
Propagated Cuttings:
Plant cuttings of Monstera in soil and give them the same watering schedule as mature Monstera plants.
If you grow Monstera cuttings in water, change the water every three to five days. This helps prevent fungal infections. If you do not do this, fungi will infect the cuttings.
Signs of Improper Watering
The amount of water a Monstera needs can change because of different factors. Watching the plant for signs of under-watering or over-watering is important. This is especially true during the first few weeks of ownership.
Warning Signs of Being Underwater
When the plant uses all its water through transpiration, the leaves lose their firmness. They curl up to stop losing more water. However, people do this to conserve any remaining water.
Leaves turning yellow and developing brown spots as they dry out
The leaves of plants that do not receive adequate water will show signs of moisture stress and eventually dry out.`
Slow Growth
If the plant does not have enough water, photosynthesis will not work well. The plant will then struggle to produce enough energy to grow.
To fix a Monstera plant that is underwatered, give it plenty of water. Soak the soil well until water starts to come out of the drainage hole.
Signs of Overwatering
- Yellow leaves clearly show that your Monstera plant is stressed. This stress can come from too little or too much water.
- Dark brown spots appear on the leaves, probably because overwatering has caused root rot to develop.
- After more than ten days, water still saturates the ground. When poorly drained soil absorbs water, the ground remains wet for longer periods.
- The bad smell often linked to soil comes from bacteria. These bacteria grow in wet soil that lacks oxygen.
- A Monstera plant in overly wet soil can get root rot. This can eventually kill the plant.
If the soil drains poorly and you are overwatering, watering less won’t solve the issue. You must repot your plant in soil that drains better than the current one.
How to Water a Monstera?
The jury is still out on which strategy for watering your Monstera plants will be the most successful in the long run.
Some people advocate bottom watering, while others insist that top watering is the superior method. Some people like to experiment with both approaches before settling on the one that best meets their needs.
At other times, the circumstances will decide which approach to take. For instance, it may be challenging to provide bottom watering to a large climbing monster housed in a heavy pot.
In contrast, small Monstera plants can be easily moved to the kitchen or counter where they can receive bottom watering.
There are a few things you should be aware of when it comes to watering Monstera plants, regardless of the approach you take.
Use Water at Room Temperature to Water Monstera Deliciosa
However, this prevents the tender roots from being shocked by the cold water. Even though tropical plants are used to sudden downpours, the rain that falls on them is warm, in contrast to the cold water from your tap.
Top Watering Monstera Plants
The top monstera watering schedule technique is a straightforward process that can frequently be carried out without the plant needing to be moved.
Although some people find it easier to water their plants by bringing them to the sink, this method isn’t always feasible. The following are the fundamentals of providing supplemental water to a plant.
- Before you water your Monstera Deliciosa plant from the top, ensure that the saucer or catch basin placed underneath the plant pot is large enough to collect the water that seeps through the soil as you water the plant. You can get saucers made of inexpensive plastic designed specifically for this purpose, but you can use any saucer (or even a pie plate) instead.
- Put the water in a pitcher or watering can and put it aside. Watering your plants using this method helps direct the water onto the soil and prevents you from getting water on the foliage.
- Pour the water directly onto the soil in the pot, making sure to distribute it evenly across the space in the container. Be careful not to disturb the dry soil, and pour the water slowly to reach the bottom of the plant pot and exit through the drainage holes. However, this gives the soil enough time to absorb the water as it moves through.
- Give the plant enough water so it is dripping freely through the drainage hole in the bottom of the container, and the soil in the container can be visibly moist.
- After allowing the water to drain for ten to fifteen minutes, empty the water from the catch basin or saucer under the plant pot. If you forget to empty the saucer, the soil in the pot may become waterlogged. Moreover, this prevents oxygen from reaching the roots of your Monstera Deliciosa plant, which can cause the roots to rot.
Bottom Watering Your Monstera Plants
The soil can naturally absorb moisture when Monstera plants are watered from the bottom, but this method requires a little more work.
The following are the primary considerations to keep in mind when bottom-watering Monstera plants:
- Fill a large bowl or bucket with warm water to a depth of several inches, ensuring the bowl or bucket is big enough to accommodate the size of the plant pot.
- Position the Monstera Deliciosa plant so it is submerged in the water in the basin. Be sure that the water level in the plant pot is higher than the bottom of the pot and that any drainage holes are submerged in the water. When watering the roots of your Monstera plants from the bottom up, ensure that any removable saucers on the bottom of your plant pot are submerged in the water.
- Let your plant sit in the water basin until the soil has absorbed enough water through the drainage holes to keep the soil moist from the bottom to the top of the pot.
- Remove the plant from the water and allow any excess water to drain out of the pot via the drainage holes by pulling the plant out of the water. Moreover, this will stop the soil from being saturated with water.
How Long can Monstera Stay in the Water?
If you water your plants from the bottom, leaving a Monstera in water for up to a few hours won’t hurt it. If you leave it for longer than this, the roots may get hypoxic stress, which could hurt your plant.
Even though Monstera doesn’t like to sit in wet soil for long periods, you can permanently grow a plant on a monstera watering schedule.
You can use hydroponics to grow a healthy Monstera plant in water. It would be best to control the temperature, pH, and nutrients to keep your plant healthy.
Final Thoughts
I hope I’ve answered your questions about the Monstera watering schedule and how to water Monsteras and fix any problems you might have.
Don’t worry if something goes wrong with your plants. Part of the fun of growing houseplants is figuring out what went wrong and getting better at taking care of them over time.