The Monstera genus consists of different species of aroid plants found in the tropical regions of Central and South America. Monstera plants require regular and precise watering indoors, a habit they picked from their natural environment of tropical rainforests.
However, several factors can influence how much you water the Monstera. Generally, Monstera requires more water in the growing seasons of summer and spring than in winter. Read her to learn about the exact watering needs of the Swiss cheese plant in summer.
General Watering Requirements of Monstera Plants
As tropical plants, Monstera requires more water than typical plants. However, the exact watering requirements are more complicated than that.
Some types Monstera plant are sensitive to their living conditions. Therefore, you must be careful when watering the Monstera, as they can respond differently to different environments.
Generally, Monstera plants should be watered once every couple of weeks. You can water the Monstera until you see the drainage hole of the pot leaking. However, there are many factors to consider.
Overwatering the Monstera plant could cause fungal growth and diseases like root rot. On the other hand, watering the Monstera plant too little could lead to dehydration and wilting. In both cases, the Monstera plants could end up dying.
How Often to Water Monstera In Summer?
While watering is an acute condition of the Monstera, it changes depending on the season. Therefore, how often to water Monstera depends on the factors.
Watering Monstera in the summer is generally more frequent than watering Monstera plants in the winter.
In the summer, the bright sunlight is more intense. This causes the heat to rise as well. With more light, the Monstera tends to photosynthesize and grow more. Both processes require ample amounts of water.
With the increase in heat, the water evaporates much quicker, and transpiration increases. Hence, water loss is more significant in the summer.
That said, how often should you water Monstera plants in summer? Watering frequency increased from once every two to three weeks to once every week. Moreover, keeping the soil moist in the summer is a great idea.
However, how much you should water the Monstera plant depends on several factors other than the season alone.
Therefore, you should water your Monstera plant whenever it requires it.
Read Also:Â Monstera Types List
How to Tell if Monstera Requires Watering
Monstera plants may not have tongues to speak or eyes to indicate, but they have several other ways of telling us that they need more water.
If you look out for the signs, you can tell when to water your Monstera in summer.
Signs of Underwatering Monstera
Underwatering leads to dehydration and wilting. You can tell your Monstera requires more water if you notice these signs:
·               Browning Leaves. As the water depletes, the Monstera leaves start to be brown at the edges. This is because leaf burning is more effective without water.
·               Yellowing Leaves. Since the Monstera loses its health, the leaf loses its color as less chlorophyll is produced.
·               Wilting and Drooping Leaves. Wilting is a defense mechanism of the Monstera plants that kicks in when the plant is dehydrating to lower the water loss. However, the Monstera plant will die if left in that state for an extended period.
·               Stunted growth. Without ample water, photosynthesis decreases, which results in lower energy levels. Therefore, the plant does not grow as well as it usually would since it wants to conserve energy.
Signs of Overwatering Monstera
Similarly, a Monstera would also give you signs when it has too much water.
Overwatering is another issue of which you must be wary. Some of the signs of overwatering include:
·               Yellowing Leaves. Yellowing leaves are a stress response of the Monstera plants to overwatering.
·               Dark brown spots on leaves. Overwatering can lead to fungal root rot that can cause brown spots on the stem and leaves.
·               Pungent soil smell. Fungal infections cause the roots to decompose, which results in a sulfur-like smell.
·               Soggy soil. While Monstera likes damp soil, it does not like wet soil. Soggy soil results in bacterial growth and waterlogged soil.
How to Tell When to Water Monstera
Other than Monstera plants showing you signs of watering themselves, there are some ways to check whether your Monstera plant requires water. Some of the best ways to check are:
·               Using a moisture meter. The moisture meter measures the amount of water in the plant’s soil, giving you an indication of whether the water level is sufficient or not.
·               Using your finger to check the soil. If the soil feels dry when you check the top inches, it might be time to water the plant. You could also check the soil near the drainage hole.
Should I mist my Monstera plant?
Misting is a great way to increase the humidity level and give water to the Monstera plant. While misting does little to soil moisture, it can still give enough water.
Monstera plants develop aerial roots, which help anchor them to support.
These aerial roots can absorb moisture from the air directly. Therefore, when you mist your Monstera, it takes some burden off its soil roots to absorb water.
Moreover, misting is a great way to wash away the dirt on the Monstera leaves. Since Monstera leaves are tremendously large, they accumulate dirt much more quicker, blocking the sunlight.
Factors That Impact Monstera Watering Schedule
The natural environment of the tropical plant is difficult to imitate for indoor plants. The Monstera plant is found beneath the forest canopy and tends to have strict conditions.
As such, the environment can dictate many factors of the Monstera plant’s growing conditions, including its watering conditions.
Some of the factors that can impact the watering schedule include:
1.     Temperature and Humidity
Temperature and humidity are crucial in how much water you need to give the Monstera plant.
Monstera plants are accustomed to warmer temperatures (around 70 degrees Fahrenheit) and high humidity (more than 50%) in their natural habitat.
As temperature increases, the watering schedule becomes more frequent. This is due to the increased evaporation and transpiration, which causes the Monstera plant and soil moisture to dry out quickly.
However, an increase in humidity would cause the Monstera watering schedule to become less frequent.
Since the Monstera aerial roots absorb moisture from the air, there won’t be as much water required from the soil.
2.    Potting Soil Mix
The type of potting mix you use for your Monstera plants can influence the amount of water they need.
Monstera plants prefer well-draining soil that prevents overwatering. Moreover, Monstera prefers moist soil to grow.
You can mix fresh soil with orchid bark, perlite, or coco coir to help the drainage and moisture abilities of the soil. A well-drained soil allows excess water to pass through the porous pot, so you would require more frequent watering than if you chose compact soil.
3.     Type and Size of Pot
Generally, Monstera plants should be placed in pots with adequate drainage holes. The water will accumulate in the soil if your pot has fewer holes. Therefore, you must not water the Swiss cheese plant frequently.
However, too many drainage holes are also a problem as they may lead to excess water drain and under-watering.
Moreover, if you use a clay pot rather than a plastic one, you would need to water the Monstera less frequently. This is because clay has excellent water-retaining abilities.
Similarly, if you use a terracotta pot, you won’t have t worry about the watering schedule as it prevents water accumulation but keeps the soil moist.
A smaller pot also requires more frequent watering than a large pot. This is because the smaller pot can not hold as much water as the larger one. Therefore, the soil dries out more quickly.
4.     Type of Monstera Plant
The genus Monstera consists of around 50 species of aroid plants. All plants have different growth characteristics and rates.
You will need a more frequent schedule to water Monstera deliciosa. This is because the deliciosa plant is larger than its siblings and grows faster.
On the other hand, the Mini Monstera, or Monstera tetrasperma, does not grow too large sizes and experiences slower growth rates, so do not require as much water.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.     How much water does a Tropical plant need?
The amount of water your Monstera plant needs depends on several factors, including the season. If it’s warmer, the plant will require more water. However, several other factors can influence the watering needs of the Monstera. Hence it is best to check the soil before watering the plant.
2.     How often to water monstera deliciosa?
Generally, Monstera deliciosa would require watering once every two to three weeks in the winter and once every week in the summer. However, depending on the size of the plant and the factors mentioned above, the frequency might change.
Monstera deliciosa plants thrive in distilled water, but tap water can harm plant growth. Therefore, it is essential to know when to water monstera plants to allow for healthy roots and healthy growth.
3.     How can I tell if my Monstera plant needs water?
The Monstera send different stress signal to plant lovers. If you keep a lookout for these signals, you can tell your Monstera requires more water. These signals include yellowing and crispy leaves, brown and crisp edges, curling leaves, stunted growth, wilting, dry soil, mushy stems. Signs such as these are perfect indicators of watering.
Improper watering can lead to many tropical house plants dying. This includes over and under-watering. Hence, it’s important to adjust the watering and humidity level of the plants to create an ideal tropical environment.
4.     How long can Monstera plants last without water?
A Monstera plant can kick in its defense mechanism and last around seven to ten days without water in the summer. In the winter, these plants might last around two weeks. However, the longer the Monstera plants have to survive without water, the weaker they get and eventually die.
My name is Daniel Elrod, and I have been houseplant love ever since I was 17. I love how much joy they bring to any room in the home. I’ve always been amazed at how a few pots of flowing leaves can turn a drab and sterile office into an inviting place where people love to work at.
