This article, “How to Get Big Monstera Deliciosa Leaves,” will cover everything you need to know about promoting the growth of Swiss Cheese Plant leaves. Read on to discover:
- Reasons why your Monstera plant is growing small leaves.
- How to avoid the potential reasons and promote leaf growth.
- Tips and tricks to grow a luscious Monstera plant indoors.
- Answers to some questions about growing Monstera leaves.
If you search for Monstera online, you’ll certainly come across massive varieties with lovely, lush foliage. However, this does not necessarily match what you might discover in a nursery.
Even though Monstera Deliciosa belongs to the same family of 49+ species, a young and a mature Monstera plant may appear quite different in many ways from one another.
If this is the case, why do some Monsteras have large leaves while others do not? And what can you do to make the leaves on your tropical plant grow as big as the ones you see online?
Below we’ll discuss the maximum size that Monstera leaves may get, the kind of care it requires, and some potential reasons why they might not grow big leaves as they should.
As you continue reading, keep in mind that the capacity of a Monstera Deliciosa plant to produce bigger leaves depends on several factors: water quality, nutrients, and sunlight.
Reasons Why Your Monstera Plants Are Growing Small Leaves
If you’ve reached the two-year mark and still have a Monstera Deliciosa that seems immature and puts forth quite small, unattractive leaves, then the plant’s growth might be problematic.
Although it may be tough to detect the underlying problem, in most cases, it all boils down to a few circumstances that might prevent a Monstera plant from growing bigger luscious leaves.
Reason #1: Insufficient Sunlight
The bigger leaves of a Monstera Deliciosa have a dual purpose: first, they help the plant gather more light; second, they allow it to seem more attractive (and photosynthesize better).
When it comes to finding the underlying issue behind Monstera’s stunted leaf growth that is smaller than normal, insufficient light or excessively low light is typically the one to blame.
A Monstera Deliciosa plant that doesn’t get proper exposure to adequate light (bright indirect light) has the same stress level as one that doesn’t receive sufficient quality water.
Monsteras that do not receive enough light express the condition through pale-hued, light green leaves and absolutely no fenestration (holes), regardless of the degree of maturity.
SOLUTION
By any chance, if you notice your Monstera experiencing any of these symptoms, you should immediately look at the lighting conditions the plant is exposed to at home (indoors).
Like Monstera Deliciosa, all Monsteras need six hours of bright indirect sunlight each day ( say no direct sun/direct sunlight). Monsteras thrive best in the east and south-facing windows.
However, it is not always feasible to position the plant near windows, particularly in apartments with no natural light; thus, investing in grow lights is the most suitable option.
Reason #2: Underwatering
While searching for Monsteras online, you may have discovered that watering is one of the first things you should consider when your tropical plant showcases stunted leaf growth.
A Monstera that is otherwise in good condition may be harmed by the serious issue of underwatering, which might hinder the plant from developing into a luscious specimen.
SOLUTION
If you let your Monstera sit in excess water, it will dry out, and the leaves will eventually droop. However, let the water sit if, after the first inch, it is completely devoid of any moisture.
The rate at which your mature plant dries out may also be affected by various other factors, including the low humidity in your house and the material of the larger pot it is kept in.
Reason #3: Overwatering the Tropical Plants
When it comes to tropical plants, overwatering is an even more serious issue than underwatering, which is true for the stunted growth that may arise in any Monstera.
Even though these conditions are stressful for the Monstera plants, overwatering, as opposed to underwatering, may result in further issues, such as fungus gnats and root rot.
Root rot is a severe problem that, if left untreated, might prove to be lethal for the growth of luscious leaves. However, there are ways to avoid it and promote a healthy root system.
SOLUTION
Do your Monstera spend a lot of time in damp, soggy, or mushy soil, or have you noticed the drying process takes more than a week to complete? If yes, you might be overwatering it.
If you’ve merely overwatered your Monstera once or twice, wait until it’s completely dry before giving it warm water—even if the first few centimeters or so of soil ought to be dry.
After this step, ensure that the area is adequately watered and wait until the soil is completely dry before draining any surplus water via drainage holes to stop the issue from worsening.Reason #4: Inappropriate Pot
For Monstera plants to produce the large leaves that contribute to the plant’s overall desirability, it requires a significant amount of space to disseminate its roots (not aerial roots).
If the pot size isn’t right, the plant won’t have enough room to continue growing roots to support new leaves. Thus, repotting is essential to encourage the plant to grow bigger leaves.
SOLUTION
When it comes to assessing how often your Monstera has to be replanted into a bigger pot, the size of the plant and the new growth it experiences are important factors to consider.
If you aren’t sure if it’s time to repot your Monstera but have observed that it isn’t generating massive leaves as it should, then you must check on the optimal growth of the plant’s root.
Reason #5: Over/Under Fertilization
Another factor that can inhibit a Monstera from developing large leaves is the availability of certain nutrients and macronutrients, such as potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
SOLUTION
If you’ve just started to transplant the Monstera, there’s no need to worry about this immediately since newly turned soil already has the nutrients essential for plant growth.
However, if there’s time until your plant can be transplanted, the best possible action is to fertilize the Monstera with a balanced fertilizer. Be cautious not to over-fertilize.
Too much fertilizer can burn the roots, so we recommend reducing the concentration to half and fertilizing them at most once per month for healthy growth (and luscious, new growth).
Reason #5: Bad Quality of Water
Water quality is one of the most significant issues that are sometimes overlooked, even though it might be a factor in the Monstera plant’s failure to produce gigantic leaves.
Most individuals, particularly those just beginning their experience with caring houseplants, water their Monsteras with tap water which is too harsh and can harm the plant’s leaves.
Hard water has high levels of various chemicals and compounds, such as calcium, fluoride, and chlorine. The impact is analogous to what takes place in the absence of fertilization in a plant.
SOLUTION
Rainwater and filtered water are two options that should be considered to prevent this accumulation. Besides, spring water sold in convenience stores should be avoided at all costs.
Reason #6: Extreme Temperatures
The term ” boost humidity” refers to the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. Monstera is indigenous to tropical regions of America, and as such, it requires high humidity to thrive.
Typically, humidity levels ranging from 25% to 49% are essential. This way, the leaf moisture may be kept more stable—which is needed for Monstera to grow and develop huge leaves.
SOLUTION
Generally, the humidity levels in most houses are inadequate for the Monstera species to grow, which is why we recommend investing in a humidifier or mist bottle to avoid a harsh temperature.
Reason #7: Unsuitable Soil Mix
The proper combination of soil components is necessary for developing other plants. Similarly, your Monstera won’t thrive without the nutrients, water, and air that can be found in the soil.
SOLUTION
Thus, ensure that your soil has equal parts potting soil, perlite or sand, and peat moss (potting soil is the essential component). This will result in a mixture that drains quite nicely.
Tips and Tricks to Grow a Luscious Monstera
- Spray the smaller leaves with one tablespoon of Epsom salt in 1 gallon of water.
- Practice leaf cleaning by keeping the Monstera dust-free for photosynthesis.
- Ensure your Monstera gets sufficient light in the morning sun (the earlier, the better).
- Use the standard 20–20–20 fertilizer, diluted to half the strength, once in 5-7 weeks.
- Use a string to fix the leaves to a moss pole to see how big a Monstera grows.
- Train it along moss poles (analogous to Monsteras with aerial roots in natural habitat.
- Re-pot the Monstera once in 2 years to avoid conditions such as rootbound or root ball.
- Avoid overwatering the plant regularly with excess water to keep stunted growth at bay.
Recap: How to Get Big Monstera Deliciosa Leaves
To conclude, when trying to figure out why your otherwise healthy Monstera isn’t producing bigger leaves as it should be, the first two things you should consider are water and sunlight.
Even though sunlight is essential for developing gigantic leaves, you shouldn’t forget other important factors related to stunted leaf growth: (over/under) watering and fertilization.
In the end, factors are just factors; thus, paying attention to what your Monstera indicates is essential. Try different things to see what works best, and then keep doing that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you know the answer to “How Do You Get Big Monstera Leaves,” this brings us to the end of this article. As a bonus, we’ve taken time to answer some burning questions.
Why Are My Monstera Plant Leaves Not Big?
As discussed above, the most common causes of smaller leaves are insufficient sunlight, overwatering, underwatering, extreme temperatures, overfertilization, and unsuitable soil mix.
How Long Does it Take for Monstera Plants to Get Big?
Within two to three years, the vast majority of Monstera plants, including variegated Monstera and Monster Monstera (same species), can reach their full size and maturity.
What Role Do Worm Castings Play in Monstera Leaf Growth?
Worm castings include microorganisms that really help increase the amount of nitrogen in the soil, which in turn will help the leaves of your Monstera plants to grow lusciously.
Can You Grow Monstera Plants Using a Moss Pole?
Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, Monstera plants do really well when grown on moss poles.
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.
