Variegated Monstera is a unique plant easily recognizable amongst other tropical plants because of its large and beautiful leaves that mix green, yellow, and white.
Here, we are going to take a look at how to make your Monstera grow faster and encourage new growth.
Making Your Monstera Plant Grow Faster
Nothing is more exquisite than a monstera deliciosa variegata plant with different colors. The large holes and the way the leaves are shaped add to this plant’s charm. Despite having a specific plant’s appearance, it may grow and produce leaves in the same conditions as any other plant.
To grow a monstera plant to its full potential, they need a little more attention and light to strengthen its plant tissue and get more green leaves. Despite being an uncommon species, the monstera plant is exciting and has significant decorative value in spring and summer months.
Some plants, like the Prayer plant, can naturally exhibit variegation because of their DNA. However, the genetic defect that prevents plant tissues from synthesizing chlorophyll into leaves causes gaps in variegation in Monstera plants and can impact plant growth.
The pigment chlorophyll produces green color and facilitates photosynthesis in plants. Chlorophyll isn’t present at all of a monstera leaf’s spots, but it is in other areas. As a result, the monstera leaves have noticeable holes or variegation.
Chimera variegation is the name given to this kind of variation. The term “chimera” describes a plant that has cells of various genetic make-ups.
Variegation occurs in all organisms because intense light activates genes that switch off cells that produce chlorophyll. A monstera plant will become incredibly green if you restrict the light it receives since those cells won’t shut off and use bright indirect light to avoid yellow variegation.
There is little green and significant danger of leaf burn if you place it in direct sunlight because most cells are switched off. When placed in a dark corner, golden pothos, for instance, turns a solid shade of green; nevertheless, when placed in a window, it develops lovely faint mottling.
Techniques to grow this in environments that mimic tropical forests require special care and attention when it’s time to water your Monstera. Using a pebble tray and a damp cloth is also beneficial for new growth.
Apart from keeping the plant from root rot using proper drainage holes and a neem oil spray, it must also be kept in indirect sunlight. Monstera plants grow when root rot is avoided with worm castings and neem oil.
Unlike other plants, Monstera grows best in indirect sunlight. To encourage the monstera plant to grow, ensure the aerial roots are healthy using a moisture meter.
Step 1: Plant in a Warm Place
You may leave the plant indoors or transfer the container outside if it doesn’t get very chilly where you live. Despite being able to survive most climates, the plant grows at its fastest between 65 and 85 °F (18 and 29 °C).
Keep the pot far from heaters, air conditioners, and oversized windows if it’s hot or cold outdoors. Try to maintain steady, warm temperatures for the plant. Since it cannot photosynthesize, the white section of the leaves and stems needs more sunshine than other varieties of Monstera.
To prevent the greenery from burning, place it far away from the windows or cover them with a curtain or other covering. Keep your plant out of direct sunlight if you care for it outside since the leaves may fade.
Bright indirect light is excellent for encouraging new growth. You can also use a pebble tray to encourage the plant’s growth.
It is advised not to give the plant excess water if you live in south and central America. Using a moisture meter to measure moisture levels as the Monstera grows, you can encourage new monster growth.
To avoid slow growth, ensure the monstera roots of the monstera adansonii have all that it needs for optimal growth.
This can be gauged by checking the potting mix of the tropical plant and using fresh potting mix when necessary for the Monstera to grow.
Step 2: Use a Good Fertilizer
Pick a fertilizer solution designed for houseplants and add it to the soil about every two months throughout the summer or spring. To avoid overfertilizing it in the winter, only fertilize the plant once every three months for monstera to grow.
Compared to regular monstera plants, the frequency of fertilizing with variegated fertilizer is virtually half. Salt can build up around the roots from overfertilizing, which prevents plants from absorbing water and hinders monstera growth.
A slow-release fertilizer is a way to go for better plant leaves in the monster monstera. The indoor Monstera also does well in wet soil that is kept from high humidity.
A combination of nutritious soil and bright light or indirect light can encourage growth and more of the plant’s leaves. Also, water your Monstera carefully, which will also affect the Monstera’s growth.
Step 3: Water Carefully
These plants want their soil damp but not drenched in water as other Monsteras do. They can endure some dryness of the soil but not severe drought. When the top two inches of the soil are dry, water is a good idea.
Gently insert your finger into the soil close to the plant’s base to measure the soil’s moisture content in the aerial roots.
Several factors will determine how frequently you should water your plants. You will need to water more frequently when the humidity falls, and the temperature rises. The season is something else to consider. Plants won’t need as much water in the winter since their growth slows down.
Step 4: Repotting
Examine to see if the plant’s roots start to protrude through the drainage holes. Please verify that the roots aren’t emerging from the pot’s drainage holes by looking at them. If they are, acquire an enormous container and fill it with 2 parts perlite, pumice, and sand and 3 parts potting soil.
Place the plant in the larger container after removing it from its present one. After that, add the soil mixture to it and water the plant’s leaves. The sluggish growth of variegated monstera plants means that you probably won’t need to repot your plant for a few years.
How Fast Does a Monstera Grow?
Every plant is reliant on many elements. Each of these parts affects its general health and growth, and each one will uniquely meet these demands. The essential requirements of a Monstera are proper sunlight, soil, hydration, and drainage, much like most tropical plants.
Let’s imagine that you constantly satisfy each of these requirements. Monstera plants gain between one and two feet each year. Further broken down, the plant will expand by at least a third of an inch daily.
The wild cousins of Monstera are responsible for its abundant growth. These clinging plants may reach lofty heights of up to 70 feet.
Choosing the Right Monstera
A unique species of plant with two Latin names is called Monstera Deliciosa. Monstera, which describes the large leaves of this plant, and Deliciosa, which describes the edible fruit, are two different names for the same plant.
Because of its numerous deep holes and resemblance in appearance to a baby Philodendron, this plant is also known as the Swiss cheese plant and is also known as the split-leaf Philodendron.
Low maintenance is required for monstera plant care. This plant needs a space with compost and garden soil next to a stick to climb.
It requires a warm, humid environment to develop in. To encourage development, Split Leaf Philodendron needs organic fertilizer. If you keep it inside, switching out the vase yearly is best to make extra space for its roots. The plant receives the necessary humidity if it is misted in the morning or kept in the bathroom once a week.
Overall, Monstera Deliciosa may live for a very long period, provided it is kept at ordinary light levels, room temperature, and adequate watering and feeding.
Helpful Tips
The Swiss cheese plant belongs to the XL plant category of expensive plants even if it doesn’t precisely grow to the same height and leaf size indoors as it does outdoors—a maximum height in the home is approximately 10 feet for the albo variegata as opposed to 65 feet or more new growth in genetically engineered versions. Even if the variegated variety doesn’t grow as rapidly, ensure you have enough space for it.
Variegated Cutting
Without a node, a cutting cannot produce a new plant. If you have a node without a leaf, you may find some success, but not the other way around. However, a cutting without a node will survive in a vase of water and can be used as decoration even if it won’t take root.
To pot the cutting, it must have a robust root system. Typically, this takes a month to a month and a half. They produce different roots in water than in soil, so you should only keep them in water for about a day or two to get them started.
It would help if you started it out in the water for approximately a month before moving it to soil, moss, or leca once it has sprouted new roots. However, please don’t leave it in water for too long since they produce different roots in water than when grown in soil.
This is why planting them in a glass cup allows you to observe the development of the roots. A portion of the Monstera plant contains a node, so it can be propagated even without a leaf.
An aged, leafless monstera stem can be revived in this manner. Simply cut off a tiny portion of each node to create a precise cutting, and place the cutting in moist sphagnum moss for a month until it sprouts roots and leaves. Make sure the container you place it in is covered but also has a few air openings.
The cuttings should be sufficiently wet but not decay in this manner. Add extra air holes and give the container regular airings if you see any mold growth. Always wait a few hours before putting it in its medium to lower the risk of decay.
A monstera may be grown from seed, but it will take some time before it becomes an entire plant. The ideal method is to grow from a cutting. By taking cuttings and planting them back in with the parent plant after they are established, you may increase the business of your Monstera.
This helps many Monstera plants grow fuller and bushier while benefiting other plants, such as pothos. Locate a branch with at least two leaves and a node. Roots will emerge from the nodes, which are the areas where the plant forks. Sometimes they already have a root developing.
Use the Right Soil Type
What sort of soil is best for this expensive plant? A loose soil type that enables the roots of vining aroids like this one to breathe is ideal. You may mix various mixes with various types of soil media.
Your tastes and watering practices will determine the best one for your houseplants, but something simple should work for most people. As long as it has a drainage hole, it doesn’t matter what planter it is.
Your Monstera would appreciate the ability to climb, so some room for a strong moss pole or plant totem would also be helpful. Over time, these all-green plants frequently grow too top-heavy to maintain their erect position.
If you don’t provide them with some support, these plants may eventually grow too top-heavy to maintain their upright position, which might lead to their breaking and tumbling over. Your indoor plant will stay balanced if you add a pole, and it will grow more quickly.
During spring and summer, you will notice the plant produces leaves that are just like its natural habitat.
This growth point is reached by not using too much fertilizer in the organic matter, which can lead to slower growth and yellowing leaves. Liquid fertilizer can also be used to achieve a fast growth rate.
Common Questions
How Do I make My Monstera grow bigger?
Outdoor cultivation of Monstera deliciosa in garden centers can produce sweet edible fruit with a flavor that is a cross between passionfruit, mango, and pineapple, as well as strawberries.
A genetic abnormality that prevents some of Monsteras’ tissue from synthesizing chlorophyll is the root cause of the plant’s discolored tissue or green part. Even with full sun, more leaves are discolored.
In case you didn’t know, plants’ tint is caused by chlorophyll. Additionally, plants employ this substance to absorb solar energy. This kind of variegation possesses chlorophyll, while others do not. A plant with various genetic makeup cells living close to one another is called a chimera.
Why Is My Monstera Growing So Slowly?
There are various reasons why a Monstera will cease developing. The most frequent reasons include poor lighting, excess or shortage of water, pests, roots attached to pots, and a lack of nutrients.
Fortunately, most of these difficulties are simple to resolve, and a Monstera that has experienced any of these problems typically recovers fast.
How Quickly Do Monstera Plants Grow?
With the proper development circumstances, such as enough nutrients, light, and water, healthy monstera plants will typically grow at a rate of around 1-2 feet each year. The lesser kinds, like Monstera Dubia, will grow around a foot a year, and the more significant types should grow about 2 feet a year.
However, they can develop much more quickly! With the ideal circumstances, these climbing plants can reach. Most cultivars will also sprout a new leaf during the growing season every 4-6 weeks.
Keep in mind that most kinds will grow more horizontally than vertically, so the 1-2 feet of growth we’re talking to is more of a length increase as the plant begins to vine.
Monstera plants gain between one and two feet each year. Further broken down, the plant will expand by at least a third of an inch daily. The wild cousins of Monstera are responsible for its abundant growth. These clinging plants have the potential to reach heights of at least 70 feet.
A Monstera does not have to reach a certain age before it begins to produce enormous leaves. Instead, the maturity of the plant as a whole has to do with the production of large leaves. Monsteras typically mature between the ages of two and three, so there’s no need to encourage monstera to grow before that.
How Long Does it Take for Monstera to Grow a New Leaf?
Typically, a new leaf should appear every 4-6 weeks at the very least. The plant can generate even more leaves every month as it gets older and larger since it will have more growth points.
The plant may take anywhere from 1 to 7 weeks to completely unfold. Depending on how old the leaf is and what sort of monstera plant it is, it may unfold more quickly under ideal conditions and with correct monstera care, maybe in less than a week.
A monstera leaf’s time to unfold depends on several variables, including humidity, watering frequency, sunshine exposure, insect activity, age, and nutritional content.
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.
