A monstera is an indoor climbing evergreen perennial vine plant that adds a stunning look and brings joy to people who appreciate flowers; however, it needs proper care. This includes proper watering habits.
How and how often you water a monstera depends on the type of species you are watering, the method of watering, and the conditions such as humidity of the surrounding environment. Some species of the monstera genus should be watered more frequently than others.
There are 45 species of the Monstera genus, but you will find that most people recognize a few of them, like the Monstera Deliciosa. Deliciosa, Variegata, Dubia, Borsigiana, Adansonii, Obliqua, Siltepecana, Pinnatipartita are some of the well known monstera species, and each of them has its own unique watering needs. Keep reading to learn more about them.
The Best Way To Water Your Monstera
There are two types of monstera watering:
- Overhead watering
- Bottom watering
You may use these two watering styles to water most plants, depending on your preference. I personally prefer bottom watering, as it helps prevent fungus gnats, but either will work for most of the plants on this list.
Overhead watering entails watering a plant from above, and you can do this by using pipes (such as the glass ones that are supposed to water your plant over a few days), watering cans, cups, or the string in the bottle technique.
Bottom watering can be done by filling a container with water and carefully placing your plant pot inside it. Leave it for ten minutes, and this will permit the roots to soak up sufficient water.
This doesn’t necessarily mean submerging your plant in a bucket filled with water. Placing your plant on a watering tray or plant saucer and putting water in that is often the preferred approach, unless your plant’s soil has completely dried out where it has become a brick.
The amount of water in the container will lessen, and that is how you know the plant has absorbed it. If not, you can leave it in for another ten minutes.
Monstera Deliciosa
This is an odd-looking plant with perforated leaves with regularly punched holes. It grows in the tropical climate. The first step to getting a healthy Deliciosa is to find a desirable position indoors away from direct sunlight.
When and How To Water It
Water the Deliciosa for about one to two weeks, and only when it is one inch or two inches (2.54 cm or 5.08 cm) dry from the topsoil. Water the plant slowly using the overhead or bottom watering approach.
Water the Monstera Deliciosa in the morning and not in the evening when it needs time to rest. It is recommended to have a pot with drainage holes, a good way to drain off excess water if overwatered. The easiest way to water for a beginner is to use a cup or two until you notice water draining from the potholes below.
Monstera Borsigiana
Monstera Borsigiana prospers in a moist and humid environment. This variety of Monstera doesn’t like wet feet, so you should err on the side of watering a bit less often. This plant needs soil that drains nicely, and the best way to do this is to mix the soil with pebbles such as pumice.
When and How to Water It
With the Borsigiana, before watering it, make sure that the top three inches (7.62 cm) of the soil are dry. You can use this pattern to know how often to water it. After watering the Borsigiana, you should drain the excess water from the holes after five minutes of sit time.
Monstera Dubia
This plant is rarely seen as a houseplant, but its vining nature makes it suitable for kitchen and bathroom placement. These spaces are also favorable for the Dubia since they thrive in humid areas, preferably at humidity levels above 50%.
When and How To Water It
You can mist the leaves of the Dubia Monstera regularly to replicate the conditions of the rainforest environment. This means you want to keep it nice and moist consistently. The best guide for watering the Dubia is observing the moisture levels instead of a watering schedule.
You can use your finger to check the moisture level by placing it 2 inches (5.08 cm) below the soil level. If the soil is dry or barely damp below the 2 inches (5.08 cm) level, you can water it. If it is soggy, wait a few more days before checking the moisture level again.
If you can find a self-watering pot (like the wick pots some plants come in) to put your Monstera Dubia in, that would be the ideal setup for this plant. That will keep it at the right level of moisture all the time, and all you have to do is remember to fill the reservoir every so often.
Monstera Obliqua
Obliqua climbs only a few meters in height. Most Monstera species have perforated leaves, but this one has more holes than leaves.
When and How to Water It
Obliqua plants do not need to be watered regularly. Once or week in the summer and once every two weeks in the winter should suffice.
A brownish-yellow turn indicates dehydration, and darkening of the leaves is caused by waterlogging.
Monstera Siltepecana
Siltepecana is one of the monstera species in which the mature leaves and plants look different from their juvenile versions. Siltepecana is also considered somewhat rare compared to the rest of the Monstera plants.
When and How to Water It
The Siltepecana plant does not like being completely dry.
Water it when the top inch (2.54 cm) of the soil is dry. Always check the moisture level of the soil before you water it, as overwatering the plant can be a quick way to kill it.
Monstera Adansonii
This plant has smaller, perforated leaves and more of a trailing vine character in it. Although this plant likes to have water available at all times due to its tropical nature, you must make sure not to overwater it.
When and How to Water It
Adansonii should be watered when the top three to four inches (7.62 cm to 10.16 cm) of soil or pot mix is dry. Converted into days, this usually takes seven to eight days in summer and 13 to 14 days in cooler months.
This plant will not thrive well if the soil dries out quickly. The leaves of the Adansonii droop or curl when dehydrated. If you find this is happening with your plant, you can use sphagnum moss, mulch, or a soil cover to keep your soil from drying out so fast.
Monstera Variegata
One of the most distinct features of the Variegated Monstera is its discoloration. The maximum growth of this indoor houseplant is three meters (9.84 feet).
When and How to Water It
With Monstera Variegata, you should not water it just because the surface seems to be dry. The best way to water it is to check the moisture level of the potting mix. If the top two inches (5.08 cm) are dry, you can go ahead and water it. Watering this plant once a week is fine, even better when done in the morning.
Should You Mist Your Monstera’s Leaves?
It doesn’t make much sense to mist a monstera’s leaves to raise humidity. While misting does raise humidity a bit, it doesn’t raise it enough to make much of a difference, and the increase in humidity only lasts for a couple minutes at most. Misting to get rid of dust may make sense, however.
That’s not to say that it would necessarily hurt anything, but if you want to raise humidity, there are better ways to do it. Placing all of your houseplants next to each other, for instance, would be a better option. If you have an aquarium, placing them next to your aquarium would also work.
Alternatively, placing your monstera on a tray of gravel and putting water in the gravel tray would provide a consistent humidity boost.
Conclusion
The Monstera species, if waterlogged, will cause soggy soil, and this can lead to root rot. Root rot occurs while the roots suffocate and lose their ability to soak up water because of a lack of oxygen. Rather than having your watering hose or jerrycan geared up for a normally scheduled watering, it’s far better to test the soil moisture level first. You may accomplish this by using your finger or soil moisture meter.
Sources
- Planted Well: 5 Monstera Plant Types and How to Grow and Care for Them
- Plantophiles: How to water Monstera Deliciosa -our Top tips.
- The Yard and Garden: Monstera Dubia care/shingles plant
- Indoor Gardenook: How to care for Monstera Obliqua- Guide for passionate fans.
- Plantophiles: How often should I water my Monstera Adansonii?
- Indoor Gardenook: Monstera Variegata care- Ultimate Guide from A to Z