Monsteras, also known as cheese plants, are popular houseplants that grow green leaves with stunning fenestrations.
While they are popular, looking after them can be challenging and gardeners often make mistakes. One gardener took to YouTube to share three common mistakes that can ruin your monstera.
Bojana Radovanovic from Plant House and Garden explained that improper watering is one of the most easily made errors.
She said: “Overwatering can lead to yellowing leaves, soggy soil and root rot, while underwatering results in dry crispy edges and drooping leaves.
Monsteras need to be in smaller pots when they first start to grow
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“Based on my experience with two large monsteras and a few smaller ones, overwatering is far more damaging than underwatering.”
To prevent this, check the soil’s moisture before watering by inserting your finger two to three inches into the soil and checking if it is dry.
Bojana said: “Use a pot with proper drainage holes and water excess will flow out of the bottom. Allow the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings to avoid root rot.
“Monsteras strive for consistent, moderate watering so it is important to strike the right balance.”
Keeping your monstera in the wrong sized pot can also create serious issues – which are often not recognised as the damage is down inside the soil.
Bojana said: “While many people assume that a big plant needs a much larger pot, this is not the case.”
To start with, monsteras thrive in smaller pots as they focus on growing larger leaves rather than roots.
Bojana added: “The excess soil holds too much moisture which can result in problems like root rot and bacteria.”
She also advised using a well-draining potting mix and make sure the pot has a drainage hole to allow excess water out.
As monsteras grow, they should be moved into bigger pots, to fit their needs at different growth stages.
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An expert shared tips to help your Monstera plants thrive
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Every few weeks, remember to dust the leaves of your monstera. This is because it easily collect lots of dust, which blocks light and hinders photosynthesis.
Bojana advised: “To keep your plant thriving, wipe the leaves gently with a damp cloth every few weeks. This removes dust and restores their natural shine for smaller plants.
“A monthly shower with lukewarm water works great for cleaning harder-to-reach spots.”
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