Plant Profile: Monstera Deliciosa

Family: Araceae
Genus: Monstera
Species: M. deliciosa

Its architectural qualities, ease of cultivation, and tolerance of a wide range of conditions make it an ideal indoor plant. Although it can grow very tall in nature, it only measures between 2 to 3 metres when grown indoors. Young plants will have smaller leaves with little to none of the familiar perforations or lobes. Once the Monstera matures however, the leaves become larger and more recognizable with its "Swiss cheese" feature.

Keep It Alive

• Find a balance between sun and shade. Your Monstera plant prefers bright, but indirect light. If you give your Monstera too much sun, the leaves will yellow. If it’s left in the dark, the plant will exhibit something called negative phototropism, where new leaves grow towards the dark, rather than the light. (It’s a pretty clever trick: In the jungle, darkness signals the presence of a larger tree that the Monstera can climb up to reach sunlight.)

• Water your Monstera moderately and evenly, about once a week. Wait until the soil is fairly dry before watering again. Keep in a fairly humid environment.

• To curb excessive growth, avoid re-potting too often and prune regularly by pinching off new growth. As the tree matures, stake it to encourage upwards growth. This plant is a natural climber, as it is an epiphyte with aerial roots.