You might have seen the Mile Marker boards that parents create for their children – they highlight things like the height, weight, likes, and dislikes of their child at various stages of life. We at Nick’s Garden Center think Plant Parents should have something like this for their Plant Babies as well! Our Plant Parent Chalkboard Photos and blogs will provide you with an overview of what each plant needs in order to “grow up” happy and healthy!
Maybe the most popular houseplant ever (we can pretty much guarantee you’ve seen Monstera Deliciosa’s leaves depicted in some way over the last year or two!), this popular 70s houseplant is making its comeback due to its giant leaves with natural holes. These leaves can grow to be up to three feet in length, making them very impressive both on and off the vine. In its native tropical habitat, Monstera Deliciosa is a climber that will wind its way up trees and other tall plants to gain access to sunlight. In fact, if kept in too dark of a location inside, Monstera Deliciosa will actually grow toward the dark after a while, because the plant thinks it is growing towards the shade of another plant that it can climb in order to reach the sun!
This vining member of the Araceae family can grow to be around seven to ten feet tall indoors. That’s a massive houseplant! What’s even more impressive is that in the wild it can grow to be dozens of feet tall and up to two feet wide! That being said, even the very large house plant sized Monstera Deliciosa will need plenty of space near a bright window that gets high levels of indirect sunlight. If you’re looking for a Monstera but don’t have the space for a Deliciosa, never fear! Monstera Deliciosa’s cousin, Monstera Minima, is a great option for tight spaces.
Monstera Deliciosa is not safe for pets and is poisonous to any species (including humans) if ingested, but it is said to be helpful for cleaning the air in your space. It’s a fairly easy plant to grow, and for this reason we’re putting it in the beginner category. Just give it water when the top inch or two has dried out, and be careful to not over water. Don’t worry if you don’t see holes in the leaves right away, unlike Monstera Minima, Deliciosa develops its famous holes as the leaves mature. Rotate Monstera Deliciosa to encourage regular growth, and make sure it lives in a pot with good drainage (use a Moisture Meter to check the moisture levels at the bottom of the pot before watering if your pot does not drain). To give it an extra boost of happiness, give Monstera Deliciosa some humidity with a humidifier, and keep it away from vents and drafts.
Happy Plant Parenting!
