Monstera
Monstera is a vegetable in the Araceae family. It grows best in part shade with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 10-12.
Varieties
1 · sorted by days to maturity▸Monstera
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Tropical houseplant (cuttings) (not in original seed catalog). Use: Statement plant with fenestrated leaves. Note: Toxic to pets if chewed.
Monstera (Monstera deliciosa) is the iconic statement houseplant, grown for large glossy leaves that develop dramatic holes and splits; climbs a moss pole and roots from cuttings.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Monstera deliciosa|Hardiness zones: 10-12|Propagation: cutting|Light: Bright indirect light|Water: Medium|Mature size: 3-8 feet indoors
Plan your monstera planting
Add monstera to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.
Start your free plan →Monstera care at a glance
Bright, indirect light grows the big fenestrated leaves. It survives medium light but slows down and stops splitting; hot direct sun scorches.
Water thoroughly when the top couple of inches have dried, letting excess drain. The chunkier the mix, the more forgiving the schedule.
Happy at normal room humidity; 50%+ encourages larger leaves and cleaner edges.
Keep above 50°F — cold damage starts below that.
A chunky aroid mix — potting soil cut generously with bark and perlite — so the thick roots get air.
Balanced fertilizer monthly in spring and summer.
In winter: Roughly halve the frequency in winter; growth pauses in low light.
Insoluble calcium oxalates in all parts — intense oral irritation, drooling, and vomiting if chewed by pets; irritating to people too. Keep vines trained up and out of reach.
Pet listing per the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database.
How to propagate monstera
Stem cuttings with a node
- Cut just below a node — the knuckle where leaf, stem, and often an aerial root meet. A leaf alone won't root.
- Stand the cutting in water with the node submerged, leaf out of the water.
- Change water weekly; roots reach a few inches in 3–6 weeks.
- Pot into chunky mix and keep lightly moist while it establishes.
Common monstera problems
Why doesn't my monstera have holes in its leaves?
Likely cause: Youth or light — fenestrations only appear on mature leaves, and only when the plant gets bright indirect light and something to climb.
Fix: Improve the light, add a moss pole or trellis, and wait: each new leaf should split more than the last once conditions are right.
Why are my monstera's leaves turning yellow?
Likely cause: Overwatering is the usual culprit — soggy mix suffocates the roots and the oldest leaves yellow first.
Fix: Let the top two inches dry before watering, confirm the pot drains, and consider a chunkier mix; remove fully yellow leaves.
Why are my monstera's leaf edges brown and crispy?
Likely cause: Dry air or missed waterings — often both in heated winter rooms.
Fix: Steady the watering cadence and nudge humidity up; trim crisp edges with clean scissors, following the leaf's outline.
Should my monstera have a moss pole?
Likely cause: In nature monstera climbs — without support it sprawls, leans, and makes smaller leaves.
Fix: Add a moss pole or sturdy trellis, tie stems loosely as they grow, and keep the pole damp so aerial roots grab it; leaf size typically jumps within a few new leaves.
Care profile compiled from extension and horticultural society guidance and the ASPCA toxic-plants list. Conditions vary by home — treat ranges as starting points.
At a glance
Storing & preserving
Most keep best refrigerated; storage crops prefer a cool, dry spot.
- Freeze: Blanch briefly, cool, then freeze — keeps color and texture.
- Can: Pressure-can low-acid vegetables; water-bath only pickled/acidified ones.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting
No curated care & troubleshooting advice for monstera yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.