From our perspective as plants, our growth rate is not a single, fixed number but a response to our environment and care. In our juvenile stage, as young plants, you might see us produce a new leaf every month or two during our active growing season (typically spring and summer). As we mature and establish a strong root system, our growth can accelerate significantly. A happy, mature Monstera in its ideal conditions can unfurl a stunning new leaf every week or two in peak season. Each new leaf is often larger and more fenestrated (full of holes) than the last, which is our way of optimizing light capture. It is important to note that growth virtually halts during the shorter, cooler days of winter; this is our natural dormancy period for rest.
Light is our food, the very energy that fuels our growth. To encourage us to grow faster and develop those large, split leaves you adore, place us in a spot with bright, indirect light. Think of the dappled sunlight we would receive under the canopy of large trees in our native jungle habitat. A few hours of gentle morning sun is wonderful, but harsh, direct afternoon sunlight will scorch our leaves, causing brown, crispy spots that hinder our ability to photosynthesize. If we are kept in low light, our growth will become leggy, with long stems reaching for any light source, and our new leaves will be small and lack fenestrations.
Water is the vessel that transports nutrients from our roots to every part of our being. The goal is to keep our roots consistently moist but never soggy. Water us thoroughly when the top few inches of soil feel dry, and ensure any excess water can drain away freely. Sitting in waterlogged soil will cause our roots to rot, effectively starving us. Furthermore, we thrive in high humidity, which mimics our tropical origins. Humidity above 60% is ideal and helps our large leaves unfurl smoothly without sticking or browning at the edges. You can encourage this by grouping us with other plants, using a pebble tray, or a humidifier.
As we grow quickly, we deplete the nutrients in our potting mix. To sustain rapid growth, we require regular feeding. During the spring and summer, provide us with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half-strength approximately once a month. This gives us the essential nutrients, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, to build new stems and leaves. Furthermore, we are hemiepiphytes, meaning we naturally climb trees and our roots need space to anchor and gather resources. Providing a moss pole or trellis for us to climb satisfies this instinct and encourages larger, more mature growth. Also, remember to repot us every 1-2 years into a slightly larger pot; being severely root-bound will drastically slow our growth.
