In many homes, offices and government offices, you can find this unusual plant. The young monstera looks like a bush, it has thin stems decorated with carved wide leaves. An adult plant is more like a palm tree. It reaches a very impressive size. In total, experts know about fifty varieties of monster. This plant is a kind of creeper, so it loves to wrap itself around a support, whether it be a lattice or a pillar. For them, the monstera grabs its tenacious aerial roots that grow directly from the stem and branches, reaching a sufficiently large length in the process of growth.
general information
This plant is considered very tenacious and unpretentious, so even an amateur can grow it at home. You just need to know how to care for it, when and how much to water, fertilize, how to transplant a monstera, etc. Gradually, as they grow older, holes begin to appear on the leaves, which then turn into bizarre cuts. It is because of the unusual beauty and unpretentiousness that this plant enjoys such great popularity. About how to care for him, water and how to transplant the monstera at home, so as not to damage the root system, and we will tell in this article. Indeed, in order for this large domestic “pet” to please the owner with its beautiful healthy appearance, it needs to provide certain conditions.
Monster Care
This representative of the aroid belongs to large vines, therefore it is recommended to keep it in large enough rooms. And if it’s easy to look after a small bush, then you can’t say about the big perennial “monsters”, as they were popularly called. How to transplant a monstera after the first year of life, everyone who is engaged in indoor floriculture knows. But what to do with a huge plant that has been worn to the ceiling? That is why many are interested in how to transplant an adult monster.
In order for this representative of the aroid family to grow properly and be healthy, he needs to provide the following conditions: optimal temperature, a suitable place for illumination, regular watering, and spraying. But there is another process that this plant requires regularly: it is a transplant.
Optimal conditions for growth
Monstera is a thermophilic culture. And this is not surprising, because we are talking about a tropical plant. Do not allow the room to drop in temperature below seventeen degrees. True, in winter the plant seems to go into hibernation, so it can normally exist even in ten-degree mode.
As for lighting, the monstera does not like direct sunlight, therefore it also develops well in partial shade. But if growth slows down, and holes and cuts begin to appear unevenly, then this is a clear sign of insufficient light.
Another proof that this is a tropical culture is humidity, the level of which should be slightly above normal. Therefore, experienced flower growers periodically spray monstera leaves with warm water. In general, you need to know that the temperature and humidity for this plant are in direct proportion, that is, the colder, the less water it requires, respectively. Do not put the pot with the monster next to the battery or other heating device, otherwise the leaves may blacken and dry.
The space for this representative of the aroid family is also of great importance. It is common for a monster to grow rapidly and strongly, so for her in the house you need to allocate a place where she will not be crowded.
And finally, the last condition regarding how to transplant the monster correctly requires certain knowledge and skills from the grower. Indeed, on adult plants, in addition to leaves and a rather thin and fragile stem, there are aerial roots with which it clings to a support. Therefore, before transplanting a monstera, you should carefully consider how to do it so as not to damage them. In general, experts recommend changing pots every two years in early spring.
How to transplant monstera after purchase
You bought a small plant in the store with two or three small leaves. It hardly resembles those giants that have leaves about fifty centimeters wide and more. But do not despair. Very soon, large glossy leaves with elaborate slots will decorate the room or office. In the meantime, you need to transplant the monstera from the shipping store plastic into a beautiful pot. To do this, you need to prepare the soil in advance. Many lovers prefer to buy a ready-made soil mixture.
All work should be carried out with gloves, since monstera juice has an irritating effect. The young plant is transplanted in the usual way, because it does not have aerial roots that can be damaged.
What soil does monstera prefer
Judging by the reviews, the Palma earthen mixture is excellent for planting this plant. However, if it is not possible to purchase it, you can prepare the soil yourself from four different components. To do this, mix one part of coniferous, leaf and peat soil, as well as half the sand. Must have a solid layer of drainage. It is in such a soil mixture that the monstera will feel comfortable and delight with intensive growth, of course, with proper care.
Pot selection
A small stem stalk bought in a store can be placed in a cache-pot with a capacity of three to four liters. But in the future, before transplanting a large monster, you should take care of a large dish, as adults grow up to three meters in height. In the meantime, it is quite possible to do with a small clay pot. Another necessary condition is the presence of a pallet.
Transplant Dates
While the plant is still young, transshipment should be carried out regularly once every two years. After it reaches the age of six, it can be transplanted less frequently: after three years. But in between, it is recommended that you update the topsoil in the pot.
How to transplant a monster with aerial roots
Adult creepers have an amazing character: the larger the volume of their pot, the larger they grow. For a big monster, you have to take an extensive pot, "for growth", which in diameter should be eight to ten centimeters higher than the previous one. Before transplanting the monster, you should take care of the support in advance, which will need to be installed immediately. It is not possible to move the tall plant to another pot alone, so you need to take someone to help.
Before transplanting, the monster needs to be properly watered so that the ground is completely wet and the roots become elastic. Then you need to prepare and disinfect the soil mixture. At the bottom of the pot, pour a drainage layer and install a support in it. Then you will need to get the monster along with an earthen lump from the old tank. To do this, it is better to hold a knife or spatula along its inner part, separating the grown roots, and cut off those that have grown into the drainage. It is best to stand on a chair and hold the monster while the assistant takes it out of the pot. Then the plant should be transferred to a new planter, set it in the center and gradually fill the space between the stem and the walls with soil. Then you need to water the soil around the circle, wait until it settles, and add the rest of the earth.