Monstera care: watering and light
The plant with the split leaves comes from the rainforests of Mexico and Central America, where it climbs tree trunks towards the light. At home, it wants plenty of light and fairly sparse watering.
Monstera needs water roughly every 6 days in summer and every 8 in winter (east-facing window, in a 16 cm plastic pot with a drainage hole). Before watering, always check with a finger in the soil: if it’s still damp, wait.
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Monstera deliciosa
- Also known as
- Swiss cheese plant
- Preferred light
- Bright indirect light
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Tolerates drought
- No
- Tolerates shade
- No
- Where it lives
- Indoors
Where to put it
A Monstera likes plenty of light, but indirect: near an east-facing window, or a little back from a south-facing one. It copes with darker corners, but grows slowly there and new leaves come in small and without the splits it’s known for.
It’s a climber, so it appreciates a moss pole or a stake to lean on. The aerial roots growing from the stem are normal: don’t cut them, guide them towards the pole or the soil.
How to water
Water when the top four or five centimetres of soil are dry — push a finger in to check. Water thoroughly, until it runs out of the drainage hole, and empty the saucer. In winter a Monstera almost stops growing, and the soil takes much longer to dry.
Common mistakes
Overwatering comes first: lower leaves turning yellow and soil that’s always damp. Second is too little light, which leaves it leggy and without splits. And dust: the big leaves gather it quickly and stop making the most of the light — wipe them with a damp cloth now and then.
How many days between waterings, spot by spot
| Where it lives | In July | In January |
|---|---|---|
| South- or west-facing window | 5 days | 7 days |
| East-facing window | 6 days | 8 days |
| North-facing window | 9 days | 13 days |
| Hallway or corner with no window | 13 days | 18 days |
From the Journal
- How often should you water a Monstera?
- Why are my Monstera leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my Monstera leaves turning brown?
- Why are my Monstera leaves curling?
- Why doesn’t my Monstera have holes?
- Why isn’t my Monstera growing?
- How to propagate a Monstera from a cutting
- How to care for a Monstera
- Does a Monstera need a lot of water?
- How fast does a Monstera grow?
- How much light does a Monstera need?
- Why are my plant's leaves turning orange?
- White mould on houseplant soil: is it a problem?
- The best plant care apps in 2026
- Verdejar vs Planta: which plant app should you use?
- How to prune a Monstera (Swiss cheese plant)
- Why are my houseplant's leaves sticky?