Monstera are great houseplants for beginner gardeners because they are low maintenance and hard to kill. Many plant parents find themselves wondering, can monstera live outside? The answer to this question depends on many environmental factors, such as light, humidity, temperature, wind, and rainfall.
Long story short, Monstera will die in temperatures below 60 °F (15 °C). If you live somewhere warm, you can keep your Monstera outside year-round. Otherwise, keep it outside during the summer and bring it indoors for the winter.
There are several changes you will have to make to plant care to ensure your Monstera thrives outdoors. Continue reading to learn more about keeping your Monstera outside.
Pros of Keeping Your Monstera Outside
Monstera are able to grow really large when kept outdoors. Native to tropical areas, Monstera thrive in humidity, warmth and sunlight. In the wild, Monstera can grow to heights of 66 feet (20 meters).
Increased growth: While your plant will probably not that grow to that size, keeping Monstera outside helps them grow larger than if they were grown indoors. The sunlight and warm weather promotes large leaf growth with beautiful fenestrations. Make sure to provide sturdy support as the plant increases in height.
Fuller plants: Keeping plants outside can fill in sparse-looking plants. The sunlight helps to activate dormant buds, allowing the plant to grow bushier.
How to Acclimate Your Monstera to the Outdoors
If your Monstera has been indoors, it needs time to be acclimated to the outside environment to prevent leaf burn. Indoor light is weaker than outdoor light and your plant needs time to adapt. Leaving your Monstera out in full sun without proper transition leads to a brown and crispy plant.
To transition your Monstera, leave it outside for a few hours at a time each day. Initially, choose cloudy days or keep the plant in shade. Slowly increase the amount of time the plant is kept outside each day over the span of two to three weeks.
If you notice the plant leaves are burning (brown, dried spots) despite being in shade, bring your plant back inside and slow down the sun exposure to prevent further damage. Once a leaf is sunburned, it cannot go back to normal.
Things You Should Know Before Keeping Your Monstera Outside
Watering
Since your plant is receiving more sunlight and is in warmer temperatures outdoors, it needs to be watered more frequently. This could be as often as once or twice a day in very hot months because the heat dries out potting mixes quickly. Check that the top inch of soil is dry before watering, just as you would indoors, to prevent rot.
If you live somewhere dry, you will have to mist the soil frequently to increase humidity. If you notice the leaves beginning to turn brown or crispy, chances are the air is not humid enough and your plant needs more water.
Plant your Monstera in a container with a drainage hole and in a porous soil mix that does not retain water. Accumulating rainwater is a problem for any plant without proper drainage and can lead to root rot from over watering. I like to mix perlite into my houseplant soil to create a well-draining mix. You can skip watering on the days it rains if your plant has already gotten a soak.
Sunlight
It is very important to slowly transition your plant to the outside climate (as explained above) to avoid sunburn.
Monstera like bright, indirect sunlight, so keep the plant out of direct light to prevent leaf burn. Placing the plant on a porch where it is protected from the harsh midday rays would be best. This is especially true if your garden is south-facing, as this light is the brightest. However, if your garden is north-facing, this might not be needed. Keep a close eye on your Monstera for signs of sunburn or wilting and move it as needed.
If you have a variegated Monstera, I would recommend against keeping it outside because they burn more easily.
Watch Out For Pests
Houseplants kept outdoors are more susceptible to insects. A few bites taken out of your plant is normal, but when pests (such as mites, aphids or thrips) begin turning your plant into their new home, you have a problem. It is important to keep an extra close eye out on outdoor plants so you can stop infestations before they harm your plant.
If you notice signs of infestation, such as misshapen leaves or sticky webbing, immediately quarantine the Monstera so that the infestation does not spread.
Wash the plant under a stream of water, such as a hose or shower head, to dislodge the insects. Spray the plant with neem oil, rubbing alcohol, or an insecticidal soap. This helps remove the pests without damaging the plant.
Repeat this process once every few days for a few weeks to completely remove the infestation. Fortunately, Monstera are quite hardy and can bounce back if the pests are caught early enough.
Transplant Shock When Back Indoors
When you bring your plants back inside before the weather turns cold, they receive less light than they were used to. This can lead to leaf drop for a few weeks until your plants settle down in their new habitat.
To lessen the shock, keep your plant in a bright and sunny area indoors, and ensure it is away from heaters or vents.
Learn more about transplant shock here.
How to Care for a Monstera Living Outside
Sunlight: Keep your Monstera somewhere with bright, indirect light. Avoid prolonged exposure to harsh, direct sun rays.
Water: You may have to water as often as once or twice a day, depending on how hot it gets. Keep a close eye on your plant and check the soil frequently.
For more information about watering, check out this Monstera Watering Guide
Temperature: Monstera thrive at temperatures from 65 to 85 °F (18 to 30 °C). Do not keep it in temperatures below 60 °F (15 °C). While Monstera are hardy, they cannot tolerate the cold. Note: Frost blankets only help for brief moments- they do not work for extended periods of cold weather.
Humidity: Monstera thrive in humid conditions. If the air is too dry, mist the soil more frequently with a spray bottle.
Fertilizer: Fertilize once a month during the spring and summer seasons.
To Summarize For “Can Monstera Live Outside?”
Yes, Monstera can be kept outside as long as the temperature is above 60 °F (15 °C)- as low maintenance as Monstera are, they do not do well in the cold. If you live somewhere warm, you can keep your Monstera outside year-round. Otherwise, bring it indoors for the winter.
Keeping your Monstera outside helps it grow faster and produce larger leaves with beautiful fenestrations. Make sure to keep an eye out for pests and water more frequently so your plant can thrive!
Have any more questions about keeping Monstera outside that I did not answer? Let me know down below!
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