Monstera Plant Watering: How Often and How Much

Monstera are hardy houseplants that are native to tropical areas, such as Mexico and Panama. Found in rainforests, Monstera thrive in warm and humid environments with bright, indirect sunlight and proper watering.

The main thing to remember about Monstera plant watering is that Monstera do not like their soil to be soaking wet or completely dry: it should stay somewhere in between.

Many Monstera plant problems, such as yellow or brown leaves, drooping stems, or leaf drop, are due to not watering properly so it is important to have a good schedule.

Fortunately, Monstera are fairly laid back about their watering, so there is room for error while you learn. Once your figure out the right water needs for your plant, it can really thrive. Learn more about Monstera plant watering, signs of an over or under watered Monstera, and how to avoid problems.

Learn more about Monstera deliciosa care with this complete guide.

Monstera Plant Watering Frequency

Before watering, check the moisture level of the plant’s soil by sticking your finger in the top few inches (you can also use a moisture meter). Monstera prefer lightly moist soil that dries out a bit in between watering.

If the top 3 to 4 inches of soil are dry, it is time to water your plant again. However, if the soil still feels wet, skip the watering for now and wait a few more days before checking again.

For me, this ends up being about once a week in the summer and once every two to three weeks in the winter. However, this may be different for you depending on your plant’s environment (explained more below). Always check the moisture of the soil before you water.

How to Water a Monstera

Once you have confirmed your Monstera needs water, what is the best way to do so?

Use room temperature filtered water. You can leave the water out to sit for a few hours so the chloride has time to evaporate.

Water the soil at the base of the plant. Do not get the leaves wet because that could lead to rot. If they do get a few drops on them, just wipe them off with a tissue.

Water until you notice water start to come out of the drainage hole (if your pot has one). The soil should be fairly wet (but not completely soaking) by this point. Make sure you dump out the water that collected in the tray immediately afterwards so that the plant does not sit in water for too long.

What Water Is Best for Monstera?

Always use room temperature water. Very hot or very cold water damages the plant’s roots.

Watering with tap water is fine. Leaving it out overnight in an open bowl helps the extra chlorine and fluoride in the water evaporate out, leaving it a much better option for your houseplants. You can also water with collected rainwater.

Mineral Deposits on Monstera from Tap Water

Tiny, white dots on the underside of Monstera leaves are from watering with tap water high in salts. Monstera have tiny glands on their leaves where they excrete water as a byproduct of photosynthesis.

The white dots are the minerals from the tap water being excreted. Wipe them off with a dry towel to keep the plant glands clean. Leave your tap water out before watering, as described above, to help decrease the deposits.

Factors Affecting Monstera Plant Watering Frequency

There are several factors that affect the frequency of Monstera plant watering, including sunlight, temperature, humidity, type of pot, size of the plant, and whether it is growing or dormant.

Sunlight

Providing your Monstera with bright, indirect sunlight helps it grow faster. More sunlight also dries out the soil quicker, so you need to water the plant more often. Check the soil moisture every few days so you know when your Monstera needs a drink.

Temperature & Humidity

Plants in warmer temperatures require more frequent watering than those in cooler temperatures. In the summer, you will have to check the soil’s moisture and water your Monstera more often than in the winter.

While high humidity will not replace watering completely, it will decrease the frequency of watering. As always, check the soil before you water.

Type of Pot

If your Monstera is in a terracotta pot, it should be watered more often than if it were in a ceramic or plastic pot. This is because the terracotta allows the water to evaporate out faster.

Monstera Size

If you have a few Monstera of different sizes, they may not all need to be watered at the same time.

Smaller plants need to be watered slightly more often than larger ones because they have less soil, so the water dries out quicker. However, bigger plants require a larger volume of water since there is more soil.

Growing Season vs Dormancy

Monstera require different amounts of water depending on the time of the year and season. They require more water during their growing season and less when they are dormant.

Monstera’s growing season is from spring to summer. During this time, it requires more water to support its growth. During the colder month, the plant is more susceptible to over watering. This is when it is dormant, meaning it is not actively growing.

Continue to check the top inch of soil before watering. You will notice it dry out faster during the growing season.

Best Type of Soil

Plant your Monstera in a quick-draining soil mix. A great way to make your own mix is by adding perlite or gravel to a houseplant potting soil to increase the drainage.

A well-draining soil helps prevent root rot. Avoid dense, rich soil because it retains water for longer than needed and promote rot.

Best Type of Pot

A terracotta pot with a drainage hole is the best choice if you have a tendency to over water your plants. Terracotta allows excess water to evaporate out and lets the plant’s roots aerate, which helps prevent root rot.

If you want to keep your Monstera in a plastic or ceramic pot, be aware that it may need to be watered less often.

Always choose a pot that is the appropriate size for your Monstera. Too large of a pot contains extra soil, which drowns the roots when it is wet. However, too small of a pot stunts the plant’s growth, so it is important to keep a balance.

How to tell if your Monstera is not watered properly

While Monstera plants are not too sensitive to watering, there is a limit to how much they can handle.

Over watering leads to root rot and plant death. On the other hand, under watering can lead to dry and crispy leaves, so it is a delicate balance!

Since root rot starts under ground, it can take a while for the leaves and stems to show signs. By that time, the damage can be extensive, which is what makes fixing an over watered Monstera so difficult.

Signs of Over Watering

Yellow or brown stems and/or leaves
Dark spots on the leaves
Mold on the soil
Musty smell from the soil
Mushy, soft stems
Very soggy, wet soil

Note: It is normal for some of the older leaves on the bottom to be yellow and fall off. This is a normal part of the growing process and nothing needs to be done. On the other hand, if the majority of the plant is unhealthy, including the newer leaves on top, you have a watering problem.

Too much water is a common cause of black spots on Monstera leaves.

Over watering leads to rot and even death. However, if you catch the signs of over watering early enough, you can save your plant.

If you suspect your Monstera is over watered, remove the plant from it’s pot and clean the soil off the roots. Cut off rotten roots- they look dark brown or black and appear mushy (healthy roots are light tan).

If you have no healthy roots, you will have to propagate the healthy growth of your plant. Take stem and leaf cuttings from the healthy, green plant tissue. Be sure to cut an inch or two above the damage, as rot spreads from the inside before it is fully visible on the stems.

Clean your pot thoroughly with soap and water, then fill it with fresh, new potting soil. Pots with drainage holes help remove excess water. If your pot does not currently have a drainage hole, consider switching pots to help your plant bounce back.

Prune the damaged, yellow or brown leaves and plant in the new soil. Keep the pot in an area with bright, indirect sun so that it can dry quickly and reduce your watering frequency.

To prevent over watering, always check that the top layer of soil is dry before watering by sticking your finger in or using a moisture meter.

Related article: 6 Reasons for Yellow Monstera Leaves

Signs of Under Watering

Pale yellow leaves
Brown, crispy-looking leaves or spots
Wrinkled leaves
Drooping stems

Fortunately, under watering is easier to fix than over watering.

Check your plant’s soil to see if it feels dry. If it does, give your plant a good drink. The brown edges will not turn green again, but you can trim them off to improve the plant’s appearance.

In addition, check to see if your plant is root bound, as that can cause the soil to dry out faster than usual. Signs of a root bound Monstera include roots popping out of the soil and the drainage hole. If your plant has grown too large, repot it in a vessel approximately 2 inches wider in diameter than the current one (do not chose a pot much larger than that).

Wait a few days after repotting before watering again.

Keep in mind that if you recently moved your Monstera to a brighter location it will require more frequent watering.

Related Article: Monstera Adansonii Care Guide

Bottom Watering Monstera

If your plant is very dehydrated, you may need to bottom water the plant to increase moisture.

To bottom water your Monstera, follow these steps:

Fill a tub with room temperature water. Place the pot in the tub and allow it to soak up water from its drainage hole for an hour.
After an hour, poke a finger in the top inch of soil to see if water has reached the top. If the soil still feels dry, pour some water on the top.
Once the soil is saturated, remove the water from the tub and allow the pot to drain the extra water.
Once the water has been drained, place the pot back in its original spot.

Bottom watering takes much longer for larger plants than top watering, but will protect the foliage from breaking. Bottom watering tends to be a better option for smaller plants. Once plants reach a larger size, it is easier to top water.

In Summary for Monstera Plant Watering

Overall, Monstera are hardy houseplants and able to tolerate some mistakes in watering, making them great for beginner gardeners. Even if you end up over or under watering, it is possible for your plant to bounce back if you catch the problem soon enough.

In general, you should be watering once every 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the temperature, season and light conditions of your plant. The most important part of Monstera plant watering is checking the soil’s moisture beforehand.

Provide the Monstera with bright, indirect light and high humidity. With proper Monstera watering, your plant will thrive!

Have any other questions about watering Monstera plants that I did not answer? Let me know down below!