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Monstera houseplants are becoming wildly popular. If you are a new proud plant parent to one of these beauties you are probably anxious to get her growing as big as she can! One of the keys to getting great growth from any plant, including your new Monstera is good fertilizing. So lets dive into a few different ways to fertilize your Monstera Deliciosa and get those gorgeous heart-shaped leaves big and green.
What is a Monstera Anyway
Before we talk plant food you may be wondering what in the world is a Monstera plant. So let’s start there. This particular houseplant has been all over social media. It has really large leaves and can grow very large. Correction, WILL grow very large with the right care. It’s name comes from the Latin word “monstrum” which means “monster”. If you offer a moss pole for the aerial roots to climb, it will grow even taller. So prepare a large space in your home. This tropical plant originates from places in Central America like Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala and Costa Rica. So, aside from proper nutrients they also will thrive in warm and high humidity environments.
There are several different varieties of Monstera, including Monstera Adansonii, Monstera Borsigiana, Monstera Dubia and Monstera Thai Constellation. The Thai Constellation is the one that has super cool creamy-white splotches on it’s leaves. This one can be harder to find and so can be a more expensive. The one you will find at just about any home and garden store is the Monstera Deliciosa plants. Which is the one we we will be specifically talking about here.
Some common names are simply, Monstera as well as swiss cheese plant, hurricane plant and split-leaf philodendron. Swiss cheese plant because the leaves often have really interesting holes in them. Hurricane plant since it has a reputation of being able to withstand hard winds from hurricanes. I am not sure why we refer to it as a split-leaf philodendron though…it is not actually a philodendron. The Monstera plant is it’s own genus. Although both, philodendron and Monstera are part of the same Acraea family.
Now let’s get to why you are here and that is to learn some ways to feed your big plants! Possibly one the the most important elements of Monstera care is the right balance of fertilizer. Your potted plants are continuously soaking up nutrients in the soil. To keep your beautiful giant happy and healthy.
Let’s Talk Fertilizer
Banana Peel Concoction
Using banana peels is my favorite fertilizer. In fact I use this on almost all of my indoor plants. It is super easy and a great way to use organic materials. Next time you grab a banana, don’t throw out the peel. Instead drop it in a mason jar and fill it up with water. Then pop on the lid and let it soak for a couple of days. Once it has had some time to steep, you will basically have a concentrated banana tea. From here just pour a little bit in your water can, then fill the rest up with regular water. No specific measurements needed. But if you really have to have specific instructions, about a 1/4 cut per watering can full of regular water. Obvisiouly, more banana water will just give you a more potent brew.
The benefit of bananas for your Monstera is that will provide a blend of potassium, phosphorous and nitrogen. The hormones and enzymes in banana water can act as a natural growth simulant. It seems like I always get a new growth after a dose of bananas.
Bananas are a common plant compost ingredient. However, for houseplants, you could attract some unwanted pests leaving whole banana peels laying in your planter. So after you have used all of your banana water just toss out that peel.
Perhaps one of the easier ways to ensure your plant is getting it’s essential nutrients is using liquid fertilizers. There are varieties out there that are safe to use each time you water. They also have a couple of options for application. Currently, I prefer to use this one from Miracle Grow. You just pump it right into the soil and then water. Just be sure that which ever brand or type you choose specifically says that it is safe to use with every watering. This method will absolutely ensure optimal growth of your Monstera Deliciosa.
Egg Shell Concoction
This method is similar to making banana water for your plant. When you have egg shells, rather than throwing them out use them for your plants. They offer calcium which is good for them for a lot of the reasons it is good for us! It helps them develop strong cell wall growth. Strong cells help your plants better grow tall and strong as well as enable them to better protect themselves against pests and environmental stresses. It also helps them better facilitate the movement of water and nutrients throughout their systems.
So after you’ve made those scrambled eggs for your self or your crew, set those shells aside. Give them a good rinse to get all the egg whites and yolks off. Once they have dried, crush them up. I usually toss them in a Ziploc bag and crunch them up with my hands or rolling pin. Anyway you prefer to get the job done.
Then put them in a jar filled with water and put the lid on. Allow it to steep for a few days just like the banana water. Remove the shells with a mesh strainer or something similar. After that you can either pour it directly in your planter or you can opt to dilute it into your plain water.
Coffee Grounds
There are a few ways to use coffee grounds to feed your beautiful plant. You can either mix them into your soil when you are planting or sprinkle right on top of the soil to act as a slow release fertilizer. You can also make a tea just like we did with the bananas and egg shells. Overall this is one to add to your list of organic fertilizers.
Aside from providing nitrogen and other nutrients, they also serve as a pest repellent. The odor can deter flies, ants and other common pests.
Lastly, and one of the more popular options is a granule fertilizer. Usually, the instructions are to sprinkle around the base of the plant. This releases fertilizer into the soil with regular waterings.
Too Much of a Good Thing
Too much of a good thing, is a bad thing. AS with most things in life, everything in moderation. Too much fertilizer is as a bad as too little. Watch for signs that your Monstera houseplants are being overfed. Some of these signs are leaf burn or brown spots at the edges of the plant’s leaves, yellow spots, stunted growth or wilting. You may also notice a layer of algal growth on the top layer of your potting soil.
The absolute best way to monitor your plant and make sure you are providing the right balance of nutrients and maintaining the best soil is using a soil PH meter. A Monstera prefers a PH level of 6.0 to 7.5, which is slightly acidic. It is good to know if what you are adding to the soil will raise or lower the PH. For example, coffee grounds raise the acidity and egg shells can lower the acidity. Bananas are pretty neutral and don’t usually have much of an effect on the PH. However, it is still best to keep an eye on how your plant is responding.
Monstera Love
The right nutrients are just one piece of the puzzle to getting healthy growth from your Monstera plants. Regular watering as well as proper drainage holes, indirect sunlight and higher humidity levels all play a part in the overall health.
You have a many options to provide nutrients and promote plant growth. Bananas, egg shells, liquid fertilizer, granule fertilizer and coffee grounds are just a few of my favorites. Good luck on your Monstera journey. I hope you enjoy this popular houseplant!
Do you have a creative way of feeding your tropical beauty? Let us know about it!