Monstera deliciosa, also known as the Swiss cheese plant, is one of the most recognizable houseplants. I’ve seen its slotted leaves on wallpaper, bedding, fabrics, and jewelry. In fact, I have Monstera appliqués on several throw pillows.
Even its mysterious name is appealing. Did you know that the name Monstera comes from the Latin term, ”monstrum” and ”deliciosa” is Latin for delicious?
This is because Monsteras grow to enormous sizes up to 70 feet tall in the wild. Also, the plant produces delicious, rare Monstera fruit in its natural tropical habitat. But how long do Monsteras take to grow at home?
Well, as a houseplant, Monstera grows quickly, producing gorgeous, large, deep-green, fenestrated foliage with a waxy texture. It grows from 6 to 8 feet tall as a potted plant. But let’s get some more specifics so you know what to expect from what may well be the newest addition to your plant collection.
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How long do Monsteras take to grow?
Providing your Monstera deliciosa with optimal growing conditions, it will grow up to 2 feet per year. Help your Monstera grow by supplying bright, filtered light, warm temperatures, humidity, and well-balanced potting soil. Repot your Monstera every 2 to 3 years as it grows larger.
Monstera live for years, so give your plant time to grow. When you first bring your plant home, it has to recover from the trauma of the move. It might seem like it’s not growing, but it needs time to recover.
You might think it’s a good idea to transplant the Monstera as soon as you bring it from the store, but it needs at least six weeks to adapt to its new home. Even if you have what you think is the best pot ever for your Monstera picked out, don’t be tempted to rush into transplanting your Monstera before it’s ready.
If you show your Monstera a little loving care, it will start growing new leaves every 4 to 6 weeks. As the plant produces new leaves, it becomes bushier, which gives more places for it to form new growth.
Related: 9 Easy Ways to Encourage Monstera to Grow New Leaves Faster
Are Monstera plants slow-growing?
Monstera plants are one of the fastest-growing houseplants. Your Monstera will grow even faster, taller, and with larger, heart-shaped leaves if you give it something to climb. As Monstera develops aerial roots, they attach themselves to a moss pole, staircase, or anything else they can find to continue growing upward.
If you think your Monstera isn’t growing fast enough, it might not have enough room to grow.
Check that your Monstera has plenty of room because the more room it has, the bigger and faster it grows. If you want your Monstera to grow as a vine, all it needs is something to climb, such as a trellis, pole, staircase, or tree. On the other hand, if you prefer a bushy plant, prune your Monstera’s leaves as they start searching for something to climb.
How long does it take a Monstera to reach full size?
As houseplants, a Monstera will reach full size in about two to three years and will end up being around 8 to 9 feet tall if they don’t climb. If you keep them healthy with good growing conditions and provide a moss pole or trellis for climbing, your Monstera will continue forming new growth.
However, when Monstera grow in the wild, this plant never really reaches full size. They continue growing as a vine as long as they have trees or other surfaces that the Monstera’s aerial roots can cling to. As long as they survive harm from pests, weather, or development, they keep growing.
It’s best not to compare the growth of your Monstera to others you might see. Every plant has different growth rates and reaches its full size at various times, with only some turning into giant Monstera plants eventually. It all depends on the growing conditions and the attention the plant receives.
How long does it take a Monstera plant to grow a new leaf?
Monstera plants grow new leaves about every 4 to 6 weeks. As long as the growing space has enough humidity, filtered light, warmth, and water, your Monstera will keep forming leaves. Once the leaves grow, they can take up to 2 weeks to unfurl.
I know it’s exciting when your Monstera grows new leaves, but don’t be tempted to unfurl them before they’re ready. You could crack the leaves or knock them from the stem. Be patient, and the new Monstera leaves will soon open on their own.
If the unfurled leaves begin to yellow or become dry, it can be from dehydration which is one of the most common causes of Monstera leaves curling. You can increase humidity to rehydrate the furled leaves. Place a humidifier in the room or mist the leaves a few times each day until they unfurl.
Related: How Long Do Monstera Plants Live (and 7 Tips So It Lives Longer)
How often do Monstera grow new leaves?
A Monstera grows new leaves every one to two months. It won’t form new leaves during the dormant seasons when the temperatures are cooler. Also, if your Monstera seems to have slow-growing leaves, you might need to transplant it to a bigger pot with new, rich soil.
Old soil loses its nutrients, so the root ball won’t receive enough nutrition to feed new leaves. The best time to repot your Monstera is in the early spring as the growing season begins. You should get a boom of new growth once you transplant it.
How do you speed up Monstera growth?
If you want to speed up the growth of your Monstera, follow these steps to increase the growth rate. Whether you want to keep your plant in a bushy state or encourage your Monstera to climb, these growing tips will help speed up its development.
1. Brighten the room
Provide indirect, bright light to your Monstera every day. Although it tolerates moderate lighting, it will produce smaller leaves with less fenestration, as well as spindly stalks.
Find out more: Monstera Light Requirements: How Much Does It Need?
2. Keep warm and cozy
Keep your Monstera warm and comfortable with room temperatures around your Monstera between 60° F to 80° F.
3. Add extra moisture
Humidity is very important for Monstera growth since it’s native to the tropical humidity of Mexico. This is especially true if the room temperature gets above 70° F (21° C).
Increase the humidity by placing the plant on a pebble tray. Fill the tray with water just to the top of the pebbles, but don’t cover them. As the water evaporates, it provides humidity to your Monstera.
Also, misting your plant once or twice every day, adds enough moisture to the dry air surrounding the Monstera.
4. Nestle the roots
Use a well-balanced potting soil for your Monstera mixed with peat moss and sand, so your Monstera’s roots can nestle inside. Transplant the Monstera every two to three years until you reach a maximum pot size for the space you have available.
Top off the soil in the pot every year after reaching the largest container for the space you have available for your Monstera.
5. Quench thirsty roots
Your Monstera needs water in addition to humidity, but it’s important not to overwater. Let the top inch of potting soil dry out before giving your Monstera a drink. Most likely, you’ll need to water your Monstera more often during the growing seasons of spring and summer.
In the dormant months, it will take longer for the soil to dry out, so be careful not to water too much. If the roots sit in water for too long, fungus and mold growth begins which can cause root rot to develop.
6. Feed your plant
From spring to fall, serve a balanced fertilizer to your Monstera every three to six months. Cut down on feeding during the dormant season. One feeding during the winter should be enough food when your Monstera’s growth slows down.
For the best results, always dilute the liquid fertilizer with half water before feeding it to your Monstera. Full strength fertilizer can burn the roots and foliage of your plant.
7. Polish and shine
Did you know that you should be cleaning your Monstera’s leaves? That’s right, the waxy, rubber-like texture of Monstera leaves needs regular polishing.
To do this, use a soft, damp cloth to wipe off dust and give the leaves a nice shine. This also keeps the leaves free from dust, so they can absorb moisture and nutrients from the air.
8. Clean up the pot
It’s normal for Monstera to drop leaves sometimes. Aging foliage turns yellow and falls into the pot and on the floor. If leaves gather in the pot, they hold moisture where bacteria can develop. These bacteria can result in your Monstera having disease and pest infestations.
Clean up any fallen leaves and stems from the top of the soil and any that fell on the floor. Your plant’s roots will thank you as they absorb healthy nutrients from the soil for speedy plant growth.
9. Let it climb
Allow your plant to have some fun by giving your Monstera a moss pole or other climbing post in its pot or next to the pot. Your Monstera can grab hold and clamber up the pole to its heart’s content. Climbing is a great way to boost Monstera growth.
Find out more: How to Stake a Monstera: 6 Simple Steps
10. Give a pest inspection
Common pests could be the reason your Monstera has stunted growth. Inspecting for signs of pest infestation and eliminating them can help your plant thrive again. A few common insects to look for are:
- Mealybugs
- Spider mites
- Brown scale on your Monstera’s stems
- Aphids
- Thrips on your Monstera
If your Monstera has yellowing leaves or brown spots on the foliage, there could be pests living in the soil or on the foliage. You can control these bugs by wiping the leaves with insecticidal soap or spraying it lightly on the leaves and stems.
11. Do a wellness check
Your Monstera needs occasional wellness checks to make sure it’s not suffering from common plant diseases or disorders. There are three common diseases that can prevent your Monstera from growing. These include bacterial leaf spot, anthracnose, and root rot.
Check your Monstera for any dark brown, oozy spots on the leaves that could be bacterial leaf spot. Anthracnose causes yellow on the leaf edges, and root rot in Monstera makes the leaves wilt. Usually, lowering humidity and increasing air circulation helps stop these symptoms.
12. Give a trim
When it comes to how quickly does a Monstera grow, the answer is: very quickly. And this means that, sometimes, the stems become leggy on your Monstera as they reach for the light. To keep your plant full and healthy, giving your Monstera a trim encourages new growth, as it lets all your plant’s focus go towards having your Monstera leaves grow back. Cut back any leggy stems that don’t have many leaves.
You can propagate any stems that you cut to grow new Monstera plants. Just place the cut stems in a glass of water and wait for the roots to grow. Alternatively, you can simply prune them as decoration for a few weeks, which is about how long a Monstera leaf will last once it’s removed from the plant.
13. Test the soil
Your Monstera needs soil with the correct pH, which measures the acidity and alkalinity of the soil. Monstera requires a neutral pH of 6.0 to 8.0. You can adjust the pH in the soil if the readings aren’t optimal for your plant.
Use a pH tester to check the soil. If it reads too acidic, add lime to the soil to neutralize it. If it reads as alkaline, add sulfur to the soil. You can find these supplements at garden supply stores.
14. Expand personal space
Monstera can get large and need a lot of personal space to grow. If your plant isn’t climbing, make sure it has enough space of its own to spread out. As it spreads, it grows horizontally, so you have to be careful not to bump the leaves and stems.
Some Monstera travel along the floor as they grow. If you get too close with a vacuum or step on the leaves by accident, it causes damage that can stunt growth. Make sure your Monstera has plenty of room all around it to prevent injury.
15. Upgrade the living area
If your Monstera has been in the same pot for over two years, it might be time to upgrade to a bigger living space. Transplant your Monstera to a bigger pot to increase growth and keep it thriving.
The soil loses its nutrients after a while, and sometimes fertilizer just isn’t enough to keep your plant healthy. The roots need room to spread and grow. If the pot is too small, the roots become dense and crowded.
16. Thin out the roots
When it’s time for repotting your Monstera, gently remove the plant from the pot being careful not to damage the roots. Try to brush away as much of the old soil as possible from around the root ball. Check the roots for any that are damaged, black, or soggy.
Use sanitized scissors to trim away any of these. If you don’t trim away the rotting roots, the root rot can spread to the rest of the roots. This will temporarily slow down new growth, but once the roots heal, your Monstera will produce healthy new leaves.
17. Adopt a friend
Moving a companion plant near your Monstera has growth benefits. They provide humidity to each other and some plants repel pests. If you select a beneficial companion for your Monstera, it can speed up new growth.