Here are the best and most unique Monstera growing hacks that actually work to help your plant thrive and grow faster.
Your Monstera might already look good, but with a few clever tricks, it can look spectacular. Beyond watering and sunlight, we have found some little-known Monstera growing hacks to help you get a lush centerpiece for your home!
Monstera Growing Hacks for Best Growth
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1. Give It Something to Climb
Monstera deliciosa is naturally a climber, so giving it a sturdy support isn’t just for looks. As it climbs, its aerial roots help anchor it to the support, and mature plants naturally develop larger, more deeply fenestrated leaves.
A moss pole, coir pole, wooden board, or sturdy trellis can all work. You can also upcycle old stands. Just guide the stem toward the support with soft ties, but don’t wrap the ties tightly around the stem.
You can buy this easy-to-install moss pole from here.
As it starts growing upwards, you’ll notice its developing aerial roots as well. Don’t cut those healthy aerial roots just because they look messy.
Instead, guide them toward the soil or support. They are part of how Monstera climbs naturally.
Here is a complete care guide on what to do with the aerial roots of a Monstera!
2. Train the Plant Before It Becomes a Tangled Mess
Notice the difference between the first and the rest in the images above? Instead of letting every new leaf point toward the window, gently guide the main stem toward its support as new growth appears. Keep the leaves facing the light rather than twisting the entire stem around the pole with these plant clips!
This gives you a much tidier plant and prevents the common problem of a large Monstera leaning heavily to one side.
Here’s a little trick that can make a big difference later: decide which direction you want your Monstera to grow while the stems are still flexible. And then train the plant toward that look and direction. Don’t be shy to use your architecture or furniture to your advantage!
Pro Tip: Rotate the pot occasionally for balanced growth, but don’t keep turning a climbing Monstera so often that you constantly change the direction of its support.
3. Clean the Leaves Occasionally
Large Monstera leaves are excellent at collecting dust. That layer may seem harmless, but keeping the foliage clean helps the plant use the light reaching its leaves more effectively.
Every 4-8 weeks, gently wipe large leaves with a clean, damp cloth or rinse sturdy plants with lukewarm water. This is particularly useful after winter, when indoor dust can accumulate for months.
Also, check the undersides of the leaves while cleaning. It’s an easy time to spot scale, mealybugs, spider mites, or thrips before an infestation gets established.
Fun Fact: Those holes and splits in a Monstera aren’t just there to make the plant look exotic. Its leaves naturally develop fenestrations, and studies suggest these openings help the large leaves cope with wind and improve light absorption.
You can also go ahead and purchase a microfiber cloth to keep your Monstera leaves dust-free.
4. Don’t Chase Growth with More Water or Fertilizer
A Monstera that isn’t growing quickly doesn’t necessarily need more of everything. Overwatering can damage its roots, while excessive feeding won’t compensate for poor light or inadequate root conditions.
Let the top 1–2 inches of the potting mix dry before watering, then water thoroughly and allow the excess to drain.
When you do water, go with banana peel water. It’s a great substitute that will keep your Monstera happy and healthy for a long time. Just 1/2 cup to 1 cup of diluted banana peel water once every 2 to 3 weeks during the spring and summer growing seasons.
If the pot is bigger than 8 inches, you can also go with 2 cups. But not more.
Confused about when your Monstera needs water? A moisture meter will help you check the soil first.
5. Refresh the Root Zone With Extra Soil
You don’t have to disturb a healthy Monstera’s roots every year just because the calendar says it’s time to repot. If the plant is growing well and the pot still suits its size, leave the root ball alone.
Instead, check the potting mix. If the surface has become compacted or water is taking unusually long to move through it, gently loosen the upper layer and replace some of it with fresh, airy mix. You can use perlite, orchid bark, and coco coir for this.
Monstera does best in a well-draining medium with plenty of organic matter.
Pro Tip: When you eventually repot, move up only slightly. An oversized pot holds more moisture than the roots can use and makes overwatering easier. And even then, if the soil looks good, don’t replace it! Just add a bit to the existing mix.
You can choose to buy a well-suited draining potting mix for your plant from here.
6. Propagate From the Right Part of the Stem
Want another Monstera without buying one? Don’t cut off a beautiful leaf and expect it to grow into a plant. The cutting needs a node, ideally with an axillary bud, because that’s where new growth can develop.
A stem section with a healthy node and leaf is a much better starting point than a leaf alone.
You can root it in water, perlite, or another suitable medium, but keep the medium moist rather than constantly saturated. Aerial roots can make a cutting easier to establish, but the node is non-negotiable.
Buying a sharp pair of pruning scissors will make the entire process smoother.
7. Give It the Right Amount of Light
Here’s a useful clue if your Monstera keeps producing small, plain leaves: look at the newest growth rather than the older leaves.
Young Monstera leaves are naturally smaller and less divided, but plants grown in insufficient light can remain leggy and fail to develop the impressive mature foliage you’re hoping for.
Give it bright light near a suitable window, protecting the foliage from harsh direct sun if it isn’t acclimated. And if your plant is stretching toward the window, that is your signal to reconsider its position.
Pro Tip: Don’t move a Monstera from a dim room straight into strong sun. Increase the light gradually to avoid leaf scorch so it has time to adjust. And have you tried this coffee ground hack for Monstera yet?
Is natural light limited in your area? Then buying a full-spectrum LED grow light is your best call.
Try these out-of-the-box tricks, and soon you will have a lush, tropical statement piece that looks straight out of a rainforest dream. Do share how it goes for you in the comments below!
