How often should I water a Monstera?

A Monstera grows fast in good light and slows right down in winter, so its watering should follow the same curve.

Every 7–10 days
A starting point, not a rule — check the soil before each watering and let the top few centimetres dry out first.

Always confirm with the soil: water when the top 2–5 cm is dry, whatever the calendar says.

Light

Monstera deliciosa is a climber from the tropical forest understorey, used to bright light filtered through a canopy. A spot a metre or two from a bright window suits it well; direct midday sun through glass can scorch the leaves. In good light it puts out a new leaf every few weeks and drinks accordingly, around every 6–8 days in summer near a window.

Pot and soil

It wants a chunky, free-draining mix: houseplant compost opened up with orchid bark and perlite, so air reaches the thick roots. Water when the top 5 cm is dry, soak the pot until water runs out of the base, and never leave it standing in a saucer. Aerial roots reaching out of the pot are normal and need no watering of their own.

Through the year

In medium light the calculator starts at 7–10 days in spring and summer, 9–13 in autumn and 11–16 in winter. In a dim room in winter that stretches to 15–21 days. A large plant in a large pot holds more water than these figures assume, so check the soil before you pour.

Too much or too little

Overwatering shows as yellowing lower leaves, sometimes with dark, wet-looking patches and a sour smell from the soil. A Monstera on soggy soil also beads water along its leaf edges, a process called guttation. Underwatering is gentler: the leaves droop, curl inward along the edges and may brown and crisp at the margins. A thorough soak usually brings them back within a day.

The plant watering calculator explains how the intervals are worked out for every plant on the list.

Frequently asked questions

Why are my Monstera leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing on the lower, older leaves while the soil is still damp almost always means too much water or poor drainage. Let the pot dry until the top 5 cm is dry, check the drainage holes are clear, and stretch the interval. One old leaf yellowing now and then is normal ageing; several at once, on wet soil, is the roots asking for air.

Why is my Monstera dripping water from its leaves?

That is guttation: when the soil is very wet and the air humid, the plant pushes surplus water out through pores at the leaf edges. It does no harm in itself, but it is a sign the roots have more water than they can use. Let the soil dry further before the next watering, especially in autumn and winter.

Leaflet works out this schedule for every plant you own and reminds you.

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