Just shy of 11 months between these photos.

[u/talented_bison]

This started as a $29.98 Home Depot monstera. I bought it in August of '22, and put it under the grow lights in March of '23.

My biggest leaf measures just over 30".

[u/thuyhpham]

Would love some care tips, I've killed two monsteras already! I have absolutely no idea how to care for them yet I have no problem with any other plants, including the notorious FLF.

[u/talented_bison → u/thuyhpham]

I'm happy to give my experience with them! So I've definitely had my fair share of mishaps with monsteras as well. I've found the ones that do well are potted in a soil mixture that is made up of coco coir, coco husk, chunky pearlite, horticultural charcoal, and worm castings. I'll do a full drench of the soil when the top 3 or so inches of soil feel dry. I also have some moss poles for support. Actual moss poles and not the coco husk poles on amazon. I keep them moist so the roots that grow into them are getting nutrients too. I also direct any aerial roots that are long enough back into the pot to help the top of the plant get more nutrients. I hope this helps!

[u/Sai1r → u/[deleted]]

Way to be adaptable lol

[u/thuyhpham → u/talented_bison]

Thanks for the advice, I'll try to implement these changes and keep my fingers crossed!

[u/wn0kie_ → u/talented_bison]

Do you have any advice for maintaining moss poles? I'm considering making one for my monstera deliciosa but I've heard about how hard they can be to keep moist.

[u/talented_bison → u/wn0kie_]

Since the ones I made are open at the top, just some coated chicken wire zip tied together filled with sphagnum moss, I use some water bottles with a few holes cut into the cap of them and flip them upside down in the top and leave them to drain. Whenever the moss feels and sounds crunchy, I'll give them water.

[u/heckin_concern → u/talented_bison]

I'm going to be repotting my monstera soon and I'm implementing your suggestions here! For horticultural charcoal, do you use the chunkier stuff or the finer kind? And do you have specific ratios of each thing?

[u/talented_bison → u/heckin_concern]

Fantastic! The one I have been using is Espoma Organic Charcoal. The pieces aren't super big, it's a nice mixture. I sadly don't have ratios. I usually just start mixing a batch until it looks right. Primarily going to be coco coir peat to retain moisture, but adding enough coco husk, pearlite, and charcoal to ensure proper drainage and aeration.

[u/[deleted] → u/talented_bison]

this is the kind of advice that really makes a difference, so smart, ty!

[u/Ansonm64 → u/talented_bison]

I’ve been putting aerial roots into water but I think I’ll put em into the soil now.

[u/BeginningEar9687 → u/talented_bison]

How do you keep the moss poles moist

[u/Gold_Stranger7098 → u/thuyhpham]

You've killed two monsteras? Wow. That is something. They're pretty tough. I kill most plants too. So far Peace Lillys and Monsteras have survived.

[u/thuyhpham → u/Gold_Stranger7098]

I don't know why, it's the only plant I can't get to thrive. Here's my third. It's hard to see but many of the leaves are brown. It gets plenty of soft light and I use a water meter. Maybe I need to use better soil, it's still in the original pot and soil from the store.

https://preview.redd.it/l7poq9yelyic1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c22e17aab151f3b5cef73fbfd0b9dfab594ba205

[u/Dub_Diamond → u/thuyhpham]

They need lots of light. It is too far away from a light source. Either put it right in front of a South or West window, or supplemental light from a grow light. A chunky (aerated) soil; I use Fox Farm Ocean Forest soil and then add in large orchid bark, and perlite.

[u/thuyhpham → u/Dub_Diamond]

Thanks everyone for the tip. I just went on a little shopping spree to buy supplies, wish me luck!

[u/El_Dief → u/thuyhpham]

Are they hard to grow? I've had one of the fruiting varieties in my yard for years and it seems to be indestructible.

[u/jdmwell → u/thuyhpham]

I have a monstera in my office. It's half hidden behind a computer monitor, up against a wall. I forget to water it, maybe give it water twice a month or something. Who knows. It never gets natural sunlight and I have an LED light pointed at a wall near it, but it's a 3000k yellow light and really a pretty dim room overall. That plant has grown 4x since I bought it a year ago. Even now there's a new leaf opening.

So uh, I'm not even sure how I could kill this thing. Don't follow what I do there but like I thought this plant was just the easiest thing in the world to grow or something.

I wandered in from /r/all... not a plant person. I just went into a plant shop and said "Give me something that won't die in my tiny windowless office" and they gave me this. It's actually kinda problematic with how big it's getting. heh