Can Monstera Live Outside? Detailed Guides To Acclimatize It

Monsteras are popular tropical plants because they add a cool corner to your home with their tropical foliage and large leaves while remaining very easy to care for.

Regular Indoor Monstera is very popular, but have you ever wondered: “Can Monstera live outside?”

Yes, it actually can. Even when taken outside, it can live and thrive if you put it in a partially shaded area where direct sunlight cannot reach, it and there is high humidity.

To know more about this useful knowledge, read the article below to understand how to care for outdoor Monstera!

Is Monstera Indoor Or Outdoor?

Natural Monstera Deliciosa

Most Monstera Deliciosa plants adapt well both indoors and outdoors. They will have different characteristics depending on the environment and care.

Still, you will not need to worry because this plant is always easy to grow and withstand the harshest conditions.

By nature, this plant prefers a warm-temperate climate with lots of moisture and shade. The natural Swiss Cheese plant is commonly found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.

By having access to the moist and nutrient-rich environment of the rainforest, the tropical plant can reach heights of up to 60 feet or more with large foliage and produce flowers and fruit in its natural habitat.

Even so, the Monstera plants still adapt well indoors. Most people know it and grow it in the form of indoor plants.

The houseplants probably won’t reach their natural size. This indoor evergreen perennial has smaller foliage and rarely produces flowers or fruit.

Can Monstera Live Outside?

Monstera can live outside; however, to grow well, the environment needs to meet two main conditions: temperature and humidity.

It usually loves warm temperatures and full sunlight. This plant’s favorite USDA hardiness zones should be zones 10 through 12. Zone 10 in the USA includes the equatorial regions of the North and parts of Southern California, South Florida, and Hawaii.

Zone 11 is mostly in America’s deep southern half, including Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Florida Keys. Zone 12 is a bit colder, like Alaska or Puerto Rico.

In terms of humidity, the houseplants can tolerate low moisture. The best humidity that Monstera Deliciosa loves is around 40 – 60%.

How Cold Can Monstera Tolerate?

Monstera can tolerate lower temperature

The ideal temperature for growing this plant is between 65 and 85 °F. In places with cold temperatures, the plant can tolerate temperatures down to 50°F, but it certainly will not be able to live and grow below this level.

For this reason, you can sometimes leave the plant outside in the winter, but remember to bring it indoors when the temperature reaches its limit.

In winter, you need to regularly spray mist because, during cold weather, the humidity in the environment will often decrease.

Where Should I Put Monstera Outside?

Sunlight

They love semi-shaded positions where there is a lot of indirect, bright light because exposure to direct sunlight can cause the ZZ plant to burn.

You can grow Monstera outside in many ways, as long as you ensure enough shade. You can plant it under tall trees or install a canopy above the outdoor plants.

If you’re growing them in pots, try taking the pot out for a few hours (ideally on cloudy days) and then bringing it indoors to get the right amount of light.

Humidity

Monstera leaf is drooping

Monstera thrives in natural habitats with humidity between 40 and 60%. This is the ideal humidity often found in tropical rainforests. So, ensure that the place you plant them can offer this moisture.

However, where you grow this houseplant may not be able to meet this ideal range.

Therefore, it is necessary to regularly add moisture by misting Monstera, especially in regions with hot, dry climates.

Some other ways to add moisture are to plant them with other plants to balance the humid environment or to place a pot of water next to the plant.

Another caveat is that this plant needs well-draining sites that are not too close to a water source like a river or lake. Planting in a place with a high risk of standing water and that is difficult to drain can cause the houseplant to become waterlogged.

How To Acclimate Monstera To Living Outside?

Outdoor Monstera plant

You cannot simply transport potted plants indoors or outdoors to acclimate them.

Indoor conditions will always differ in temperature and humidity, so planting Monstera outside too suddenly can lead to plant shock.

Instead, try acclimatizing the plant slowly to its new environment by taking it outside for a few hours for the first few days, then gradually increasing the length of those trips.

1. In the early days, choose cloudy days and move them to a shady spot. When it gets dark, and the temperature gradually drops, bring the plant indoors and repeat this for about 2-3 days.
2. Over the next few days, expose the plant to direct sunlight (preferably morning light instead of noon) and continue to bring it back into the shade. Repeat this 2-3 times a week with gradually increasing time in the sun.

How To Take Care Of A Philodendron Monstera Outside?

Soil

Mixing the soil with organic matter can thrive the plant grow

The Monstera plant grows well in most soils but does best where the pH is between 5.5 and 7 (slightly acidic to neutral). It prefers humid, humus-rich yet loamy, well-drained soil.

You can mix organic matter, fertilizers, or compost to make the soil more porous. They should also be avoided in heavy or highly compacted soil because it is difficult to drain and easily suffocates the plant.

Watch this video to see more about taking care of the outdoor Swiss Cheese Plant:

Fertilizing

Remember to fertilize them every month. You can use both liquid and slow-release fertilizers to feed them.

The effect of the liquid will be faster, and the plant will absorb nutrients better. Still, it is necessary to monitor and be careful with fertilizer flow because it will easily cause leaf burn when using liquid fertilizer.

Watering

Monstera Deliciosa likes to be watered, but not soaking wet. With plants grown outside, regular watering is necessary, especially during the summertime.

It may be easier to provide moisture if you plant it next to other plants. With potted plants, it requires you to pay attention to misting them.

Mulching a layer of mulch about 2–6 inches thick will help the soil retain moisture better when watering.

Pest

The brown leaf is a symptom of the disease

Growing Monstera plants outside puts them at greater risk of attracting disease-causing insects like thrips on the leaves, spider mites, fungus gnats, or whiteflies.

You should pay close attention to the plant’s unusual signs, such as yellowing leaves, black or brown spots, fungus, or white mold.

If you see these signs, you must keep the diseased plant away from other plants to avoid spreading. To control pests, you can use several methods, like Pyrethrins, neem oil, or insecticidal soap.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How often should I mist my Monstera?

Usually, the supply of moisture to plants depends on the growing conditions. You can mist Monstera plants about once a week.

However, to know exactly when to mist it, pay attention to the soil around the plant. If the top layers (about 1 to 2 inches deep) dry out, it’s time to water the soil.

In cold weather, you should reduce the number of watering plants. The time interval of about 10–15 days between each watering for the next mist is the most reasonable.

When misting it, be careful not to spray on the foliage because it will make the plant susceptible to disease. The best time to do this is in the morning when the plant has enough time to evaporate until the evening.

Do Monsteras need big pots?

Monsteras are more suitable for growing in small pots than large ones. Planting them in large pots does not increase their size or height.

On the contrary, it also puts the plants at risk of root rot because a large amount of soil causes a lot of water to be stored in them.

Besides, instead of growing foliage, they will often focus on expanding the spread of the tree’s roots.

Conclusion

Can Monstera live outside? Not only are they able, but these plants also thrive and adapt well.

Outdoor ones require a lot of attention to stay alive and well. It needs regular watering, fertilizing, pruning, and repotting to ensure its survival. If you want to grow your indoor Monstera outdoors successfully, then follow these instructions:

1. Move to an area with full shade and high humidity.
2. Make sure that the acclimatizing procedure occurs gradually without any immediate transfer.

I hope that you will find this article informative. If you want a further knowledge about gardening, please visit our site for a better review.