What Do You Know About Monstera Light Needs?
Similar to other houseplants, Monstera also needs the right lighting conditions to grow healthy. Understanding what Monstera light needs will help you take better care of your plant, so it will also grow faster. In case you need useful information on this aspect, our following sharing will help you. Do not miss any information!
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How Much Light Does A Monstera Require?
In order to grow, this Swiss Cheese plant requires 10 to 12 hours of exposure to light each day, which is optimal in the summer but can be reduced to 8 to 10 hours in the winter with an increase in humidity.
Also, you should make sure the plant gets enough light by checking how bright it is and moving it if needed. If you can’t use natural resources from outside, you must use a grow lamp to add to the lighting. You should keep it on for at least 12 hours per day when using an artificial light source and gradually raise this to 14 hours per day for the greatest results.
The optimal location for your Monstera plant is adjacent to a window that gets direct sun exposure for at least four hours per day. Hide sheer curtains in the window to keep the sun from scorching the plants.
What Effects Does Different Lighting Have On Monstera?
Different light intensities will have different effects on the Monstera plant. As a result, your Monstera will also have different reaction states. If you pay close attention, this is an interesting aspect; let’s find out right here.
Low light
Low levels of brightness usually mean that the plant is farther from a window, deeper in the room, or has fewer windows. This doesn’t mean a room with no windows, since most houseplants can’t live without sunlight.
Monstera can still grow in the shade. However, if a Monstera plant is kept in low light for an extended period, it may struggle to produce enough energy for healthy growth and become weak, leggy, and prone to disease.
If you want to grow a Monstera plant in the shade, choosing a hardy cultivar and taking steps to provide the plant with the best possible growing conditions are important.
Bright, indirect light
Indirect bright light refers to the bright sunshine coming from a nearby window; the sun’s rays never truly touch the leaves, despite the word being frequently used in relation to houseplants. As a general rule, don’t let your plant throw a shadow.
The Monstera prefers indirect and bright light since it stimulates rapid growth. Move the plant to the shade or use the curtain to keep the plant diffusing the light if you want it to grow big and bold to make a statement. Within a short while, you’ll have a stunning, tall plant!
Bright, direct light
As tropical plants, Monsteras don’t necessarily direct bright light. These plants often develop beneath the rainforest canopy and use their aerial roots to ascend other trees into the sun.
The holes in Monstera leaves may have developed partly to increase the amount of light reaching the lower leaves. Direct sun exposure should be avoided because it may become stressed and damaged.
The strong exposure has the potential to burn the leaves because it hits them directly. Burned leaves will leave unsightly brown or tan blotches that won’t go away. Therefore, it’s crucial to monitor the plant’s light levels and adjust its positioning or conditions to ensure it receives the right amount of resources for healthy growth.
Too Much Light Or Too Little Light, Which Is More Damaging?
As mentioned, high exposure to shade may not help Monstera grow well quickly, but this plant is still viable. However, if the plant is placed in a place with too much sunlight, this will cause visible damage to the plant.
One of the dangers that Monstera plants can receive if placed in too much exposure to the sun is sunburn, which leads to yellow leaves, wilted leaves, and even death of the plant. In total, direct sunlight will do more damage to these plants than in dim conditions.
Red and blue light are the primary colors that plants may utilize. As a result, you can purchase grow light bulbs specifically designed to provide the spectrum plants require.
What Are Symptoms Indicating That Your Monstera Needs More Light?
During the process of growing Monstera plants, you can use your observations to guess if your plants are. Here are some signs that you should move your plant near the sun.
The leaves don’t split
If your Monstera is older than three years, the leaves should begin to fenestrate, or separate. You don’t need to be alarmed because this is a fully normal trait of the Monstera plant. This trait demonstrates healthy plant growth. For Monstera plants to make fenestrations, they need a certain amount of filtered light. If your plant is not receiving enough light, it may struggle to develop these splits.
The soil takes a long time to dry
Your Monstera uses water more effectively in the sunlight, but in the dark, the soil might stay wet for a long time. When the soil takes a long time to dry out, it typically means that the soil is retaining too much moisture.
If the soil stays too wet for too long, it can affect the plant’s need for light indirectly by making the plant show signs like yellowing leaves or sagging. If the soil still feels moist after more than 10 days between waterings, give your plant extra light in addition to changing the amount of water you provide.
The leaves discoloration
There could be a few things going on if you see dark brown spots or yellowing on your Monstera’s leaves. While these tropical plants require filtered light, they can be sensitive to direct sunlight, which can cause the leaves to become burned or discolored.
In addition to lighting needs, leaf discoloration can also be an indicator of other issues, such as nutrient deficiencies or watering problems. If giving your Monstera less water doesn’t fix the problem, you might want to move it closer to a window.
Conclusion
If you want to maintain the green and fresh beauty of your Monstera plant, you need to make sure it is growing with enough light. We hope the above-mentioned useful information will help you achieve that dream.
FAQs
Your Monstera should be placed in indirect light, which is medium to bright light. The best location for it is a few feet away from a bright window that faces the south, west, or east since, while it can tolerate lower levels, you can notice lanky growth as a result.
The answer is no. Light is always an essential element for maintaining a plant’s life. And like most other plants on this planet, Monstera will not be able to survive without absorbing this source.
It’s okay if you bring your plant outside in the morning. However, make sure it doesn’t receive more than two hours of direct sunlight.
