Monstera Light Requirements – Common Problems On Your Plants
Often, there are two critical aspects of each new plant you bring home that may take some time to get right: light and water. What are the light requirements for Monstera plants to maintain a healthy body?
The good thing about Monstera is that it can endure many lighting situations; however, outcomes may differ. Fortunately, you may take advantage of this to grow a smaller or larger plant or to adjust to the lighting in your house!
So how does your Monstera respond to various lighting situations? Let’s discuss it.
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How much light does a Monstera need for optimal growth?
Types of light
Monsteras may not prefer too much direct sunlight or too bright light because they are rainforest plants. Monsteras often develop beneath the canopy of rainforests and utilize their aerial roots to ascend other trees into the sun.
Direct light is the one type of light you should avoid because it isn’t the best for a Monstera. The leaves can be burned by strong, direct sunlight. Burned leaves will leave unsightly brown or tan blotches that won’t go away.
Intensity of light
Since Monsteras are forest plants and their primary habitat is under large trees, they are not exposed to much direct sunlight. Rather, they receive filtered indirect light through forest foliage. Depending on the thickness of the foliage, Monsteras can receive bright, medium, or weak light.
So Monstera’s favorite lighting environment is indirect (bright to medium) light, which is in the range of 1000-2000 FC. However, in low-light environments, Monstera can still survive.
The minimum light intensity for Monstera to grow is 75-100 FC. However, for the plant to grow well, the light intensity should be in the range of 200-500 FC. For the maximum growth of Monstera plants, the required light intensity will be 1000-2000 FC, from an indirect light source.
When planting indoor plants, you should place the plant near a south- or east-facing window to receive the most moderate light intensity. In addition, at some times of the day, you should draw the curtain or place the plant a little further away from the window if you find that the light intensity is too strong.
Duration of light
Inside, a Monstera plant may expand to a width of two feet. They need a lot of sunshine and other materials, though, to keep up their development. Your Monstera will thrive with more than 8 hours of direct, strong sunshine. For three and six hours each day, it can tolerate both partial shade and direct sunlight.
Bad lighting conditions on Monstera
It sometimes appears impossible to select the ideal location for our plants, where they will receive sufficient light without being burned by direct sunlight. There is a remedy if you have this issue and your plant doesn’t have the appropriate lighting: grow lights!
For your Monstera and other plants that require strong, indirect light, there are a ton of different lights available. For a more visually acceptable solution, try installing a grow light bulb in a standard lighting fixture!
Regardless of what kind of lighting you have to deal with, you can still plant a large, robust Monstera. Making your area work for you is key, as is recognizing when your Monstera needs increased lighting.
When to tell your Monstera is lacking light
Wilting leaves
Consider the trees denature as a result of losing more water through evaporation as a result of too much sun’s heating. The next step is a reduction of turgor pressure, which causes drooping.
Leaves do not split
You should start to see some fenestration, or splitting, in your leaves if your Monstera is older than three years. Because of this, most people have an aura of mystery, which is one of their most recognizable qualities. But for your Monstera to achieve this, it requires light. Your Monstera would be happier with more light if its adult leaves lacked holes.
Somewhat wet soil
A modest quantity of water is needed for monsteras, however, they dislike having damp roots. When the top inch or two of soil seems dry to the touch, you should water. Put a finger on the ground. Give your plant a drink if the soil is dry to the second knuckle!
Your plant uses water more effectively while it is in the sun, but when it is dark, the soil might stay moist for a lot longer than is good for the roots.
If you’re giving your plant additional light in addition to changing the quantity of water you give it, you should go more than 10 days between watering since the soil still feels moist. For your Monstera, we advise using this potting mix (speaking about soil).
Slow growth
It is commonly known that monsteras, particularly Monstera deliciosa, can develop into… monsters! For instance, Monstera deliciosa may expand up to 10 feet indoors, and it doesn’t take very long to do so.
It’s possible that your Monstera isn’t getting enough light to provide the energy necessary to sustain new development if you find that it hasn’t gotten bigger or produced new leaves for a few months (particularly during the spring or summer).
Falling leaves
As a result of this adaptation, Monstera leaves can now efficiently absorb energy from direct sunlight. Monstera is a rainforest plant that burns or scalds its leaves in response to direct sunlight. They usually have a pale or white appearance, and they lose the capacity to carry out photosynthesis, which is essential for normal development. So they’re weaker and finally fall to the ground.
Bleaching leaves
A Monstera with excessive sunshine will have whitewashed-looking leaves. They will seem pale, white, light gray, or light green. As chlorophyll degrades, the leaves that are closest to a window or light source may turn yellowish.
What happens when your plant is getting too much light?
Yellowing, browning leaves
The soil dried up more quickly, and the leaves became burnt due to the increased sunshine exposure. The leaves may completely turn brown or take on huge brown patches or sunburn-like blemishes.
Overly dry soil
The container may overheat, and the soil may dry out too much in direct sunshine. Your Monstera will suffer as a result because it requires consistently moist soil to flourish.
Drooping leaves
Monstera plants require a lot of intense light even if they dislike direct sunlight. They won’t flourish if you put them in a dark environment. Make sure your plant is located somewhere that gets bright light for at least six hours every day.
Treatments for light problems
Inadequate light
Place your plant in a location with more direct, strong light. Plants receive the greatest light from windows that face south, although east and west are close behind. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t put the Monstera right up to the window since the strong sunlight might burn the leaves. Pull the plant back three to four feet into the space instead.
You should keep your plant away from locations with strong drafts of heat or cold while choosing a site. A plant will become stressed out by sudden temperature fluctuations, so try to keep them away from all HVAC vents as well as often opened doors and windows. Even the right amount of light won’t be enough to make your plant grow if it is stressed out by unpredictably harsh circumstances.
Too much light
The ideal option would be to relocate your plant farther away from the source of light or to use a sheer curtain or other kinds of filter. Some people increase the frequency of watering because they believe they are watering less. Watering more regularly does no good; first, adjust the light. Increasing the frequency of watering won’t help.
Trimming the yellow or brown leaves would be great because they won’t grow back. Your Monstera’s growth hormone will increase as a result of trimming, and the plant will concentrate more on new development.
How to never have your Monstera be lightning-damaged?
Watering, caring for the leaves, increasing humidity, and correcting the lighting are all things you have to follow to own such a healthy Monstera.
Conclusion
In the end, if you desire a Monstera, but your house doesn’t have “excellent lighting,” don’t give up hope. These plants have adaptable light requirements and can thrive in a range of lighting situations. It only requires a little bit of planning.
Monstera is an excellent option if you don’t have much light or room! Monstera is a fantastic option if you have a lot of light and room. They add beauty to any environment and are quite simple to maintain.
For more detailed instructions, watch this video:
FAQs
Due to their hardiness, Monsteras may thrive in dim light. So even if your house doesn’t get a lot of natural light, you can still appreciate a lovely Monstera! The only drawback is that your Monstera won’t expand as much or as rapidly as it would with higher light intensity.
If you properly adapt Monstera, bring them inside at the first sign of cooler weather, and keep an eye out for pests, they will be perfectly fine outside. Those of you who reside in zones 10 or 11 should place your Monstera outside; it will flourish.
The one type of light that you should attempt to avoid is direct light because it isn’t the greatest for a Monstera. So, bright indirect light is a better choice for the plant.
