Monstera is a beautiful and very impressive plant. She fell in love with many florists for their unusual shapes and their simplicity in terms of care. In the wild, this perennial plant is found in Central and South America, but today we will look at monstera as a houseplant and figure out how to care for it at home.
Monstera tropical plant description
Monstera belongs to the genus Aroids. In total, this family has about fifty different plants in shape, structure and height. Monstera creeping airy stalks, from which sometimes aerial roots hang, and a thick ear makes the plant inflorescence.
The leaves of the flower are dark green and glisten in the sun. At a certain stage of growth, holes are formed in them, which are then converted into slots. The shape of the leaves in almost all varieties is ovate-heart-shaped, and their size can reach 90 cm in length. As monstera blooms can be seen in the wild, as at home it happens very rarely.
Monstera differs from other indoor plants in rapid growth, which makes it require a lot of space. It can be a wonderful decoration for heated winter gardens, where the plant feels just great. It can also be found in many offices and country houses.
Did you know? The name of the flower comes from the Latin word monstrosus (amazing, whimsical), although some florists claim that the name came from the word monstrum (monster).
Features of growing monstera at home
All houseplants have their own peculiarities of growing and monstera in this regard is no exception (that is, the care and cultivation of the plant must be carried out in accordance with the established requirements). At home, they often grow monstera delicacy or attractive.
Choosing a place for successful growth
The best place to plant such a plant as Monstera is a special stand. It should be located on the west or east side of the window. However, it is necessary to protect the flower from drafts, so as not to provoke the appearance of disease. Also, do not often move it from place to place. Monstera does not like direct exposure to sunlight, so you should not place it on a too-lit window-sill: the lighting should be average. The sun can cause burns to the flower, which leads to the formation of dark spots, and as a result - to the death of the plant.
Requirements for soil and planting capacity
For the normal development of the flower must pay attention to the soil. Most often, it is bought in the store, but you can cook it yourself.
The ground for monsters should have the following components:
- sod land;
- peat;
- humus;
- leafy ground;
- sand.
All these components should be taken in the proportion of 3: 1: 1: 1: 1. Such soil will perfectly absorb water and allow air to flow through. Choosing a pot for planting a flower you need to take into account the maximum parameters of the future plant. In the big pot of Monstera, it will quickly strengthen the root system and begin to develop soon, but as soon as the plant reaches a large size, the roots begin to curl and wind around in a circle. To prevent the monster from strangling itself, in the process of transplanting it is necessary to unravel and cut off the excess roots. If this does not make the flower can dry out.
The pot is better to take more than the previous 2-4 cm in diameter. It must be steady and heavy.
Important! To support monsters, you should use special tubes that are glued with artificial moss. So they will not violate the decorative plants.
How to plant a monster at home: the reproduction of tropical vines
In order for the monstera to grow good and grow, she needs to ensure proper fit and care. Put a 5 cm thick drain on the bottom of the pot, then fill the container with ½ of its volume, then carefully place the plant without damaging its root system, and cover it with the remaining soil. At the end of planting the flower is well watered.
Monster can and should be propagated, and its breeding methods are listed below.
Method 1. Monstera propagation by air layouts
In each layer should be at least one air root and one leaf. The branch is transferred to a separate container with a nutrient substrate, carefully watered and grown separately. Young cuttings are grown as well as the monster itself at a temperature of + 18 ... + 20 ° С, in diffused light and indoors without drafts. 
Method 2. Reproduction cuttings
This method is the most time consuming. To achieve a good result, stem or lateral processes should be used. Soil mixture for sprouting cuttings can be made independently. To do this, you will need sand and humus in equal quantities, but do not forget about the drainage. Selected stalk is placed in a pot, sprinkled with soil mixture and watered heavily. After that, you need to cover the pot with glass and put in a lighted place, but not in the sun. Watering landings should be done twice a day. After the appearance of the first roots, the plant should be transplanted into a separate pot and grown, observing all the rules. 
Method 3. Seed propagation
This breeding method is the most practical, but also the longest. First of all, you need fresh seeds that need to be planted in the nutrient mixture and germinated in comfortable conditions within 30 days. The optimum temperature for germinating seeds is at least + 20 ° C, and the lighting should be shading. After a month, the first shoots will begin to appear, and young plants with approximately 9-10 leaves can be seen after 2 years. Monstera grown in this way is considered the strongest and most durable.
How to care for a monster at home
As mentioned earlier, Monstera is a rather unpretentious plant, but despite this, care (as well as reproduction) must be carried out taking into account a number of mandatory rules.
Watering indoor plants
Watering Monstera is an essential step in its development. She loves moisture, but the plant has a clear seasonality of watering the soil. Starting from early spring until late autumn, the flower should be watered abundantly. However, the top layer of the substrate between waterings should dry out. If the plant is poured, it will begin to lose its decorative effect, forming black spots, and in rare cases, the root system will rot. In the winter season, watering should be reduced, but be careful not to dry the monster.
Water for irrigation should be at room temperature and stand for several days before use. Also monster must be sprayed and regularly cleaned from dust.
Did you know? Monstera responds to changing weather. On the edges of the leaves of the plant droplets are slowly formed, which is why many florists say that the flower is crying in the rain.
Feeding monstera
All home plants need to be fed. If the monstera does not grow, then it lacks nutrients. Therefore, in order not to slow down the growth in adult plants, they need to be fed twice a month. As fertilizer suitable mineral and organic fertilizers, although young flowers can not feed.
Features of Monstera Trimming
In order to stimulate the growth of new leaves it is necessary to trim the tip. This is done in early spring, and when pruning, at least three knots should be left on the top of the handle. The longer the cutting, the more it will take root. The cut should be made, departing from the node of the flower 1-2 cm, and it should be straight. After pruning, the stem should be powdered with charcoal powder, and if the stalk needs to be rooted, the lower cut is made oblique.
All about monstera transplant
Monster can be transplanted as soon as she turns one year old. Young flowers are moved to another place once a year: in spring, when the air temperature is not less than + 16 ° С. A three-year-old monster should be replanted once every two years, and a five-year one - once every 4 years.
For transplanting you should choose big pots. With each transplant, the size of the pot is increased by 2-4 cm. At the bottom of the tank it is necessary to arrange a drainage from shards, pebbles, broken tiles or coarse sand. Young flower requires weakly acidic or neutral soil, which consists of peat, leafy, humus soil, turf and sand. For perennial Monstera plants, acidic soil works well. In addition, a support should be installed in the center of the pot, which helps the plant maintain the necessary conditions for the development of both the flower and its aerial roots. When transplanting, carefully remove the flower from the pot and move it to a new container, slowly filling it with soil. After that, fill the pot to the top with earth and water well. 
Some flower lovers have a question: "How to transplant a monster with aerial roots?". With such a transplant, you must carefully wind the air roots with wet twine and attach it to the trunk. When they start to let small roots, then part of the stem of the plant with leaves can be cut, put in a container, covering the cut place with earth. This will grow a new, young flower.
Important! If for some reason it is impossible to transplant the monster, you just need to fill the pot in the ground.
Major pests and plant diseases
If you do not care for the plant, the monstera will begin to lose immunity and various diseases or pests may appear. The most common of them are spider mites and scab. Spider mite - This is a small red spider that loves warmth and dryness. It appears on the underside of the leaves and it is woven over with a web. For treatment use the soap solution, which is treated with leaves. After three hours after the procedure, the leaves are washed with warm water.
Shchitovka or shield aphid - an insect, which received its name due to the shield, which covered his entire body. Adults of brown color on the plant do not move, but the larvae are transparent and creep up monsters throughout the body. They multiply very quickly, and to get rid of this pest the flower must be sprayed with soapy water, removing the larvae and adults with a cotton swab. Carry out this procedure until the complete disappearance of parasites.
The lack of light in the development of Monstera can lead to chopping and dropping of leaves, twisting the stem. Waterlogging causes yellowing and rotting of the leaf plates, and when there is a lack of moisture, the leaves turn brown and dry. The lack of plant nutrition contributes to the appearance of slits on the leaves.
Is monstera poisonous?
This plant contains poisonous juice. When it gets on the skin, it causes inflammation and burning, and when ingested, bleeding in the intestines often occurs and severe inflammation of the oral mucosa. Despite this reaction of the human body, in some countries, monstera juice is used in the treatment of certain diseases and with its help they support the immunity of sick people.
Caring for a plant is not as difficult as it may seem at first glance. It is important to follow all the rules and take into account its possible growth, since it can grow several meters wide. Experts advise to place it in a spacious room or in the winter garden.
