If you’re a plant enthusiast, you know that finding the right pot for your Monstera can make all the difference in its growth and health. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of pots and provide tips on how to select the best one for your Monstera.
If you want to keep your Monstera deliciosa thriving, finding the right pot size and type is key. Here, find out five simple steps to choosing the best size pots and planters for keeping your Monstera healthy and happy. From indoor and outdoor self-watering pots to cache pots and baskets, we’ll show you how to select the best pots for Monstera plants.
Follow our step by step guide and you’ll have the perfect pot for your potted plant!
Choose your style: The best pots for Monstera plants
Are you ready to give your Monstera the perfect pot to call home? Let’s dive in and learn how to pick the best pot for your Monstera plants. Monsteras look great in modern and classic styles. They aren’t well suited to urns. Monstera adansonii is suitable for hanging planters but larger varieties are not.
Classic terracotta
This provides a heavy base to balance and support a large plant.
Raised cache pot
A plastic inner lining is inside the basket to protect the wicker.
Glazed ceramic planter pots
Glazed pots come in a rainbow of colors and are a practical choice.
Dip glaze planter
This semi-glazed pot suits a modern décor style.
Classic plain white pot
Plastic or ceramic white pots abound and are budget friendly.
Rattan basket cache pot
A stylish choice for rustic or coastal themed décor.
Best pots for Monstera plants indoors are:
Self-watering pot
Self watering pots have a built-in water reservoir and wicking system. This delivers just the right amount of water to your plant. For some pots this in in the base and others it is in the side. They may have an overflow drain or water level indicator. They can hold enough water to keep a monstera happy for up to a month in winter. Generally you will need to refill them every 1-2 weeks or more often in a hot dry climate.
Cache pot
A cache pot is a decorative pot that you can place your plastic nursery pot straight into. They may be delicate or made of a material that is sensitive to water. Accordingly, using an inner plastic pot protects them from damage. You can even use a rattan or wicker basket as a cache pot. If you want a pot that will match your living room décor a cache pot is an excellent choice. Just be careful not to use too much water.
Planter pot
A planter pot is similar to a cache pot. This is because it is also an outer pot with another plastic container inside. However, it is generally much sturdier than unglazed clay pots, metal pots or ceramic pots. A planter pot usually doesn’t have drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. If it does, it will likely only have one small hole. You’ll need to be careful when watering to make sure excess water doesn’t pool in the base of the pot.
How to choose the best pots for Monstera plants
To grow a healthy monstera you need to start with giving it a perfect home. The best type of pot is one that can accommodate the soil and support needs of your plant. It needs to hold the soil needed to nourish your plant, with enough drainage holes to keep the soil moist but not wet. With these five simple steps, you can determine the right pot size, material and type of pot that is suitable for your Monstera’s environment—whether indoors or outdoors.
Follow these steps to choose your perfect monstera pot
1. Work out what size pot for monstera plant age and size.
Your ideal monstera pot size is directly related to the age and size of your monstera plant. A mature monstera is a large plant so needs a large pot. If your monstera is 3 years old or taller than 1 m (3′) the best size pot has a 60 cm or 24 in diameter.
As the size of the plant increases and needs support the pot might need to also hold a trellis or a coir or moss pole. The pot will need to have a heavy base, such as those made from concrete or terracotta, to support the weight of the plant. Make sure the height of the pot is the same or less than the diameter. Tall narrow pots are more likely to tip over.
Never plant a small plant in a large pot. A young monstera should be in a pot with a diameter no larger than 20 cm/8 in. If your monstera is still young you will need to start with a smaller pot and transfer into bigger pots as it grows. The right size pot when repotting juvenile plants is one that has a diameter about 5 cm/2 in larger than its current pot.
If you don’t increase the size of the pot to correspond with your plant’s growth it may become top heavy and tip over, risking damage to both the plant and pot. Furthermore, as the roots grow they take up more space in the pot, leaving little room for potting soil. This means that there is less water and fewer nutrients available for your plant and it may stop putting on new growth. The roots will eventually start to grow out of the drainage holes looking for water and nutrients. If you are notice this happening with your monstera it needs re-potting.
2. Decide if your monstera is going to live indoors or outdoors, or a combination of both.
The next important factors in determining the kind of pot you need are if the plant pot is for indoor or outdoor use and needs to match your living space décor. Indoor plants need a pot and saucer, self-watering pot, or cache pot to protect your indoor surfaces from water damage and spills. Pots are less likely to fade or become brittle from exposure to the elements, so ceramic pots or plastic pots might be suitable. You can even use a rattan or wicker basket as a cache pot.
Outdoor monsteras need large pots as mature plants can grow to a large size if given the right conditions such as high humidity and filtered light. The weight of the pot needs to be enough to support a large plant without tipping over, so terracotta pots, concrete pots or even a glazed ceramic pot is a great option. If your monstera will be in a location that is exposed to rain and wind you will need excellent drainage and a heavy base, so extra large terracotta or concrete pots are best.
Pots that are going to be used indoors and outdoors are going to be moved a lot, so you may want to use plastic or fiberglass pots so that they aren’t too heavy. A plant dolly is a good idea if you are going to use heavy pots. If your monstera is still young and fits in small pots you can use any type you like.
3. Check the pot for proper drainage
If you are using a regular pot make sure it has a drainage hole. Monstera likes moist soil but if the moisture levels are too high it could develop root rot. Never let your plant’s roots or the pot base sit in water. If your pot will be outdoors make sure you use pot feet or similar to elevate the pot off the ground and allow good drainage.
Unsealed terracotta pots can absorb water that then evaporates from the outside of the pot. This is helpful in wet locations but can make your pot soil dry quicker in hot dry climates. If you want to slow evaporation from a terracotta pot then apply a sealer to the inside of the pot before you use it.
If the pot is going to be outdoors you might want to place a fine mesh such as insect screen or geofabric over the drainage hole to stop ants from colonizing the pot.
4. Select potting soil
When you are transplanting monstera into a new pot you should use new potting mix. Plants get their nutrients from their soil so it’s a good idea to use this opportunity to give them fresh potting soil. The best soil is one that is moist, humus-rich and well-drained. Any standard potting mix will meet this requirement but if you can stretch your budget to a premium mix your monstera will thank you.
Sphagnum moss and peat moss can absorb water and slowly release it to your plant’s roots as the potting mix moisture level drops. Adding some to your soil mixture before you start is a good idea if your outdoor weather conditions are hot and dry. If your Monstera will be indoors you probably don’t need it.
The pH of your potting soil should be slightly acidic to neutral, in the range of 5.5-7.
5. Pot up your Monstera
If you have a new pot give it a quick clean with gentle dish soap and allow it to dry. If you are re-using an older pot you should soak it in a solution of 9 parts water and 1 part hydrogen peroxide for at least ten minutes. After soaking wash it in mild dish soap and scrub mineral deposits off. Use a non-scratch scourer if you have a glazed pot, or a wire brush or steel wool for a concrete or terracotta pot.
Clean porous pots can be sealed using a sealer spray on the inside of the pot. This is the best way to prevent pot soil from drying out too quickly in these types of pots. Once your pot is prepared you can go ahead and transplant your monstera.
How to re-pot a Monstera
Monstera growth rate slows in winter months so you should re-pot into a slightly larger pot just before it puts out new leaves in early spring each year.
Place some potting soil in the bottom of the pot. Gently remove the monstera from its existing pot and place it in the new pot. Make sure the base of the monstera plant is just below the top of the pot. Add or remove potting soil until you have the right level. If you are using a support pole you should add it now. For more information about how to do this, see our article on using supports to grow a Monstera deliciosa plant vertically.
Use potting mix to fill in around the sides of the plant. Press it down as you work to help secure your monstera. This is especially important if you are transplanting a large plant as they are top-heavy. Only fill up to the previous soil level (base of the plant).
When you are finished add a little water at a time to help the potting mix settle. Don’t add too much as the potting mix should have already been moist. Your monstera will appreciate a little TLC while it settles in to its new home. You can treat it to a seaweed based plant tonic and make sure you keep it out of direct sunlight for a few weeks. Don’t apply fertilizer in the first month after transplanting.
Re-pot a mature monstera every 2-3 years.
Our recommendations are for the two most common types of monstera plants, Monstera deliciosa and Monstera adansonii. Let’s get to know them a bit better.
About Monstera deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa is also known as swiss cheese plant, fruit salad plant, split-leaf philodendron or Mexican breadfruit. It is one of the best known tropical plants and is a favorite for interior design lovers who appreciate Monstera’s leaves with their iconic perforations.
Monstera likes to climb, so as it matures will need a support for its aerial roots to cling to. In the natural environment it grows up trees using its aerial roots to anchor it as it grows to heights of up to 20m. In pots it can reach 4-5m high and 2-3m wide and will need a support such as a trellis or coir pole.
If grown indoors it will adapt to conditions easily as long as it has enough bright light. It is happiest in partial shade with occasional direct sunlight, preferably in the morning. Monsteras thrive in a warm temperate to tropical climates so might need to live or over-winter indoors in a cold climate. Outdoor Monstera plants don’t like extreme temperatures below 5o C/41o F.
About monstera adansonii
Monstera adansonii is also known as the swiss cheese plant or swiss cheese vine. It has the perforated leaf shape but is smaller than Monstera deliciosa, with a faster growth rate and is more like a vine. It will grow up to 2.5m indoors or 4m outdoors and up to 1m wide. Monstera adansonii has the same care requirements as Monstera deliciosa.
Of course you can use any regular pot for your monstera, as long as it has drainage and it matches the size of your plant. Don’t use a hanging pot for Monstera deliciosa, the plant is too big and heavy. Monstera adansonii is a smaller lighter plant and is suitable for a small pot or hanging pot.
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