As we head closer to winter the temptation to stay indoors increases, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some natural beauty from the rainforest. Transform your home into a tropical paradise and make a statement with the Monstera deliciosa. This trendy tropical foliage plant that is native to Mexico, boasts huge, decorative, dark green, shiny leaves that will make it a central focal point of your home. As these plants can grow quite large, it is advisable to plant them in a large pot and place them in larger living spaces such as a living room in your house. Trim leaves off to keep it at a manageable size.
In addition to the aesthetic beauty of the large leaves, the Monstera deliciosa will also purify the air around your home by removing a range of impurities, such as those that result from using cleaning products in the house to others that accumulate in furniture and carpets, by absorbing them with carbon dioxide from the environment to produce more oxygen.
These easy-to-grow plants should be placed in a sunny room out of direct sunlight to grow at its best. They also need to be watered weekly.
While these plants require little maintenance, keep an eye out for these cues to minimise possible growth problems:
- Yellow leaves – if the leaves of your Delicious Monster take on a yellow sheen it could mean that you are over-watering the plant. Make sure that the soil is dry to the touch before you water and it should start to turn vibrant green again. If this doesn’t fix the problem, add some fertiliser to the soil.
- Browning leaf tips – if the leaves are starting to turn brown on the tips, the problem could be not enough water, low humidity or dry air. To combat this, use a spray bottle or the rose on a watering can to mist the leaves with water twice a week, ideally in the morning.
- If the newly formed leaves of your Monstera deliciosa are not typically “monstrous” -without slits and abnormal holes, this could mean that the plant needs more light. Move your plant to a sunnier position or room in the house, still avoiding direct sunlight.
For more gardening inspiration and tips for your region please sign up for our free monthly newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/blqM4T or join the conversation on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/lifeisagardensa
Please don’t hesitate to contact us, should you have any other gardening-related enquiries. Happy Gardening!
