10 Must Do Tricks For The BEST Monstera 

Become a better plant parent: sheffieldmadeplantsacademy.com

In all honesty, the one of the best things about being a plant owner are my mood and mental health are improving when I’m around these pets. They all have their own personalities and presence, you just need to sit with them and read a book or listen to some music (of course, music that THEY like..) and observe them as the light penetrates their leaves. The other best thing is that you want to learn about them to understand more and become a better plant parent. Then you end up becoming a part of a lovely community like this. Thank you Richard for your effort you put in these amazing and funny videos and plant the seeds of knowledge.

I adopted a monstera deliciosa (named Mike) from a friend about 13 years ago. He's moved with me from Norfolk to London, and in about 8 home moves since. In honesty, he's a bit of a zombie plant, because over those years I have had to break up the original plant and take cuttings/repot when he became too large for either the space I was in, or too large to move in one piece - his current form is two separate rooted cuttings in the same pot, growing up a piece of timber we removed as part of our current home renovations (you really do not need a moss pole). After this last repot - about a year ago - he's getting his first leaf with holes on one of the vines, following 5 only with slits. I'd advise anybody considering getting a monstera that it is like having a pet, or even an extra member of the family: they do become very large, and you'll find yourself taking it into account when you're looking at moving home (as I have done for the past 10 years).

You have a brilliant sense of humour and a huge amount of plant knowledge. Perfect combination!😂

Bit of a misconception with pruning. Leaves cant take away energy from other leaves, unless physically blocking sunlight. the fenestration is the monsteras adaption to that. Pruning won't literally redirect energy away from other the older leaves, what's actually happening is pruning stimulates a chemicals that promotes root growth and budding. The smaller leaves aren't hindering the plant in any way. What pruning does is simple waking the plant up and having it choose fight or flight, hence new growth. And less is always more, every big of green removed forced the plant to drop a root as well. So if you're pruning heavily, you will have to repot and remove dead roots more often. That's why bonsai is so tedious. Another thing to consider is time and place, unless you are using grow lights do not prune monstera in autumn or winter! This will cause your plants to etiolate and stretch, because you can't sustain new growth with limited winter light. Last few things, if you do prune do it in stages, ie take the leave off of the stem and wait for the stem to yellow before taking it off, this allows it to soak up some of its energy reserves, lopping it right away would cause it's corresponding root to die. Next, dont chop the aerial roots. It puts them out for a reason and pruning (including aerial root pruning) will stimulate more growth, but in this case it makes it send out larger aerial roots, so pruning the aerial roots does the opposite effect. Much better doing what the author said and rooting them into the ground or a coconut coir pole. Last thing, DO NOT PRUNE A THAI CONSTELLATION. They are highly susceptible to root rot and you will need to repot a Thai Constellation twice as often as a regular Monstera (recommended every two years for that Thai). So pruning the Thai would be effectively setting up it's roots for root rot. Repotting and trimming dead and compact roots is just as effective as pruning, and never prune a rootbound plant without repotting.

I made the fatal mistake of ignoring my Md in the conservatory, apart from watering and dusting, I just left it alone. It has now taken over the conservatory, it is supported with wooden stakes in concrete ( in plant pots) 3 of them. It has loads of slits and is a real monster!

I just trimmed off all the “suckers”. That totally explains why my monstera has not been flourishing. Thanks again!

My Monstera delisioca was dying, 1 stem barely, i moved it into a sunnier position and watered it guided by moisture metre, then spray the leaves once in while. Now i have 6 flourishing green leaves.

Don't forget that vines, like the Monstera Deliciosa have a front and back side. The plank should be on the side with the aerial roots, so that they can grip on to the support.

I'd recommend using a roll of Velcro strip instead of a string when tying up plants. It's easier to apply and re-adjust for tightness as the plant grows + it's wider than the string thus it's less likely to damage the stem of the plant. Just my two pence 🙂 Velcro strip is string 2.0

You have no idea how happy I get when I see that you uploaded yet again a new video!!

Thank you for this ! I actually have been staring at those suckers thinking I should prune them but I was nervous lol now I’m confident it’s a good decision 😊

I'm a newbie indoor gardener and I love your channel. Found you through your video about propagating water vs. perlite vs. soil and I'm learning so much watching everything now. Thank you!!

Mr. Sheffield, you're a bloody legend! Stay healthy and happy, also for your plants. Good luck!

I got a Monstera a few years ago and it suffered a lot :D I was almost giving up on it...and then, after watching your video about cutting off the roots, I decided to give it one more chance. I cut off some of the roots, planted it with fresh soil...and well: it worked. It's growing beautifuly and has big lucious leaves.

Guess I'm cutting suckers tomorrow 😀 Thank you for a lot of good and useful tips about the Monstera My Deliciosa is living about six feet away from my South facing living room window... just like in your case, the best spots are already taken. Its so big now, that even if I did move it close to the window, it would block off a lot of sunlight from other plants. It seems to enjoy life in its current location, growing fast with lots of very dark green leaves and always more on the way... I've had it for two years now, and it's grown so much...This thing will be frigging huge in five years time 😬😃 Take care and have a nice weekend to you and everyone here

Mine's about 5 years old, and i think those early suckers are still on there. I plant all the aerial roots, and recently the best fenestrated new baby leaf has appeared. Im one happy momma! Great to see a new video, with the silly asides. 😀

I remember when ours got their first holes. I panicked and thought it was bugs, until my wife told me they were supposed to do it...

Say what you want! You are delightful, insightful, inspiring and informative! You're funny, make me laugh and you give us the point you're trying to make without a bunch of blahblahblah's that others do. Thank you, Richard (I think that's your name?) Well done on the video, as always!! Much appreciated!!

Hello from Indiana USA 🇺🇸!!! You my over the sea friend have taught me so much!!! I know give my plants a sink shower 🚿 when I water them so to keep leaves dust free,,, I think they enjoy that cause they are growing!!! Ohh. Love it when I wake up and you have posted new video so it’s you and me having coffee together ❤. Tell the wife I’m harmless across the 🌊 ❤

Watching this video after just watering my Monsteras and having a Ficus Lyrata in a very big pot, an idea popped up of putting a Monstera with that Ficus in its pot. Thirty years ago I had a Ficus in a bucket that, after it reached my ceiling started dropping its lower leaves. The current Ficus is in a very large pot (70cm wide x 60cm high) and after it reached the ceiling started growing a branch about halfway up. However, the lower leaves have started to look a bit dry/crispy and the other day one fell off after touching it. What I will do is let the Ficus be the tree that the Monstera can use to grow up in. Sometimes simple ideas can give me so much joy 😂

A coworker gave me 3 leaves of her monstera back in 2007. I've had to cut it back many times because it was going thru the ceiling! LOL. I sent some clippings to friends in other areas of my country and they are growing a big plant too. I never turn mine either. It's been in one spot for 9 yrs. now and has been repotted with a metal arbor about 3 yrs. ago. It's so big and I know it will need to be cut back in the next year or so. It likes to be left alone. Just water it and I don't even feed it cuz I don't want it to grow faster! LOL Love your videos of late!! I need the giggle!!

I just got one of these little suckers! It was ugly so I chopped it up into a bunch of cuttings. I’m impatiently waiting for them to root so I can try to grow a less ugly monstera. Thanks for the great video!

The cheapest monastera I’ve ever found was in Morrisons. It was a tinny wee thing & it was £1.20! I was over the moon because I’d looked at a wee one in Dobbies & it was £9, I’d put it back because I couldn’t justify £9 for such a wee plant. I was with my daughter & she literally lives right next door to a Morrisons. We decided to pick up some dinner before going to her house. The plants they have are really very reasonable & I left with £40 worth of their plants & they are all still doing very well.

My monstera has had a tough life of cold, thaw, scale 🤢 but has pride of place at the bay window and loving life 🤩 thanks for the tips

I have one from.the late 60s it's beautiful and very large

This evening I finall joined the Monstera gang. I have been fancying one for quite a while and saw a pretty huge one for £16. I found £5 on the floor on the way in and thought why not. Now I'm in research mode. It could probably do with tying in but I'm going to give it a couple of weeks to settle in to the family and its new home before I start picking and poking.

Great video! Thank you so much for the information! I just purchased my first monstera and have been binging your videos. Wish me luck!

As always, very informative. Thank you for make these vids.

Omg you’re so funny! When I need a good laugh I watch one of your videos. They so brighten up the atmosphere. Plus it’s nice to have a plant buddy lol

LOVE YOUR QUIRKINESS VIDEOS I'VE LEARNED SOME MORE THINGS THANK YOU SHEFF

Thank you for that great video! I got a cutting with 2 leaves about 3 months ago, it has 5 or 6 leaves now and I noticed those baby leaves at the bottom and was wondering about them, got my answer now 🥰🙏🏼

Love your videos! Keep them coming ❤

Thank you for sharing beautiful and amazing plants lovely collection beautiful

Love your videos. Also love your sense of humor.

thank you for not using a one direction band pic this time :')

Thanks for a very informative video. Love all your house plants.

One of my fav videos from this channel ❤️

Thank you! You have answered all my questions ! ❤

As always, thank you for the tips.

I learn sooooo much from you!!! 😊 Thank you!

🌵My Monstera and I thank you!🌵

Absolutely loved this episode!!

you are a comedian doing plant videos not the other way around lol

Unlike the other commenter, I was disappointed that I had to conjure up a picture of one direction from memory 😂. You simply can’t please all the people all the time 😂. Another great video. Thank you.

Thank you I will work on my plants.

Great info on monstera plant and their care, and "fenestration" (new word for me 😂 Yay!). I have had my monstera sine 2019 and has really been very slow growing. This year it produced two new leaves that finally show some of the split leaves, err fenestration.

Petition to bring back the one direction pictures! I don’t even like them but I will die on this hill lol

Wow beautiful Plants ^^ Like it My friend, thank you for good sharing

The most informative and hilarious video I've seen in awhile😅

Such good tips and funny video too 😅 loved it 👍🏼

Thankyou ,just bought mind very helpful.

Mine looks like that.Just much larger.I love it doesn't have holes

we have a monstera growing on our shade house as an end wall. it plugs a gap of about 5 feet by 8 feet, every couple of years i have cut it back, it's been in this place for almost 40 years. every year we get between 6 and 10 pieces of fruit, even though I hack it every few years. our average winter daily temperature is between 10- and 15-degrees c, while our summers hit 35 to 40 degrees c. it only gets natural rainfall and the spillage that occurs from watering other plants. the only problem I have is that no matter what I do, I simply cannot get the fruit to ripen, and when it does start to ripen, the birds devour it. oh yeah, I'm in Australia.

You always make me laugh. Thanks!!!! ❤

You know how to care for houseplants! I know this, because I agree with you so often! :) And growing such beautiful tropical plants in cool and cloudy Sheffield is the proof. I want to stake my monstera now. I'm edified for watching your videos, and my plants and I thank you.

GREAT JOB 👍🏿, AND SENSE OF HUMOR , THANKS 😊

I love your videos so much 💚

You had me laughing pretty good on this video. Plants and laughing. Thanks love your videos

Just based on how funny you are, I clicked 'subscribe' before the half point of this video. Don't be offended because I still finished the whole thing, and it's one of the most informative plant videos I've encountered :)

Very interesting and informative video. Makes me want to run out and buy one!

Here is my advice: -Just one lant per pot (Monstera deliciosa has a big root system) -Big pot. (for big plant and big rood system). -Aroid growing media (forexample pine bark, leca, moss, soil) -Fertilising. -Enough light

I am just now getting into non-aquatic plants. I know it's weird, but I got into aquatic plants first, and even dabbled in terrarium plants. So, for me, the growth of the monstera looks so familiar. Very much like an anubis. Even how you kind of tie down to something to allow it to grow vine like along the structure.

You are so funny 😂 Love your videos. So informative, interesting and entertaining. 🙏🏽

Leaves don’t ‘sap energy’ - they’re quite literally energy producers. Trim them for aesthetic reasons, but it’s not gonna help your plant grow faster. And it’s a waste of a huge investment of the plant’s resources!

Love and Peace.

Oof! That's some serious posting... I had a huge one years ago, 20yrs old.. a friend fancied it.. I gave it to her , she hired a van took it away... a few months later I asked how it was doing... she binned it as it was getting too big....I didn't kill her...but never gave her a plant ever again...

Thank you. This was very useful. I’ve just recently bought a young monstera at ikea and wasn’t sure about those tiny leaves and too scared to do anything with a new plant 😅 and true, they are surprisingly expensive…

"Plant death = therapy" is legit

I’m not gonna lie, those plant trellises caught my attention!!

Ha! Excellent video! Your explanation for the fenestration on the upper leaves was super helpful! I can't believe that I've never considered that they're simply trying to get sunlight to the bottom of the plant. 🤔 😆

YES YES to the scene from ALMOST FAMOUS hahaha absolutely LOVE how fun AND informational your videos have become! Youre the best!I have a few if those suckers on my adult monsterra and always wonder... "should i cut you off?!" good to know it was indeed a good idea to! Any idea why my new leaves come in SO floppy once they unfurl and stay like that for a WHILE?! i keep wondering "am i not feeding you enough?!" but always SO fearful of root rot 😭

Only I mean the only time you should cut it back is if all the leaves fell off and no signs of new growth and the vine is still firm and after doing so try down sizing the pot to help it focus on it's leaf growth over roots

Idea for an experiment: Do plants do better over winter in a room at 18 degrees celsius or 20? The idea being that you'd buy 2x3 common houseplants, put them in a windowsill in the living room and at the same side of the house in a bedroom window upstairs. One sits warmer, but the other gets blasted with less heating.. Of course, humidity would play a factor as well but I am curious if you'd see a difference. I am going into my first winter with a room full of plants and don't know if putting bowls of water on the radiator (and a humidifier on the other side of the room) will keep everything looking happy

Lol @ Groupie! Ok im gonna cut my baby leaves off right now. thank you, Charles. you are the Monstera whisperer.

I bought a beautiful one in an 8” pot a few years ago….and watched it slowly decline. Tried everything, then finally unpotted and saved some cuttings which are now growing nicely outside- so now I have 3 to kill. I think it’s a matter of light, or lack of it. I have a lot of tree shade and eaves around the perimeter of my house. They protect the wood siding, but I get almost no light. Had the monstera in a window that gets maybe an hour of morning sun then very low light the rest of the day. I am buying grow lights this month

Okay, I have a question and it's completely off-topic, and driving me nuts for some reason. 🤣 Why do people always call plants he or boy or him or anything like that? When you take a plant cutting, you take it from a mother plant. How can it be a boy? All of my plants are shes because they're what produce the new pups or your cuttings. Like I said, completely off-topic and it doesn't really matter. I just don't understand why people call their mother plants, he. 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤣 Regardless of what pronoun you give your plant, I absolutely love your videos! 💚🤣

My monstera is not staked. I just let it do what it wants. Unfortunately what it wants is to take over my kitchen. At over 5 feet, is it too late?

SEVEN QUID for that poxy piece of wood!!! I nearly fainted! My houseplants all get a turn outside when it's raining, they seem to thrive in it and it's much easier than cleaning every individual leaf.

I think that the other thing that people need to look out for when purchasing Deliciosa is the difference between small and large form ones. Large forms will get fenestrations way sooner size wise

How about an experiment where talking nicely to plants help them grow better?

I find the fenestrations comes on the 5th or 6th leaf, which usually starts with one then the next will have 2. Mine is putting out a new leaf now that i can not wait to see! My albo which ive rooted from 1 leaf is growing at a snails pace and currently has 4 leaves so im hoping next summer I'll get some fenestration.

I'm so jealous of your monstara! It's beautiful, mine has the yellow leaf like the one shown in the video, I'm also hesitant to trim the baby leaves since it's pretty bare...I saw that you can put monstara in water instead of soil?? Any ideas on this? Ty for the tips as always ❤❤❤

Its lovely to see a video where you are talking care of a new arrival 😊 not trying to KILL it!

Hi! Your videos are very cool and useful. Thanks! However, I have not found an answer to my question about my monster growing as an epipremnum. It just keeps going up, and I'm not sure what to do about it. Could you please help me?

I love the slightly snarky attitude to plants. 😂

Another timely great video for me. I have relatively new Deliciosa and Adansonii and can you provide the information to purchase that gorgeous wooden pole/plank you have on you Adansonii

🏆 Best Monstera Care video! And I’ve watched them all. From baby to full Mondtdr care - thank you for this. Question: I have 2 young Monsteras that came planted back-to-back in a 4” pot. The leaves are now facing the same direction. When I repot, should I try to untangle the roots and face them forward? One plant will temporarily be backwards. I’ll be adding a pole. Or can I leave them as they are? Please say leave them 😅

Can you make a video on how to look after our plants over winter 💝😘🌹

I love the wood plank on your adansonii!! Where did you get that?

That new leaf does have at least one fenestration. I can see it clearly🥳

New subscriber and first video watched, very helpful! Gifted a monstera, so any little stems that are not growing from the main stem should be cut back? I have 3 that are not attached to the main stem- just single stems with 3-4 inch leaf.

Thank you! I'm relatively new to plants hobby, is plant food / fertilizer really necessary?

The wooden pole/ the Adansonii is growing on is absolutely gorgeous. Please tell me, you imported this from Germany and I will easily be able to buy one.

Your funny. I just subscribed. 😊

Nice

Hi can u post a pic of all the succulents u have ? If possible.

I'm in a really hard water area and also I've read about fluoride burn when putting tap water directly onto leaves. Have you ever had any negative effects when giving your plants a spray from the hose?

I bought my Monstera a good year ago, it's gotten a lot of leaves, not a lot of holes and its growing in the strangest directions. No idea where I should start pruning it.

I rinse my plants off in the shower. It soaks the soil really well and cleans the leaves off.