The illustrated growing guide
Monstera
Monstera deliciosa
Family Araceae
Est. zones 10-12
Splits (fenestrations) come with age and light — a juvenile plant with no splits is normal. Give it a moss pole and it doubles in leaf size.
Bright indirect light
Moderate water
Fast growth
Deer-resistant
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing monstera? Hang it.
Our Herbs, Greenery & Desert collection carries monstera — Monstera deliciosa, print Nº 5, “Monstera.”
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
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Overview
Will monstera suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what monstera actually needs.
Hardy inZones 10-12Monstera at a glance
Common monstera problems
- Spider Mites
- Mealybugs
- Thrips
- Scale
- Root Rot (overwatering)
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow monstera: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate monstera
When to spray monstera
Growing season. Wipe leaves monthly — dust blocks light; neem for mites at first stippling.
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The year
What monstera asks for, month by month.
The monstera year, month by month
PruneWhat each band means
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
The monstera year as text
- Jan pruning
- Feb pruning
- Mar pruning
- Apr pruning
- May pruning
- Jun pruning
- Jul pruning
- Aug pruning
- Sep pruning
- Oct pruning
- Nov pruning
- Dec pruning
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Monstera in the garden system
What monstera is grown for
⚠ Toxic if eatenToxic to cats/dogs and kids (calcium oxalate)
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of monstera, ruled as a catalogue.
Best monstera varieties & cultivars
'Deliciosa' (classic); 'Thai Constellation' (variegated, pricier, slower); 'Borsigiana' (smaller)
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to monsterayet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Questions
Monstera questions, answered straight.
Do deer eat monstera?
Rarely — monstera is considered deer-resistant, which makes it one of the safer unfenced choices in deer country. Hungry deer in a hard winter test every rule, but it's a low-risk pick.
Is monstera safe for kids and pets?
No — treat it as toxic if eaten. Toxic to cats/dogs and kids (calcium oxalate) Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
How do you propagate monstera?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
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Elsewhere
Where monstera sits in the library.
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron
Fiddle-Leaf Fig