Monstera is one of the most popular indoor plants. But even though they don’t need much care, the type of pot you choose can make the difference between a houseplant that does well and one that doesn’t:
This full guide will show you how the pot you choose for your Monstera can affect its health and growth, as well as how it can make taking care of this plant easier.
Plus, we’ll provide essential tips on choosing the best pot for Monstera plants, and which ones to avoid. Ready to find out more? Then let’s start with the basics.
Choosing the right sized pot is crucial to keeping your Monstera healthy and helping it thrive. Monsteras are fast growing tropical vines that can become massive with proper care. This guide covers how to determine the ideal pot size for your Monstera at every stage of growth.
What Factors Should You Consider When Sizing a Monstera Pot?
Here are the key things to think about when selecting a pot for your Monstera:
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Current size and spread of the plant – The pot must be big enough to support existing growth.
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Monstera variety – Smaller growing types like Monstera adansonii need smaller pots than Monstera deliciosa.
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Age of plant – Younger Monsteras need more frequent sizing up to accommodate fast growth.
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Future growth potential – Size up gradually to allow room for maturing plants to expand.
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Root mass – Check if the plant is rootbound and needs more space for roots to grow
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Drainage – Make sure the pot has adequate drainage holes to prevent soggy soil.
Considering these factors will help you pick the ideal pot for your plant’s needs.
What is the Recommended Pot Size for a Small Monstera?
For a young Monstera 12-18 inches tall with 2-4 leaves, a 4 inch nursery pot or a 6 inch standard pot is ideal. This provides enough room for growth over the next year without being oversized. Monsteras dislike sitting in huge pots that retain too much moisture.
If starting a Monstera from a cutting, choose a 2-3 inch propagation pot and repot into a slightly larger pot after it establishes roots and puts out some initial growth.
When Should You Move a Monstera to a Larger Pot?
Here are some signs your Monstera needs moving to a bigger pot
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Roots are visible emerging from the drainage holes.
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The lower leaves look small compared to the top leaves
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New growth seems stunted.
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You have to water more than once a week to keep soil moist.
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Leaf yellowing or dropping can indicate a potbound plant.
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The plant is top heavy or tipping over from the weight.
When you see any of these issues, it’s time to size up the pot by 2-4 inches to allow more root room.
What is the Best Pot Size for a Mature Monstera?
A good rule of thumb for pot size is choosing a diameter equal to about 1/3 to 1/2 of the plant’s width. Here are some examples:
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For a Monstera with a 2 foot spread, use at least an 8-12 inch wide pot.
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When the spread is 3 feet across, 12-18 inch pots work well.
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A Monstera 4-5 feet wide needs a 14-20 inch pot for support and stability.
Larger Monsteras may even need to be staked in place as they grow to prevent toppling over. An oversized pot can also make a large plant unstable.
How Much Room Do Monstera Roots Need?
Monstera roots grow rapidly when the plant is healthy. Here is how much room roots need:
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Young plants can thrive in standard 4-6 inch pots with drainage holes.
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As Monsteras mature to the 2-3 foot stage, provide at least 10-12 inches of pot depth and width.
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Give large specimens 18 inches of depth or more so roots have ample room to spread out.
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For heavy feeding plants like Monsteras, prioritize depth over width to accommodate the extensive root system.
Insufficient root room hampers access to water and nutrients, slowing growth and causing issues like yellow leaves.
What are the Best Pots for a Monstera?
Consider these factors when selecting pots for your Monstera:
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Pick pots with ample drainage holes to prevent soggy soil. Plastic, glazed ceramic, terra cotta, and wood pots all work well.
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Self-watering pots are not recommended, as Monsteras prefer to dry out some between waterings.
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Make sure pots are sturdy and stable enough to support a top-heavy, climbing Monstera as it grows.
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Many Monsteras eventually become floor plants, so large decorative pots can be used without drain holes. Just be very careful not to overwater.
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For a lush, full look, choose a pot only a few inches wider than the plant’s current spread.
Go for function over form when potting a Monstera – pick a pot that meets the plant’s needs rather than based on looks alone.
Common Mistakes in Potting Monsteras
It’s easy to inadvertently damage your Monstera by choosing unsuitable pots. Avoid these mistakes:
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Planting in a too-large pot that stays wet and leads to root rot.
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Using a heavy pot that causes the plant to tip over from the weight.
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No drainage holes can lead to soggy soil and disease problems.
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Cramming a rootbound plant into a small pot instead of sizing up.
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Failing to repot regularly as the plant grows bigger.
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Trying to downsize a large Monstera into a smaller decorative pot.
With a little care and vigilance, you can avoid these potting pitfalls and keep your Monstera thriving.
How to Repot a Monstera Step-By-Step
Follow this simple process to successfully repot your Monstera into a larger container:
Gather Supplies
- New pot that is 2-4 inches bigger than the current pot, with drainage holes
- Bag of houseplant potting soil
- Scoop or trowel for transplanting
- Optional: Support stake for larger plants
Prepare the Plant
- Water the plant 1-2 days before repotting to moisten the soil and make removal easier.
- Clear a space where you can work. Cover the area to catch drips and soil.
Remove from Current Pot
- Lay the plant on its side and gently slide it out. You may need to loosen the roots from the edges by pressing on the sides of the pot.
Check Roots and Trim if Needed
- Inspect the root ball and trim off any dead or dying roots. Pruning encourages new root growth.
Add Soil and Plant
- Fill the new pot about 1/3 full with fresh, high quality potting soil.
- Place the Monstera in the pot, holding the base near the previous soil line.
- Fill around the roots with more soil, firming it in place as you go. Leave 1 inch space at the top.
Clean Up
- Water well to settle the soil. Add a stake if needed for support.
- Clean any spilled soil from leaves and double check drainage holes are clear.
And your Monstera makeover is complete!
Final Thoughts on Pot Sizing for Monsteras
Choosing the proper pot size is important to keep your Monstera healthy and help it reach its full potential. Start Monsteras or cuttings in small pots and then gradually upsize the container as the plant grows larger. Pick sturdy pots with good drainage. Avoid oversized containers that stay wet and lead to problems. With the right pot, your Monstera will thrive for years to come!
What Material Is Best for a Monstera Pot?
Plastic, terracotta, and glazed ceramic are the most common materials for plant containers.
You should think about the pros and cons of each pot material when choosing which one to use for your plant. Here’s a breakdown to help you choose a pot.
Plastic pots are a popular container choice for Monstera. They’re cheap, versatile, and lightweight; they don’t break if you drop them and help preserve soil moisture.
However, a plastic pot will need more stability for a tall, top-heavy Monstera.
It doesn’t keep out the cold either, and if you leave it in the sun for too long, it might crack.
Because plastic doesn’t have pores, if you tend to water too much, your plants will be more likely to get root rot.
Unglazed terracotta pots are both beautiful and affordable. They’re 100% recyclable, which makes them more eco-friendly than plastic. They also keep the soil airy and provide better insulation for the roots. Because they are heavy, they also keep big, mature plants stable.
Unfortunately, the porous nature of terracotta can be both a blessing and a curse for your Monstera.
A terracotta pot can wick too much moisture from the soil, leaving your plants thirsty and underwatered.
As it absorbs salts and minerals from the water, it will develop white stains on the pot walls. In some cases, the pot can also start growing mold. And if it falls off a shelf or if you drop it, the pot is guaranteed to break.
Glazed ceramic pots combine the pros and cons of plastic and terracotta. They keep tall plants stable and keep the roots warm. Even though they’re made of clay, the glazing keeps the pot from wicking too much water out of the soil.
Plus, they come in spectacular shapes, designs, and colors.
However, a glazed ceramic pot does not provide the same level of soil aeration as terracotta.
The porous clay and exterior glazing can keep the soil too wet for a Monstera if you don’t use potting mix that drains well. And, although versatile, they’re also the most expensive container option.
The main problem with ceramic pots is drainage — or lack of. Most glazed ceramic pots don’t have holes in the bottom for drainage, so you shouldn’t put your Monstera plants in them.
You can put the plant in a plastic or nursery pot instead, and then put the ceramic pot inside it. Or, if you know how to use a drill, you can make a hole in the bottom of the pot for water to drain;
5 Features To Look For in a Monstera Pot
The ideal plant container should be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. It should also give your plant the best conditions for growth by letting water drain, being stable, holding enough soil, and giving the roots room to grow.
Here are the five features to keep in mind when choosing the right pot for your Monstera.
Drainage is the most important feature of any Monstera pot. This plant does not like having ‘wet feet’ or sitting in constantly damp soil. All the water will pool at the bottom of the pot if there are no drainage holes. This will keep the roots wet and cause problems like root rot.
The pot material, size, and looks are all negotiable, depending on your environment and preference. However, giving your Monstera a pot with drainage holes is a must.
The size of the pot depends on how old and big your Monstera plant is. A correct-size pot will help support this plant’s rapid growth rate. However, a container that’s too small or too large can cause several problems.
In this case, if the pot is too small, the roots of your Monstera will grow out of the holes in the bottom of the pot. A small pot can also cause issues such as stunted growth and underwatering. A larger pot for your Monstera plant is recommended.
If your Monstera pot is too big, though, the soil won’t have time to dry out before you water it again. Because of this, the soil at the bottom may be drenched in water while the soil on top feels dry. This makes it hard to tell if you need to water your Monstera and can cause you to overwater it by accident.
Here’s a simple rule you can use to find the right container size for your Monstera. Choose a pot with two inches of space between the roots and the bottom of the pot and one inch of space on each side of the root ball.
As the name suggests, Monstera plants can grow long, thick stems and monster-sized leaves. A mature Monstera deliciosa or borsigiana can reach a height of over 7 feet (2. 1) meters indoors, with leaves almost 2 feet (60 cm) wide.
Meanwhile, species like Monstera adansonii, M. obliqua, M. epipremnoides, and M. esqueleto will need support to climb on to maintain their iconic leaf fenestrations.
These plants can become very top-heavy once they start climbing. It is important to give your Monstera a pot that can keep it stable so it doesn’t fall over.
The material your Monstera pot is made from is almost as important as drainage. It will affect your watering schedule, the stability of the plant, root aeration, and overall plant health. Plastic, terracotta, and glazed ceramic are some of the most popular choices.
We’ll talk more about pot materials in a moment, but first, let’s talk about one last, very important pot feature.
Looks are subjective, and the color and patterns on your pot won’t impact how the plant grows. But Monstera are gorgeous houseplants and need a planter that can complement their beauty.
Once you’ve found a pot that works for your plant, you can look for one that matches the style of your home.
Best Pot for Growing a Monstera
FAQ
How big of a pot for Monstera cutting?
What happens if a pot is too big for a plant?
How big should a Monstera pot be?
Consequently, the size of the pot varies depending on the plant size. For instance, you can choose a small pot of eight inches when growing a young plant. This pot size is also perfect for growing monstera cuttings. If you are growing seeds, the pot size varies depending on the number of seeds. What happens when the pot size is too big?
How to choose a pot for Monstera plants?
Monstera plants grow best in deep, right-sized pots with enough drainage. In this section, we will be looking at what to avoid when choosing a pot for your monstera plants: The depth helps the plant establish its roots and supports the stake. The choice of plant pot depends on the environmental conditions.
What if a Monstera pot is too big?
Conversely, a pot that is too large can retain too much moisture, leading to root rot and other issues. In addition to size, the material of the pot is also a crucial consideration. Clay pots are a popular choice for monstera plants because they are porous and allow for excellent drainage.
What material should a Monstera pot be made of?
The material your Monstera pot is made from is almost as important as drainage. It will affect your watering schedule, the stability of the plant, root aeration, and overall plant health. Plastic, terracotta, and glazed ceramic are some of the most popular choices.
