How To Grow And Care For Mini Monstera

In a bright corner of many plant-lovers' houses is a Monstera deliciosa. This easy-to-grow houseplant has long stems and glossy, hole-filled leaves. However, these plants can grow 8 feet wide and up to 15 feet tall. If you don't have that kind of space, opt for a mini monstera (Rhaphidophora tetrasperma). The mini monstera is a tropical houseplant that looks like a toy-sized twin of the Monstera deliciosa.

The most apparent similarity between these two is their unique "Swiss cheese" leaves. Monstera deliciosa has holes or slits (called fenestration), in its bright-green leaves which help the plant adapt to strong winds in the wild. Like its larger lookalike, mini monsteras have similar eye-catching slits and smooth, bright, and shiny leaves.

Despite the uncanny resemblance, this smaller version of the larger plant is only a distant relative. It is a great option for those looking for a small vining plant. Indoors, it can grow 1 to 2 feet per year under the right conditions, reaching about 6 to 8 feet tall with leaves about 6 to 8 inches long. In its native environment, the mini monstera is a climbing plant, so it will thrive if provided with a support, like a moss pole, to climb indoors.

All parts of the mini monstera are toxic to pets and humans. They can cause burning in the mouth and swelling of the mouth, lips, and tongue if consumed. They can also potentially cause contact dermatitis if touched by those with sensitive skin.

Plant Attributes

Mini Monstera Care

Mini monsteras are low maintenance and easy to grow indoors. They need plenty of indirect light and lots of humidity but not too much water. Get loose, slightly acidic potting soil, but you can supplement that with orchid mix if you have any.

If you have grown monsteras, alocasias, philodendrons, or other aroids, growing this climbing plant shouldn’t be a challenge. "They trail up like crazy," says Mallory Jones of Interiorscapes, Inc. "They definitely like to have something they can lean up against like a wall, a stick, a trellis." Whatever object you choose, the mini monstera will use it as support as it gradually grows upward.

Light

"It definitely likes indirect light," Jones says. "If it's inside, just make sure it's not too close to the window." She explains that too much direct sunlight can burn the leaves and cause unsightly brown spots to appear.

Soil

Your mini monstera prefers a moist but well-draining soil mixture that is rich in nutrients and mildly acidic. Should you have regular potting soil on hand, you can amend that by mixing in some perlite or orchid bark. This will help to achieve the well-draining results you need.

Water

As far as watering your plant, err on the side of caution. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings to avoid overwatering. Their roots are sensitive, so keeping the soil consistently moist, but never soaking, is optimal. Go for a pot with a drainage hole in the bottom. Standing water can cause root rot.

Temperature And Humidity

Mini monsteras need humidity. During the warmer months, you can place the plant on a covered porch—especially in high humidity. If you keep your mini monstera inside where conditions are dryer, Jones has a few creative solutions to expose your plant to moisture.

"Put it in your sink while you're taking a shower to give it a good dose of humidity," she says. She also recommends placing your plant in the kitchen when you're cooking, especially if you're making a meal that involves boiling water. If you don't cook often, simply place the plant next to your coffee maker in the morning.

Fertilizer

Through the active growing period, mini monstera should be fertilized regularly with a balanced liquid fertilizer of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that's applied to moist soil. Once established, "Fertilize it once a month and not at all in the winter time," Jones says.

Types Of Mini Monstera

• Rhaphidophora decursiva 'Creeping Philodendron': This creeping plant tolerates low light. Its thick, leathery leaves develop splits once mature.
• Rhaphidophora cryptantha 'Shingle Plant': Dark leaves with variegated veins make this plant stand out. Its small size makes it suitable for terrariums or as a mounted plant.
• Rhaphidophora pertusa 'Perforated Philodendron': This climbing plant has large leaves and a thick vine. Leaves form splits after maturing.
• Rhaphidophora tetrasperma ‘Variegata’: Green and white variegated leaves have very deep slits. This plant is rare with a higher price tag.

Pruning

As long as a mini monstera has room to grow and climb, it does not need pruning. Trimming new growth will help it become fuller, branching instead of growing from one main shoot. Prune any diseased leaves or those damaged by pests.

Propagating Mini Monstera

When pruning your mini monstera, don't throw out any healthy shoots you might have snipped off. Propagating mini monstera is best done by using stem cuttings. While you can do it anytime, it's best to propagate during the spring and summer, which is the plant's active growing season. To propagate your plant using cuttings, follow these simple steps:

1. Use clean, sharp pruning shears or scissors to cut a stem with at least two to three nodes from a mature, healthy plant.
2. Remove leaves from the bottom one or two nodes of the stem.
3. Submerge the stem and the exposed nodes in a small container filled with water, and place it in a location with indirect sunlight.
4. Change the water in the container once a week.
5. Transfer the cutting to a pot filled with moist soil once it has developed 1- to 2-inch roots, which should occur after around two to four weeks.
6. Keep the soil consistently moist until the new roots adapt to the soil.
   

Potting And Repotting Mini Monstera

It’s time to repot your mini monstera once you see roots coming out of the drainage holes or notice the soil drying out too quickly. Repotting is best done in spring or early summer. Gently remove it from its pot and give it a shake to remove excess soil from the roots. Go one pot size up, providing some nice fresh soil. A trellis is perfect to trail this species upwards, though it looks quite handsome in a hanging pot as well.

Overwintering

If you keep your mini monstera outside, bring it inside once temperatures drop down to the 50s. You don't need to water as much in the winter, but make sure the soil isn't ever completely dry. Also, if the air is dry, you may need to bring in a humidifier to keep up the proper moisture levels.

Common Pests And Plant Diseases

Watch for common houseplant pests, such as spider mites, fungus gnats, and scale, on your mini monstera. If there's an infestation, treat the plant with the proper insecticide to combat the specific pest, such as neem oil to get rid of spider mites.

Mini monstera are also susceptible to fungal diseases like root rot and bacterial leaf spot. Prune to remove any affected leaves, and treat the plant with fungicide. If root rot is the problem, repot the plant in fresh, dry soil.

Common Problems

Mini monstera plants make good houseplants because they are easy to grow and aren't susceptible to many problems. However, some common problems they can be affected by are usually due to improper watering or lighting conditions, which are easy to fix with changes in care and location.

Leaves Turning Yellow

The most common culprits for yellowing leaves are overwatering and too little light. Try moving your plant to a spot that gets more sun, and reduce watering to see if the plant improves.

Curling, Drooping Leaves

Lack of moisture causes leaves to curl and droop downwards. This is a reaction from those sensitive roots, and if they are too dry and therefore too far gone, watering your plant will not resolve the issue.

To try to revive the plant, remove it from the soil and keep it in a vase filled with water for a few weeks to encourage new roots, in the same way you propagate stem cuttings. Transfer the plant to fresh, moist soil once the roots are established.

Browning Tips

A mini monstera with crispy brown edges and spots on its leaves is not getting enough moisture. Keep the top 2 inches of the soil consistently moist, and consider increasing the humidity around the plant to keep it from drying out.