Do you want to fertilize your monstera, but you are wondering if it will need too much fertilizer or only a little? If yes, you should probably go through this article because we have some interesting facts about feeding this plant.
Monstera is not a heavy feeder. It needs to be fertilized only once a month during the growing season using a diluted liquid fertilizer. Additionally, this plant does not require to be fertilized during winter because it goes through dormancy.
In this article, we will answer all your questions regarding feeding monstera and give you tips on how and when to feed this plant.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Are Monstera Heavy Feeders?
Monsteras do not require a large amount of fertilization. A regular watering schedule, exposure to bright indirect sunlight, and well-draining soil are enough for this plant to grow healthy.
In some specific cases, monstera will require occasional feeding using special fertilizers. For example, if you are sure that the soil you use is not rich in some nutrients, then you should use a fertilizer to substitute for the lack of these nutrients.
If my monstera lacks nitrogen, I will use a fertilizer with a 3:2:3 NPK ratio. On the other hand, if my monstera soil lacks potassium, I would use a 2:4:2 NPK ratio fertilizer.
Additionally, feeding monstera can be highly beneficial if you grow it in an environment where pests and diseases are present. In fact, feeding this plant using a fertilizer rich in manganese and potassium can help it activate the mechanisms that combat pests and diseases.
Finally, feeding monstera can also be helpful if you are someone who changes the location or environment of the plant more often. For example, if you bring your monstera from the outdoors to indoors regularly, then using a balanced fertilizer with a 1:1:1 NPK ratio would be helpful.
No matter why you decide to fertilize your monstera, you should consider that you should do it with moderation because this plant does not tolerate overfertilizing.
Let’s now see the exact fertilizing frequency you should follow for this plant.
If you are growing monstera indoors and you want to fertilize it, please check out the following video before you do so:
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How Often Should I Fertilize Monstera?
Monstera should be fertilized once every two weeks or every month from spring to summer. During fall, you should cut back on fertilizing gradually because the plant starts preparing for dormancy. Once the winter season arrives, you should stop fertilizing this plant altogether to let it recover and prepare for the next growing season.
Fertilizing monstera should be done using liquid diluted fertilizers. This kind of fertilizer is suitable for this plant because they are not heavily concentrated with chemicals. Additionally, liquid fertilizers can help you easily control and adjust how much you feed your plant.
Granular and slow-release fertilizers are not recommended for monstera. In fact, granular fertilizers are usually strong, which may cause leaf burn to this plant. On the other hand, slow-release fertilizers can quickly increase the salt concentration in the soil. This will cause the roots of your monstera to burn.
When fertilizing monstera, try to use less than the quantity recommended by the manufacturer and monitor the plant’s reaction. You can keep increasing the amount until your plant gives you positive feedback.
Generally, we recommend using half of the quantity recommended by the manufacturer if the fertilizer is organic and 1/4 if the amount of the fertilizer is synthetic.
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What Are the Drawbacks of Overfeeding Monstera?
Overfeeding can be detrimental to monstera. It can destroy the roots and leaves and cause a counter-effect by forcing the plant to stop growing.
The drawbacks of overfeeding are many, and we will need a whole article if we want to go over them one by one in detail. This section will only go over the most common problems that occur when we overfeed this plant.
Here is a comprehensive list of the most common drawbacks of overfeeding monstera:
Creates a High Salt Concentration in the soil: overfertilizing causes salt to build up in the soil, making it lose its ability to hold moisture. This causes the leaves to shrivel because the plant is thirsty and cannot get enough water from the soil.
A Growth Rate That Can’t Be Supported by the Roots: when monstera is fertilized heavily, it will start growing new big leaves faster. This will cause the plant to look droopy later because the roots will not be able to support the heavy leaves and provide them with the necessary water and nutrients.
Iron Chlorosis: Chlorosis is a term for leaf discoloration. Iron chlorosis is caused by an iron imbalance in the soil that leads to leaf yellowing. In fact, when monstera has overfertilized, the concentration of iron in the soil may decrease, which causes the chlorophyll to break down and the leaves to turn yellow.
Root Rot and Roots Being More Susceptible to Disease: When fertilizer is applied to monstera too heavily, it can kill the roots and cause the plants to rot inside out. The excess nutrients in the soil prevent the roots from absorbing moisture and thriving. This can lead to the formation of rot in the soil or in the plant itself.
Defoliation and Slow or No Growth: this will most likely happen with monstera if you overuse a fertilizer with an inadequate NPK ratio or a fertilizer that increases soil acidity.
Makes the plant Vulnerable to Pests, Particularly Sap-feeding Insects: The extra nourishment supplied by fertilizers causes your plants to become full of a sweet liquid called sap. This liquid attracts sap-feeders such as aphids, whiteflies, and other similar bugs.
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How Do You Fix an Overfed Monstera?
To fix an overfed monstera you have two options. One is to cut back on fertilizer if the damage is not significant. The other option is to change the pot and the potting mix altogether if the damage is substantial.
If you see that overfertilizing is only causing a few yellow or droopy leaves, then all you have o do is to stop fertilizing your monstera and give it enough water and sunlight. This would be sufficient for saving the plant.
However, if your overfeeding monstera has caused it to stop growing or get a disease, you should transplant the plant.
Here are the steps to follow to fix an overfed monstera in this case:
1. Get the Plant out of the Pot.
2. Cut the Dead or Infested Leaves and Roots.
3. Get Rid of the Old Potting Soil and Disinfect the Pot.
4. Prepare a New Potting Soil While the Pot and the Plant Are Drying.
5. Plant Your Monstera in a New Potting Soil and Give It Enough Water Nad Sun
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