The summer season can bring many benefits for plants: warm weather, sunlight, and high humidity! But all these may also be very harmful to your Monstera.
In summer, you need to water and feed your Monstera more often because the soil dries faster. Also, when the temperature reaches high degrees, this may cause leaf burn and heat stress.
In this article, we’ll give you a complete guide on how to care for Monstera during the summer season, as well as other valuable tips that will help you save this plant from extremely high temperatures.
Are you ready to learn all this? Let’s get started!
Can Monstera Live Outside in Summer?
Monstera can live outside in summer because it’s native to the tropical regions of Central America, where the summer is relatively hot, and the temperature can reach up to 90°F. However, if the temperature where you live goes above this level or the light is very intense, then you should take some precautions before moving this plant outside in summer.
If you live somewhere where the summer brings extreme heat, this will cause monstera to grow slowly, the leaves to wilt, and the roots to become stressed. This may also cause leaf curling and brown or black foliage.
Additionally, if you live where the sunlight is direct and extreme during summer, this can cause leaf burn to your monstera.
In this case, you should keep your monstera in a cool and well-ventilated area, such as an air-conditioned room. Furthermore, you should keep this plant in a shady location or at least a few feet away from the window.
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How to Keep Monstera Healthy During Summer?
To keep monstera healthy during summer, you should protect it from heat stress, water it more frequently and avoid pruning it altogether until late autumn or early winter.
Here are the detailed actions that you should take to keep Monstera Healthy During Summer:
Keep It in Shade: During the summer, when the sun is intense and hot, you can often get better results by leaving your plants in the shade, especially around midday when sun rays are harsh and vertical. As soon as the sun begins to set, you can bring your plants back into the sun so they can soak up the remaining rays. The best shady spot for monstera is nearby a tree if you have a garden. If not, you can put this plant near a window coated or covered with a transparent object.
Increase Watering Frequency: Summer is usually the hottest time of year, and the soil dries quickly during this season. Therefore, you will need to water your monstera more frequently, so it doesn’t suffer from dehydration. But be careful with overwatering. Usually, you should check your plant more often and don’t add water until the soil starts feeling dry to the touch.
Make Sure the Soil Is Well-draining: Generally, plants need more water during the summer because they grow faster and photosynthesize more often during this season. To keep up with the frequent watering, the soil should be well-draining. Otherwise, the plant will suffer from root rot and other issues.
Water Early in the Morning, Not When the Sun Is Full: Early morning watering will ensure that your monstera is not left waiting for water when it’s hottest outside. As the day heats up, evaporation takes its toll on your plants. So, by watering in the morning, you are reducing the probability of heat stress and dehydration. Additionally, watering plants in full sun will prevent the water from reaching the roots because most of it will evaporate before it gets there.
Don’t Prune Until Fall: Summer is generally when plants actively grow. Cutting off new shoots that grow in the summer would slow the plant’s growth. Additionally, monstera blooms during the summer season, so pruning can result in removing the buds that are supposed to bloom. The only pruning that is acceptable during the summer is that which creates new growth, such as training vines or tying branches to poles or structures.
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What Temperature Is Too Hot for Monstera?
Temperatures above 100°F are considered too hot for monstera. This plant can tolerate temperatures between 90°F and 100°F, but above this limit, monstera will wilt and may eventually die.
Therefore, if you live where the summer is too hot, you will need to take additional actions to keep your plant healthy during summer.
Firstly, you can try to move your plant to a cooler location. If you don’t have the option to advance your plant, you can keep it in the shade or a few feet away from windows and balconies. Next, you can apply mulch to the soil to help it retain moisture and keep it cool. Lastly, you can water your plant more often.
Finally, you can also use a humidifier to keep the humidity levels high, which will help the plant stay cool.
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How to Move Your Monstera Outside for Summer?
Before moving monstera outside for summer, you should consider acclimating the plant to avoid any shock that may occur because of sudden environmental change.
In the summer, temperatures can rise suddenly, which can stress a plant such as a monstera. For this plant to perform optimally and have healthy, vigorous growth, it must be gradually introduced to the hot temperature and intense light.
Acclimating monstera will take from one to two weeks. During this time, you should increase your plant’s outdoor time gradually. Start by exposing your plant to the early morning sun for a few minutes daily and gradually increase the duration. By day 7 or 10 at max, you will be able to expose your monstera to the morning sunlight.
After acclimating your monstera, you will need to pay close attention to two main things: watering and pests.
We have discussed why you should increase the watering frequency when bringing monstera outside in summer. Let’s now focus on how to protect it from pests.
As temperatures rise outside, insects and other creatures become more active. These are the perfect conditions for many pests to survive, thrive, and reproduce. Therefore, you must take additional actions to protect your monstera from these pests.
First, you will need to clean your pots and trays to remove any debris or dirt that could harbor pests. Second, you will need to bring some beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, to your garden. Third, you will need to use neem oil to control pests.
If you follow these steps, your monstera will be ready to enjoy all the benefits of the summer season.
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Conclusion
In summary, if you live where the summer is too hot, you will need to take additional actions to keep your monstera healthy during this season. You should acclimate your plant before moving it outside for summer, pay attention to the sudden changes in temperature and react accordingly.
By following the tips mentioned above, you can successfully grow your monstera during summer whether you decide to keep it indoors or move it outside.
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