One of the most crucial aspects of keeping your monstera healthy is ensuring proper drainage as their roots are prone to rot if left in soggy soil.
Achieving optimal drainage requires a combination of the right soil mix, an appropriate pot, and sound watering habits.
If you’ve observed that your monstera’s leaves are drooping or if the soil feels more like a swamp than a well-draining habitat, it’s time to take action.
With a few adjustments, you can create the ideal environment for your Monstera to thrive.
Factors Affecting Monstera Drainage
1. Pot Selection
Picking the right pot for your Monstera isn’t just about matching your decor—it’s critical for its health.
Monstera plants require pots with multiple drainage holes. These holes help excess water escape, so your Monstera doesn’t end up with “wet feet.” Here’s what you should keep in mind:
- Size matters: Too big, and the soil stays damp; too small, and your Monstera’s roots can’t breathe.
- Material magic: Clay or terracotta pots are porous, letting soil breathe and water flow better.
Related: Signs Your Monstera Needs a Larger Pot
2. Soil Composition
You’re aiming for the perfect combo of water retention and drainage. If you like to mix your own soil, try this:
- 1/3 peat moss or coconut coir for moisture retention
- 1/3 perlite or pumice for drainage
- 1/3 regular potting soil for stability
Or, if you prefer the grab-and-go method, look for a commercial aroid mix suitable for Monsteras.
3. Environmental Conditions
You’ve seen how the weather affects your plans, right? The same goes for your Monstera’s watering needs. Here are a few factors that you should tune into:
- Humidity: High humidity can decrease how often your plant needs water.
- Temperature: Warmer environments lead to thirstier plants.
- Light: With more light, your Monstera dries out faster.
You might water more in summer than winter, and always check the soil before giving your Monstera a drink.
Ways to Improve Monstera Drainage
Now, let’s explore some practical tips to enhance the drainage for your Monstera.
#1 Elevating the Pot
Have you ever found yourself fretting over waterlogged soil after watering your Monstera? Well, lifting your pot off the ground could be the simple trick you’re missing.
By elevating the pot, you encourage quicker drainage, preventing water from lingering around your plant’s roots, which can lead to root rot.
Here’s why elevating works:
- Gravity Gets a Boost: When your pot is higher, gravity more effectively pulls excess water away from the soil.
- Breathable Boundaries: Improved airflow around the pot’s base means moisture evaporates faster, keeping the soil’s moisture level just right.
Think of it like this: When you’re in a crowded elevator, isn’t it easier to breathe once a few people step off and give you some space? Plants need that breathing room, too!
#2 Using a Tray with Pebbles
Pebbles are economical and create the ideal micro-environment for your plant’s roots. Here’s how to get started:
- Find a Tray: Any shallow dish or tray will do. This will hold the water and pebbles, sitting right under your Monstera’s pot.
- Gather Your Pebbles: Look for clean, smooth pebbles. They shouldn’t have any sharp edges that could damage your pot or plant.
- Assembly:
- Fill the tray with a layer of pebbles.
- Pour water into the tray until it is just below the top of the pebbles.
- Place your Monstera pot on top.
The magic happens when the water in the tray begins to evaporate. This not only adds a touch of humidity around your plant, loved by Monsteras, but it also ensures that the water isn’t touching the pot’s base directly to avoid root rot.
#3 Bottom Watering
Using the bottom-watering technique can really boost your plant’s health in two main ways: it enhances drainage and promotes healthy root development. This method is especially beneficial for your Monstera plant.
Here’s how to do it effectively:
- Setup: Start by taking a basin or any large container that can hold water. Fill it with enough water to submerge the bottom part of your Monstera’s pot.
- Watering Process: Gently place your Monstera plant pot into the basin. Make sure the pot is stable and the water level is not too high to enter the pot from the top. The idea is for the plant to absorb water through the drainage hole at the bottom of its pot.
Benefits: This method allows your plant to drink up exactly what it needs, reducing the risks of both overwatering and underwatering. It’s a fantastic way to ensure your Monstera receives the right amount of water, directly at its roots.
Bottom watering encourages the roots to grow downwards and become stronger, seeking out moisture. This strengthens the plant’s overall root system, which is key to its health and growth.
#4 Double Potting Method
This simple yet genius garden trick is exactly what it sounds like – potting within a pot.
Let’s break it down:
- Select two pots: One should be slightly larger than the other.
- Pot with holes: Your inner pot, where the Monstera sits, needs to have ample drainage holes.
- Layer with pebbles: A layer of gravel or pebbles goes into the bottom of the larger, outer pot.
- Insert the planted pot: Set your Monstera’s inner pot on top of the gravel layer.
This method allows water to drain freely through the inner pot and away from your plant’s roots, which avoids dreaded waterlogged soil.
#5 Improving Soil Composition
Sometimes it could be all about what’s going on in the dirt.
Great soil composition offers a quick escape route for excess water, keeping those roots happy as clams and in tip-top shape to support your plant’s growth.
Organic Matter: Your Soil’s Best Friend
Adding organic materials, such as compost or well-rotted manure, is your ticket to the perfect potting mix. Here’s the scoop on why and how to add these goodies:
- Compost: It’s like a multivitamin for your soil, improving structure and water-holding capacity while providing essential nutrients.
- Well-rotted manure: This natural fertilizer isn’t just a bunch of… well, you know. It’s full of nutrients and helps create pockets in the soil, improving aeration and drainage.
By amping up your soil with these earthy essentials, you’re not just making it rich; you’re also creating a luxurious, spa-like environment for those roots.
#6 Using Self-Watering Pots
These pots can be a real game-changer for your houseplant, especially when you’re aiming for just-right drainage.
They’re like a two-layered treat for your plants. The top layer is where your green buddy sits in its soil, and the bottom layer is a reservoir for water.
But here’s the magic — there’s a separation between the two. This allows your Monstera to drink up just the amount of water it needs through capillary action.
- Capillary action: Your plant’s roots get water through tiny channels in the soil – imagine them as mini-straws.
How do they help with drainage?
Well, they essentially do the heavy lifting for you. The design prevents water from sitting at the bottom of the pot where it can cause root rot.
And that’s not all! Check out these other drainage benefits:
- No more over-watering: By providing water from below, your plant only takes what it needs.
- Consistent moisture: It gradually wicks water to the soil, keeping your Monstera’s thirst quenched with a just-right amount of moisture.
- Perfect for busy folks: If you’re often out and about, self-watering pots help keep your Monstera happy until you’re back.
#7 The Chopstick Test
Unleash your sushi skills beyond the dinner table by using a chopstick to check the moisture level of your plant’s soil.
Here’s how it works:
After giving your Monstera a drink, stick a clean, dry chopstick into the soil near the center of the pot. If the chopstick comes out coated with wet soil, it means your pot’s drainage might need some work.
On the other hand, if the chopstick is dry or only slightly damp, you’re in the clear with excellent drainage.
Making this a routine check can be a game-changer in preventing overwatering and saving your plant from root rot.
