Every now and then, a transplanting challenge sprouts up, like an overgrown Monstera. Such was the case with my daughter’s rambunctious Monstera plant. But first, let’s unfurl some background on her beloved green giant. This Monstera, around five years old and previously transplanted twice, had grown to an impressive five feet. It had become a bit too ambitious for its self-watering container, and even with the assistance of a coconut coir pole, it could no longer maintain an upright stance.
Having wrangled several plants in my lifetime, I expected smooth sailing. However, this transplant turned out to be an unexpected adventure. In this post, I’ll discuss how to transplant an overgrown and pot-bound Monstera.
Background on Monstera deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa, whimsically known as the Swiss cheese plant, Mexican breadfruit, or hurricane plant, is a houseplant icon. Cherished for its lush, holey leaves, it hails from the enchanted rainforests of Central America. Rising to fame in the 1950s, it remains a favorite for its tropical flair and ease of care.
Signs of When to Transplant a Monstera
Knowing when to give your Monstera a roomier home is crucial. Look for telltale signs like roots peeking out of the pot’s drainage holes, soil drying out within a day, a top-heavy plant that’s ready to topple, or if the plant lifts out of the pot as one solid mass. When our Monstera started tipping over like a tower of Pisa, it was clearly time for a transplant.
Steps for Transplanting a Monstera
Let’s embark on this transplanting journey together, step by step:
1. Choose a transplanting location
Transplanting can be a messy affair. Some options:
- If the weather’s agreeable, take the task outdoors.
- A garage is a practical spot. We chose this option.
- A basement works too.
- Indoors? Lay down a tarp to catch the mess.
2. Gather transplanting materials
Set up your transplanting station.
- New container or sterilized old container
- Good quality fresh indoor potting soil
- Hand tools
- Watering can
- Tarp
3. Move the Monstera to the transplanting space
It took two of us to escort the Monstera to the garage. Be gentle to avoid damaging any leaves.
4. Prune the Monstera
Trim for shape and balance. We ended up trimming three large stems using the cut in the picture above. To root and create new plants the stems were placed in a container with water. The picture above shows where a stem cut should occur.
5. Remove Monstera supports
If your Monstera is has supports, remove the them. We removed the coconut coir post and cut off most of the string securing it to the post.
6. Moisten the soil
Water thoroughly to ease the plant out of its pot. This is where our adventure began. Despite our best efforts, the soil refused to budge. The pictures below show how massive the roots had become in the container.
- We tried loosening the edges with a knife.
- We tapped all around the plastic container.
7. Remove the plant
Unable to remove the soil, we had to extract the plant. Using a handheld shovel, we dug out the six stems. Four had good root systems and were transplanted into the new container; the others were placed in water to develop new roots.
8. Inspect the roots
Trim away any dead, moldy, or rotten roots.
9. Ready the new container
Though usually, a 1-2 inch size increase is recommended, we went big with a 24-inch diameter pot to accommodate both the coir pole and additional bamboo stakes. The prior container was a modest 12 inches. The rational is that the roots need ample room to grow and we wanted a secure base for the transplant.
10. Prepare the new container
Clean thoroughly and disinfect if using an old container. Disinfect using one part bleach to 9 parts water.
11. Secure the Monstera support
Position the supports in the container and compact the soil around them to hold in place. One benefit of transplanting a Monstera is that you can securely position the supports before the plant is transplanted. It is more difficult to add a coconut coir pole into the container of an existing plant.
12. Transplant the Monstera
- Position the root ball(s). Place the root balls a few inches below the rim. We positioned ours about six inches below for stability.
- Consider additional support. We added two bamboo poles for extra support and can add more as needed.
- Water the plant. Give it a good soak until water drains from the bottom.
Post-Potting Care
After the transplant, your Monstera might shed a few old leaves. This is normal as it adjusts. We lost about five leaves, which we allowed to dry completely before trimming, as they still provide nutrients to the plant. Here is how to care for your Monstera after it has been transplanted.
- Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Stick your finger 2-inches into the soil to test the moisture. If the top two inches are dry, then water.
- Fertilize regularly from Spring to Fall with a balanced fertilizer (e.g. 20-20-20). I use a granular extended release fertilizer.
- Prefers bright indirect sunlight
- Prefers temperatures between 65°F and 85°F
Conclusion
In hindsight, the self-watering container was the source of our challenges. The Monstera’s roots had not only circled around the container but also had grown into the water reservoir, making it nearly impossible to remove the plant in one piece. While I love the convenience of self-watering containers, it is important to periodically check the growth of the root systems in these containers.
So, there you have it—our adventure in Monstera transplanting! I hope this was helpful in learning how to transplant an overgrown and bot-bound Monstera.
Additional Resources
- The complete guide to growing and caring for a Fiddle-Leaf Fig
- The complete guide to caring for African Violets
- The complete guide to caring for Spider Plants
- How to care for indoor houseplants
- Five great indoor plants to give as a gift
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