Summary: If a mature Monstera does not split, it is likely that the plant is not receiving the same care it would in its natural habitat. This can be due to insufficient light, bad soil drainage, and a lack of nutrients.
Why is my Monstera not splitting?
The Monstera is a spectacular plant with large, gorgeous golden flowers. It’s also one of the most common plants found in the petals section of most supermarkets. The trouble is its leaves are quite tough, which is why many people don’t realize how magnificent the flower is until it’s too late.
If you’ve spent any amount of time in the garden section of a supermarket, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. The moment you spot a monstrous green leafy plant with glorious orange, yellow, and red flowers, it’s almost certainly going to be the Monstera that you’re after. In most cases, you’ll find yourself fighting over who gets to pick the flower heads, with the plant itself almost always ending up on the losing end.
In comparison to other plants in the genus, Monstera are quite easy to grow. All you need is some sunshine, fertile soil, and you’re good to go. Once you have those three things, you can literally grow a Monstera almost anywhere.
The problem is once you have the plant, you don’t know what to do with it. You can’t simply stick it in the ground and watch it grow forever. The leaves of a Monstera are quite large, which means it’s going to take up a lot of room in your garden. Perhaps the most convenient thing about these plants is that their flowers appear almost immediately after they’ve been planted. For this reason alone, you might want to grow a few in your garden to watch the bloom of spring. But let’s be honest here, by the time spring arrives, you’ll already have forgotten about your Monstera and moved on to other things. It’s not like you’re going to be harvesting the flowers or even cutting the leaves for later use. So unless you have the room for it and you want to be able to look at it everyday, it’s probably not the best idea to grow a Monstera in your garden. Sorry to break it to you.*
Inevitably, something’s going to happen to your plant that’s going to make it stop growing. As I’ve already mentioned, the problem is its leaves. The bigger the better in terms of a Monstera’s leaves; the more room there is for them to grow, the more magnificent they become. This is great news for anyone who wants to own a plant, but it also makes it quite vulnerable to a number of conditions. One of the most common reasons for the early demise of a Monstera is something called tipburn. This is when a plant’s top portion is scorched by the elements, resulting in death. To give you an idea of how lethal these leaves can be, the botanical name for the Monstera is Matricaria, named after the mythological mother of Jesus. In some parts of the world, where it gets extremely cold, you’ll see this plant in its wintertime attire. The entire top part of the plant is covered in a thick layer of white fur, which looks absolutely magnificent. Unfortunately, being that it’s the winter, you’re probably not going to see too many people admiring its looks, as they’re probably going to be wrapped up in scarves and gloves, trying to keep their hands and feet warm.
Apart from being vulnerable to extreme temperatures, a Monstera is also quite sensitive to drought. For this reason, it’s not a good idea to let it get completely dry at any time. If you happen to notice, most supermarkets that stock this plant are located in areas where it gets plenty of rainfall. This is no coincidence; this is because the soil in which these plants grow is usually moist and rich in nutrients. So although it’s not a drought-tolerant plant per se, it can still survive and even flourish in a semi-arid climate. This brings us to our next point: location, location, location.
Location, location, location
If you have a semi-arid climate and are located in an area where it gets plenty of sunshine, you’re going to want to invest in a few sunnies. The general rule of thumb here is: the more sunlight a plant can get, the more nutrients it can use to its advantage. These nutrients can come from a variety of sources, but the most common ones are nitrogen and phosphorous. Nitrogen is important for the creation of proteins, which are essential for the growth of all living things. Phosphorous is an essential nutrient for all living things as well, acting as a form of energy to fuel the entire process of cell division and growth. Without it, nothing would ever grow, so it’s always a good idea to supplement your soil with these elements whenever you plant a new seed or stick an earthworm in the ground.
One last thing about the location of your new Monstera before we move on: it needs to be able to reach at least a foot towards the sky. The reason for this is that when the sun is beaming down on it, it means that it’s beaming down on you as well. For this reason, the spot where you have your plant should also be at least a foot above anything surrounding it. Again, this is assuming that you have a semi-arid climate and plenty of sunshine. If you don’t have either of those things, the best thing for your plant would be to find a spot in the shade or at least where the shade turns into direct sunlight. You’ll need to check the dimensions of your garden to see where the most suitable place is for your luxury plant, as you don’t want to put it in the middle of a wall or near a corner where it might get burned by overheating or trampled on by a giant puppy.
Another issue that you might want to consider is water. Just like with most other plants, the more water you give a Monstera, the more it’ll grow. Just make sure that the area where you’ve stuck it is well mulched, to keep the soil moist and free of weeds. It also helps if the spot is near a source of water. Although it is native to tropical climates, you’ll still find Monsteras thriving in places where it gets regular watering. These locations are usually near large bodies of water. When it comes to water, always try to keep the soil damp but not wet. A good rule would be to water your plant only when there’s obvious signs of drought, such as brown, shriveled leaves. The best time to water is morning hours, before the sun gets too high in the sky. As with many other plants, you’ll also need to cut back on the watering in the summertime, to prevent the foliage from becoming overwhelming. You might want to think about keeping some water in the garden during the summer, for later use. That way, you can reduce the frequency of your watering sessions during the hottest month, of the year. Some water is much better than none at all.
Now that you’re equipped with the basics of caring for your new luxury plant, it’s time to move on to the next step: the soil.
Soil
Just like with most other plants, the soil in which your Monstera is growing is going to be crucial in ensuring its long-term health. A good rule here is: the deeper the color, the better. Darker soil usually means that there are lots of nutrients for your plant to use. In most cases, you’ll want to look for a soil that’s rich in organic matter as well. This is because organic matter helps maintain a good balance between minerals and air in your soil. It also helps regulate the earth’s temperature; in some ways, compost is like an added layer of clothing, which regulates the body temperature of the plant by absorbing the sun’s heat during the day and radiating it back at night. The soil in which your Monstera grows is also going to affect its rate of growth. In general, darker the soil, the faster your plant will grow. Thicker is better, as well, as this will help maintain a good balance between air and moisture in your soil. Remember: the more air, the higher the plant can grow. Thicker soil also makes for easier weeding, as there’s less chance of something hiding beneath the surface. Hiding beneath the surface is always a possibility, however, so you’ll always need to check for weeds and pests carefully.
If you live in an area where it gets really cold, you might want to consider freezing some soil, to hasten the process of death for any weeds or pests that might be living in it. Just remember that this is a dangerous practice and can never be recommended. Freezing the soil can also damage the roots of your plant, as well as any other nearby vegetation. In most cases, this is not good for the environment and can be quite dangerous. You should only do this as a last resort, when all other efforts have failed. Freezing soil is not a solution for your usual garden woes. It also presents a great deal of risk and is not something that you should be doing regularly. Thawing out the soil in the winter is also never a good idea, as this can cause a number of problems for your plant. It’s always better to just wait until spring comes and the soil is more welcoming to you and your garden.