Generally, people who prefer to grow some house plants may have many doubts about placing the plants in the right place because sunlight plays a vital role in deciding the growth of a plant.
Understanding each plant will be daunting because all plants are different and the reactions may vary, and the watering and lighting conditions may also differ according to the origin and type of the plant.
So people may doubt the watering and lighting conditions because it is an essential factor that has to be considered for the proper plant growth. Likewise, most people doubt the water cycle of the monstera plant. Even the water cycle is secondary, but most people question how much light does monstera needs?
The answer is simple: Monstera is a thin house plant; anyone can prefer placing them in medium or even bright indirect sunlight.
But placing them in lower light may result in leggy growth, so most plant lovers prefer to put them in northern, eastern, or southern facing windows, allowing this plant to receive bright indirect sunlight.
Placing your monstera in direct sunlight may burn the leaves, and it will eradicate the plant in a short time. If you’re confused about maintaining a monstera plant, continue reading this article till the end to know some pro tips on maintaining plants in good condition.
Must Read: Why Monstera Deliciosa Plant Leaves Turning Yellow?
Importance Of Sunlight For House Plants
Light is one of the most important factors that decide the growth of plants. Not only the outdoor plants, but even indoor plants require sunlight for achieving proper growth. Sunlight also enhances the color texture and strength of the plant by providing energy.
Photosynthesis, a vital plant cycle, requires light to intake carbon dioxide and water, which provides oxygen for human beings in return.
Moreover, the energy for plants to grow, bloom, and produce seeds is achieved through sunlight; without sunlight, the plant will lack in producing carbohydrates, leading to plant death. (Read this for more information on sunlight and plants)
How Much Light Does Monstera Need?
In general, Monstera does not need a lot of light to achieve proper growth, but plant lovers should make sure that the plant is placed in indirect sunlight to make them receive sufficient brightness.
Contact with direct sunlight constantly will make the leaves burn, and it will also make the plant die soon, so make sure to place your plant in indirect sunlight with little brightness, which is more than enough for making the plant achieve proper growth.
But people can place monstera in different lighting conditions, but the results for all the lighting conditions may vary according to the lighting conditions you prefer to place.
Another important factor about this plant is that it can be used to benefit your small or big plant to achieve or stop the growth and it also helps people in adjusting the lighting conditions of the house.
Also Read: Can Monstera Plant Live Outside?
Sings that Your Monstera Plant Receives Lesser Light Source
Some signs may show that your Monstera needs more light and some of the signs are listed below.
Small Leaves and Long Petals
Plants which has small leaves and long petals are generally termed leggy leaves. This is due to the less lighting conditions, and the plants may extend their leaves in search of light so the plant will only achieve height, but the roots may remain weak.
This is one of the important signs which allow the grower to know that the plant requires more light.
Soil May Remain Wet for a Long Time
The soil of this plant will never dry out if the plant requires an additional light source. For instance, if you prefer to place your plant in the deep corner of a room, then the plant may not receive sufficient sunlight, which eventually cuts the heat source as well.
Due to the lack of heat energy, the plant may need a minimal amount of water, so the soil may remain wet forever when you water your plant with the usual quantity. Having a wet plant will be good for some other type of plant, but it will make the root of the monstera plant rot, so people who prefer to grow this plant must make sure that the plant is placed in the right place to receive indirect sunlight.
Non Fenestrated Leaves
One of the important signs that show the plant needs more natural light is the lack of fenestration in leaves. If you have an old plant with very few fenestrated leaves, then it is one important sign that shows your plant needs more light. Scientists from various places say that fenestration from sunlight will pass through various leaves and reach the plant’s bottom-most layer.
No New Growth In Plants
Light and water source is the most important factor that decides the growth of a plant, so if the plant does not receive sufficient light, it will not grow well, but somehow the plant will manage to grow long, but the steam may remain weak forever.
But most importantly, if you find that the plant grows rarely, then it is the sign that shows your plant requires more light. This plant grows well in a particular season, and if you prefer to place the plant in less light, then the plant will achieve extreme growth in that particular season.
Monstera May Grow One-Sided
If your plant receives less light, then it will grow one-sided, and if the plant grows in this way, it is the sign that shows your plant is really weak, so in this situation, people should change the place of the plant and make them settle in the place where there is very less natural light. By doing this, people can make their plants grow properly.
Also Read: Are Coffee Grounds Good for Monstera?
How Does Monstera Plant React to Different Lighting Conditions?
Direct sunlight
When you place your monstera in direct sunlight, then your plant may lag in growth and suffer a lot to produce essential oxygen, so to make them achieve better growth, people can place them in moderate lighting conditions as these kinds of plants are from the dense forest where the lighting conditions are almost dark. People can find this variant in dense forests and jungle covers where there are no proper lighting conditions, so people can place the plant in very little light, making the plant grow well. In simple words, direct sunlight or traces of natural sunlight will simply kill your monstera plant.
Partial Or Indirect Light
Indirect light refers to the light source that the sun provides but the rays of sunlight must be blocked by using some gadgets, and it will make your Monstera grow well. Bright indirect light means the sunlight source, which does not have any UV rays or other harmful rays that affect the thin plant. Generally, people must have seen some plants with the need for heavy sunlight.
Still, Monstera is a plant that requires indirect lights with no harmful rays, so people who prefer to grow a monstera can quickly grow them by placing the plant near the window so this will allow your plant to get some light without any rays as the window glass will block all the harmful rays to make the plant achieve better growth. Most growers have achieved proper growth and made them beautiful by following this procedure.
Low lighting conditions
Low lighting conditions can be seen in places where there are no sufficient windows. If the room is covered and does not have any openings for natural light, then the plant may suffer from low light, which makes many indoor plants suffer. Still, when we speak about the Monstera, they can easily thrive well even in low natural lighting conditions.
But make sure that it does not receive excessive light as the complete system of the plant may change, and it will lead to root rot color change and much more side effects, which may even lead to the death of that particular plant.
However, they can grow well even in low lighting conditions; the plant’s growth may differ, and the plant with moderate lighting conditions thrives well and achieves the required growth.
But people who prefer to grow them in the dark can achieve a height of 10 feet, which is nearly the same as that of the plant grown in a forest. If you have less space in your house for growing the plant, then place them in dark rooms, which will eventually reduce the growth of that particular plant.
If you prefer to reduce the growth of Monstera then place them in dark rooms but never follow this strategy to other plants because it will kill your plant without giving much time for the grower to save the plant. Most plants can be found with the same effects, but monstera is a bit different as the origin of this plant is the dense forest.
Can Monstera Plant Grow in Shade or Indirect Sunlight?
Yes, of course, your monstera can grow in all places and tolerate any lighting conditions. As mentioned earlier, it can thrive well in all places, but it can achieve proper growth only in places with low light, so people can just place this plant in low lighting conditions to make the plant achieve proper growth.
The most important point which has to be followed by all the Monstera lovers is that they should never place the plant in direct sunlight because it will kill your lovable plant in a short time.
Some signs show that your plant is in excessive sunlight.
- Leaves may fall
- Change in color and texture of the leaf.
- Root rot
- Dry leaves
- Burnt leaves and much more
These are the basic symptoms that indicate that you should keep your plant in less lighting conditions. People should remember one thing because pacing your plant in excessive sunlight may even kill your plant in no time. So make sure that you place the plant in less lighting conditions, and in general, you can have moderate light for achieving good growth.
Can Monstera Grow Under Grow Lights?
Yes, Monstera can grow well even in artificial grow lights, but people should follow the same procedure for maintaining the plant in good condition. The grow light must be placed far away from the plant, and people should make sure that the grow light has very less brightness because these are plants resistant to low lighting conditions.
Conclusion
Hence, in this article, we have seen some basic details for growing a monstera plant properly, so people should now have a clear idea of maintaining this plant. But plant owners must never forget that every plant is unique and requires special care, so by providing this special care, people can maintain their plants in good condition.
Likewise, Monstera is allergic to direct sunlight, and the owners must remember this and place the plant in less or even no lighting conditions as the plant can even thrive well in less light. I hope the article is informative!
Khaja Moinuddin, a computer science graduate, finds joy in gardening and homesteading. Join him on this blog as he shares his experiences in homesteading, gardening, and composting