How and when to fertilize Monstera deliciosa
Give Monstera deliciosa a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month while it is actively growing, usually April through September. Use the product label for the dose.
Plant covered
Monstera deliciosaSwiss cheese plantIndoor container guideFeed while the plant is growing
Use a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month while Monstera deliciosa is actively growing.
April through September is the usual growing-season window. Use visible new growth rather than the calendar alone to judge an indoor plant.
Reduce or pause monthly feeding when darker conditions slow growth. Do not carry the April-through-September schedule into winter automatically.
Resume when the plant is actively growing again. No single restart date fits every indoor plant.
Choose a balanced liquid fertilizer
Choose a balanced liquid fertilizer for the growing season. Do not substitute a high-nitrogen, slow-release, or homemade formula.
Read the label for mixing, application, and safety directions before the product reaches the pot.
Wait if growth has slowed or the plant is stressed
Do not fertilize because one leaf is damaged or growth looks weak. Check light, the potting mix, drainage, and roots first.
Wet roots can decline, and dry air can brown leaf edges without a nutrient shortage.
If growth has paused or the plant is stressed, do not fertilize yet. Wait until active growth resumes.
How this guide was checked
- [1] Royal Horticultural SocietyHow to Grow > Cultivation
- [2] Royal Horticultural SocietyWhat are Swiss cheese plants?; Feeding; ongoing care
- [3] University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of ExtensionFertilizing; watering; indoor culture
- [4] North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Plant ToolboxDescription; cultural conditions; problems