Soil for a Monstera

Soil for a Monstera

1. 01

   Best soil mix

   Use a peat-free, loam-based houseplant potting mix. Mixing in some fine bark makes it more open and helps it drain. There is no single correct ratio of bark, coir, perlite or grit.

   The pot should drain freely while the mix stays evenly damp. Poor drainage and constantly wet soil cause root problems, but the mix should not be bone dry either, so never leave the pot standing in water.

2. 02

   Match the mix to the pot and setting

   This is an indoor-container decision for Monstera deliciosa, a climbing tropical plant that may need support as it matures. Outdoor or under-glass soil conditions should not be silently treated as a small room-pot recipe.

3. 03

   Soil pH

   Aim for a slightly acidic mix, around pH 5–6. Read it together with how the pot drains, how full of roots it is and how fast it dries.

4. 04

   When soil alone is not the problem

   Pot size, root fill, light and watering history decide whether the mix is working. Check those before you change the soil, and change it when the mix has broken down or stopped draining.