I tend to overwater, and believe that this might be the case here. But lately I have been mindful of that. I watered last when I felt she was bone dry, nearly as far down as I could insert a finger.
Dead north sun exposure, in S.E. MI. Supplemented with SANSI LED Grow Light Bulb, Full Spectrum 10W Grow Light (150 Watt Equiv) 900 lumens with Optical Lens. I can't (don't) have control the thermostat in my apartment. The temp runs between seventy and eighty degrees and can't get the overall humidity above 30%. Although I run three humidifiers, 24/7 all within a couple of feet of my plants. I'm also running eight small fish tanks with open lids.
This is not her normal placement in my apartment. I've set her here near the heat grate for pictures, and I hope to dry her out a bit. She typically resides about ten feet into the apartment.From this set of windows
I got her as is, and I've had her over a few months. She has definitely grown, 2 new top leaves, has never been repotted, I added the moss pole and have been attempting to keep it damp to encourage air roots. That's about all I've got. Please let me know what I'm doing right, doing wrong, or what I could be better.
by Diligent_League_8917
7 Comments
That light does nothing for a light hungry plant, way too weak. I have the same Monstera and it’s looking the same atm, even tho it’s piggybacking on the 90 watts grow light for my cannabis plants. Since it’s a meter aside from the main light focus it doesn’t get too much so I can say I’m pretty sure it’s just not getting enough light.
Edit: Adding to this, get a misting bottle and mist it once or twice a day,thoroughly. That will raise the humidity way more than open fish tanks, unless they’re right next to the plant.
That’s so frustrating it won’t get above 30%!
I agree with the other commenter though! Most grow lights aren’t powerful enough for high light plants. That being said, having the light on longer, closer, or stronger are all factors you could change to up the levels.
Environmental factors like humidity, light, and temperature dictate the plant’s vigor and health (water too but whatever). They’re all needed but you can keep a plant fairly healthy having less of one if you have enough of the other two. So temperature is perfect, it’s just light or humidity that needs a bit more.
Maybe move a humidifier closer to it, and get another grow light? Sansi is a good brand, their 24w or 30w grow light bulb would be around the sweet spot. Soltech is great but expensive, and jusr look at reviews for anything else. Good luck with your baby!
Yeah, I have humidifiers going 24/7 right now and still can’t seem to get any higher than 33%. Heat sources like that can make a plant pissed off. It’s also not it’s growing season right now, no matter how bad you try to trick it! Lots more light will help new leaves out! But honestly, it’s fine.
Do you have a brighter window it could go near? Mine is about a foot and a half away from a south window (to the side and a little below), in chunky soil, and I drench it when the pot feels light.
I don’t recommend misting it as that can lead to disease and pest issues.
Root rot?
I would focus on the soil and roots and less on humidity and temperature. I had several monsteras thrive in California where the air is bone dry most of the year. Your temp range sounds perfect for monsteras (tropical).
My monstera tend to be really hungry and need re-potting often. I also add plenty of perlite to encourage drainage. I do let them dry out like you said you are doing. I also give them a seaweed feed in the growing months (Spring/Summer) but I would only do that once you are seeing consistent new growth to ensure your roots are in a good place.
Ariel roots are less concerning and I usually trim them if I can catch them before they get into the soil and take up root space.
https://preview.redd.it/8x8r7pjgc0ge1.jpeg?width=1035&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=345792cc4a22cf0e37fa665c60d2529027d4b332
I didn’t read anyone really addressing the overwatering, though I very well may have missed some comments. I agree with you that this looks overwatered. If the instructions for this plant are to let it get bone dry and doesn’t specify how deep to check, then you need to check to the bottom. A lot of ppl use bamboo skewers or chopsticks for this. As you know, plants need less water in the winter & it’s very possible you were too robust in your watering recently.