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If you want to have a healthy Monstera with flowers, you should not ignore light requirements, maintaining optimal temperature and humidity, add fertilizer, pruning, and choose well-drained soils.
Monstera lovers must often encounter obstacles to encourage the flowering of their lovely tropicals. Let alone finding out how to get Monstera to flower, the fenestration often makes Monstera owners get frustrated. But actually, promoting Monstera blooms doesn’t require a complicated step-by-step. All you need to do is patience and proper Monstera care to ensure healthy growth. By growing healthier, the chance to produce blooms is higher. Nonetheless, if you need help getting Monstera to flower, we have some tropical plant care tips for you!
By knowing how to care for Monstera correctly and adequately, you can start determining a strategy on how to get Monstera to flower. We will also cover a simple guide to encourage Monstera flowering in case you are wondering how.
Before we go further into the gardening techniques to stimulate the blooming, we would love to tell you why flowers are crucial for Monstera.
Importance of Getting Monstera To Flower
Let’s get to know Monstera flowers before discussing the step-by-step guide to promoting the blooms at home! Monstera is a flowering tropical plant belonging to the aroid family. Hence, you may notice that the flower is closely similar to Lily since both are in the same group. Fun fact: the white bloom we expect to be the flower is unlike what we are thinking.
The white thing is called spathe or inflorescence, while the tiny flowers are growing on the spadix of Monstera. Interestingly, the spadix will later grow and develop into edible Monstera fruit with a mouth-watering taste you can eat once it ripens. Many argue that the flavor resembles a mixture of tropical heaves between pineapples, bananas, and coconuts.
Besides transforming into a fruit, the flower emits a mild and pleasant scent to attract pollinators, specifically Trigona bees. Without pollination, your Monstera won’t produce fruit. Therefore, to enjoy the fruit, getting the tropicals into flowering is vital. Other than that, the flower is stunning and adds a lovely sight to your plant.
Understanding Monstera Flowering Process
As much as you want to have Monstera flower, having a better understanding of the flowering process, the factors, and the plant care tips is no less essential. The gardening tips will guide you through the world of Monstera you probably don’t have insights before.
Hence, you will get healthy Monstera with the bloom you always try to get. Let’s dive in!
1. Factors That Affect Monstera’s Flowering Process
Monstera will rise healthily if they grow in preferable conditions. As tropical plants, they love to soak under bright, indirect sunlight. This kind of light requirement helps this variegated plant to flourish with solid roots and lavish green leaves and use the water efficiently. Plenty of light also boosts the flowering process, though you must remember that your Monstera must be at least three years of age to bloom.
In addition to lighting conditions, you should take temperatures and humidity into account. These tropicals favor high humidity, just like in their natural habitat. If you grow them outdoors, monitor the humidity around 70-80% with temperatures ranging from 65°F to 85°F. Offer shelter if the temperature drops, as it is commonly followed by low moisture. This condition will make the plant stop growing altogether; thus, you can’t get the expected bloom.
Regarding the humidity, you can also encourage proper condition by scheduling watering for your Monstera. Like other tropicals, Monstera needs plenty of water. Hence, weekly watering is crucial to ensure plant growth and promote flowering eventually. Without adequate water, the plant will droop. But if you give too much, you will see yellowing leaves starting from the base.
Furthermore, the planting location is a vital factor you cannot skip. If you want to get Monstera flowers, consider growing your Monstera outdoors. Outdoor gardening offers natural lights, and humidity Monstera Deliciosa plants love.
However, pay close attention to the gardening tips and requirements above to provide proper growing conditions. Also, we highly recommend fertilizing Monstera for blooms to add more nutrients.
2. Timing of Monstera Flowering
Information regarding the exact timing of Monstera flowering is lacking. This is because Monstera generally produces blooms only in its natural habitat. And that they don’t have specific blooming seasons, unlike other flowering tropicals.
Meanwhile, Monstera that grows in the nursery is more tricky to develop flowers. It may be caused by the growing conditions that are less similar to its native habitat. However, we know that Monstera will go dormant in the cold seasons, from autumn October to winter. They will wake up in the spring and summer.
During that time, you can expect new leafy growth. And if you are lucky, you may see its flower starting to rise. But it must be taken into account that the age of your Monstera is the key! Also, proper flowering Monstera care is crucial to guarantee a successful flowering stage.
3. Signs That Monstera Is Ready To Flower
Despite the fact that Monstera plants that grow in the wild are the ones which will produce blooms, there’s nothing wrong to get insights into signs they show when they are about to flower.
The first sign is none other than your Monstera is mature. You can see vividly the fenestration, holes, and sometimes split leaves once the plant reaches 2 to 5 years old after planting. By that time, you can prepare yourself to encourage flowering. Scroll down to know tips on how to get Monstera to flower!
Besides, you may notice that your tropical beauties start developing flower stalks or peduncles with around 2-18 inches. Then, the spadix emerges in the center of the plant. The spadix will rise up to 6 inches before being covered with a white, boat-like inflorescence that many think that’s the bloom.
This white ‘flower’ will last for 2-3 days and then fall off, leaving the spadix alone. In addition, Monstera spadix will further grow into a tasty fruit. It is rare for Monstera to bear fruit. Thus, people call it a delicacy.
4. How Long Does It Take Monstera To Bloom?
Your Monstera plants need to be mature to bloom. Generally, it takes three years after planting before they are ready to flower and bear fruits. Nonetheless, the period may vary from 2 to 5 years depending on growing conditions and the species.
Unlike other flowers that require specific time to fully blooming, Monstera Deliciosa will produce flowers with the fruit. It is because the plant needs a lengthy period to mature, have the bloom, and eventually fruiting. The Monstera spadix, which was previously hidden inside the white inflorescence, will later transform into a long, kernel-like fruit you can consume once it ripens.
Steps To Encourage Monstera Flowering
We should acknowledge that most Monstera plants grow flowers in the wild. So, encouraging Monstera blooms as houseplants or garden plants may be tricky. However, it will be unfortunate not to give a shot to help these beauties blooming.
Hence, we have prepared some indoor plant flowering tips on how to get Monstera to flower as well as simple gardening techniques to support the growth. Check them out!
1. Ensure Proper Lighting Conditions
If you want to have a healthy Monstera with flowers, you should not ignore light requirements. It is essential to ensure photosynthesis, a process which produces energy to thrive. Besides, the process helps your Monstera leaves to get that dark green color.
Furthermore, light is crucial to promote fenestration as well as flowering. Those tropicals that don’t get enough light will grow small without fenestration. You can also expect no blooms in the near future.
To ensure proper sunlight exposure, consider planting Monstera under bright, indirect light. If you grow them in pots, set them near your patio where the roof can protect them from the scorching sun. Alternatively, setting up the planters under shady trees is also a great idea.
2. Maintaining Optimal Temperature and Humidity
As we previously discussed, Monstera plants favor high moisture (60-80%) with mild temperatures of approximately 65°F to 85°F. You can get the requirements by adding water to the soil once the surface, around 2 inches, is dry. Low humidity may cause yellowing and browning leaves which later will droop.
Meanwhile, extremely hot temperatures will lead to crisp foliage. With that being said, flowering may be hampered due to these extreme conditions. Therefore, it is important to adjust those factors to stimulate blooming. You can provide shelter for your Monstera to the terrace when the arid and blistering summer season comes. Don’t forget to schedule regular watering to avoid dehydration.
3. Fertilization Techniques
Besides the growing conditions, fertilization is another flowering Monstera care you must take note of. Even though they are not heavy feeders, giving nutrient boosts will help encourage flowering. Moreover, Monstera in pots usually depletes nutrients so fast, knowing they don’t have sources of organic matter other than the soil.
Choose fertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that can enhance growth, including flowering. There are several formulations and rations you can pick. But for blooming, the 15-30-15 ratio is the best.
If you try liquid fertilizer, see the instructions. Blend it with water to half-strength to avoid fertilizer burn. You can add the mixture following the watering schedule. However, the granule fertilizer can be applied directly to the soil. We usually mix it with the potting soil to get better results. The same method also applies to compost.
As a side note, don’t fertilize Monstera during their dormancy (usually from fall to winter). The best time to add fertilizer for Monstera is around spring and summer when the tropicals are at their fast growth stage.
4. Proper Pruning and Maintenance of The Plant
Healthy Monstera plants grow fast, around 1-2 feet per year. That’s why it is essential to prune the leaves before they grow too dense. As much as you love the appeal, lavish leaves with emerging branches are heavy for the plant.
Besides, they take up more energy which can be transferred into growing new foliage and flowers. Another benefit of trimming Monstera is to get rid of dead leaves, spot pests, and diseases, and install stakes to support the upward growth. You can cut the older leaves about 2 inches below the node. It is important to note that the node is where your plant will raise new leaves. So, make sure not to hurt it.
For extra maintenance, removing dust and dirt on the leaf surfaces will be nice because it may block the stomata. This plant part is crucial to regulate the plant’s oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. Also, spray neem oil with water to prevent a pest invasion.
5. Soil Preparation
Despite loving high humidity, Monstera plants prefer well-drained soils. This soil type is necessary to prevent root rot. Thus, the water won’t sit too long on the ground. Besides, good drainage avoids fungal infections due to high moisture. Moreover, soil preparation is vital to ensure your tropical beauties receive adequate nutrients when you can’t fertilize them yet.
For that reason, choose humus-rich potting soil that contains plenty of organic matter the plant can utilize to thrive. Add peat moss as an extra drainage that offers organic matter.
In addition, pay attention to the soil pH. The tropicals love slightly acidic soil with a pH range of around 5.5 to 7.0, which helps them grow solid roots. If you grow them in pots, pick those with drainage holes.
Common Monstera Flowering Problems and Solutions
There are always issues and challenges when it comes to growing Monstera and promoting flowering. The problems generally revolve around maintenance errors. Thus, the tropicals will rebel a little and experience slow growth.
In addition to how to get Monstera to flower, we will break down some common issues the Monstera lovers may potentially encounter when trying to get their plants to flower. The indoor plant flowering tips and solutions are included! Let’s find out!
1. Common Issues That Can Affect Monstera Flowering
Generally, problems that arise when promoting flowering in Monstera are caused by errors in maintenance. Some of the most common are lighting and water requirements.
Many think that tropical plants will survive under direct sunlight. In fact, most of them love sheltered light to protect their foliage from the burning sun. This light requirement error can be fatal because their leaves will slowly turn yellow before getting brown and drooping.
We assume you know that leaves are the places where photosynthesis to produce energy takes place. Hence, their wilting can inhibit flowering as the plant lacks energy. These symptoms usually also appear when they lack water. It’s just that the leaves don’t turn brown.
Some Monstera owners give excess moisture hoping the plants don’t dry out. Instead, their roots will sink and deplete oxygen. Not only that, but also the problem of pruning often occurs, especially for beginners. They will cut above the nodes or even right at the nodes. Others don’t even prune because they like thick Monstera.
2. How To Identify and Solve These Problems
If you notice yellowing leaves but with no browning, it may be an alert from your Monstera that they need more water. You can observe this issue by checking the soil surface.
Suppose the 2 inches of the surface is dry. In that case, adding water is the best solution to deal with this problem. We highly encourage you to set a watering schedule to prevent the event from happening in the future.
Furthermore, you can expect crisp edges with yellowing leaves if you expose your Monstera under a blistering sun. In this case, you must take them indoors to avoid further damage. It also allows the plant to cool down. Once the temperature decreases, offer them water to keep the moisture on track. Remove the yellowing leaves to reduce energy use.
As for the pruning, lavish Monstera tends to grow droop. You may also notice pest invasion since older leaves are prone to those culprits. They usually love to reside beneath the foliage. Not only that, but you can examine that your plant grows slowly. It is because the energy needed is higher to supply the old foliage.
Hence, trim your Monstera to stimulate leaves, flowers, and fruit. Besides, you may easily spot pests or disease problems and take immediate treatments. Thus, your Monstera will grow healthier.
Final Thoughts
How to get Monstera to flower? The answer is proper care, maintenance, and patience! As long as you pay attention to the factors that affect the growth of Monstera, such as humidity, temperature, water intake, light, soil, and other upkeep, the chance you get to have blooms is higher.
Also, pay attention to the age of the Monstera you have. They won’t give you flowers until you’re mature–usually take 2 to 5 years. We highly recommend growing Monstera outdoors to promote flowering, as the condition mimics their natural habitat. But growing indoors is a great idea if you just want to have a Monstera with dense foliage.
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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Why is my Monstera not flowering?
In addition to pests and root bound, one of the reasons why your Monstera is not flowering lies in the light requirements for Monstera flowers. Like other flowering plants, promoting Monstera flowers needs specific light requirements. Since the plant loves bright, indirect sunlight, the best spot for the plant growth and indoor gardening is the bathroom or kitchen.
Furthermore, your Monstera may lack nutrients and water. Hence, it is crucial to set a watering schedule for Monstera at least once per two weeks (once a week is better!). Fertilizer for Monstera is also important to ensure they are nourished to bloom.
Will Monstera flower indoors?
While Monstera Deliciosa bloom will flourish outdoors, it is rare to produce flowers if you opt for indoor gardening. It happens because natural light requirements for Monstera flowers are crucial and that can be obtained outdoors.
Besides, they need plenty of room to spread and grow upwards. Nonetheless, promoting Monstera flowers is possible if you raise these flowering plants in a greenhouse, as the growing conditions are closely monitored.
Is pruning necessary for Monstera to produce flowers?
Pruning is one of the best ways for Monstera Deliciosa care. Not only will it keep your indoor plants in shape, but caring for the houseplant will also help Monstera grow healthier. It can encourage plant growth as well as make it easier for you to install support if necessary.
Even though pruning is great for these tropicals, there’s no guarantee that it can stimulate Monstera Deliciosa bloom. However, we strongly recommend pruning to include in your regular Monstera Deliciosa care.
What is the best time of year for Monstera to flower?
Monstera inflorescence development will not start up to three years after planting. Generally, the flowering process goes hand in hand with the fruiting stage. It begins with spadix formation of Monstera which will later produce white, lily-like bloom before turning into a delicious Monstera fruit that many say resembles a blend of pineapples, bananas, and coconuts.
While October is the time when Monstera goes dormant, spring and summer are likely the best seasons for the plants to flourish. You can try encouraging Monstera flowering at home by fertilizing Monstera for blooms. Don’t forget to move the plant to the area that meets natural light requirements (bright, indirect one!).
Will Monstera flower without the presence of a mature plant?
Flowering as well as the spadix formation Monstera will only occur when the plant reaches three years of age. Under that specific period, your tropical plant will not bloom and fruit. Besides, Monstera inflorescence development also highly depends on several factors, such as light condition, watering schedule for Monstera, and humidity.
Without bright, indirect light, for example, Monstera will grow leggy and less likely produce flowers. Thus, the most crucial thing to try encouraging Monstera flowering at home is to pay attention to the houseplant care.
Can changing the lighting conditions encourage Monstera to flower?
Light, along with humidity, temperatures, and water requirements, is an important factor that affects Monstera growth in general. Lack of light will cause leggy growth with little to none fenestration (the unique holes on your Monstera leaves!). Moreover, the tropical plant will also grow small leaves to avoid excessive energy use. This process will, of course, influence flowering. If the leaves won’t grow properly, so do the blooms that may not appear.
Therefore, it will be best to change the lighting to expose your Monstera under bright, indirect light. Choose a semi-sheltered area to prevent scorching sun that may burn the leaves, for instance, near the patio or under your shade trees. Don’t forget to add fertilizer for Monstera to enhance the blooming.
