How to repot Monstera deliciosa

Is it time to repot your Monstera deliciosa? Fortunately, these trendy plants are easy to transplant into a new pot. Start by gathering your supplies and then follow the steps below to learn how to repot Monstera deliciosa plants.

Supplies for repotting monstera plants

Start by choosing a new pot that is large enough for the expanding roots and has a working drainage hole at the bottom. Place a piece of screen or a coffee filter over the hole to hold in the soil while excess water drains out. If your plant is indoors, a saucer underneath is also a good idea.

If you’re using a moss pole (which is a good idea), place its base into the empty pot over top of the screen/filter. Try to keep the moss pole near the center of the pot and hopefully pointing straight up.

Buy a high-quality potting mix with lots of perlite or lava rock to trap air pockets in the soil for the oxygen-loving roots. Moisten the potting mix in a bucket. Fill the bottom of the pot with some potting mix.

Steps for repotting a Monstera deliciosa

To repot a Monstera deliciosa, follow these steps:

1. Water the plant a day or two before repotting to make it easier to remove from the current pot.
2. Choose a new pot that is slightly larger than the current one. It should have drainage holes to allow excess water to drain out.
3. Prepare a potting mix suitable for Monstera deliciosa. A well-draining mix of equal parts peat moss, perlite, and compost or a mix specifically made for tropical plants will work well.
4. Gently remove the plant from its current pot. If it is difficult to remove, you can use a knife to cut the pot away from the roots gently. Hopefully, the soil is moist, at least below 2 inches of depth (if it’s not, you need to water your monstera more often). Plastic pots can be squished a bit to free the soil and roots, but ceramic pots can be tricky. You may need to slide a cooking utensil down the sides of the pot to free the roots.
5. Carefully loosen the root ball and remove any excess soil or old potting mix.
6. Loosen up any thick white roots that are circling around the soil ball. It won’t hurt the roots to touch them. Pull them off the outside of the ball and stretch them out so they can relax. You can remove the soil from the inside of the root ball if the roots are really thick and tangled.
7. Trim any damaged or diseased roots with clean scissors or a sharp knife.
8. Place the plant in the new pot and fill in around the roots with the prepared potting mix. Place the root ball into the new pot on top of the base of potting mix. Hold the base of the plant so that where the stems come out of the ground is about 1-2 inches below the top rim of the planter. Using your other hand, backfill the pot with potting mix. Try to arrange the roots so they each have their own space and are pointed out to the sides of the pot instead of twisted around.
9. Water the plant well to settle the soil and help the plant establish itself in its new pot. Attach any long vines to the moss pole.

Place the plant in a location that meets its light and temperature requirements. It’s also a good idea to fertilize the plant with a balanced fertilizer a week after repotting. Be sure to follow the instructions on the fertilizer package, as over-fertilizing can harm the plant.

When to repot monstera houseplants

It’s generally a good idea to repot a Monstera deliciosa houseplant every one to two years, depending on the size of the plant and the size of the pot. Here are some signs that it may be time to repot your Monstera deliciosa:

1. The plant has outgrown its current pot: If you notice that the roots are starting to poke out of the drainage holes or the plant is tipping over, it may be time to repot into a larger pot.
2. The plant is not growing as well as it used to: If you notice that the plant is not growing as quickly as it used to, or if the leaves are yellowing or drooping, it may be due to the potting mix breaking down and becoming compacted. Repotting with fresh potting mix can help improve the plant’s growth.
3. The potting mix is old or has broken down: If you can’t remember the last time you repotted your Monstera deliciosa, it’s probably time to do it again. Over time, potting mix can break down and become compacted, leading to poor drainage and poor plant growth.
4. The plant has become rootbound: If you notice that the roots are densely packed and have filled the pot, it’s time to repot into a larger pot to give the roots more room to grow.

Remember, it’s important to choose a pot slightly larger than the current one (until you get up to desired size) to give the plant enough room to grow. Be sure to use a well-draining potting mix and water the plant well after repotting to help it establish itself in its new pot.

Enjoy your newly-transplanted monstera!