Make Your Monstera Split Faster with a simple method—no repotting or fertilizer needed for big, bold results!
Do you want those beautiful split leaves on your Monstera to grow faster, but without the mess of repotting or the worry of using fertilizer? Good news! You can encourage your Monstera to develop those stunning holes and splits (called fenestrations) with a few simple tricks. And none of them involve moving it to a bigger pot or adding plant food.
Make Your Monstera Split Faster
1. Get a Mature Plant
Monstera plants need to be a certain age before their leaves start to split, a feature called fenestration. This usually happens when the leaves grow wide enough, about 8 to 14 inches across. Younger monsteras have smaller leaves, around 4 to 6 inches, so they don’t split yet.
To enjoy those dramatic split leaves, it’s best to get a plant that’s at least 2 to 4 years old. If you’re lucky, you might find one that starts splitting its leaves as early as its second year.
2. Make Sure the Top Leaves Get Light
In the wild, monstera plants grow among many other plants, so light doesn’t always reach their lower leaves. To help more light get through, the plant starts splitting its upper leaves.
To copy this at home, place your monstera where the top leaves get plenty of light. This encourages the plant to start splitting its leaves.
3. Select a Windy Spot
In nature, mature Monstera plants split their big leaves to let air pass through. Without these splits, the large leaves can act like parachutes, catching the wind and possibly tipping the plant over or tearing the leaves.
To avoid this, the plant naturally creates holes and splits in its leaves. Pretty clever, right?
You can copy this by placing your monstera in a windy area like a balcony, patio, or garden. Just protect it from intense afternoon sun. Once the leaves start splitting, you can move the plant back to its usual spot.
4. Give It Support and Help It Grow Upright
In the wild, monstera plants grow against trees or other plants, which support their wide leaves while they get gentle, indirect sunlight. This helps them grow larger leaves with splits.
If the plant doesn’t have support, its heavy leaves can droop, leading to smaller leaves without any splits.
To copy nature, help your monstera grow upright by using a stake, pole, trellis, or any support. This encourages bigger leaves that are more likely to split.
5. Do not Prune
Monsteras need time to grow big leaves, and they only start splitting when the leaves reach about 8–12 inches wide. So, it’s best not to prune the plant too often.
Leaving it alone helps keep the older, already-split leaves. If you prune too much, the plant will focus on growing new leaves, which usually don’t have any splits yet.
6. Increase Humidity
Monstera love humid air because they come from tropical rainforests. If your home is dry, your plant may grow slowly or develop plain leaves. You can increase humidity by misting the leaves, placing a tray of water and pebbles under the pot, or using a humidifier. A bit more moisture in the air can help the plant grow faster and stronger.
7. Rotate the Plant Regularly
Monsteras grow toward the light. If you always keep the same side facing the window, one side may grow faster than the other. To help your plant grow evenly, turn the pot a little every week. This helps all parts of the plant get the light they need and encourages balanced, healthy growth.
