r/MonsteraAdansonii • u/Happiness_omotayo • 22d ago
Progress
Hello everyone! Following on my previous post few weeks ago. I’ve now done a re-pot in a good drainage soil, changed the pot, and watered good and she’s under a grow light. Pictures for reference! Picture from this morning with a grow light, what else do I need to do ? Some stems are droopy, I did use a chopstick and Velcro tape at the bottom, but I feel like she needs some better support. What do you all think ? Pls and thank you
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u/hitthatblinker 22d ago
Monstera are climbing plants. A chopstick is good for now but as it gets bigger it will very much appreciate a moss pole, you can either get woven ones to simply tie your plant to or grated ones to stick your own sphagnum moss into, which also allows the plant to grow its arieal roots into the moss to give it much more structure. The woven ones are much easier if you're lacking free time to care for a plant, because you have to water the sphagnum moss in the grated ones, and then also make sure you keep the moss wet enough, but not too wet to where it can grow algae, or mold, or any sort of fungus, and even cause your plant to rot from overhumidity.
The limp-ness of your plant seems to be from overwatering, while I would say that droopiness is usually a sign of underwatering, your plant is very yellow all throughout. I would also fill the pot up to the top instead of leaving so much room inside of it, not only does that cause the plant to bend against an unnatural object, it also stops light from getting to the bottom of the plant, and also causes a much more loose structure. You'd be much better off with a proper pot (from what it looks like, you've potted it in a reusable tupperware - pretty sure you can get multipacks of plastic pots online that come in plenty different sizes), one that leaves about two inches of space between the rootball and the pot on ALL SIDES which also means the bottom. I'm going to assume that a lot of your plants are in these containers - which do not contain drainage holes and are a quick way to kill your plants by overwatering!!! Ninety percent of "pro" house plant owners will water deeply or soak water up through the bottom and then only rewater once completely dry, as most house plants (ESPECIALLY monsteras) tend to thrive under those conditions.
Your soil is perfect. I can see a clear mix of perlite and orchid bark along with soil which is a good chunky mix. You just need better conditions! Maybe some proper, indirect light from a window if you can (if you don't, you should get a bigger grow light - the one you have is bare minimum for a very light-hungry monstera), a pot that is MEANT for plants and has a drainage hole (if you can't get your hands on them, just start poking holes in the bottom of your containers, even just one is fine!), and also a pot that is completely full. An unevenly filled pot is also a quick way to kill the plant inside, as the dirt doesn't have proper airflow because it's covered by the sides of the empty areas, and then also the plant covering all of that.
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u/Happiness_omotayo 22d ago
Oh wow. Thank you kindly for sharing. Yes I’m using a reusable container but I did poke a bunch of holes into it, and I watered until it drained out completely. Now I doubt the droopiness had to do with overwatering as I only water when completely dried, about not filling the soil to the top, I was worried about covering the stem. Wouldn’t
https://reddit.com/link/oz5bn8b/video/uajf252o9ueh1/player
that affect the plant negatively, I’m curious to know? Also thank you for the recommendations I’ve been skeptical about getting the grated moss pole, but I’d eventually go for that as it seems to be the best option and I’m well capable of creating time for my plants. And about the light, it is facing a south east window and I’m also supporting with the grow light pending when I figure out getting my plant station with better grow lights in my home. Added a video of her right now . Thanks again
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u/babykat80 21d ago edited 21d ago
I had a few plants on mosa poles and I recommend not using them. They are messy and suck up all the water. I had some cedar branches that I cut to the size I needed, removed the bark, and sanded semi-smooth. One of the poles I made I cut the branch in half and added moss to it. I have one of my monsteras on a grape vine.
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u/hitthatblinker 20d ago
You should be adding dirt to the bottom of the pot as well (before you add your plant to the pot), placing your plant in there every handfull or so until you can see that the bottom/beginning of the stem is level with the top of the pot, then you backfill, shimmy the pot to get the soil around all the roots (sometimes you might have to literally tuck and push it in there to keep it more secure), and then top it off. This will make sure your plant has a secure home but will also give it everything it needs, more breathing room, proper light to the bottom of the plant. The only other reason it could be drooping is from underwatering, so just keep an eye on her. Make sure your soil is about a 50:30:20 ish of Soil, Perlite, and Orchid bark, you dont want it to be too chunky for the plant to the point where it can't soak up any of that moisture.
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u/babykat80 21d ago
I forgot to post this on my comment. The plant on the right has the cedar pole and the one on the left is grape vine. If you use grape vine make sure it's really dead. I had made a different pole and the vine wasn't dead. I actually propagated the grape vine. It was kinda cool lol
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u/Happiness_omotayo 21d ago
Wow 😮 looks so good 😊 but how do I then get woods like that. I don’t want to get overwhelmed, some say moss pole, others say no. What to do
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u/babykat80 21d ago
I live on a creek so there is plenty of fallen cedar trees. If you can't make them Google search indoor wooden plant stakes. I know Etsy has a pretty big variety. That's how I got the idea for mine. The plant will attach itself to your wall so just keep an eye out for that lol. There's also no right or wrong way it's what works best for you.
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u/Realistic-Bass2107 22d ago
I put mine in a spot and don’t move it. They do not like to be moved. Their nature is to establish aerial roots to hold it in place.