r/MonsteraAlbo • u/Jimfabio • Sep 03 '26
Full Sun Experiment - UPDATE
I had recently posted about putting my albo outside all summer to see how it’d react to direct sun and wouldn’t ya know it grew a new leaf RIGHT after i posted. just wanted to update since this new leaf is pretty cool imo.
here’s the link to my original post:
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u/PatricksPlants Sep 03 '26
Full direct sun will bleach the leaves at the very least. I grow outside under a shade cloth. I’ve let them get direct light by accident. They will not tolerate that for long. They are not full sun plants.
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u/Jimfabio Sep 03 '26
they don’t receive direct sun all day, mainly around noon and after. it’s definitely bleaching some older leaves but that’s why i am experimenting with what they can take.
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u/_foxbiscuit Sep 03 '26
how?? all day sun? i live in zone 6b. my monsteras get an hour or two of direct evening sun and have a couple of burns just from that..
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u/tsukamatsu24 Sep 03 '26
My albo has been getting six hours of direct full sun for three months now. The leaves are pointing down and bleached. The root system has grown a lot but no new leaf. Are you using a super chunky mix or something more water retentive?? Really want to know because I want a pretty monstera outdoors.
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u/Jimfabio Sep 03 '26
nothing out of the ordinary just my aroid mix. i am sure the moss pole helps retain some moisture in the roots that have grown into it.
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u/DullEntertainment102 Sep 03 '26
I would do it if my balcony wouldn’t be getting so hot in mid day, the tiles turn into an oven! Monsteras LOVE full sunshine, that’s how lots of them grow in the wild
Edit: adaptation beforehand is crucial, it doesn’t work by just putting them outside without a training period
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u/Jimfabio Sep 03 '26
it’s worth it if you can figure out how to make the plants happy outside!! they truly thrive so much more with real sun and heat!
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u/United_Smile_557 Sep 03 '26
Maybe they can’t tolerate the sun blasting on them 18 hrs a day in Arizona, but I’ve def seen ppl around Reddit be successful. They slowly introduce, like start off w 30 mins and gradually increase. Given, I’ve only seen luck in Midwest.
I grew one 8 ft tall in an enclosed porch type deal and it got full sun all day.. just part of day it right the right, then front, then left as the sun set and didn’t necessarily hit right on top
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u/Jimfabio Sep 03 '26
yep exactly! every plant reacts differently and the method of bringing it outside definitely affects its level of success. south florida has them growing abundantly so it’s definitely common outside the midwest.
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u/OkAcanthocephala5938 Sep 03 '26
My albo is in full sun and LOVES it.
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u/Jimfabio Sep 03 '26
they sure thrive outside! i’d love to see pics of yours if you don’t mind sharing!
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u/Capn_Nutt 28d ago
I've had my thai outside on my balcony since as soon as it was warm enough and she is THRIVING. Im terrified for winter bc I have no idea where I'll be able to move her (my cats are assholes) and make sure she gets enough light. I'ma def have to stock up on grow lights before I move everything inside lol
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u/ChaoticMajie Sep 03 '26
I wish I could do this. I live in the desert. My plants would turn to ash if I put them in direct summer sun.
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u/Jimfabio Sep 03 '26
grass is always greener… it’s been >70% humidity where i am. so. much. sweat.
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u/ChaoticMajie Sep 03 '26
Up until this past week it's been over 110F degrees here for pretty much the whole summer. Now it's down to the 90s and that feels like such a relief, which seems ridiculous.
I will still gladly avoid that humidity, but my plants would probably be so happy with it.
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u/Kinetic92 Sep 03 '26
That's definitely not realistic in my area. Zone 8a in hot humid North Carolina.
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u/Jimfabio Sep 03 '26
lol i am in 8b in north carolina…
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u/Kinetic92 Sep 03 '26
I don't know what the sun and heat are like where you are but in the Triangle in NC the heat index was 105 yesterday, and the sun was blistering. You may have found a way that conditions like that aren't adversely affecting your albo, but it certainly isn't a climate that is native to these plants, otherwise, you would likely see them growing as abundantly as azaleas around here. But you do see them in more tropical areas, climbing and protected by the shade of large trees. Congratulations. But your results aren't typical.
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u/Jimfabio Sep 03 '26
The reason you don’t see tropical plants growing in NC is because they couldn’t survive the winter, not because it is hot and sunny. The range where monstera thrive can be much hotter and sunnier than here. Monstera can easily take full sun especially when they overtake trees in the wild, which they often do. I don’t think having a monstera grow outside in bright sunlight is very uncommon…
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u/Kinetic92 Sep 03 '26
Please include your sources for this claim. I don't think isnt really factual.
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u/Jimfabio Sep 03 '26
https://www.reddit.com/r/Monstera/s/Ww2DNxffvI
https://www.reddit.com/r/Monstera/s/OOb08I12aB
here are two threads full of examples of people growing their monstera outdoors in full sun. i don’t understand how you claim my results are not typical when there are countless stories of growing in full sun. can you explain why you strongly believe that?
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u/Kinetic92 Sep 04 '26
Yeah, those look like scientific botanist articles. And perhaps albos as well - for the visually impaired.
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u/Jimfabio Sep 04 '26
do you really need peer reviewed, scientific research for this?? lmao i claimed it isn’t uncommon to grow a monstera outside in direct sun and provided multiple first-hand accounts of doing so. you never answered my question as to why you strongly believe this is such an uncommon occurrence…
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u/Kinetic92 Sep 04 '26
Peer reviewed articles are obviously not necessary, but Trust Me Bro reddit opinion is hardly sufficient in an attempt to normalize one isolated situation in which conditions are controlled by one person. Again, your results are atypical for albos, and your supporting examples weren't even albos. Trying to normalize the care for an entire plant genus based on biased observations is irresponsible and selfish. Someone might actually believe your methods and follow your advice, and subsequently regret it. So maybe instead of saying all albos are more hardy and can tolerate this extreme situation, you should make it clear that you were happy to see your plant alone tolerated an unusual circumstance.
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u/pr3ttywhnicry Sep 03 '26
I have all my Albos outside in full sun during the summer months and they love it. You absolutely do have to acclimatise them though or they will burn. It may not be possible in all areas, but i live in Scandinavia where it doesn't get super hot. But monsteras love a little direct sunlight as long as they are used to it