Monstera Dissecta: Best Grow & Care Guide

Monstera dissecta is popular for its vigorous climbing nature with split leaves but gets stalled under improper care habit.

There are a few basic care facts that you must refrain from. Let’s learn about them!

Overview of Monstera Dissecta

Belonging to Araceae, Monstera dissecta puts on more splits in foliage with growing age.

Monstera Dissecta Care

Monstera dissecta is a bit uncommon to find, but they have similar tropical aroid care needs.

1. Sunlight & Temperature

Monstera dissecta flourishes in a bright but indirectly sunlit room with a warmth of about 65° to 80°F.

But ensure your plant is safe from direct sunlight. Excess dehydration results in sunburn and color fading with drying edges of leaves.

They also suffer from low light and cold drafts (<50°F), resulting in leggy, sparse or stunted growth.

In such a dire situation, rely on incandescent grow lights to give your plant enough light and warmth.

Also, aim for frost blankets or heating pads during winter but do not keep them near AC or heater.

2. Watering & Humidity

Monstera dissecta is a moderate drought-tolerant plant that prefers high humidity (60-80%) as in its natural habitat.

But water your Monstera more often in spring and summer and reduce it to once every two weeks in winter.

Generally, overwatered Monstera have telltale signs like yellow leaves, root rot, and slow growth. 

They also have moldy soil inviting all kinds of pests and fungal diseases as in excess humidity.

Thus, use chopsticks or a moisture meter to measure the soil moisture before watering.

You can aim for bottom watering and add a few pebbles to saucers for optimal humidity in one go.

3. Soil & Fertilizer

Well-draining, nutrient-rich organic chunky soil with moderate water retention is best suited for the Monstera dissecta.

Beware of feeding your dissecta plant fertilizers during winter to avoid overfertilization issues. 

Also, remember to dilute the fertilizer to avoid chemical burns on roots and salt build-ups.

Besides that, curling leaf tips with brown spots could also be signs of overfertilization.

In contrast, a lack of nutrition will halt the growth and induce discoloration of leaves.

Therefore, you can aim for organic compost fertilizers or slow releases ones.

Lastly, to ensure they have a proper footing, prepare a potting mix using perlite, sphagnum moss, orchid barks, and charcoal.

But if you are unsure of preparing one at home, you can rely on Monstera mix, aroid mix, or gardenera.

4. Potting & Repotting

Monstera dissecta is an easygoing plant that stays fine in the same terracotta pots for 2 to 3 years straight.

Once you decide to repot, thoroughly soak the plant for a few days before repotting to loosen the soil.

Remember to use a pot that is 2 inches bigger than the previous pot. Also, ensure they have multiple drain holes; if not, make one.

Consider repotting them in early spring in the morning hours for optimal growth using a nutrient-rich mix.

5. Pruning

Although Monstera dissecta grows moderately fast, they won’t require regular pruning to sustain their stature.

Furthermore, pruning such parts will discourage invasion from pests like thrip, scale, mealybugs and aphids.

Similarly, pruning could be the only option if your Monstera dissecta is infected with fungal root rot.

Here, fungal root rot is often triggered via overwatering issues in Monstera dissecta.

Therefore, you can prune off such infected parts and apply neem oil or fungicides.

Unlike pruning, regularly keep the plant foliage clean with the help of a soapy water solution.

Monstera Dissecta: All About Growth Rate

Monstera dissecta (Monstera peruviana) is an evergreen climbing Monstera with a faster growth rate.

In their natural habitat, its vines can attain a height of 32 feet, but indoors ones grow up to 8 feet tall.

Dissecta unfurls many new leaves in spring and summer but stays dormant in winter.

They have oval-shaped foliage with a glossy, leathery texture that grows in a cluster.

Meanwhile, the cylindrical stem of width 2 to 4 inches has leaf scars and aerial roots. 

These split foliage with deeper margins can attain a length of more than 3 feet and a width of 2 to 3 feet.

Once the plants mature, they produce an inflorescence with a white spadix and spathe.

Remember, indoor Monstera is very unlikely to bloom, let alone produce fruit.

Toxicity of Monstera Dissecta

According to ASPCA, Monstera dissecta is toxic to pets due to calcium oxalate.

Sharp needle-like oxalate crystals cause a burning sensation in the mouth upon ingestion.

Minor Monstera poisoning causes mouth or bowel tract swelling, diarrhea, drooling and vomiting.

But consumption of plants in larger amounts can cause breathing problems and kidney failure.

As a first aid, you can feed your pets with lukewarm milk to reduce pain. But you should consult with a professional health practitioner immediately.

You can rely on some hotlines if you notice your pets or kids eating Monstera dissecta.

• ASPCA Poisoning Center : (800) 426-4435
• Poisoning Control Center, AAPCC: (800) 222-1222

Propagation Methods for Monstera Dissecta

Monstera dissecta can be propagated via stem cutting and air layering methods.

But stem cutting is preferred over air layering due to its simple yet efficient steps.

For optimal growth and successful results, consider propagating them in early spring.

Before jumping to propagation, gather rooting hormones, shears, aroid mix and pots.

1. Stem Cutting Method

Look for a healthy stem with a few leaves on top, and cut a 3 to 6″ long stem at a 45° angle.

• Place the stem cuttings in a jar filled with water and rooting hormone.
• Keep the jar in an indirectly lit room and replace the water every 2 to 3 days.
• When a new root grows over 2 inches, consider transplanting the cuttings.
• Place the cuttings 2 to 3″ deep in fresh well-draining soil.
• Proceed with regular care routine for Monstera dissecta.

Instead of placing the stem cuttings in water, you can directly plant the cuttings in soil.

To do so, leave the stem wrapped in a moist water towel for a week. Once callus forms on the cut end, plant the cutting in a nutrient-rich soil mix.

After a month or so, you can consider transplanting them into a bigger pot.

2. Air Layering Method

Comparatively air layering method is more complicated than stem cutting. But it is widely used for outdoor propagation.

• Find a healthy stem and gently scrape the skin right below the leaf node.
• Place the moss ball inside the cut and secure it with a damp cloth.
• Wrap the setup using a cling wrap and poke some holes for air circulation.
• Within three months, you can notice inch-long roots.
• Cautiously cut the stem with new roots and plant them in a fresh mix.

Monstera Dissecta for Sale

Monstera dissecta has a comparatively high price than other Monsteras due to its uncommon nature.

Here I have enlisted some of the verified online retailers with Monstera dissecta for sale.