Monstera Subpinnata: Complete Grow & Care Guide

Have you ever dreamt of owning low-maintenance houseplants that grow to monster size, survive for ages, and keep freshening up indoor air?

You would be amazed to know that Monstera Subpinnata perfectly makes that houseplant.

The Monstera subspecies grows significantly prominent in its lifetime, cleanses air toxins, zests up spaces, and stays healthy even with minimal care.

Generally, Monstera Subpinnata grows best in medium to bright filtered sunlight and airy aroid mix with weekly watering, warm temperature (65°F to 80°F), and a substantially high humidity level (60% to 90%) with monthly fertilization around the year.

Just be wary about pampering them with excess humidity as it may quickly lead to the onset of bacterial and fungal diseases.

Here is a guide to help you learn more about Monstera Subpinnata and how to best take care of them.

Overview of Monstera Subpinnata

Monstera Subpinnata (Schott) is a widespread Monstera subspecies that boasts signature large leaves with rich green texture.

Formerly known as the rare tropical plant, the gradual propagation by many nurseries and growers has helped rekindle their dwindling numbers.

However, it is often mislabeled as Philodendron Subpinnata without being a Philodendron.

Here is a brief overview of the plant.

Scientific Name	Monstera Subpinnata (Schott) or Monstera latiloba
Other name	Philodendron Subpinnata or Subpinnata Monstera
Native	South America
Family	Araceae
Genus	Monstera
Growth Zone	USDA 9b to 11
Plant Type	Evergreen Climber
Growth Size	6 feet tall (Over 40-feet in wild)
Growth Rate	Medium to Fast
Foliage	Deeply split, palm-like leaves
Flowering	Inflorescence pale yellow to yellow flowers spadix with a spathe
Fruiting	Spadix fruiting
Toxicity	Toxic to Humans and Pets
Common Pests	Mealybugs, Spider mites, and Brown scales
Horticultural Diseases	Dasheen Mosaic Virus (DMV), Bacterial Leaf Spot, Powdery mildew, Southern Blight

Monstera Subpinnata is native to South American tropical regions like Ecuador, Bolivia, Columbia, and Peru.

A climber that grows over 40-feet in the wild, it does manage to grow as a standalone houseplant, but it will hardly reach 6-feet.

Hence, consider growing them along the walls with support to witness a magnificent climbing vine.

Did you know it makes a popular Feng Shui plant because of its natural ability to cleanse indoor air and offers multiple benefits, from purifying the air to dehumidifying the room and reducing stress or anxiety?

However, always remember to look out for problems in the plant as providing significant humid conditions will invite various bacterial and fungal diseases.

Where to Buy Monstera Subpinnata?

Monstera Subpinnata plants are often advertised as rare Monstera plants; however, it not rare anymore.

If anyone is making you pay hundreds or thousands for a single plant, you should know it is a scam.

You would easily find a healthy potted Subpinnata for a low double or triple-digit price.

Here is the list of sellers who would be willing to sell you some Monstera Subpinnata.

Monstera Subpinnata: Complete Grow & Care Guide

You need not provide extra attention but just a few hours every week to your Monstera Subpinnata.

Here are some essential points to consider when growing Monstera Subpinnata at home.

Bright, indirect sunlight 10-12 hours	Medium Allowing a few top 1 to 2 inches to dry first
Fast draining airy aroid-mix pH level: 5.5-7.0	Diluted nitrogen-rich plant food Every month in the growing season
65 to 80°F (18°C to 26.7°C)	60% to 90% Humidity
Repot only when the root ball engulfs the soil	Propagate via Stem cuttings

Here is the complete care guide about your Monstera Subpinnata;

1. Bright Diffused Sunlight

The amount of sunlight your Monstera Subpinnata gets would greatly determine its size and foliage growth.

Place your Monstera Subpinnata in a medium to a sunny location with 10-12 hours of indirect sunlight throughout the day.

A green leafy plant requires 75% to 80% of sunlight each day to produce the optimal amount of chlorophyll.

It would falter in a shady location with low light, leading to leggy growth with small leaves.

However, remember not to keep them in direct sunlight as it can quickly lead to sunburn and transpiration from leaves.

The best way to identify whether your Monstera is over-exposed to sunlight or missing out is to check for unusual signs.

Overwatered Plant	Underwatered Plant
Yellowing, limping, and droopy foliage	Wilted and crispy leaves
Decayed lower roots	Brown leaf edges
Slowed plant growth	Curled and browned leaves
Root Rot	Stunted foliage growth

Tips to Ensure Optimal Light Intake for Monstera

• Find an appropriate location around the house that serves well in providing bright, indirect sunlight. Some ideal areas include a patio, door, window, or greenhouse.
• Place them in a south or west-facing window to get at least 10 hours of sunlight per day, but keep them at least 4-5 feet away from the window to avoid sunburn.
• Otherwise, tie a cloth to the south-facing window to allow diffused sunlight.
• An east-facing window would also work to provide ample lighting with some early morning sunlight.
• Growing them in a greenhouse would provide ample diffused sunlight throughout the day.
• Rotate the plant every couple of weeks at the same spot to ensure an even amount of sunlight.

Alternatively, place them under appropriate LED grow light for at least 10-12 hours to boost growth and structure.

A full-spectrum lamp that brings UV rays to your plant would work best as it mimics the natural sunlight.

Consider reading our article about how much and often should you provide sunlight to Monstera.

2. Regular Watering

Monstera Subpinnata grows in the wet forestlands of Amazon tropical forests, requiring a reasonably damp but not too saturated soil.

Provide 700-800 ml of water to a five-inch potted Monstera Subpinnata once a week in the growing season (spring and summer), and cut back to once in two weeks in fall and winter.

You would want to water your Monstera when the top few soil inches are dry to touch, or 70% of the topsoil dries out.

Regular watering helps its air roots obtain enough oxygen and moisture; however, excessively saturated soil can lead to root rot.

Hence, the best way to identify proper watering techniques is to use a soil moisture meter or keep a tab on the watering schedule.

Pro Tip: You can check for visible signs. Dark-colored soil will indicate evenly moist soil, while light greyish color indicates dried soil.

Overwatered or Underwatered Monstera

Both overwatered and underwatered Monstera would exhibit tell-tale signs of problems.

• Yellowish or brown leaves with crispy texture and slight stem decay indicate a severely overwatered plant.
• Similarly, a thirsty plant would exhibit wilted and curled leaves with slowed plant growth.

Tips to Ensure Adequate Watering

• Slowly pour water on top of the soil until it starts draining out of the bottom. Empty the drainage trays asap.
• Use a soil moisture meter to assess the soil condition. Anything under five indicates a thirsty plant, while over eight indicates moist soil.
• Postpone watering for a couple of days if it feels moist; otherwise, water the plant immediately when the meter reads 3-4.
• Regularly misting the plant leaves in summer will help prevent transpiration.
• Always use distilled (tepid) or rainwater water stored at room temperature to prevent chemical buildup in the soil.
• Otherwise, download a water scheduling app to keep a tab on watering.

Read our article about combating the overwatering issue with Monstera plants.

3. Warm Temperature

A warm temperature is crucial for a tropical plant like Monstera to maintain its humidity intake. It would miss out on significant humidity when the temperature begins to drop.

Ensure to grow your Monstera Subpinnata in a warm brightly-lit location around the house with temperatures ranging from 65°F to 80°F (18°C to 26.7°C).

It would not mind temperatures up to 95°F; however, anything above it can be detrimental.

If the temperature is much higher, it may affect the transpiration process in plants.

Transpiration refers to excessive water evaporation from the leaves when the surrounding air gets hot and dry due to a rising temperature.

Similarly, ensure the temperature does not go below 60°F (15.5°C) as it will prevent healthy growth.

Monstera Subpinnata ideally prefers USDA 9b to 12 zones with a minimum average temperature of 40°F and full sunlight round the year.

Otherwise, placing them under artificial grow lights and T-lights, especially in fall and winter, will help maintain an adequately warm temperature.

The more consistent the temperature, the happier your Monstera will be!

Tips to Maintain Ideal Temperature

• Find an ideal spot in the house that gets 10-12 hours of sunlight each day, such as a south-facing window, patio, and greenhouse.
• Mist the plant leaves in the morning, especially in summer, to beat the risk of dropping humidity.
• Strictly avoid keeping them close to the air conditioner or heater as it will suck the plant dry pretty quickly.
• When the temperature drops below 60°F, especially in late fall, move them inside the house.
• Cover the entire plant with a frost blanket or plastic bag to avoid the dangers of cold drafts. Otherwise, place a heating pad underneath the container.
• Consider covering the potting soil with a fine layer of dry pine mulch to prevent escaping warmth.

4. Moderate Humidity Level

The rumors are true; your Monstera Subpinnata’s humidity requirement is more significant than most houseplants.

In fact, it does well in a relatively high humidity level around the year to obtain healthy-looking leaves.

Provide anywhere from 60% to 90% humidity to help boost rapid growth and freshness in your Monstera Subpinnata.

However, obtaining such a significant amount of humidity is not possible in a regular home environment but greenhouses or terrariums.

When grown along with other houseplants, ensure at least 70% humidity to prevent risks of contracting bacterial diseases.

Here is a table with the symptoms of more minor and too severe humidity effects on the houseplant.

Too Low Humidity	Too High Humidity
Wilting and shriveled Leaf	Stems and leaves rot
Yellowing of leaves edges	Patches of grey mould on the leaves
Brown leaf tips	Fungal growth
Leaves may fall in severe conditions	Mold presence in the soil and flower as well.

Tip to Maintain Moderate Humidity Level

• Begin a greenhouse or terrarium at your home to support Monstera’s high humidity requirement.
• Use an electric humidifier in the room to quickly boost the humidity level.
• Otherwise, consider huddling all the houseplants together to boost the humidity naturally.
• Use a hygrometer to keep a check before the humidity proliferates to a dangerous level.
• Mist the leaves occasionally in summer, especially in the morning, using the plant mister to boost humidity around the plant.
• Alternatively, you can place it on a pebble tray filled with water to boost humidity levels will also help beat the risk of an overly arid climate.

5. Airy Aroid Mix

Monstera Subpinnata thrives in well-draining and aerated soil with neutral pH that blends with tropical species.

An airy aroid mix will be perfect for your plant as it allows the aroid roots to take oxygen easily.

Prepare a well-draining, organic substrate with 20% perlite and 80% standard proprietary houseplant compost mix for Monstera Subpinnata.

On the other hand, cactus soil mixed with peat moss and perlite would also work great.

These mixes will naturally produce a neutral or slightly acidic texture required by the plant.

Try a premium Monstera potting soil. Otherwise, here are a few other recommendations.

Here is how you can prepare an appropriate Monstera soil mix at home.

• 80% Potting soil
• 20% perlite
• One part of orchid bark
• Half part of horticulture charcoal

In addition, Monstera Subpinnata prefers a slightly acidic to a neutral potting mix (6.1 to 7.3 pH).

6. Monthly Balanced Plant Food

Monstera Subpinnata is not a heavy feeder, but it would appreciate regular plant food to obtain larger leaves and upright growing stems.

Fertilizing has its benefits because Subpinnata would use up all the nutrients in its potting mix within a few months.

Feed your Monstera Subpinnata with all-purpose liquid houseplant fertilizer (NPK 5:2:3) once a month in the growing season. A high-nitrogen content will help retain the large signature leaf.

However, remember to dilute the solution to half strength by mixing it with water (1:1 ratio) to prevent overfertilization, leading to various problems.

Here are a few recommendations.

• Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food
• Bonide Liquid Plant Food
• Joyful Dirt Organic Based Concentrated Food

Alternatively, you can also introduce Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Plus once every three months in the growing season.

Similarly, keep active fertilizer solution 6-inches away from the base of the plant.

The tell-tale signs of over-fertilization are root burns, salt buildup in the soil, stunted growth, drooping foliage, brown patches on leaves, and yellowing foliage.

Note: Cut back on fertilizing beginning in fall until the end of winter to prevent fertilizer damage.

However, do not overfeed your Monster, and Overfeeding fertilizer will lead to soil salt buildup that may choke the plant roots.

Tips to Revive an Overfertilized Monstera

• Run the plant container under the sink or tap to thoroughly flush out the salt. Repeat the process as needed.
• Cut back on fertilization until it seems to revive.
• Consider transplanting it to a fresh potting mix for a severely wilted plant.

7. Growth Rate

Monstera Subpinnata is a climbing plant that reaches over 30-feet (10 meters) tall in the wild. It would usually latch on to the surrounding plant or trees to climb up.

Your Monstera Subpinnata would only reach a height of six feet and a few feet wide when grown as the houseplant.

The size of the pot, substrate quality, optimal sunlight, and regular watering would play a critical role in defining its height.

The looser the root system, the bigger and healthier your Monstera will be.

Foliage, Flower, and Fruiting

The leaves of Monstera Subpinnata are the defining aspect of the plant.

The pinnate foliage with pairs of leaflets that resemble hands or fingers sits symmetrically on either side of the stem.

A mature plant leaf would reach about 10-15 inches long and 7-11 inches wide. Each leaf contains 3-12 pinnae on either side.

Talking about the blossoms, this plant would only flower when grown outdoors. An ornamental or indoor plant is likely to bear flowers or fruits.

This flowering plant occurs at sea level to 4,921 feet, giving it a naturally colorful appearance. The blossom would range from pale yellow to yellow spadix with a whitish or creamy spathe.

Similarly, the flowering will bear berry-like fruit with seeds in summer. The fruits are greenish but will turn yellowish or orange at maturity.

Note: Do not eat the fruit because the Monstrea fruits are equally poisonous as the stems or leaves.

8. Occasional Pruning

Pruning the Monstera Subpinnata is only about removing the diseased, damaged, or decayed leaves as they stop supporting the plant growth.

As routine care, prune the plant once or twice in the growing season but strictly avoid pruning in fall or winter.

Tips to Prune Monstera Subpinnata Effectively

• Start with removing old and decayed leaves to free up resources for healthier new growth.
• Next, contain its size for an ornamental plant by cutting off the top and side growths.
• Cut the plant to the point where you want it to grow.
• Prune off the leggy stem growth with no foliage.

A hardy plant can withstand heavy pruning but must wear gloves to avoid touching the plant’s toxic sap.

Similarly, use sharp and clean tools sterilized with 98% ethyl alcohol to prevent wounds and bacterial onset.

9. Repotting Overgrown Monstera Subpinnata

Monstera Subpinnta hates sitting in an excessively root-bound condition. Hence, you should repot your Subpinnata every 18-24 months in a slightly larger pot.

Consider repotting Monstera Subpinnata in early spring every two years to a pot 2″ to 3″ bigger than the current one.

However, ensure the pot is not too big as it can drown the airy roots in too much soil.

Alternatively, repot it into the same size vessel if you want to retain the current size of your plant, but ensure to provide fresh soil mix.

The Monstera infested with pests or diseases would also require repotting, especially in spring or summer.

Steps to Repot Monstera Subpinnata

Here is the step-by-step guide to repotting your Subpinnata.

Step 1: Choose a New Planter

• Choose a container with multiple drainage holes to ensure optimal draining.
• Pots preferably made from clay, ceramic, or terracotta would work best.
• A plastic container would work too, but ensure to poke holes underneath.

Container	Specification
Classis Planter (Plastic)	They are durable and lightweight. The drainage holes lie at the bottom
LE TAUCI Ceramic Plant Pots	4+5+6 inch, Set of 3, Planters with holes in the bottom
Plastic Planter, HOMENOTE	Comes in five different sizes 7/6/5.5/4.8/4.5 Inch

Step 2: Prepare a Mix and Remove the Plant

• Prepare an ideal potting mix at home or buy a commercial potting mix.
• Tip the pot on its side and coax the plant out using your fingers or a trowel.
• Gently massage the roots to lose old soil out of the root ball.
• Inspect the roots for signs of root rot and trim the affected parts using a sterilized pruning shear.

Step 2: Transplant the Plant

• Apply some fungicide to the trimmed end of the roots before transplanting.
• Fill the new container with some soil and insert the plant with roots facing downwards.
• Fill the sides of the pot and thoroughly water it to moisten the mix.

Did you know some Monstera would begin dropping after repotting due to transplant shock? Read our article about creating a drooping Monstera.

Propagating Monstera Subpinnata

You are making the right choice if you are thinking about propagating your Monstera Subpinnata!

Propagating Monstera Subpinnata lets you add the similarly striking plant to your home or office that will do the double-cleansing.

Thankfully, Monstera Subpinnata is easy to propagate through stem cutting medium.

Some serious growers would try growing it through seeds; however, finding the seeds can become a Herculean task as they are pretty rare to find.

Consider the steps below to propagate your plant at home quickly.

Step 1: Take Stem Cutting

The best time to propagate it is in early spring, as your cuttings will have sufficient time to grow

• Assess your plant to pick healthy stems with a couple of foliage indicated by the green, upright stem and one or more leaves.
• Pick a stem with several nodes to increase the likelihood of successful propagation.
• Cut the stem 4-5 inches long (10 to 12 cm) or choose a side shoot below the leaf using a sterilized pruning shear.
• Remove all but two or three leaves at the top.

Step 2: Rooting the Stem Cutting

The next step is to root the stem cutting in an appropriate medium.

Here, you will have two different rooting options

1. Rooting in Water

• Take a clear glass and fill it with clean, tepid water kept at room temperature. (Let the tap water sit for 10-12 hours to remove chlorine naturally).
• Add a few drops of liquid rooting hormone to the water and submerge the cutting with the bottom node lying inside the water.
• Next, place it in a warm location with bright, indirect sunlight.
• Care to change the water every 4-5 days or when it turns slightly yellowish to prevent bacterial growth.
• The stem cutting should begin developing feeder roots within 2-3 weeks and will become an inch long in another few weeks.
• Once you witness a 1-2 inch long feeder root, consider transplanting it to a container with potting medium.

2. Rooting in Soil

Rooting the stem cutting directly into the soil saves time because you need not transplant it after the cutting begins to root.

• Get a container or pot at least 3-inches big and fill it with the potting medium(3 inches of soil mix, perlite, or vermiculite).
• Thoroughly moisten it with water.
• To prevent fungal infection and boost the rooting process, mix some fungicide and rooting hormone to the trimmed end.
• Slide the stem cutting into the potting medium and place the container in a warm location with ample indirect sunlight.
• Use a self-sealing plastic bag to cover the pot, reduce water loss, and vamp up the temperature.
• Let it sit for 4-8 weeks and begin seeing new feeder roots.
• Finally, transplant it into a larger pot.

Toxicity of Monstera Subpinnata

Let’s get to the point! Yes, Monstera Subpinnata is a toxic houseplant.

The resin produced by the plant called calcium oxalate crystals is highly toxic and can poison both humans and animals when touched or consumed.

Even ASPCA has listed the genus Monstera as one of the toxic houseplants for pets.

The severity of the toxicity would depend on the intake dosage and whether it has reached the respiratory tract.

Touching the plant sap on the naked skin may lead to itchiness, rashes, and stinging in humans, while consuming the plant leaves, fruit, or stem could cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Similarly, mild poisoning may cause nausea and intense mouth, tongue, and throat burning in pets, especially cats.

Vomiting, difficulty swallowing, drooling, dilated pupils, cardiac issues, and diarrhea are more common when consumed in large quantities.

Contact the American Association of Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222 immediately if you suspect poisoning in children. For poisoning in pets, contact ASPCA Poison Center at (800) 426-4435.

Common Problems with Monstera Subpinnata

Your Monstera Subpinnata is not from common houseplant problems, including pests and horticultural diseases.

Here is a list of common problems found in the Monstera genus like Subpinnata.

1. Common Pests

Monstera Subpinnata is a tropical species prone to a few sap-sucking insects that primarily infest leaves and stems in spring or summer.

Keep an eye out for the pests like spider mites, brown scales, mealybug, and aphids.

Common Pests	Symptoms
Brown Scale	1. They are soft and flat in shape, similar to mites, that suck the sap off the plant. 2. They resemble lumps of shells rather than insects. 3. The leaves start Wilting or drooping
Aphids	1. Curling and falling off leaves 2. Stunted growth
Mealybugs	1. White cotton-like structure forms on the undersides of the leaves 2. Curling, wilting and falling off leaves
Spider Mites	1. Discoloration of leaves 2. Stippled and yellowed leaves 3. Fine webbing on leaves might appear on the leaves.

Solutions

• One of the easiest ways to remove pests is handpicking and dropping them in a soapy water solution.
• Use a blunt knife or spoon to scrape off mature scales on the plant, especially in summer.
• As an organic approach, rub the plant with horticultural oil or Neem oil to kill all the pests effectively.
• If it does not seem to work, apply Malathion solution Pyrethrin sprays to remove mealybugs, mites, scales, and many other pests.

Preventive Measure

• Wash the plant leaves with clean water or soapy water solution every few weeks in spring and summer.
• Rub the entire plant with 98% isopropyl alcohol once or twice in the growing season to repel insects.
• Prevent bringing suspicious plants such as the one with yellowed leaves, decayed stems, and spider webs underneath the leaves.
• Quarantine the plant for at least two weeks and treat it before bringing it close to other plants
• Keep basil and mint, sage and rosemary, or lavender plants around the houseplants to repel the pests naturally.

2. Horticultural Diseases

Your Monstera Subpinnata is prone to a few fungal and bacterial infections that become active in the growing season when the humidity sharply rises, or the plant is kept at damp locations.

Fungal and bacterial infections are pretty common in the Monstera Subpinnata, significantly when you boost the humidity levels over 70%.

Solutions

• Isolate the infected plant and check for the severity of the problem. Dispose of the plant when the situation seems severe.
• Slide out the plant and cut the infected roots using a sterilized pruning shear for root rot.
• Apply some fungicide to the cut ends before transplanting it to a new pot.
• Use common fungicides like Medalion (fludioxonil), Prostar (flutolanil) to kill a wide range of fungal infections, and Agrimycin to treat bacterial infections.
• Apply Dimethomorph and phosphorus acid to treat Phytophthora and Pythium diseases.
• Alternatively, use organic fungicides such as Mefenoxam and aluminum tris/Fosetyl-al.

Here is an article to help you identify and treat Monstera root rot problems.

Preventive Measures

• Although Monstera Subpinnata loves high humidity, it is better off kept at a moderate humidity level to avoid disease onset.
• Prevent regularly wetting your plant and soil to avoid overly damp conditions.
• Regularly inspect the plant in the active growing season for fungal and bacterial infections, indicated by brown patches on the leaf, brown spots, and decayed lower stems.
• Quarantine the plant immediately to prevent the risk of spreading disease to other plants.

Monstera Subpinnata Vs. Monstera Pinnatiapartita

Many growers often confuse Monstera Pinnatipartita with Monstera Subpinnata because both Monstera plants boast similar-looking foliage.

In fact, both these belong to the same Monstera genus, and they do well in the same growing conditions.

Both Monstera plants hail from South American tropical regions like Ecuador, Columba, and Peru.

Even in the case of variegated leaves, both plants exhibit similar variegated patterns with only a slight difference.

There are only a handful of differences between the two Monsteras, which are also related to the leaves.

Monstera Subpinnata	Monstera Pinnatiapartita
The leaflets on each side of the leaf stay separated, resembling human fingers	The leaflets do not separate into fingers but remain connected at the tips.
The leaves are more pinnate in appearance.	The leaves are more fenestrated in appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Monstera Subpinnata

Is Monstera Subpinnata Rare?

Not really; Monstera Subpinnata is easily found in many nurseries and shops.

While you might not find them in every plant shop, they should be reasonably available on online retail websites.

Can Your Grow Monstera Subpinnata Outdoors?

Indeed, Monstera Subpinata thrives in an appropriate outdoor location.

Care to provide optimal shade to protect it from direct sunlight and install a trellis to let it generously climb vertically.

Does Monstera Subpinnata Purify Indoor Air?

Monstera plants are known for their air-purifying qualities.

Similarly, Monstera Subpinnata will effectively trap dust and airborne toxins like carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, and toluene from indoor air.

Does Monstera Subpinnata Require Frequent Misting?

The plant will benefit from frequent misting in summer or when the temperature soars above 90-degrees Fahrenheit.

It ideally enjoys a high humidity level, up to 90%; hence, regular misting will help boost humidity in the air.

Conclusion

Do not let go of Monstera Subpinata because they make magnificent monster houseplant that grows well in minimal growing condition.

Their air-purifying ability should be enough to consider them as the primary houseplants.

However, do care to provide optimal growing conditions at home to witness a healthy plant with signature large leaves.