I probably shouldn’t admit this but I’ve killed a number of Monsteras through watering mistakes. The truth is that a lot of people have.
There’s this weird thing that happens when you bring home a monstera. You get all excited and start treating it like a needy pet. Which is a problem because before you know it you’re either drowning the poor thing or letting it shrivel up.
So I’m going to focus on watering Monsteras in this article and explain the right way to do it that makes sense. No unrealistic “water once a week” nonsense that doesn’t account for the environment in your home. By the end of this you’ll know how much water to give your plant along with how to do it the right way, signs it needs water and more.
How Much Water Does A Monstera Need
The simple answer is there’s no magic number. I know, I know. You wanted me to say “exactly 2 cups every Thursday” or something like that.
But Monsteras are tropical plants that originally come from the rainforests of Central America. That means they’re happy with different amounts of water.
Most Monsteras do best when you water them thoroughly once the top 2 to 3 inches of soil has dried out. That usually means watering indoors every 7 to 10 days in the growing season (spring and summer) and every 12 to 14 days in the winter.
But it isn’t always this simple. Your typical situation might be completely different from mine. For example, last summer my Monstera I had near the south facing window needed water every 5 days because it was hot and bright. But the one in my bedroom went two weeks before it needed anything. The same house, but very different water needs.
Why the Finger Test Actually Works (And What to Look For)
I used to think the “stick your finger in the soil” method was too simplistic. Like, surely there’s some high-tech moisture meter solution that works better, right? Nope. After buying three different moisture meters and getting inconsistent readings, I went back to basics.
Here’s how to do it properly:
- Push your finger into the soil about 2-3 inches deep (roughly to your second knuckle)
- If it feels damp or cool, hold off on watering
- If it feels dry and warm, it’s watering time
- If you pull your finger out and soil sticks to it, definitely don’t water yet
The reason this works better than a schedule is because it accounts for all those variables we can’t control: humidity levels, pot material, soil composition, light exposure, temperature fluctuations. Your finger becomes a personalized moisture sensor that adapts to your specific conditions.
The Weight Trick That Changed Everything
This is genuinely one of those “why didn’t anyone tell me this earlier” moments. Once you get familiar with your Monstera, you can actually tell when it needs water by lifting the pot. A well-watered Monstera in a standard pot is noticeably heavier than a dry one.
I started doing this almost accidentally when moving plants around for cleaning, and now it’s my go-to method. You develop this intuitive sense after a few watering cycles. Heavy pot? Skip it. Surprisingly light? Time to water. It’s weirdly satisfying once you get the hang of it.
How Much Water to Actually Give (When You Do Water)
Okay, so you’ve determined your Monstera needs water. How much should you give it?
The goal is to water thoroughly until you see water draining out of the bottom holes. And yes, your pot absolutely needs drainage holes. If it doesn’t, we need to have a different conversation about repotting because you’re essentially playing Russian roulette with root rot.
For a medium-sized Monstera (let’s say in an 8-10 inch pot), that usually means about 4-6 cups of water. But don’t measure it – that’s missing the point. Just water until you get that drainage happening.
Here’s my process that really works:
- Take your Monstera to a sink, bathtub, or outside space where drainage isn’t an issue
- Water slowly and evenly across the entire soil surface (not just one spot)
- Wait a minute, then water again if the soil absorbed everything too quickly
- Let it drain completely – I’m talking 15-20 minutes of just sitting there dripping
- Only then return it to its decorative pot or saucer
Never, and I mean never, let your Monstera sit in standing water. Those roots need oxygen, and waterlogged soil is basically suffocation for roots. I learned this the hard way with a Monstera that developed root rot because I was lazy about emptying the catch tray. It wasn’t pretty.
Reading Your Monstera’s Signals
Plants communicate if you pay attention. Your Monstera will literally tell you if you’re watering it wrong – you just need to know what to look for.
Signs You’re Overwatering
- Yellow leaves, particularly lower ones, that feel soft or mushy
- Browning that starts from the edges and moves inward with a yellow halo
- Wilting even though the soil is wet (this is counterintuitive but it happens with root rot)
- Soil that stays wet for more than a week
- A funky, sour smell coming from the soil
- Black or brown mushy stems near the base
I’ve dealt with overwatering more than underwatering, honestly. There’s something about having a beautiful plant that makes you want to care for it constantly, and overwatering becomes this expression of anxiety. Are you okay? Do you need water? Let me just check again…
Signs You’re Underwatering
- Leaves curling inward (they’re trying to conserve moisture)
- Crispy brown edges or tips
- Drooping that perks up quickly after watering
- Soil pulling away from the edges of the pot
- Slower growth than expected during growing season
- Older leaves dropping off
Underwatering is generally easier to fix than overwatering. A thirsty Monstera will bounce back within hours of getting a good drink. An overwatered one? That’s a whole rehabilitation situation involving potential repotting and root inspection.
Environmental Factors That Mess With Everything
This is where watering advice gets really personalized. Your environment affects watering needs probably more than the plant itself.
Humidity Matters More Than You Think
Monsteras are tropical plants that naturally grow in humid environments. According to research from the University of Florida’s Environmental Horticulture Department, Monstera deliciosa thrives in humidity levels between 60-80%, though they can tolerate lower levels.
In humid environments, your Monstera will need less frequent watering because moisture isn’t evaporating from leaves as quickly. If you live somewhere dry (I’m looking at you, folks with radiator heat in winter), you’ll water more often.
I run a humidifier near my plant corner during winter, and I’ve noticed my watering frequency drops from every 7 days to every 10-12 days. The higher ambient moisture means the plant isn’t pulling as much from the soil.
Light and Temperature
More light equals more photosynthesis equals more water usage. It’s that simple. A Monstera in bright, indirect light will drink faster than one in a dimmer spot.
Similarly, warmer temperatures increase water needs. My summer watering schedule is completely different from winter, sometimes by as much as double the frequency. The plant’s growth slows down when it’s cooler, so it needs less water overall.
Pot Size and Material
Terracotta pots dry out faster than plastic or ceramic because they’re porous and allow evaporation through the sides. If you’ve got your Monstera in terracotta, expect to water more frequently – sometimes twice as often as you would with plastic.
Pot size matters too, but probably not how you think. A too-large pot holds more soil, which retains moisture longer and increases overwatering risk. A too-small pot dries out fast and becomes rootbound. You want something that gives about 2 inches of space around the root ball.
The Seasonal Shift Nobody Warns You About
Here’s something that tripped me up initially: Monsteras need different care in winter versus summer, and watering is a huge part of that.
During spring and summer (the growing season), your Monstera is actively putting out new leaves, growing roots, and generally thriving. It needs consistent moisture to support that growth. This is when you’ll water most frequently.
Come fall and winter, growth slows way down or stops entirely. The plant enters a semi-dormant state. I’ve made the mistake of continuing my summer watering schedule into November, and my Monstera developed yellow leaves and droopy stems because the soil stayed wet for too long.
Adjust your watering frequency seasonally. If you’re watering every 7 days in July, you’ll probably stretch that to 14 days in January. The finger test becomes even more critical during this transition.
Water Quality Does Matter
I’m going to be honest – I used straight tap water for years without thinking about it. Then I noticed brown leaf tips that wouldn’t go away no matter what I did with my watering schedule. Turns out, it wasn’t a watering frequency issue at all.
Tap water often contains chlorine, fluoride, and dissolved minerals that can build up in soil over time. Monsteras are somewhat sensitive to these chemicals, particularly fluoride.
Your options:
- Let tap water sit out overnight so chlorine can evaporate (doesn’t help with fluoride though)
- Use filtered water if you have it
- Collect rainwater (this is actually ideal but not always practical)
- Use distilled water for sensitive plants, though this gets expensive
I switched to filling a large pitcher with tap water and letting it sit for 24 hours before watering. Not perfect, but the improvement in leaf quality was noticeable within a month.
Also, room temperature water is best. Cold water can shock the roots, especially if you’re watering a warm plant in a sunny spot. I learned this during winter when I was too lazy to let the water warm up – my Monstera dropped two leaves in protest.
Watering Mistakes
Let me save you some heartache by sharing the dumb things I’ve done:
Watering on a Strict Schedule
This is the biggest one. “Every Sunday is plant watering day!” sounds organized and cute until you realize your Monstera doesn’t care what day of the week it is. Some weeks it’ll need water on day 6, other weeks on day 12. Rigid schedules lead to overwatering or underwatering because you’re not responding to the plant’s actual needs.
Only Watering the Surface
If you’re giving your Monstera tiny sips of water that only wet the top inch of soil, you’re encouraging shallow root growth. The roots will stay near the surface looking for water instead of growing deep and strong. Thorough watering encourages a healthy root system that can support all that gorgeous foliage.
Ignoring Drainage
I cannot stress this enough – drainage holes are non-negotiable. That gorgeous cache pot without holes? It’s for decoration only. Your actual growing pot needs drainage. Always. No exceptions. No amount of “being careful” with watering will save a Monstera in a pot without drainage holes.
Panicking and Overcompensating
See one yellow leaf and immediately change your entire watering routine? That’s panic watering, and it usually makes things worse. Plants sometimes drop old leaves naturally. One yellow leaf isn’t necessarily a crisis. Wait and observe before making drastic changes.
What About Misting?
Quick side note since people always ask: misting doesn’t replace watering. Like, at all.
Misting can temporarily increase humidity around leaves, which Monsteras appreciate, but it does essentially nothing for hydration. The roots need water, not the leaves. I mist mine occasionally because I enjoy the ritual and it keeps dust off the leaves, but I never count it as watering.
Some people swear by misting, others think it’s pointless or even harmful (it can promote fungal issues if you overdo it). I’m somewhere in the middle – it’s a nice supplement but definitely not essential.
Bottom Line: Trust the Plant, Not the Calendar
After all this, here’s what actually matters: Learn to read your specific Monstera in your specific environment. The finger test, the weight test, watching for visual cues – these skills matter infinitely more than any rigid watering schedule.
Your Monstera needs water when the top 2-3 inches of soil are dry. When you water, do it thoroughly until water drains from the bottom. Then leave it alone until it’s dry again. That’s genuinely it.
Everything else – the frequency, the exact amount, the timing – that’s determined by your unique situation. Bright light, warm temperatures, low humidity, terracotta pots? You’ll water more often. Low light, cool temperatures, high humidity, plastic pots? Less often.
Stop stressing about getting it perfect. Monsteras are actually pretty forgiving if you pay attention to what they’re telling you. I’ve stressed about watering way more than any of my plants ever needed, and honestly, the moment I relaxed and just responded to the plant’s actual signals was when everything improved.
Your Monstera wants to thrive. Your job is just to pay attention and respond accordingly. That’s not complicated – it’s just different from the rigid rules we’re used to following. And honestly? That’s what makes it fun.