In the hustle and bustle of life, sometimes our beloved plants can get a little neglected. I learned this the hard way when I noticed my Monstera's leaves were turning yellow, and it was clear that it needed more than just a splash of water.
After busy days or weeks, I find myself in need of some soil digging. Just put on some music and spend some time caring for my house and plants. Today was the day!
Written by Sander
Published on August 5, 2023
Life has a way of getting busy, doesn't it? One moment you're watering your plants, and the next, you're celebrating your newborn's one-month anniversary. Yes, our little Midas just turned one month old!
It was a busy week working on the SproutCloud website and setting up a new project. I did manage to check off all the things I had on my to-do list for this week, so I decided to dedicate an afternoon to giving my Monstera the love it deserved. It has always been a little wild, but that's okay. I'm working to reshape it a little bit, into a great looking hanging Monstera plant.
The first step was trimming the yellow leaves. I didn't stop there, I also trimmed some of the weakest, smaller leaves.
It's always a little sad to see them go, but I knew it was for the best. Trimming helps the plant focus its energy on new growth.
At one point the Monstera had most of its leafs entangled in and around each other, as I didn't know about trimming, or how to take care of my plants in general. It used to be on the floor in a spare room, growing out of control. I just didn't know what to do with it, until I found out that this is how they grow. It will try and make it's way to the light!
So you can make them climb up (like on a moss pole, what we will do with one of the other Monstera's in a next session) or make it a hanging plant, like I'm doing with this one. I think it's a very pretty sight and makes that corner of the living room looks green and lush 🥰
Next up was repotting. I carefully removed it from its inner plastic pot, making sure not to damage its roots. Usually you can leave it in the inner pot, as it makes it easier to take it out in case of over watering. But in this case I thought it was time to give the Monstera a little more room and new soil.
I added about 1/10th of clay granules to the soil to improve soil aeration and drainage, and filled the pot for about half with the mix. Then I put the plant back and added more soil to fill around the roots and cover them as well. Make sure to push down the soil a little bit, but not to much!
It's a bit of a messy job, but the result was an already healthier and happier looking Monstera. It's amazing what a little TLC can do! I can't wait to see how it continues to thrive in the coming weeks.
This experience reminded me of the importance of setting aside time for plant care.
It's not just about keeping our plants alive; it's about helping them thrive. Plus, it's pretty therapeutic. There's something about getting your hands in the soil and nurturing life that's incredibly satisfying, too.
We all get busy from time to time, and that's okay. Our plants are forgiving. But let's not forget to give them some water every now and then, especially in the summer months when they need it the most. Scheduling an afternoon of extra care and love is not just great for your plants, it's well worth it for you too!
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