Monstera deliciosa is a popular houseplant that can be found in many homes across the world. One of the most common questions about this plant is whether it can live and grow in low light conditions. This blog post will explore what you need to know about keeping a monstera in low light conditions. Let’s go…
Can Monstera Live In Low Light?
Yes, monstera plants can live in low light. This means that as long as the light is not too dark, like a basement or an unlit bathroom, then there should be enough light to sustain your monstera.
The plant will need at least some natural sunlight because artificial lighting on its own cannot provide all of the nutrients it needs to grow. My place doesn’t receive much light, so I keep my monstera plants on a spot by the kitchen window, which receives some morning sun.
How Much Light to Give Monstera?
The more light you give your monstera plant the better… kind of. In fact, monstera plants have aerial roots to climb up trees and get closure to the sun. The leaves also have splits, which allows light to penetrate to the leaves below.
The only thing to worry about in leaf burn , which is when the plant’s leaves turn brown and fall off because of too much light.
A bright window with morning sun would be perfect for monstera plants – it is where I keep mine!
How to Help a Monstera Living in Low Light?
Although monstera plants will survive in low light conditions, it won’t allow them to thrive and grow their biggest. As such, you may need to take other measures to make your monstera happy.
I like using LED lighting when my plants aren’t getting enough light during the winter. Here’s a quick link to my favorite grow lights on Amazon, but there are many types you can try. I leave my lights on for 4-6 hours every day, or whenever I don’t forget.
Your monstera will have less energy if it is kept in low light conditions. As such, the other monstera care rules are crucial. It’s especially important to give your plant enough water and humidity when it hasn’t received enough light.
I use a hygrometer (Amazon link) to make sure the humidity levels are above 50%. This will give my monstera the best chance of surviving in low light conditions.
It’s also important to be on your a-game when it comes to pests, as your monstera plant will be more vulnerable to attack. It won’t be able to fight infection as easily when it isn’t getting enough light.
Will Variegated Monstera Survive in Low Light?
Variegated monstera are more delicate than other types of monstera, so I don’t keep them in low light conditions. I make sure I do my best to mimic their natural environment to keep them alive – especially as they’re super expensive!
But just because they enjoy light, it doesn’t mean you should keep them in direct sunlight. In fact, variegated monstera are vulnerable to leaf burn. Whatever light conditions you need them in, be prepared to wait a long time for them to grow to their maximum potential.
Conclusion
In conclusion, monstera plants can survive in low light condition, but I don’t recommend it. There are a few things you can do to help, like using an overhead light (link to my post on LED lights) and keeping humidity levels high.
The reason I don’t recommend it is because the plant will have less energy if it is kept in low light conditions. As such, the other monstera care rules are crucial. It’s especially important to give your plant enough water and humidity when it hasn’t received enough light.
I hope you have enjoyed this article, and are now more confident are keeping your monstera in low light. To sum up…
* It’s actually very hard to kill a monstera plant. Their hardiness means they can be kept in low light conditions, different temperatures, and withstand infrequent watering.
* The plant will need at least some natural sunlight because artificial lighting on its own cannot provide all of the nutrients it needs to grow and maintain itself. A spot by a window with morning sun would work well for this type of low-light situation!
* Some tips include placing the pot near a larger stationary object that reflects more light onto the monstera or giving your plants regular feedings with fertilizer mixes specially formulated for houseplants so as not to shock them too much when you do water them again in between their dry spells.
