Whenever you look at Monstera Deliciosa, you will always be reminded of Swiss cheese. That is why many people also call it the Swiss cheese plant, and rightly so. The plant has holes on the leaves, and it is one of the most popular house plants.
If you want a luxurious yet lush touch to your home, then this is the ideal plant for you. And, it will look even better if you use the right soil. So, if you are looking for the best soil for Monstera Deliciosa, you are in the right place.
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Monstera Deliciosa plants, including Monstera Deliciosa characteristics.
Monstera Deliciosa Characteristics
| Genus name | Monstera deliciosa |
| Common name | – Swiss Cheese Plant – Ceriman – Hurricane Plant – Cutleaf Philodendron – Mother-in-Law – Mexican Breadfruit – Split-leaf Philodendron |
| Phonetic Spelling | mon-STER-ah de-lis-ee-OH-sah |
| Family | Araceae |
| Plant Type | – Edible – Vine – Houseplant – Climbing evergreen – Poisonous |
| Life Cycle | – Perennial – Woody |
| Propagation | – Stem Cutting – Layering |
| Flower Color | – Green – White |
| Maintenance requirements | Medium |
| pH Requirements | Neutral (between 6.0 to 8.0) |
| Soil Drainage | – Moist – Good Drainage |
| Light Requirements | – Thrives in dappled sunlight, with shade through the upper canopy all day. – Also grows well in partial shade with direct sunlight only part of the day, about 2 to 6 hours. |
| Plant Size | 72 to 144 inches (183 to 366 cm) |
| Toxicity | – Toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. – Poisonous to Humans |
| USDA Plant Hardiness Zone | 10 to 12 |
| Region Of Origin | Central America |
What Kind Of Soil Does Monstera Deliciosa Prefer?
Plants also have preferences because it affects their growth in various ways. Monstera Deliciosa has lush, shiny, and thick leaves, which is why it likes a potting soil that will mimic the soil found in subtropical and tropical regions. You have to select a soil that will offer the plant excellent growing conditions for its roots to spread evenly and absorb nutrients.
So, selecting the appropriate soil is vital, as you need to offer what it needs. For example, one of the top growing conditions for this house plant is that it needs soil rich in nutrients. Besides that, the soil must also be dense.
If you select a loose potting mix that does not offer much density, then your Monstera Deliciosa will not thrive. Remember these considerations when selecting the best soil for Monstera Deliciosa.
Can You Use Regular Potting Mix For Monstera?
Fortunately, you can use regular potting mix for Monstera Deliciosa. However, you must check the ingredients to see if it is rich in nutrients for the plant to thrive. You can even use cactus soil as they have similar ingredients but in unique proportions.
On the other hand, orchid soil can also be an excellent choice for the Monstera Deliciosa to grow as it contains different bark chunks. If you are sticking to regular potting, you must check that it:
- It is from a high-quality brand
- Has peat moss
- Should drain easily
- Should not contain compost
These are some of the requirements you will have to fulfill because Monstera Deliciosa grows optimally in nutrient-rich and dense soil.
Monstera Deliciosa doesn’t do well in potting soils that don’t drain easily and include compost. So, it is crucial for you to do your research before purchasing.
7 Best Soil For Monstera Deliciosa
After learning something important about the best soil for Monstera Deliciosa, there are many options in the market you can choose from.
We have researched and created a list of the four soil options that will offer you what you need. Here are the seven best soil for Monstera Deliciosa:
1- Miracle-Gro Potting Mix
Do you live in a temperate area? If you do, then the Miracle-Gro potting mix is the best soil for Monstera Deliciosa for your needs. Besides that, if you want to move your plant outside in the summer, then even you can opt for this soil.
The potting mix has composted bark from spruce, hemlock, pine, and fir. Besides that, the base consists of peat moss that will help drain the plant easily. While it drains well, it also offers excellent moisture retention that will help you grow the plant outside.
| Pros | Cons |
| – The soil also includes fertilizer – It drains quite well – The moisture retention is excellent – It is ideal for outdoor Monstera Deliciosa – The pH levels of this soil vary between 4 and 6.5 | – The potting mix may be vulnerable to mold and gnats |
2- Foxfarm Ocean Forest Garden Potting Soil
The Foxfarm potting soil mix contains fine sand, organic matter, and peat moss. Because of this, it will offer one of the strongest root developments to your Monstera Deliciosa, as it has an aerated and light texture. The best part is that the brand has also added some natural nutrient sources for the plant to grow well.
These include bat guano, crab and fish meal, earthworm castings, and more. Foxfarm Ocean Forest Garden Potting Soil will guarantee that your plant grows healthy and lush in the long run. In addition, you can use the potting soil for indoor and outdoor Monstera Deliciosa plants.
| Pros | Cons |
| – The texture is aerated and light – The pH level of the potting soil varies between 6.3 and 6.8 – It offers a chance for strong root development in the plant – It is ideal for outdoor and house plants – It has natural ingredients | – The soil tends to retain a little bit of moisture than what is ideal |
3- Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix
As the name suggests, this premium potting mix by Burpee Organic has some of the best natural ingredients. If you need something organic for your Monstera Deliciosa, then this is the ideal choice. The brand does not include any chemical processes or ingredients while creating this potting mix for your plants.
Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix has organic components, such as perlite, coco coir, organic fertilizer, poultry manure, etc. These ingredients are there to encourage optimal lead and root development for the plant. That is why once you start using this potting mix, you will notice lush and healthy leaves.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Includes plant food – The mix offers healthy root and leaf development – There are no chemical processes or ingredients | Sometimes the mix contains sticks |
4- House Plant and Tropical Plant Potting Soil
This house plant and tropical plant potting soil is excellent for Monstera Deliciosa. It is a hand-blended potting soil best for repotting your house plants and various tropical ones.
The good news is that the house plant and tropical plant potting soil is an all-natural product with no added fertilizers. It contains worm castings, making it nutritious organic plant food for your Monstera Deliciosa.
The house and tropical plant potting soil comes in a 2-gallon bag, which is large enough to re-pot larger plants or multiple media to small ones. You can also easily store it as it comes in a resealable bag.
| Pros | Cons |
| – It is all-natural with no added fertilizers. – It contains peat, worm castings, perlite, and Lime. – Worm castings are 100% all-natural and contain no chemicals – It has no real earthy compost smell – It is easy to store | It might not suitable for say cactus |
5- Miracle-Gro Houseplant Potting Mix
Miracle-Gro houseplant potting mix creates an ideal environment for your plants to thrive and can feed your plant for up to 6 months.
In addition, Miracle-Gro houseplant potting mix can provide a strong foundation for your plants and adequate vital nutrients.
Miracle-Gro Houseplant Potting Mix comes in two varieties: succulents and houseplants. It is best for growing beautiful and healthy indoor houseplant varieties, including Monstera, Pothos, Spider Plants, Philodendron, English Ivy, etc.
6- Burpee Natural And Organic GardenCoir
Made of lightweight coconut coir, Burpee’s Natural and Organic GardenCoir mix provides Monstera plants with the optimal growth condition to thrive.
GardenCoir is an organic and nonprocessed product including the best natural ingredients.
Even though the pH level is not included on the product packaging, the main ingredient coconut coir has a natural and acidic pH level of 5.2 to 6.8, making it optimal for growing Monstera.
Since this growing medium does not have added fertilizers or nutrients, you might need nutrients depending on your Monstera plant’s requirement.
| Pros | Cons |
| – It will not cause clogging around Monstera’s roots – Provides an optimal growing environment – It contains only natural and unprocessed ingredients | It does not include nutrients or fertilizers |
7- Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix For Monstera
If you are looking for a lightweight growing medium containing fertilizer at an affordable price, go for Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix.
Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix includes sphagnum peat moss mixed with coconut coir, perlite, and a fertilizer blend suited to growing healthy and strong houseplants.
More importantly, this growing medium has a wetting agent making dry products quickly absorb water. The main ingredients include a mixture of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash to promote healthy and vigorous root and leaf development.
The Miracle-Gro soil mixture also has a pH level range between 5.5 to 6.2, making it suitable for growing Monstera.
| Pros | Cons |
| – Affordably priced – It comes with a wetting agent – pH level is between 5.5 to 6.2 | It might be prone to gnats |
Final Words
Overall, investing in the best soil for Monstera Deliciosa is well worth it. Before selecting any potting mix, it is crucial to understand the plant and what it needs. After all, if it does not have optimal growing conditions, your plant will not thrive in your home for a long time.
Go through our guide and select the best soil for your plant that is rich in nutrients and enables healthy leaf and root growth. Once you do, your Monstera Deliciosa will produce healthy roots, leaves, and more that will add beauty and warmth to your home. It is one of the best house plants you can invest in if you take care of it effectively.
