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by Anna
(Colne)

monstera-deliciosa-21938375
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I purchased this Monstera deliciosa recently and the pot looks like this! Roots hanging out and they look awful!

She’s gorgeous but the pot ruins it, and also the pot has no drainage hole?

Should I repot her? I don’t want to repot her now because it’s autumn in the Uk and I only just got her, she must be in shock and I don’t want to give her more stress.

What should I do?

P.S: there’s a clump of stems and leaves on the right side of the plant, I try to untangle them but they seem to be quite oriented to that position, and I don’t want to break the stem!

Comments for Monstera deliciosa

Oct 22, 2020
 Emergency!
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

Monstera deliciosa do get a lot of aerial roots, but in this case it’s an indication that something’s wrong with the real roots. Yes – repot it immediately, due to the fact that if you don’t, you won’t have a plant when spring arrives.

The size of the plant indicates that your pot needs to go up a size too.

Leave the clump of leaves and stems for a later date – there’s a good chance that it’s a pup, giving you two for the price of one. I routinely choose the plant with two in the pot, for this reason. Later, in the spring (the correct repotting season) you could cut them apart with some delicate surgery, and have two plants – or leave them so the growth is thicker and more lush.
Oct 22, 2020
 WHAAAAT?
by: Anna

NO WAY! :O

So how should I repot it? Should I remove the soil it has already? Wash the roots as well?

Also what kind of soil should I use because I thought about coconut coir or, more risky, LECA. What about these options?

Also thank u so much for the help, I recommended you to a friend :))
Oct 22, 2020
 Remove as much as you can
by: Jacki

Due to the fact that the plant is already showing some stress, and it’s been in this pot without drain holes, I would take it out of the pot (carefully) and see what’s what. If the roots look okay, as in still with white tips, not just mush, then carefully remove some of the soil from the root ball.
Don’t wash the soil off if the soil looks wet (which it very well could be).

Then, repot it with some kind of jungle potting soil, ie: leaf mold, potting compost, or similar – I don’t know what you have available.

I wouldn’t use coir, and I don’t know what LECA is.

Remember that these plants originate in jungle conditions where they are growing at the base of a large tree, which they use for support. So, they will get a steady supply of moisture, into leafy compost from the leaves falling from the trees.
Oct 24, 2020
 Repot done!
by: Anna

So I just repotted her. I also added some support with some sticks to make her look more aesthetic. How should I care for her now?

I’m a bit concerned because the root ball was moist (not wet, but healthily moist) and I watered her again with rainwater to put all the substrate down into the roots. I hope she does okay because I believe she doesn’t do well with overwatering.
What should I do next?

Anyway, thank you so much for your help!
Oct 24, 2020
 Good Job!
by: Jacki

Now, you just sit back and let her recover, and get established in her new home. Light levels should be bright but not full sun or anything. Water with the same water (rainwater, warmed to room temperature) when the top of the soil appears dry. The soil should be damp about an inch down, at all times.

You’re very welcome!