Monstera standleyana Plant Care at Home

While many monstera plants are known for their holey leaves, Monstera standleyana stands out with its patterned foliage. Ovate, green leaves display various white patterns, including small dots and large patches. These leaves grow upon a stem that climbs upwards or trails downwards, leading to quite the statement plant. In this guide, I’m going to share how I care for my Monstera standleyana at home, including the best soil types, watering frequencies, fertilizing needs, light exposures, and ideal environmental conditions for optimal growth.

Monstera standleyana Plant Care Essentials:

Botanical Name:	Monstera standleyana
Also Known As:	Five holes plant
Growing Difficulty:	Easy to moderate
Light Requirements:	Bright and indirect light
Temp & Humidity:	Prefers temperatures between 65-85ºF and humidity above 50%
Watering Needs:	Water when the top few inches of soil is dry to the touch; about once every one to two weeks
Soil Preferences:	Well draining and slightly acidic
Fertilizing:	Fertilize once a month with a balanced houseplant fertilizer from spring through midsummer
Growth Expectations:	Relatively slow-growing, can grow over five feet tall/long
Toxicity:	Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

Are Monstera standleyana Considered Easy to Grow at Home?

In my experience, these plants are moderately challenging to care for at home. They aren’t plants you can set and forget for a month, but they don’t experience too many problems.

If you’re an experienced grower or can spend 15 or so minutes each week caring for your plant, Monstera standleyana could be a good plant for you!

Growth Expectations

These Monstera plants grow at a moderate rate. My plants grow about a foot or two each a year, but they can grow more quickly in ideal conditions.

What to Do Before Planting

Fortunately, it’s easy to prepare for planting a Monstera standleyana. First, you’ll want to check that you have a good location for the plant in your home, office, or other location.

Since these plants like to climb or trail downwards, I look for a spot with some sort of vertical space. The plant can either climb up a moss pole or sprawl out of a hanging basket or pot.

Next, you’ll want to make sure you have a proper pot. If you’re repotting your monstera plant, choose a new container that is just a few inches larger than the original. And make sure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape!

What’s the Best Soil Mix?

Like many species of monstera, this plant likes a well-draining soil mix that can also hold a bit of moisture. In my experience, peat moss and/or coco coir help retain moisture while perlite, pine bark fines, and other chunky materials increase drainage and aeration.

The soil mix should have a slightly acidic pH between 5.5 and 6.5.

I like to make my own soil mix at home for these plants (which is fun and cost-effective) by combining two parts coco coir or peat moss with one part pine bark fines and one part perlite. I find this mix has excellent drainage and aeration, and provides the plant with a stable base for growth.

If you’d like to start with a pre-made soil mix, potting mix from Rio Hamza Trading and Fox Farm’s Ocean Forest potting mix (via Amazon) are good choices.

How to Plant 

Start by moistening your soil mix, so it is damp but not saturated. If you give the mix a good squeeze, no water should drip out. Next, fill your new pot with a few inches of the damp soil mix.

Remove the plant from its original container and inspect the roots for any signs of disease. If you notice any rotten portions, trim them off using a sharp and sanitized pair of shears.

If the roots look good, place the root ball in the new pot, then fill the remaining empty space with potting soil. Finally, give your plant a good drink of water.

Light Preferences 

My Monstera standleyana thrives best in bright yet indirect light. Direct light can burn its leaves, so it’s best to avoid this.

Some places that can provide this type of light include the interior of a bright room, near a north-facing window, or a few feet away from a south-facing window that is covered with sheer curtains.

I have mine set-up near an east-facing window which works great. This location provides lots of soft morning sunlight, and dappled bright light throughout the rest of the day.

Temperature and Humidity

My Monstera standleyana (like other types of Monstera) loves warm to hot temperatures and moderate to high humidity. I aim to keep the air temperature between 60ºF and 85ºF and the humidity above 50%.

If you live in a dry climate, you may need to boost the humidity around your plant. I find that a humidifier is the best way to do this, but you can also spritz the air around your plant with a spray bottle every day.

Watering

I find that these plants like soil that is moist but not saturated. They also do not tolerate drought very well. Typically, I need to water my plants roughly every 7 days in spring and summer and every 10 to 14 days in winter.

My favorite technique to check if my plant needs to be watered is to stick my finger in the top few inches of soil. If it’s dry, I know it’s time to water. If it’s moist, I wait another day or two.

These plants aren’t super sensitive about their water, so in most cases, tap water will work fine. However, you can also use rainwater or filtered water. Personally, I leave a jug of water to sit out overnight which allows the fluoride in the water to settle.

Fertilizing

My Monstera standleyana benefit from regular fertilization in the spring and summer. I choose a balanced houseplant fertilizer and apply it once every month from early spring through midsummer.

It’s better to under-fertilize than over-fertilize, so you can further dilute your fertilizer before applying.

Pruning

While you don’t need to prune Monstera standleyana, I find that it can be helpful to tame unruly plants or deal with disease. I use a sharp and sanitized pair of pruning shears to remove any leaves you’d like.

In my opinion, the best time to prune is in the late winter or early spring, but feel free to remove diseased leaves at any time.

Trellising

If you’d like your plant to climb, you’ll need to provide support. Otherwise, it will trail down out of its pot.

In my experience, a moss or coco coir pole works well as a trellis. Simply place one end of the pole in the soil at the base of your plant and then guide the stem along the pole. As the plant grows, it will use the pole for support.

Propagation

The easiest way to propagate these plants is via stem cuttings.

To start, I use a sharp and sanitized pair of shears to take a stem cutting. Make sure the cutting has at least one leaf node.

I then place the cutting in a glass of water, so only the bottom of the stem is under the water. If any leaves are touching the water, I trim them off. I then set the cutting somewhere where it receives indirect light.

After a few weeks to a month, the cutting should form roots. At this point, I plant the cutting in potting mix.

Repotting

I find that it’s a good idea to report a Monstera standleyana plant once every two to three years. Repotting gives the plant more space to grow and also lets you refresh the potting soil. The best time to repot is late winter.

First, remove your plant from its old container. Shake off any excess soil and check for signs of disease and/or pests.

Obtain a new pot that is a few inches larger in diameter than the original container. Fill the new pot with a few inches of potting mix, and then place the plant. Fill the empty space with more potting mix then water well.

Common Problems & How to Treat Them

Yellowing Leaves

In my experience, yellow leaves can indicate various issues, including overwatering, underwatering, improper temperature, and root rot.

First, look at your watering schedule and the soil. If the soil is constantly dry, you likely need to water more often. You may also want to repot your plant using a soil mix that holds more water.

If the soil appears constantly saturated, you are likely watering too often or using an improper soil mix. Saturated soils can suffocate plant roots and also lead to a root disease known as root rot. Remember to only water when the top few inches of soil are dry to the touch.

Finally, check the plant’s environment. Cold air, drafts, and recent repotting can also stress the plant and cause yellow leaves.

Curling Leaves

If you notice your plant’s leaves are curling downwards or drooping, the plant likely needs more water. Give your plant a good drink, and ensure you’re using a soil mix that retains some water.

Sap-Sucking Pests

Small pests, including spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, and thrips, use their mouthparts to pierce leaves and remove plant sap. This can cause leaf stippling, eventually yellowing leaves or brown spots.

Since these pests multiply rapidly, deal with them ASAP. If you spot a few pests, you can remove them with a soapy cloth. For larger infestations, spray neem oil or insecticidal soap.

About Monstera standleyana

Monstera standleyana is a member of the Monstera family. This family also includes popular houseplants such as Monstera deliciosa, Monstera adansonii, Monstera peru, and Monstera obliqua. The species name is standleyana. 

Monstera standleyana is native to areas in Central America, including Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama.  

Botanical Characteristics

While many monstera species are known for their fenestrations—the holes in their leaves (such as the rare but popular Monstera pinnatipartita)—Monstera standleyana is a bit different. This plant has solid leaves that are oblong in shape. These leaves are about six inches long and two inches wide.

The leaves grow opposite along the stem, about two to three inches apart. As the plant grows, it likes to climb up or trail down.

The most popular variety of Monstera standleyana is albo variegata. This variety has white and green variegated leaves. Some plants are dark green with large patches of off-white, while others are green with a few white specks.

Wrapping Up

One of the rarer species of monsteras, Monstera standleyana is an excellent plant if you’re looking to grow your monstera collection or just add a new plant to your home. Remember to provide warm temperatures, indirect light, and regular watering.

Further reading: Discover the best varieties of Monstera plants to grow at home.