Essential Tips for Maintaining Your Monstera During Winter Months

Winter can be a tough time for Monstera plants. The drop in natural light, cooler temperatures, and dry indoor air create a challenging environment that can cause yellow leaves, slow growth, or even root rot. If you want your Monstera to stay healthy and vibrant throughout the colder months, you need to make some key adjustments. This guide will walk you through the exact steps to care for your Monstera during winter, focusing on light, watering, temperature, and humidity.

!Eye-level view of a healthy Monstera plant near a bright window in winter

Adjust the Light to Support Your Monstera

During winter, sunlight is weaker and the days are shorter. Monsteras rely on bright, indirect light to thrive, so this seasonal change can slow their growth and affect leaf development.

What you should do:

• Move your Monstera closer to a bright window, ideally east or south-facing.

• Avoid placing it in direct sunlight, even in winter, to prevent leaf burn.

• If your home is dark or your windows don’t get enough light, consider using a grow light.

- Position the grow light 25 to 45 cm above the plant.

- Run the light for 8 to 10 hours a day to mimic natural daylight.

Signs your Monstera needs more light:

• Leaves are smaller than usual.

• New leaves lack the characteristic splits or holes.

• The plant leans heavily toward the window.

  
  

Providing enough light is the most important adjustment you can make for your Monstera in winter.

Change Your Watering Routine Carefully

Monsteras reduce their water intake during winter because their growth slows down. Overwatering is a common mistake that leads to root rot.

How to water properly:

• Let the top 5 to 7 cm of soil dry out before watering again.

• In most homes, this means watering every 10 to 20 days instead of weekly.

• Always check the soil moisture with your finger rather than sticking to a strict schedule.

  
  

Avoid this mistake:

• Do not water if the top soil feels dry but the bottom is still wet. Cold, wet soil is the main cause of root rot in winter.

  
  

Signs of overwatering:

• Yellowing lower leaves.

• Soil stays wet for 1 to 2 weeks.

• Mushy or soft stems.

  
  

Signs of underwatering:

• Droopy leaves.

• Dry, crispy leaf edges.

  
  

Adjusting your watering routine is crucial to keep your Monstera healthy during the colder months.

Keep Temperature in the Ideal Range

Monsteras prefer temperatures between 18°C and 27°C. Winter nights can drop below this range, which stresses the plant.

Tips for temperature control:

• Keep your Monstera away from air conditioners or heaters that blow directly on it.

• Avoid placing it near cold drafts from windows or doors that open to the outdoors.

• Find a bright corner that stays warm but is not exposed to direct heat or cold.

  
  

Maintaining a stable temperature helps your Monstera avoid stress and supports steady growth.

Boost Humidity to Prevent Dryness

Indoor humidity often drops to 30–40% during winter, which is too dry for Monsteras that thrive in more humid environments.

Ways to increase humidity:

• Use a humidifier near your plant to keep the air moist.

• Place a tray with water and pebbles under the pot to add moisture through evaporation.

• Group your Monstera with other plants to create a micro-humid environment.

• Mist the leaves occasionally, but avoid overdoing it to prevent fungal issues.

  
  

Higher humidity helps keep your Monstera’s leaves healthy and prevents the edges from drying out.