To start, this article is talking about the Arum plant family. These include but are not limited to the genus's Monstera and Philodendron. While there are hundreds if not thousands of these varieties, this is a universal care guide for the easier to manage or more common plants. If you purchase a plant or are otherwise curious as to how to take care of a more difficult one, don't hesitate to ask below. We will always send care sheets out with every plant order to ensure all information is with you as soon as you need it.
Lets begin,
The Media:
The substrate, or lack thereof will dictate how you need to care for your plant. This article will not focus on hydroponics however we will upload a later one that will. For aroids, you need to ensure that your substrate is airy and well draining. I find that the houseplant mix available at stores is too compact and keeps moisture for too long. My personal favourite to use is a mixture of roughly 50% fine coco-coir, 30% pumice and 20% worm castings. These ratios depend heavily on how much you find yourself watering your plants. For those that frequently water, reduce the coco-coir and add more pumice, for those that forget every now and then like myself the ratio above should work great. You can also use premade orchid and houseplant mix, 50% of each.
Sunlight:
These plants originate from a tropical environment. This means that they do not like to be in direct sunlight however do like a warm area with constant diffused or indirect light.
"In the tropical understory, flecks of sunlight make it through the canopy intermittently and erratically. The holes allow leaves to spread out over greater areas without needing to expend energy and nutrients growing extra leaf area to fill this space." - Charles Choi, Science Shot
Water:
Monstera and other aroids both appreciate a little dry time every now and then, do not oversaturate your plants as this could lead to root rot down the line. A good rule of thumb is to keep your plants in snug pots and not water them until at least the first 5cm of soil is too dry. It is better to underwater in this situation, however do not let them stay dry for too long. Depending on the season and weather pattern the soil can dry out every other day or take a full week. If you are seeing the latter, try using less water the next time.
Humidity:
This requirement is different depending on the aroid or variation that you have. Monstera and Monstera Adansonii ("Swiss Cheese" or "Monkey Mask",) do not require high levels of humidity to survive, 50-60% would be comfortable for them however, around 70-75% would be best for them to thrive. This rule applies across all aroids as they come from different climates and regions across the world. The humidity level in the environment you are keeping your plants should never fall below 45%, and luckily in New Zealand that doesn't naturally happen often. A humidifier or tray of pebbles can help elevate this in the summer time.
Support:
Once your plant reaches a certain size it will no longer be able to hold itself up, a sphagnum moss pole or a coco coir one from your local nursery or garden store would be perfect. Feel free to also support small local businesses and search online for any handcrafted ones that may be to your liking.
Fertiliser:
Most Arums are not heavy feeders. In their peak growing time (Summer,) they only require fertiliser around once a month. All fertilisers are different and there is no universal way to apply it, ensure you follow the steps provided on the one you choose to purchase and keep in mind a little goes a long way.
For more information and to see our sources look at the links below:
Dustin. (2021, June 07). Aroids, Anthuriums & Philodendrons Care & Culture - Tips for Growing Indoors. Retrieved from https://herebutnot.com/aroids-anthuriums-philodendrons-care-culture-tips-for-growing-indoors/
Monstera Deliciosa Care. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://greeneryunlimited.co/blogs/plant-care/monstera-deliciosa-care
Richa. (2020, October 12). Does Monstera Need Fertilizer? (What Type, How Much & More). Retrieved from https://simplifyplants.com/does-monstera-need-fertilizer/
The Sill. (2019, September 06). Monstera. Retrieved from https://www.thesill.com/blogs/plants-101/how-to-care-for-monstera-monstera-deliciosa
The Sill. (2018, September 04). A is for Aroids. Retrieved from https://www.thesill.com/blogs/plants-101/what-are-aroids
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