I have 2 very nice size Monstera deliciosa. They are growing very large and I need help in what I can do with them. Can I cut these back, or spilt them? Can I bunch them up some way to make a fuller plant? Help
G'day Amac... You can divide them up, they are quite hardy. You may want to give them a totem to climb or a tree. I am not sure on your weather there, if they could handle the winter. That pot looks pretty full anyway. Ed
well, I never thought about having something for them to climb.... thank you, I like keeping them in the pots so I will give them something to climb and it should be good. thank you Andy
From your photo, this plant appears to still be a juvenile. The leaves of an adult plant are closer to 30 inches (75cm) across. I see only one leaf that has begun to produce fenestrations (holes) and all the leaves will produce multiple fenestrations and divisions as they mature. Ed is absolutely correct, this plant needs to climb. In Central America and southern Mexico where it is found in nature the species grows along streams. It does not however enjoy being in mud. Make sure your soil is damp and give it as tall a totem as is possible. A piece of rough post 5 or 6 feet tall would be best. I've seen many of these grow 30 feet (10 meters) up into trees. In my atrium I have at least a half dozen specimens that have grown to a height of 6 feet (2 meters) or more with a cane 2 inches thick and no support. When they can grab a tree they grow much taller. Give it as large a pot as possible with as tall a totem as possible. Water it as often as possible making sure the soil is not muddy and it will become a beautiful plant with very large leaves.
Thanks Steve. Since I need to repot them, can I split them in half and have 4 plants? How would I split them? Thanks Andy
The plants don't appear to be old enough to have actually caused divisions. It appears you simply have a bunch of juvenile plants. I'd try to dig a single one up and see if it comes out easily. Since these are all destined to become very large specimens I'd certainly recommend having perhaps no more than two plants per pot.
