Rehab advice please! Got this from a friend as needs some TLC and has been overwatered. Would you trim all the brown viney things? Also will be repotted in larger pot. Would you keep the 90 degree bend above the dirt? Separate all the stems? Thanks in advance for any advice/thoughts!!
best of luck getting the plant out of that pot. it looks horribly potbound, in a very sturdy ceramic pot if i’m seeing your picture correctly. i would recommend detangling the roots once you get it out of the pot as it looks like one of the stems has died. after you’ve separated the roots, locate the front and back of each healthy, living stem with viable roots. monstera have a face, where the leaves and petioles (leaf stems) will point, and a backside, where the roots or aerial roots point. that’s what those brown vines are. i would recommend putting the plant’s secondary root system in the new pot when you repot it. a large, plastic (flexible) nursery pot with plenty of drainage will be best. you will have to decide the pot size by looking at the entire root mass, the pot should be no bigger than 1-2” more than the roots with no soil. maybe 8-12” for your plant but i’m not sure how big it is by the pictures. monstera are epiphytes, climbing plants, and prefer to be growing up a support. if you can find a bamboo pole, or wooden stake, or board, to support it will grow much happier and healthier in the future. an airy soil or soilless mix will also benefit your monstera, especially if you tend to overwater.
3 likes i also suggest looking at some pictures of others’ massive potted monstera deliciosa, and of those growing in the wild. they’re a truly impressive species.
2 likes Ok! I have a big project tomorrow! Ha! And my friend wanted her pot back - do you think it will damage the plant too much to get it out of the pot? Yes one of the stems is gone. It is only about 12-16 inches tall right now.
0 likes breaking the pot might be the most violent option but it will be the least stressful for the plant as you don’t have to poke anything into the sides of the pot and potentially cut or scrape the roots. it’s possible to remove the root system without breaking the pot but it will be quite tedious and likely require some more muscle. a slim blade like a flexible butter knife or icing spatula would be helpful to get between the roots and the pot with minimal damage to the root system
1 like I will take a pic of the roots tomorrow if I can get it out
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If it’s super difficult to remove from the pot, you will likely damage the roots a bit. In my experience, I usually just end up cracking into the terracotta pots and end up using the shattered bits in my soil mix… but I know your friend wants the pot back! Worst case scenario - you can always attempt to propagate any remaining viable nodes. Just make sure to remove any rotted roots, stems, etc.
2 likes I found an exact pot on Etsy so I am going to ask if I can just buy her a new one!!
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no don’t cut those aerial roots. put them in the dirty or use them to help the plant climb. it’s okay to prune roots, it happens and the plant can take a little snipping. it will adjust once it gets nutrients in a bigger (at min 2/3” larger pot)
1 like As expected, terribly pot bound. Hopefully he will recover. Putting in bathroom for the extra humidity for now. Fingers crossed! Thanks to everyone for the advice!
