---
title: "I’m having a hard time with my monstera. She’s in a 12inch pot,…"
description: "I’m having a hard time with my monstera. She’s in a 12inch pot, repotted last spring. There are roots everywhere and the soil is so packed/dense. Do I repot to…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/UeI834LBSHCioL8MwLcQxA/g8n93KLB2iLWIrp0kg4Ab6"
community: "Monstera Maniacs"
author: "Lo"
published: "2026-03-08T14:34:43.731823Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/bietQkiKSR4V9kCj5sMgm0mjb9BlrbOeMgEd5oOLxFA/myQDUb2GSSawFYLqAIT0eA.webp?size=large"
---

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# I’m having a hard time with my monstera. She’s in a 12inch pot,…

_Posted by Lo on 2026-03-08_

I’m having a hard time with my monstera. She’s in a 12inch pot, repotted last spring. There are roots everywhere and the soil is so packed/dense. Do I repot to a 14”? I’m dreading it, because last time I had to completely cut the planter off the soil/roots. Any suggestions to make repotting easier with such a big plant? Also my bottom leaves are yellowing and I’m getting nervous I’m going to lose the whole thing!

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/bietQkiKSR4V9kCj5sMgm0mjb9BlrbOeMgEd5oOLxFA/myQDUb2GSSawFYLqAIT0eA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/bietQkiKSR4V9kCj5sMgm0mjb9BlrbOeMgEd5oOLxFA/cEqS5UaJS3yjkUf2UVdfWw.webp?size=large)

## 5 comments

### fuey commented on 2026-03-08

somebody who is more familiar with monstera might come in and disagree.. but when i had my adansonii, i upsized from a 4” to 6” and it filled it out in less than 6 months to the point it needed another upsize.

I would go to a 16”, maybe even 18”

### Jd commented on 2026-03-08

I just repotted my monstera today! If you pull your plant out, and it’s pretty packed with roots, I would size up. Monsteras aren’t dramatic with repots, so I would try a much larger jump in pot size, like I did (10in to 14in), as long as you can ensure you won’t water as frequently as you do now. I have mine in a terracotta pot, so I don’t have to completely break the pot afterwards. I’d say with plastic ones it’s almost impossible not to have to break them out, especially with how long it’s been

#### Lo replied on 2026-03-09

Are they more likely to slide out of a terracotta compared to plastic?

#### Jd replied on 2026-03-09

From my experience, yes! I’ve had mine potted for about a year, and it came out super easily!

#### Eva replied on 2026-03-09

I often find I have to soak the pot and roots in water to loosen it up, but then they come out just fine ☺️

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