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This was a gift from my boyfriend’s son who passed 3/15/24. It was… | Monstera Maniacs | Planta community

Solita

This was a gift from my boyfriend’s son who passed 3/15/24. It was his favorite plant. I am desperately trying to keep him alive and I’m terrified to do anything. Is the pot too big? I water every Sunday, I’ve used this app since we got him, soil is peat moss and the little white balls, lots of drainage and I empty excess water in the basin. He grows new leafs after I water and I use miracle grow at all waterings. I have moved him to the bathroom with a grow light and my weak attempt at a moss pole. He is so thin compared to the ones I’ve seen and his leafs are curling up. Please help!

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2 likes 14 comments

14 comments

  1. Jules

    So sorry for your loss. I would say more humidity and a smaller pot would be better. The pot should only be one or two inches larger than the root system with drainage hole. Pot the plant in chunky soil like Mollys around mix and water when it’s dry. Wipe the leaves down regularly with a microfiber cloth and water to keep them dust free. Also the more light the better but not direct light. Not in the suns rays, just looking out a bright window at the sky. Best of luck!

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    • c.cat

      i strongly second this!! fox farms mixed with perlite and/or vermiculite also works - about a 1:1 soil to ammendment :)

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    • Solita

      I have a full spectrum grow light with a dimmer for my orchids in the bathroom all getting some humid, humidity therapy? We are in Az and I’m learning watering is not enough. I’m going to get the potting mix suggestions tomorrow but I just moved him to the bathroom so I think I need to wait some time for him to adjust or when should I repot? I’ll get a smaller pot too.

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    • c.cat

      yeah, i would give him about a week or two to adjust, and repot after that new leaf has unfurled and is mostly hardened off. good luck with this guy; theyre pretty hardy, so i think youll do great!! ps, so sorry about your loss, dont forget to take care of yourself too ❤️‍🩹🌱

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  2. Wolfen 🐺

    The set up looks good. My two concerns are the watering and the miracle grow. It looks like the edges of the leaves are yellowing slightly. I water my monstera deliciosa, Albo's and Thai's about every 2 weeks. Letting the top portion of the soil dry out. I do live in humid WA, so if you're in a dryer climate it may dry out enough. I don't use miracle grow fertilizers any longer, I know lots of people love them. Does the pkg say to water with every watering? Generally most liquid fertilizers are ever 2-6 weeks depending on plant or season. Though there are some that are very diluted so that they are used every watering.

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    • Solita

      I’m in Arizona. Thank you so much for the watering tip!

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    • Wolfen 🐺

      Aahh okay, then every week may not be too off. Id just check the soil before hand, if its still damp 1/4 to 1/2 way in, push the skip for 2 days option. This will also help adjust the schedule. And then any season changes in check because they can be drier or more humidity, so while every 3 weeks is fine in winter, in summer it might need every 2

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    • Solita

      Made some changes this morning

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  3. Cookie

    I’m so sorry for your loss. 😢 I notice you are coming up on one year without him. Those anniversaries can be very difficult. 🥺 I hope you both can think of all the happy memories you have of him and that it will give you a measure of peace.

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    • Solita

      Hardest thing I’ve ever seen any adult experience. It’s indescribable. This plant living is so important for both of us. His son was passionate about his garden and neither of us know anything about plants.

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  4. JW

    So although those bottom leaves aren't too healthy, you can see at least two pretty new leaves up top. As long as that's happening you should be good. My concern would be about watering as well, I live in very dry Colorado and I have a humidifier by most of my non desert plants. I like to water mine more like once every 1-2 weeks or when the top 2 inches of soil are dry!

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  5. Hay Hay

    I'm so sorry for your loss. It's really hard when you are trying to care for a plant that has such a special place in your heart and it isn't doing well. I would use a lot chunkier of soil. Foxfarms, peat moss, orchard bark, and perlite (1:1:1:1) is my go to mix. Look into getting some mycorrhizae. It's really beneficial fungi (think of it as an invisible spider web) it will help in case of overwatering. The plant looks pretty good for a little struggle it is having. If you are absolutely terrified of losing it, cut the top off and propagate it in water as a back up plan in case the rest of the plant doesn't make it. Make sure you have a node and not just cut at the base of the leaf.

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    • Solita

      I’ll have to look this up because I had tried this with a smaller root that was alone and I failed.

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    • Hay Hay

      For propitiating?

      1 like