How Often Do Monstera Grow New Leaves? (And How to Speed it Up)

In good conditions, Monstera deliciosa produce one new leaf per month per growth point. In poor conditions, you might wait several months between leaves. The difference is almost always light.

That said, there is a huge amount of natural variation between individual plants. I have two Monstera sitting next to each other in basically the same conditions: one has put out one leaf this year, the other has six. Some of that is genetics. Some of it is age. Some of it is just plants being plants.

If your Monstera isn’t growing and you want to fix that, the tips are further down. If you’re just here to check whether your plant’s growth is normal: it probably is.

How often do Monstera grow new leaves?

The short answer: once a month per growth point in good conditions, less often if conditions aren’t great.

Note that these are per growth point, not per plant.

A Monstera with multiple growth points (which can happen after pruning or branching) can produce several leaves at once, which makes the whole plant look like it’s growing faster than it actually is. However, this is pretty rare – Monstera are a one growth point at a time kinda plant.

Factors that affect how fast Monstera grow

Things you can control:

• Light — the biggest lever by far. More light, more growth.
• Humidity — higher humidity can trigger growth spurts
• Temperature — Monstera grow fastest between 18–30°C / 65–85°F
• Root health — healthy roots in a well-draining mix mean healthy growth above soil
• Pests and disease — even a mild infestation diverts energy away from new leaves
• Consistency — constant change stresses plants and slows growth
• Whether it’s climbing — vertical growth triggers faster leaf production

Things you cannot control:

• Genetics — some Monstera are just faster growers than others, regardless of care
• Age — younger plants grow faster; very old plants slow down significantly

Does pruning Monstera slow growth?

No. Cutting your Monstera back can actually trigger a growth spurt. When you remove the apical bud (the main growth point), the plant activates an axillary bud lower down. There’s sometimes a short delay while this happens, but once the new growth gets going you can get several leaves in quick succession.

Monstera leaf growth stages

A new Monstera leaf goes through several distinct stages from first appearance to fully hardened. The whole process takes anywhere from two to six weeks depending on conditions.

The most common question at the unfurling stage is whether to help it along. Don’t. The leaf cells are still dividing and hardening. Touching or unrolling it manually can cause permanent damage that looks like tears or brown patches. Just wait.

(Do I help them along? Yes, yes i do. I have performed many a Monstera caesarian, and even more on Philodendron Pink Princess).

Do Monstera leaves get bigger after unfurling?

Yes, but not by much (compared to something like an Anthurium). The majority of a Monstera leaf’s size is determined before it unfurls, while it’s still tightly rolled up inside the cataphyll.

Once the leaf is fully open it will darken and harden over the following weeks, which can make it look slightly more substantial. But if the leaf unfurled small, it’s going to stay small. It won’t double in size after opening.

Small leaves are usually a sign of insufficient light or nutrients during the period when that leaf was developing. The next leaf can be bigger if you improve conditions — but you can’t go back and fix the one that’s already out.

How to make your Monstera grow faster

Three main levers: improve the environment, improve the care, and give it something to climb.

1. Give it more light

This is the closest thing to a cheat code in houseplant growing. More light means faster growth, bigger leaves, and more fenestration.

Monstera are often sold as low-light plants. They can survive in low light — they just won’t grow much, and they’ll be more vulnerable to pests and root rot. My Monstera thrive in a south-facing window. In summer I put them outside in shade for extra light. If that’s not possible, a grow light makes a real difference.

2. Increase humidity temporarily

Higher humidity can give Monstera a short-term boost and encourage new growth. I have no idea exactly why this works, but it does. It can also encourage more splits in the leaves.

Misting doesn’t count — it raises humidity for about thirty seconds. You need a humidifier, or you could try keeping your Monstera inside a large clear plastic box for a couple of months if you can find one big enough. Unconventional. Effective.

3. Keep it warm and consistent

Monstera grow fastest between 18–30°C / 65–85°F. They can survive outside this range but won’t grow well, and they need time to recover once temperatures return to a comfortable level.

Consistency matters as much as the temperature itself. Plants find change stressful, and stress slows growth. This is why winter is such a drag for Monstera growth — it’s not just the cold, it’s the shorter days, lower light, and temperature fluctuations all hitting at once. Bathrooms are a good example of this: Monstera grow fine in them, but not as fast as elsewhere, because the temperature swings around too much.

4. Sort out the roots

Root health determines everything above soil. Make sure you’re watering correctly (dry out between waterings, don’t let it sit wet), that the potting mix is well-draining, and that the pot isn’t too big or too small.

There’s no single right answer here because the correct watering frequency, substrate, and pot size all depend on your specific environment. But if growth has stalled and you haven’t checked the roots in a while, that’s worth doing.

5. Feed it regularly

We don’t have a huge amount of research on ideal fertilising regimes for aroids specifically — most fertiliser science comes from crops. But through trial and error I’ve found that feeding every other watering produces the fastest growth on my Monstera.

My Thai Constellation and bathroom Monstera both responded really well to more frequent feeding.

My big, old one was entirely unimpressed, except for growing a two-foot aerial root.

Check my resources page for the specific fertiliser I use.

6. Give it something to climb

Monstera are climbing plants. Growing them vertically triggers faster growth and bigger leaves — the plant thinks it’s climbing towards more light, so it puts more energy into producing leaves.

If you have two Pothos and keep one trailing and one climbing in identical conditions, the climber grows faster and bigger every time. Monstera are the same.

Support options:

• Moss pole — best for long-term growth; aerial roots bury into the moss and develop into a proper root system. Downside: you have to keep it damp. I’m terrible at this.
• Kratiste pole — made from elephant grass and potato peels. Aerial roots attach by themselves without needing to be kept wet. My current preference.
• Bamboo cane — fine for smaller plants, a bit flimsy for large Monstera. You’ll need to tie the stem yourself.
• Coir pole — budget option. Aerial roots won’t attach on their own but garden ties work fine. Don’t bother trying to keep it wet.
• Directing aerial roots into the soil — what I actually do. Sturdy enough for most plants, though I’m increasingly suspicious my big one would prefer a proper pole.

How long does it take to grow Monstera from seed?

A long time. Growing Monstera from seed is not an efficient way to get a fast-growing plant.

Getting seeds is the first problem — unless your Monstera produces fruit (rare indoors), you’re relying on online sellers, and the vast majority of Monstera seeds on eBay and Etsy are scams. It can take a year for the fruit to ripen. Then around eight months from seed to the first few leaves. Then another one to two years before you see fenestrated leaves, assuming conditions are right throughout.

If you want a Monstera quickly, buy one. If you want a fast-growing Monstera specifically, Monstera adansonii and Monstera dubia grow significantly faster than deliciosa. Or go for something that just looks like a Monstera — Rhaphidophora tetrasperma grows at a pace that’ll make your head spin.