Monsteras are plants native to the tropical rainforests in Panama and Mexico. Since these are popular tropical houseplants, it only means that they require warm temperatures all year long. It means that temperatures can affect how successful you will be in growing your Monstera.
This is why it is extremely important to be familiar with the specific temperature requirements of your Monstera plants. What temperatures can Monstera tolerate, then?
Monstera plants love tropical conditions. The ideal temperature range is 68°Fahrenheit to 86°Fahrenheit. But these plants can still continue to thrive in slightly lower temperatures. The growth of the plant will slow down when the temperatures go below 55°Fahrenheit. Temperatures lower than 50°Fahrenheit, however, can shock and even kill your plant.
Typical Temperature Range in the Native Habitats of Monsteras
Monsteras are native plants in the tropical regions of the Americas. You can find them growing naturally all throughout Central America and Mexico and over the fringes of the South American tropics as well as some portions of the West Indies.
Monstera plants growing in these regions of the world enjoy and thrive in a tropical humid climate. The humidity in this type of climate ranges from moderate to high, with the lowest average temperatures every month staying at 64.4°Fahrenheit or higher, with the average highs resting at more than 80°Fahrenheit.
Even though you might find some Monsteras growing natively in humid tropical climates with an average temperature of more than 80°Fahrenheit and an average humidity that ranges from 70% to 80%, there is no need to mimic these exact conditions inside your house for your Monstera to grow and thrive happily indoors.
Maintaining your indoor temperature at a steady range of more than 60°Fahrenheit and 40% to 50% indoor humidity should be enough to create a good environment to keep your Monstera happy and healthy.
Signs a Monstera is Exposed to the Wrong Temperature and Humidity Level
Creating the perfect environment for your monstera plant can help prevent diseases, ensure that it continues to grow well, and keep it healthy overall.
If the environment of your Monstera plant is not quite right, it will start showing some signs of health issues. In addition to appropriate fertilizing, soil, watering, and light, the ambient temperature in the location of your Monstera is the secret to its ability to grow and thrive. It is equally important if your Monstera plant is recently propagated.
Signs of a Too Cold Environment
You can easily tell that your Monstera has suffered from a cold shock when it stops growing until it recovers. Aside from this, you might also notice yellow or blackened leaves, drooping leaves, wilting, a loose root ball, and brown spots or other discolorations.
Signs of a Too Dry Environment
If your Monstera grows in an indoor climate that has inadequate humidity levels, they tend to develop crispy, dry, and brown leaf tips. You might also notice that the potting mix of your plants dries out too fast in between waterings.
Signs of a Too Hot Environment
It is not possible for your Monstera to be exposed to extremely hot temperatures inside your house since this level of temperature will also be uncomfortable even for humans. But Monsteras may still receive excessive direct sunlight that can lead to scorched leaves developing dry and brown spots.
Signs of a Too Humid Environment
Monsteras prefer an environment that has a relatively high humidity level. But these plants can still get exposed to excessive humidity, particularly in areas with poor air circulation.
During such cases, the leaves of the plan cannot evaporate moisture which is an important aspect of the transpiration process. A plant that lives in excessive humidity will eventually rot.
The following are the most common signs that your Monstera has excessive moisture:
- Damp leaves growing closely together
- Moldy foliage or potting mix
- Mushy stem
- Root rot
- Drooping yellowed leaves
Considerations for Ideal Temperature and Humidity for Monsteras
Monstera plants are native to tropical regions, which means they prefer warmer temperatures and higher humidity levels that range from 60% to 80%. The ideal range of temperature for indoor Monsteras is from 68°Fahrenheit and 86°Fahrenheit.
But these plants can still continue growing and thriving perfectly well even in slightly lower temperature and humidity levels down to 40% to 50%. The growth of the plant will slow down at temperatures lower than 55°Fahrenheit. Temperatures 50°Fahrenheit can shock your Monstera and even kill it.
What is the Best Location for Indoor Monsteras?
Monsteras can become unhealthy and leggy if they receive very little sunlight. On the other hand, they can also scorch easily once they receive excessive sunlight.
The ideal location for Monsteras is a spot where they will get approximately 6 hours of indirect or bright filtered sunlight every day. The Monstera should be located near a window that faces southwest or south or right in front of a window covered with a sheer curtain.
Dangers to Avoid for Your Indoor Monstera
Make sure that you don’t put your Monstera in an area where it will be in the path of dry, hot, or cold air drafts. You also need to be extra mindful of the direction where the air conditioning and heating vents blow. It is also important to avoid drafty doorways and windows.
How to Monitor Indoor Temperature and Humidity for Your Monstera
Your HVAC system helps maintain a comfortable and steady temperature inside your home. Unfortunately, humidity can vary a lot depending on the climate and season in the area where you live. In cold climates, indoor humidity during the winter months can easily go lower than 30% when the heater is constantly running and blasting hot dry air all over the house.
But without using the right tool to measure indoor humidity, you won’t be able to tell the level of humidity in your home. The good news is that you can use a tool called a hygrometer to measure your indoor humidity.
Just don’t forget that humidity can vary all over your house from one room to another. It means that you have to check every nook and corner where you keep and grow your tropical plants like Monsteras.
