If you’re like me, you sure love Monsteras. I mean, they’re one of the most popular houseplants for a reason. They are easy to care for and look absolutely astonishing.
But if you are also like me, you surely wondered why your Monstera grows tilted towards the window. That was me a few years ago, now I know that you should rotate your Monstera plant regularly.
In this article, we’ll discuss why it’s important to rotate your Monstera and also how often and by how much you should rotate your plant. Let’s dive in!
Why Should you Rotate Monstera
To answer the fundamental question. Yes, you should rotate your Monstera plant. But why is that?
Well, it’s not necessary for the health of your flower. It’s mainly for the sake of the plant’s visual.
Monsteras are phototropic, meaning they will naturally grow toward the light source. And not only will it grow toward the window, but it can also tilt toward it once the light source changes its direction. That’s because of a small knee or joint these plants have, called geniculum. The geniculum is filled with specialized cells that are capable of rapid movement. So when there is a change in a plant’s environment, the cells will rapidly change shape, causing the join to either contract or expand, and based on that, the leaf can tilt towards the sun at any given time.
This behavior is coming from how Monstera’s natural habitat looks like. They are living in the rainforests of Central and South America. For that reason, they are not growing near the ground where they would be shaded by the canopy above.
Instead, they start growing from the soil, building aerial roots, which allow them to climb and attach themselves to trees and other surfaces in search of sunlight.
As they climb towards the canopy, they produce multiple stems and leaves at various heights along the trunk. And since there is only a limited range from which they can get a sunburst – because there is a tree at their back, they have learned to turn towards the sun.
However, there is one risk associated with not rotating your Monstera. If the plant becomes too big and it’s growing unsupported toward one side its whole life, the pressure on the stem can build up, bending the plant even more until it snaps.
How often to Rotate Monstera
Rotating your Monstera is an important aspect of its care, but how often should you do it? Well, it’s not rocket science, and it doesn’t matter that much if you forget to rotate it once or twice.
As a general rule, it’s a good idea to rotate your Monstera every 2 or 3 days to ensure that all sides of the plant receive equal exposure to light. However, if your plant is located in a spot with consistent lighting from all sides, you may not need to rotate it as frequently or at all.
Once every two or three days is the ideal number. But I rotate my plants at every watering. It’s easier to remember, and it seems to not have an effect, at least not on my Monstera. It’s growing nice and straight.
How Far to Rotate your Monstera
I would recommend establishing a habit of rotating your Monstera plants. The direction or the exact degree of rotation doesn’t matter that much, either. The important thing is to do it regularly.
Turn the pot with your Monstera by approximately 1/4 to one side. I always rotate to the right.
Bottom Line
Monsteras are naturally leaning toward a light source. While it might not be necessary to rotate your Monstera for its health, it will result in more even growth.
Even if you did not rotate the pot until now, it’s not late to start. If the plant has reached maturity, it is less likely to exhibit significant movement toward the sun. So if you had your Monstera for a few years now, you won’t be able to completely straighten it up, but it’s a good practice to develop for any houseplant.
