I still remember the day I brought my first monstera plant home.
I had seen those huge, dramatic leaves everywhere online and in beautifully styled homes, and I truly believed mine would look the same within a few months. Instead, it just sat there.
The leaves stayed small, there were no splits, and every time a new leaf appeared, it looked almost identical to the last one.
I kept asking myself what I was doing wrong. I was watering it, placing it where it looked nice, and checking on it constantly. What I did not realize then was that monstera plants do not respond to attention alone.
They respond to the right conditions. Once I stopped guessing and started understanding what my monstera actually needed from me, everything changed.
If you are looking at your monstera right now and wondering why it is not growing bigger, I have been exactly where you are.
In this post, I am walking you through everything I learned, step by step, so you can help your monstera grow bigger and faster without frustration.
How Monstera Growth Really Works
Before you try to push faster growth, I want you to understand how monstera plants grow. A monstera grows from nodes along its stem.
Each new leaf has the potential to be larger than the last, but only if the plant feels supported.
When your monstera keeps producing small leaves, it is usually not stubborn. It is stressed or limited in some way.
Once I understood that, I stopped blaming the plant and started adjusting my care.
Growth is a response. When you give the right signals, your monstera responds with bigger leaves.
Light Is the Number One Growth Booster
If I had to pick one thing that made the biggest difference, it would be light. I used to keep my monstera in a dim corner because it looked good there. The plant did not agree.
Your monstera needs bright, indirect light for most of the day. When I moved mine closer to a window where it received filtered sunlight, the change was obvious. New leaves emerged faster, and each one was noticeably larger.
If you do not get much natural light, you can absolutely use a grow light. You do not need anything expensive.
What matters most is consistency. When you give your monstera reliable light, you give it permission to grow.
Why Pot Size Matters More Than You Think
I used to believe that giving my monstera a much bigger pot would help it grow faster. In reality, it slowed everything down.
When the pot is too large, your monstera puts all its energy into root growth instead of leaf growth.
Now, I only repot when roots are clearly outgrowing the current container. I increase the pot size gradually.
This keeps growth balanced and encourages the plant to focus on producing bigger leaves rather than just more roots.
If your monstera looks healthy but is not growing bigger, checking the pot size is a good place to start.
Feeding Your Monstera for Bigger Leaves
If you want faster growth, you need to feed your monstera. Soil nutrients do not last forever, and without extra support, growth slows.
During the active growing season, I fertilize about once a month using a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer. This gives the plant what it needs to build larger leaves and stronger stems.
I always dilute fertilizer more than recommended. I have learned that steady, gentle feeding works far better than aggressive fertilizing.
When your monstera is properly nourished, you can see the difference in leaf size and color.
Watering in a Way That Encourages Growth
Watering used to confuse me. I thought frequent watering meant better care. Instead, it caused stress.
Now, I let the top layer of soil dry out before watering again. When I do water, I water deeply until excess water drains out. This encourages strong root development, which directly supports larger leaves.
If your monstera sits in soggy soil, growth will stall. Healthy roots are the foundation of fast growth.
Humidity Plays a Bigger Role Than You Expect
Monstera plants are tropical, and they respond beautifully to humidity. When I increased humidity around mine, leaf size improved and unfurling became smoother.
You do not need to turn your home into a rainforest. Grouping plants together, placing a water tray nearby, or using a humidifier can make a noticeable difference.
If your new leaves struggle to open or look smaller than expected, low humidity could be the reason.
Why Supporting Your Monstera Changes Everything
This was a turning point for me. In nature, monstera climbs. When it has nothing to climb indoors, it stays in a juvenile state.
Once I added a moss pole and gently trained the stems upward, my monstera responded almost immediately. New leaves came in larger, stronger, and more mature.
If you want bigger leaves, you need to let your monstera grow upward. Supporting it tells the plant it is safe to grow.
Clean Leaves Grow Better Leaves
This might sound small, but it matters. Dust blocks light. I wipe my monstera leaves with a damp cloth every few weeks.
Clean leaves absorb more light and photosynthesize more efficiently. This simple habit supports steady, healthy growth and keeps your plant looking its best.
Consistency Beats Constant Change
One of the hardest lessons I learned was to stop overadjusting. Moving the plant too often, changing watering schedules, or switching light sources can slow growth.
When you give your monstera consistent care, it feels stable. That stability leads to bigger leaves over time. Growth is not instant, but it is reliable when conditions stay steady.
Reasons Your Monstera May Still Be Small
If your monstera is not growing bigger yet, one of these is usually the cause.
- Not enough bright light
- Overwatering or poor drainage
- Lack of nutrients
- No climbing support
- Very dry air
Once I addressed these areas, growth became predictable instead of frustrating.
Final Thoughts From Me to You
If there is one thing I want you to remember, it is this. Your monstera is not slow, lazy, or difficult. It is simply responding to the environment you give it.
Once I stopped expecting instant results and focused on light, support, feeding, and consistency, my plant did exactly what it was meant to do.
You do not need complicated routines or constant adjustments.
You need to observe, respond, and stay patient. When you give your monstera the right conditions and the confidence to climb and grow, it rewards you with larger leaves, deeper splits, and steady progress you can actually see.
So if you are standing in front of your monstera right now wondering if it will ever get bigger, trust me, it can.
Keep showing up with the right care, and one day you will look at a new leaf unfurling and realize how far both you and your plant have come.
