Are you also wondering what will happen to your Monstera because you don’t wish to stake it? Consider us a team because we have some intel.
You bring home a beautiful monstera and place it in a bright corner, water it regularly, and watch new leaves grow. Everything seems perfect until your healthy plant starts to lean, sprawl, and mark your room as theirs.
To help you bring light back to your Monstera, we have the necessary gardening essentials combined in our Amazon Gardening Storefront. Check that out!
What Happens If You Never Stake a Monstera?
In the beginning, your plant will look charming. But then, the stems will begin to bend because of their own weight, leaves will go here and there, and your Monstera will no longer look like a lush jungle but as a plant struggling to stay upright.
So will it die? Will it survive? Will it stop growing? Or is staking just a story we have fabricated for our Monsteras? Let us find out.
No, it won’t die. Not immediately. In fact, many people successfully grow monsteras without any support for a while or choose the alternatives. But you’ll see changes.
The good news is an unstaked monstera can still grow into a healthy and beautiful plant. Staking simply helps guide its growth and allows it to develop in a way that is closer to how it grows in nature.
1. Monstera will grow Sideways
Monstera are natural climbers, and that is how they grow in the wild. They attach themselves to trees and grow upward towards sunlight. A moss pole or stake simply replicates this natural environment.
Without support, your plant has nowhere to climb. Instead of growing vertically, it begins spreading outward across shelves, tables, or floors.
Let your Monstera spread sideways naturally and beautifully without fearing topping over in it, a decorative and functional planter.
2. Stems can become Weak and Leggy
Imagine carrying a heavy backpack all day without proper support. Your shoulders will pain, and you will slouch.
Similarly, when leaves become heavier, unsupported stems must carry increasing weight. Over time, they may bend, droop, or develop awkward growth patterns. Some stems can even become more vulnerable to snapping.
Sometimes excessive stretching legginess appears because your plant is looking for light. And if you think they haven’t been receiving their fair share, then consider a full-spectrum grow light to substitute for it.
3. Leaves may become Smaller
One of the biggest reasons we stake our monstera is because of the leaves and their development. When monstera climbs upward, they often produce larger leaves with more dramatic fenestrations.
Without vertical support, the plant may continue growing, but it often produces smaller leaves compared to a climbing monstera.
You may also notice fewer fenestrations (the natural holes and splits in the leaves). Monsteras often develop larger and more dramatic fenestrated leaves when they have something to climb and mature against.
4. The Plant can look Messy
Most people buy monstera because they love that bold and sculptural look. But an unstaked monstera often develops in directions we cannot predict. So instead of elegance, the plant might point towards the opposite. But then, if you love the wild side, you might love this.
5. Aerial Roots will keep searching for something to climb
Aerial roots are the long roots that you must have noticed that stick out from your monstera’s stems. When a monstera lacks support, aerial roots continue searching for a surface to anchor onto. You may find them reaching toward walls, furniture, nearby plants, or even the floor.
Don’t be alarmed if aerial roots start growing in unusual directions. This is completely normal. The plant is simply searching for stability and support, just as it would on a tree trunk in the wild.
6. It may take up much more space than expected
Many plant parents underestimate how large monstera become. Without staking, growth tends to spread horizontally rather than vertically. This means your plant occupies significantly more floor and shelf space. A support pole can help direct growth upward, allowing you to enjoy a larger plant without sacrificing your room.
This can become especially noticeable indoors. A single mature monstera can spread several feet wide when left unsupported, which may make it difficult to fit into smaller spaces.
If you prefer the relaxed and sprawling look, there is nothing wrong with leaving your monstera unstaked. It ultimately comes down to whether you want a climbing plant with larger leaves or a fuller plant that spreads naturally.
A monstera doesn’t need a stake to survive, but it benefits from it. If you choose to stake or choose not to stake your monstera, they won’t say anything to you unless you do not take care of them appropriately. If you think you need some more basics about monstera, then this guide on taking care of your monstera can be your savior.
