After selecting the proper soil, the next most crucial step in repotting your Monstera (Swiss cheese plant) is selecting the appropriate container. The planter you choose for Swiss cheese might directly impact your plant’s health, even if it might not seem important.
This article will discuss how the type of pot you use for your Monstera can influence its growth and health, as well as how it can simplify plant maintenance. Additionally, this post offer crucial advice on selecting the best pot for Monstera plants as well as which ones to avoid.Â
 If you are interested in this topic, you can also read
<<Benefits of Terracotta Pots>> and <<Monstera Plant Benefits>> articles.
What Is The Best Pot For Monstera Plant?Â
Monstera needs a container with lots of drainage holes so that soil can drain easily. Your choice of material for your Monstera’s pot will be influenced by things like how frequently you water it, climate, temperature, and where it is located.Â
So, in order to choose the ideal pot for Swiss cheese plant, you must consider the aspects that will influence your decision.
Characteristics To Look For In A Monstera PotÂ
A plant’s container should have both practical and appealing features. It must also facilitate drainage, offer stability, hold enough soil, and allow space for the roots to expand to give your plant the best possible growing environment.
Here are six aspects to consider while selecting the best pot for Monstera plant.
Pot Size
The size of your Monstera will determine what pot size to consider. If your Monstera is still a young plant, it will require a smaller pot with a maximum diameter of 8 inches (20 cm). A mature Monstera can grow up to two feet (60 cm) in diameter in a pot.Â
A pot’s depth should be sufficient to hold a strong pole or trellis in order to prevent tipping. Depending on how quickly your Swiss cheese grows, it will require repotting every two or three years.
When repotting, select a pot with a diameter that is 2 inches (5 cm) larger than the current pot size. This is just enough to give the roots room to spread out and grow but not so much that the soil gets soggy and causes root rot.Â
Problems With An Oversized Pot
The roots can develop and breathe freely in an overly large plant pot. Large pots also provide the plant with enough nutrients for growth.
However, it is always better to purchase a pot that is in proportion to the size of the plant because utilizing a larger pot will not help the plant to expand; rather, it will promote the formation of additional roots rather than shoots. In general, too-large pots are not the best pots for monster plants.
A pot that is too large for your Monstera can retain too much water, causing the soil to become soggy. As a result, roots will stay wet for a long period of time, which may cause root rot.Â
Problems with A Small Pot
Growing monstera plants in a smaller pot restricts their growth for various reasons. First, the roots will be constrained to their pots with little room to expand. When this occurs, you may observe some plant roots pushing through the container’s drain holes.Â
Additionally, it becomes difficult for the plant to absorb enough water since the container is completely occupied by the roots, leaving no room for water to be stored within.
Lack of nutrients is another serious issue that plants in small pots face. Since the soil is the primary food source for the plant, a smaller pot would not hold enough soil to supply the necessary quantity of food. As a result, the plant’s growth will be stunted. Your plant should grow one to two feet per year under typical circumstances. The plant will eventually die when this condition persists as the roots rot.
Your plant is likely to topple over if the container you use to grow your Monstera is too small since the pot cannot withstand your plant’s weight. Because of this, as your plant grows, you must repot it. Repotting improves your plant’s health and gives it more room to spread its roots.
Watering HabitsÂ
Your plant’s watering habits are crucial when selecting a pot for it.
Pots For Over Waterers
Porous containers are excellent for avoiding overwatering. There won’t be any additional moisture retention because of the numerous tiny holes in these pots that allow air and water to pass through. Typically, these pots come in the form of clay, concrete, or terracotta pots. Remember that when the soil is too damp for too long, Monsteras are prone to root rot.
Pots For Under Waterers
Non-porous pots are impermeable and composed of waterproof materials; they are not permeable to water and air. Such pots are made of metal, fiberglass, resin pots, and stone, and glazed ceramic.
Note:Â No matter how frequently you water your plants, you should always use a pot with drainage holes.
Temperature and ClimateÂ
Your Swiss cheese plant will also be impacted by the weather and temperature in your area.
- Humid weather: unglazed terracotta is a good choice as it dries quickly.
- Dry weather: Choose a material that can hold in a little more moisture, like plastic or glazed terracotta.
- Hot weather:Â Your Swiss cheese will need water more frequently, so a pot that can hold water will help prevent it from becoming dehydrated. The best choice in this situation would be plastic or glazed terracotta pots.
- Cold weather: In colder climates, there is a higher likelihood of overwatering because your Monstera plant won’t require moisture. The more appropriate material is, therefore, unglazed terracotta.
DrainageÂ
Since monstera plants are prone to root rot, they dislike it when their soil is damp for an extended period of time. The bottom of your Monstera’s pot must include drainage holes so that any extra water may drain out, regardless of the pot’s size or composition.
Planters with built-in drainage holes may be accompanied by a saucer that fits the planter and is used to collect extra water. Remember to remove the extra water from the cache pot or saucer 10 to 15 minutes after watering to prevent your Monstera from sitting in the water.
Indoors Or Outdoors
The type of pot you need for your Swiss cheese depends on whether you’re growing your Monstera indoors or outdoors.Â
- Indoors: You have control over how much water your Swiss cheese receives, plus it’s protected from harsh direct sunlight and wind. Therefore, in such conditions, you can use any pot for Monstera plant.
- Outdoors: Your area’s weather, which may include a lot of sun, rain, and wind, will have a direct impact on your Monstera’s pot choice.
Your Monstera will receive more sunshine when growing outside than growing inside. As a result, it will grow faster and consume more water.Â
Your Monstera plant’s pot must have many additional drainage holes if you live somewhere that frequently rains. Cache pots will gather a lot of water in this situation. Therefore, it’s best to avoid using one.
If you live in a warm, sunny climate, put your Swiss cheese in a pot made of plastic or glazed terracotta so that the water will stay in the pot for a little while longer.
Ensure your pot is heavy enough to prevent your Monstera from falling over if you live in a windy climate. A mature Monstera will be too light for plastic pots. Instead, in such conditions, the best pot for Monstera would be a terracotta pot.Â
Stability & Weight
As their name suggests, Monstera plants can develop long, thick stems and enormous leaves. With leaves about 2 feet (60 cm) broad, a mature Monstera deliciosa can grow to almost 7 feet (2.1 meters) indoors.Â
The mature monstera plants tend to become quite top-heavy. You must provide your Monstera a pot that can offer some support so they won’t topple over. Typically, terracotta and concrete pots are heavier than other types of pots. Therefore, using one of these pots for mature monstera plants is preferable.
Best Pot For Swiss Cheese Plant (Conclusion)
As mentioned above, terracotta, unglazed clay, plastic, and metal are the most popular materials for Monstera plant pots.
Although each material has its advantages and disadvantages, the amount of water retention is the most crucial factor. As previously mentioned, terracotta, clay and concrete pots will dry your Monstera the fast, whereas plastic and ceramic pots may keep the water slightly longer.
Given its various decoratively possible shapes and hues, terracotta is the best pot for monstera plants. When the Swiss cheese plant gets large and heavy, terracotta pots are heavy enough to support the plant upright and keep it from tipping over.
Additionally, terracotta pots prevent soil from becoming soggy due to overwatering. However, if your plant isn’t receiving enough water, you shouldn’t use these kinds of pots.
Plastic pots are the most practical choice because they are inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to fit into any pot you desire, including clay, terracotta, or cachepots.
Which Pot Types Are Bad for Monstera?
Some containers may harm your Monstera plants’ health and should be avoided. These three types of pots are not a good choice for Swiss cheese plants.
Self-Watering Pots
The soil for Monstera plants needs to dry out somewhat between waterings. If you use a self-watering pot, the soil will remain damp at the bottom for too long, which might cause root rot.Â
Additionally, remember that Swiss cheese should always be watered from the top rather than the bottom. Top watering aids in the removal of surplus fertilizer salts and improves the aeration of the roots by displacing anaerobic soil pockets.
Shallow Pots
For strong root growth, a Monstera plant needs a lot of space. Their robust growth will not be able to fit in shallow pots. A small pot won’t offer enough stability for a tall Monstera plant, which could cause your plant to tip over.Â
Pots With Saucers Attached
These pots are quite challenging. Most of the saucer-attached pots drain water quite slowly. It can also be annoying to deal with if you have particularly large pots with attached saucers. The attached saucers are frequently quite shallow, which can cause a mess when you’re watering.
Best Commercial Pots For monstera (Buying Guide)
Numerous options are available based on your priorities, climate, pot size, watering practices, and all the other factors covered in this article. In our opinion, some of the top monstera pots available on the market are the following:
- Best Ceramic Pot: Fengson Indoor PlantersÂ
- Best Terracotta Pot: Terracotta Plant Pot Â
- Best Plastic Pot: DeeCoo Decorative PotsÂ
- Best Affordable Pot: Elho’s Vibes Plant PotÂ
Product ReviewsÂ
Fengson Indoor PlantersÂ
The all-around ideal choice is Fengson’s indoor planters. They come in a set of three with varying sizes, which is fantastic for scaling up the monstera pot as your Swiss cheese plant grows.
Due to the exceptional quality of Fengson’s pots, you can use them repeatedly for plants. They are composed of good, thick ceramic, which suits various plants and environments, including all monstera species.
Terracotta Plant Pot Â
Terracotta is somehow the best pot for Monstera plants. Due to the porous quality of terracotta clay, the plant will benefit from increased breathability. This planter contains a saucer that collects extra water and keeps the floor clean.
Water can percolate through and out of the soil through the drainage hole, preventing root rot. Additionally, the planter contains a mesh net to prevent soil from spilling out.
DeeCoo Decorative PotsÂ
This package includes three pots in various sizes, making it the best pot for Swiss cheese plants at all phases of development. It comes in blue or orange, so you can choose one that complements your decorating style. Each plant container has a unique pattern since the floral pattern is hand embossed.
Elho’s Vibes Plant PotÂ
Elho plant pots are so adorable, well-priced, and useful. These pots are available in various sizes and will fit your Monstera deliciosa. Since these pots are made of recycled plastic and are quite lightweight, moving them indoors or outdoors over the seasons is simple.