Where to Put Your Monstera
A bright living room or office with a large east- or south-facing window. Monstera need consistent bright indirect light to develop split leaves (fenestrations).
What to avoid
North-facing windows (too dim — new leaves will not develop holes), direct south sun without filter (burns leaves), drafty hallways under 60°F
Most common placement mistake
Putting it in a dim corner because Monstera is marketed as a "low-light" plant. It will survive in low light but stop producing fenestrated leaves entirely.
How to measure light at home
A foot-candle (fc) is a unit of light intensity. You can measure it with a free smartphone app like Light Meter or with a $20 digital light meter. As reference points:
- 50\u2013100 fc: A bright corner away from any window — most low-light tolerant plants only
- 100\u2013400 fc: A few feet from a north or east window — medium light
- 400\u20131000 fc: Right next to a bright east window or 3\u20136 feet from a south window — bright indirect
- 1000+ fc: Directly in a south or west window — full sun, only suitable for succulents and high-light tropicals
Source: Missouri Botanical Garden
For full Monstera care — watering schedule, fertilizing, pests, and propagation — see the Monstera care guide. Or check out how big Monstera gets.