If your Monstera is growing perfectly healthy leaves without a single dramatic hole in sight, your plant may not actually have a problem.
Monstera deliciosa doesn't begin life looking like the giant split-leaf plant we recognize from mature specimens. Juvenile plants have smaller, mostly solid leaves. Fenestrations develop as the plant grows and matures.
First: what are Monstera fenestrations?
Fenestrations are the natural holes, perforations and splits that develop in mature Monstera leaves.
Young Monstera leaves are typically small and entire, meaning they don't yet have those characteristic openings. As the plant matures, its leaves become larger and can develop both internal holes and deep cuts toward the edges.
A solid Monstera leaf isn't automatically an unhealthy leaf. Sometimes it's simply a young leaf on a young plant.
1. Your Monstera is still young
This is one of the simplest explanations — and one you can't fix with a bottle of fertilizer.
Juvenile Monstera deliciosa naturally produce solid, heart-shaped leaves. The dramatic foliage develops with maturity rather than appearing on every plant from the start.
Your plant may simply be young if...
- The leaves are relatively small
- New growth looks healthy
- The plant is actively producing leaves
- None of the leaves have developed fenestrations yet
- You purchased it as a small starter plant
2. It isn't getting enough light
Light matters when you're hoping for larger, more mature Monstera foliage.
Monstera can survive in less-than-perfect indoor light, but inadequate light can prevent the characteristic leaf perforations from developing. Low light can also produce leggier growth.
A location with plenty of useful light can support stronger growth. If you're moving a plant into substantially brighter conditions, make the transition gradually so the foliage isn't suddenly exposed to intense sun.
3. Your Monstera isn't climbing
Monsteras aren't naturally little bushes sitting politely in decorative pots. They're climbing vines.
In their native habitat, aerial roots attach to trees as the plant grows upward. Indoors, a sturdy support can give the plant something to climb and help manage its increasingly large growth.
A moss-covered support, bark-covered pole or another sturdy structure can provide an anchor for aerial roots as the plant grows.
4. The newest leaves are still small
Don't judge maturity by the plant's height alone.
Pay attention to whether successive leaves are becoming larger. Increasing leaf size is a useful clue that the plant is progressing toward more mature growth.
If new leaves remain consistently small, look at the plant's light and overall growing conditions before worrying about the absence of splits.
5. The plant is growing slowly
Fenestrations aren't something you can force independently from the rest of the plant.
If your Monstera is barely growing at all, focus first on supporting healthy growth: appropriate light, sensible watering, good drainage, adequate root space and suitable temperatures.
A plant struggling to maintain basic growth isn't going to be persuaded into producing giant mature leaves just because we really, really want them.
6. It recently experienced a major change
Repotting, moving to a new home or dramatically changing light conditions can temporarily alter how a plant grows.
Rather than making several more changes at once, give the plant time to establish itself and watch what its next few leaves do.
7. You may be expecting every leaf to split
Even once a Monstera begins producing fenestrated foliage, don't treat every new leaf like it failed an exam if it doesn't look exactly like the last one.
Look at the overall progression of the plant — leaf size, growth rate and maturity — rather than counting holes on individual leaves.
Start Here
Why isn't YOUR Monstera splitting?
Your Monstera may simply still be juvenile.
Take a closer look at how much useful light the plant receives.
Consider giving this naturally climbing plant sturdy vertical support.
That's encouraging. Give the plant time to continue maturing.
Focus on overall growing conditions before worrying about fenestrations.
Don't diagnose the plant by one leaf. Look at its overall progression.
Can you make a Monstera leaf split?
You can't cut or otherwise turn an existing solid leaf into a naturally fenestrated one. Fenestrations form as a new leaf develops.
Instead of trying to change existing foliage, give the plant conditions that support healthy, increasingly mature new growth.
Will existing Monstera leaves develop holes later?
No. Once a leaf has emerged and hardened, it isn't waiting to suddenly punch holes through itself later.
Watch the next leaves the plant produces. That's where you'll see changes in size and fenestration as the plant matures.
How do you encourage larger Monstera leaves?
Start with the basics rather than looking for a special fenestration trick.
Focus on
- Useful, appropriate light
- A sturdy support for the climbing vine
- Well-draining potting mix
- Thorough watering followed by some drying
- Adequate room for the root system
- Time for the plant to mature
The goal isn't to force holes into leaves. It's to grow a healthy Monstera capable of producing increasingly mature foliage.
Sources & further reading
Root & Room uses reliable horticultural references alongside practical plant-care guidance.
- University of Wisconsin Horticulture — Swiss-Cheese Plant, Monstera deliciosa
- Penn State Extension — Monstera as a Houseplant
- University of Minnesota Extension — Monstera deliciosa
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Monstera deliciosa