You’ve left your Monstera in the car and you’re wondering what to do. Should you water it? Should you give it some sun? It can be hard to know what to do when you’re not sure of the plant’s needs. In this blog post, we’ll give you some tips on what to do if you’ve left your monstera in the car.
What Should I Do If My Monstera Was Left in My Car?
The exact steps to follow depend on how long your monstera was in the car, and what the conditions were like. Monstera plants are vulnerable, and they can’t tolerate being in hot or cold conditions for too long.
If it was only in the car for a short period of time, say less than an hour, and the conditions weren’t too hot or cold, then you likely don’t need to do anything. Just bring it inside and water it as usual.
However, if your monstera was in the car for a longer period of time, or if the conditions were extreme (very hot or cold), then you’ll need to take some extra steps to save your plant.
I will now dive into each scenario so that you know exactly what to do next time this happens to you, or if this has already happened and you are unsure of what to do.
Monstera Left In a Hot Car
If your monstera was left in a hot car, there’s a chance the leaves that were in direct sunlight may have been damaged. The leaves will likely be black or brown in spots, and may even be crinkled. Don’t worry, though – your plant can likely recover from this type of damage.
To help your plant recover, start by trimming off any leaves that are severely damaged. You can also remove any leaves that are black or brown in spots. Use a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears to make clean cuts.
Now your monstera if left with only healthy leaves, it will be able to focus its energy on growing new leaves rather than trying to repair damaged ones.
Give your monstera plenty of water so that the soil is evenly moist, but not soggy. You may need to water more often than usual for the next few weeks to help your plant recover. There’s a good chance the soil is dry since the plant lost water through its leaves while it was in the car.
Monitor your plant closely over the next few weeks and provide additional water as needed. If new growth appears to be stunted or if leaves continue to fall off, consider repotting your monstera into a fresh potting mix.
If you have a humidifier, running it in the room with your monstera will also help to improve the air quality and prevent the leaves from drying out.
Monstera Left In a Cold Car
If your monstera was left in a cold car, the leaves may be suffering from frost damage. The leaves may be wilted, discolored, or even fall off.
Get the monstera into the warmth as soon as possible. Your plant will be stressed from the cold temperatures, so it’s important to provide a warm and humid environment that it receives in its natural habitat.
Place your plant in a spot that gets indirect sunlight and keep an eye on the soil moisture. The leaves of your plant will likely be drooping, so you’ll need to water more often than usual. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out before watering again.
To help your plant recover, start by trimming off any leaves that are severely damaged. You can also remove any leaves that are wilted, discolored, or blackened in spots. Use a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears to make clean cuts.
Should I Prune Sun-Scorched Leaves Extreme Car Heat?
It can be a good idea to prune sun-scorched leaves to help your monstera plant recover from the heat damage. However, only remove the leaves that are severely damaged – leave any that only have a few brown spots.
Pruning will help your monstera focus its energy on growing new, healthy leaves rather than trying to repair the damaged ones. Plus, it makes the plant look a lot better!
To prune sun-scorched leaves, use a pair of sharp scissors that have been sanitized with rubbing alcohol. Make sure to make clean cuts so that the plant can heal quickly. Dispose of the damaged leaves away from your plant to prevent the spread of any disease.
After pruning, give your monstera plenty of water so that the soil is evenly moist. Your monstera may need more energy than usual to recover from the heat damage, so consider using a fertilizer with high nitrogen content. Apply the fertilizer according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to Keep Monstera Alive in a Hot Car?
There are a few rules to follow if you want to keep your monstera alive in a hot car:
1. Park in the shade
When you can, try to park your car in the shade. If you’re going to be in the sun for more than a few minutes, use a sunshade or put up a tarp to provide some protection from the harsh rays.
Remember, the sun moves throughout the day, so even if your car is in the shade when you park it, it may not be later on. Parking as close to a building as you can helps to provide some additional shade.
2. Use the footwell
If you’re going to be in the car for a while, try to put your monstera in the footwell. This is usually the coolest part of the car, so it will help to keep your plant from getting too hot. This area tends to be harder for the sun to reach, so it will be a little bit cooler.
If you can’t put your plant in the footwell, try to at least keep it away from any direct sunlight. The sun coming in through the windows can heat up the car quickly, so it’s best to avoid it if possible.
3. Open windows
Another way to keep your car from getting too hot is to open the windows. This will help to circulate the air and keep the temperature down. Just be sure to not leave your plant in direct sunlight when you do this.
4. Water the plants in advance
If you know you’re going to be in the car for a while, water your plants beforehand. This will allow the monstera to have plenty of moisture to help it survive the heat. Just be sure not to water it too much – the soil should be moist, but not soggy.
You can also mist your plants with a spray bottle if they start to look wilted. Carry a small container of water with you to use as needed.
5. Drive slowly
It’s important to drive slowly when you have plants in the car. Sudden stops and starts can jostle the plant, which can damage the leaves. The key is to take it easy and not make any sudden movements.
If you follow these tips, your monstera should be able to survive the heat of a hot car. Just be sure to check on it regularly to make sure it’s not getting too stressed out. And if you’re ever in doubt, err on the side of caution and bring your plant inside. Better safe than sorry!
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you have left your monstera in a hot or cold car, don’t worry – there’s a good chance it will be able to recover. The key is to get your monstera back into an environment that closely resembles its natural habitat.
Have you had any experience with leaving your monstera in a hot or cold car? Share your story in the comments below!
Tim is an avid gardener from the UK. He was the founder of PlantCarer.com from 2021 to Sep 2023. He sold PlantCarer.com to Aaron. He has since started his own business called Seed To Supper, which provides new gardeners all the materials you need in a box (pots, seeds, compost and instructions) to grow your own delicious and nutritious vegetables and herbs from start to finish – no garden required.
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