The community of European monstera collectors is growing rapidly — from groups on Reddit and Instagram to specialized greenhouses in the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany. However, most only know one monstera: the one with large, holey leaves from the living room. Meanwhile, the genus Monstera includes over 50 species, many of which can be grown from seeds in European conditions. Europe's climate is so diverse that the same species grows outdoors as a garden plant in Seville but requires grow lights and a humidifier in Stockholm. This article is a guide for enthusiasts: which monstera species are worth adding to your collection, where in Europe monstera can grow outdoors, and how to adapt cultivation to the climate zone — from Mediterranean to Scandinavian.

Monstera species worth growing from seeds

The genus Monstera from the arum family (Araceae) is a group of climbers native to Central and South America. From the perspective of seed growers, it is important that not all species are equally suitable for growing from seeds — some rarely fruit, others are practically unavailable commercially. Here are the ones worth knowing.

Monstera deliciosa — a classic for beginners

The most popular and easiest monstera to grow from seeds. Holey leaves reach 40–60 cm in diameter in adult form. Seeds are relatively large (5–10 mm), creamy-brown, and germinate well at 25–28°C. The first holes in leaves usually appear in the 2nd–3rd year of cultivation. Seed availability in Europe: good. Ideal for anyone growing monstera from seeds for the first time.

Monstera adansonii — “Swiss Cheese Vine"

A smaller, more climbing cousin of deliciosa. Leaves are noticeably smaller (15–25 cm) but proportionally much more holey — sometimes up to 50% of the leaf surface is cut out. Adansonii grows much faster than deliciosa and is better suited for small apartments. Seeds germinate faster (usually 2–4 weeks). However, it requires higher humidity (60%+) and tolerates shady spots better. An excellent second monstera for the collection.

Monstera dubia — an extraordinary metamorphosis

A fascinating species with a completely different appearance of juvenile and adult leaves. Young leaves are small, silvery-green with white stripes and lie flat against the substrate like tiles. Adult forms are large, holey, classic for the genus. More challenging to grow from seeds, slower germination, but spectacular effect. Recommended for experienced enthusiasts.

Monstera siltepecana — silver dust

A smaller monstera with silvery dust on juvenile leaves. Adult leaves develop characteristic holes. It works great as a hanging plant from shelves or in moss poles. From seeds: medium availability, germination similar to adansonii.

Monstera epipremnoides — large and dramatic

Giant among monsteras — adult leaves can be over 80 cm long, with large, distinct holes. From seeds: harder to find, but growth is dynamic under the right conditions (high humidity, warmth, support in the form of a moss pole).

Monstera obliqua — a collector’s rarity

The rarest species in trade. Tiny leaves (10–15 cm) made up 70–90% of holes — almost a “leaf skeleton.” Prices for mature plants reach thousands of euros. From seeds: practically unavailable, and most offers are scams (sellers offer adansonii as obliqua). It’s worth knowing it exists — but is realistically almost unattainable.

Practical advice: start with deliciosa, add adansonii, and when you feel confident — reach for dubia or siltepecana.

Three paths for different types of collectors:

• Minimalist: Monstera deliciosa — a classic that makes the biggest visual impact and guarantees success.
• Shelf and wall aesthetic: combination of adansonii + siltepecana — both climbing, smaller, perfect for hanging compositions.
• Collector of rare plants: M. dubia + M. epipremnoides — more challenging, more expensive, but offer a completely different collector’s value.

You can find Monstera deliciosa seeds in our offer — packed in moist substrate to preserve viability until sowing: Monstera deliciosa Seeds.

Can monstera grow outdoors in Europe? Climate map

For Poles, monstera is exclusively a potted plant. Meanwhile, in southern Europe it is a garden plant, planted in parks, hotels, and private gardens. It all depends on the climate zone.

Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Malta)

YES — monstera grows here in the ground like a typical garden plant.

• USDA Zone 10+ — minimum temperature never below 4–5°C
• Specific locations: Costa del Sol, Sicily, Sardinia, Madeira, Algarve, Cyprus, Crete, Malta, Apulia, Calabria, Andalusia
• Position: partial shade or shade — full sun burns the leaves
• Protection: only during exceptionally frosty nights — a fleece cover for 1–2 nights is enough

Growth rate in the ground is much faster than in a pot — mature specimens reach full size in 3–5 years instead of 8–10 years indoors.

Western Europe (United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, northern France)

Oceanic climate — mild winters, but too cool for outdoor growing year-round.

• USDA Zone 8–9 — mild winters, summers too cool for a tropical plant
• Conservatories / winter gardens — a very popular solution in the UK and the Netherlands
• Patio seasonally: from May to September — mild, humid summer promotes growth
• Exception: Cornwall, Plymouth, southern Ireland — microclimates closer to southern ones

Air humidity in this zone is ideal for monstera most of the year — a huge advantage over Northern Europe.

Central Europe (Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary)

Indoor cultivation only.

• USDA zone 5–7 — winters too cold, summers too short for outdoor
• Main problem: dry air in winter — central heating lowers humidity to 25–35%, monstera prefers 50–70%
• Heating mat — a must-have for sowing from autumn to early spring
• "Summer holidays" — from June to the end of August, monstera can be placed on a sheltered, shady balcony

Northern Europe (Scandinavia, Baltic countries, Finland)

The most demanding zone — only cultivation under cover with additional equipment.

• USDA zone 3–6 — outdoor cultivation completely excluded
• LED grow lights — a necessity, not a luxury; in Stockholm in December, the sun shines only 6 hours
• Humidifier — humidity in Finnish apartments drops to 20–25% in winter
• Supplemental lighting 10–12h daily from October to the end of February

Monstera sowing — differences in European conditions

The sowing process is similar everywhere: soaking seeds, light permeable substrate, temperature 25–28°C, air humidity 80%+, germination 2–8 weeks. However, European realities introduce significant regional differences.

Sowing season:

• Southern Europe: practically all year round
• Western Europe: March–September
• Central Europe: March–June (best period)
• Northern Europe: April–June, or year-round under grow lights

Germination temperature: in the South and West, a warm spot indoors is sufficient. In the Center and North, a heating mat shortens germination by 50–100% compared to cultivation without bottom heat.

Air humidity: in the oceanic climate of the UK and the Netherlands, natural humidity of 60–70% promotes germination. In Central and Northern Europe, a sealed mini-greenhouse and daily misting are essential during winter.

Substrate: a mixture of sphagnum moss + perlite + coconut fiber (2:1:1) works well in all climate zones. You can find a ready-made mix dedicated to monstera here: Soil for monstera and philodendrons Biovita 8L.

Fresh monstera seeds, packed in moist substrate to preserve viability, can be found in the section: Monstera deliciosa Seeds.

Monstera care in 4 European climates

Watering — opposite logic for South and North

Southern Europe (especially outdoors): rarely but abundantly — every 5–7 days in summer, every 14 days in winter.

Western Europe: every 7–10 days in the pot; never let water stand under the pot.

Central Europe: during the growing season every 5–7 days, in winter every 10–14 days. Rule: the top 3–4 cm of soil must dry out.

Northern Europe: with grow lights and central heating paradoxically every 5–6 days — intense light and dry air quickly remove moisture.

Fertilizing — longer season in the south, shorter in the north

Monstera requires balanced NPK fertilization with a full set of micronutrients — especially iron, magnesium, and manganese. Fertilizing season:

• Southern Europe: March–October (8 months)
• Western Europe: April–September (6 months)
• Central Europe: March–September (7 months)
• Northern Europe: April–August (5 months)

Frequency: every 2–3 weeks during the season, no fertilization outside it. For caring for monstera and other houseplants, a fertilizer with a full set of micronutrients works well: Houseplant Focus 1L by Growth Technology — a professional formula specially developed for houseplants, effective in all European climate zones.

Lighting — from shade in the south to grow lights in the north

• Southern Europe: protect from direct sunlight — the best spot is partial shade under a tree or on the north side
• Western Europe: east or west-facing window, even south-facing
• Central Europe: south or east-facing window; the brightest available spot in winter
• Northern Europe: LED grow light 10–12 hours daily from October to March — without this, the monstera will stretch and die

Overwintering monstera in Europe — regional guide

Southern Europe — minimal intervention

• No watering from November to March (unless there is no rain for 3+ weeks)
• Be alert for sudden temperature drops — cover the plant with fleece if the night temperature falls below 5°C
• No fertilization at all

Western Europe — winter garden or move indoors

• Move the monstera from the patio indoors no later than mid-October
• In the winter garden, maintain a minimum of 10–12°C
• Water every 10–14 days, no fertilizing

Central Europe — fighting dry air

• Away from the radiator — hot, dry air damages the plant
• Humidity 50%+ — humidifier, trays with expanded clay and water, grouping plants
• Water every 10–14 days, no fertilizing from October to March
• LED lighting recommended from November to February

Northern Europe — full equipment

• LED grow light 10–12 hours daily from October to the end of February
• Humidifier running daily — minimum 50% humidity
• Thermometer and constant temperature 20–22°C — no cold drafts
• Grouping plants together — they create a shared microclimate

Where to get fresh monstera seeds in Europe?

The freshness of monstera seeds is everything — a dried seed is dead, regardless of appearance. Unfortunately, most online offers do not meet the basic freshness criterion.

What to avoid: seeds from platforms like AliExpress, Wish, and Temu are almost always either Philodendron sold as monstera, or long-dead seeds. Offers for “Monstera variegata seeds" are a complete scam — variegation is not hereditary and cannot be passed on through seeds.

Where to look in Europe:

• Specialized exotic seed stores — with clear freshness guarantee policies and packaging in moist substrate
• European botanical collections — e.g., Eden Project in Cornwall, Botanischer Garten Berlin
• Collector communities — r/houseplants, r/MonsteraGroup on Reddit, and groups on Facebook and Discord
• Directly from southern Europe — collectors with flowering specimens in Spain or Portugal are often the best source

Carefully selected monstera seeds, packed in moist substrate to preserve maximum viability, can be found in our store: Monstera Deliciosa Seeds — mr.seed.

FAQ — Most frequently asked questions about growing monstera in Europe

In which European countries can I grow monstera in the garden?

Outdoor cultivation is fully possible in USDA zone 10+: southern and eastern Spain (Andalusia, Valencia), Algarve, southern Italy (Apulia, Calabria), Sicily, Sardinia, Madeira, Greece (Crete, Rhodes, Corfu), Cyprus, Malta. In special microclimates of Cornwall (UK), it is also seasonally possible.

Is Monstera adansonii easier to grow than deliciosa?

Adansonii grows faster, the plant is more compact — good for small apartments. However, it requires higher humidity (60%+) and more shaded locations. For beginners, deliciosa remains an easier choice; adansonii works great as a second monstera in the collection.

Which monstera species grows fastest from seeds?

The fastest growing is Monstera adansonii — under good conditions, the first holey leaves appear already in the 1st–2nd year of cultivation, much earlier than deliciosa.

In winter in Scandinavia, is a grow lamp enough instead of the sun?

Yes — modern full-spectrum LED grow lights can completely replace sunlight for monstera. The key is the length of exposure (10–12 hours daily) and appropriate intensity (PPFD 150–250 µmol/m²/s at leaf level). With a good lamp, monstera in Stockholm can grow as well as in Madrid.

Does Monstera obliqua really exist and can it be grown from seeds?

Yes, it exists, but it is an extremely rare botanical species. Most online offers of "obliqua" are actually adansonii. The true obliqua has leaves almost 90% holes and is practically unavailable commercially — grown from seeds only in botanical gardens.

How many years does it take to grow monstera from seed in a Central European climate?

In a Polish or German apartment, the first holey leaves appear in the 2nd–3rd year, fully mature ones in the 4th–5th year, and a large plant with leaves 40–60 cm in diameter in the 5th–8th year. In southern Europe, this time shortens to 3–5 years, while in the north it extends to 6–10 years.

Can I send monstera seeds from one European country to another?

Within the EU, shipping seeds of potted plants for personal use does not require special phytosanitary documents. Fast delivery and packaging in moist substrate are important. From outside the EU (e.g., from the UK after Brexit), a phytosanitary certificate is required, and customs inspections can take weeks.

Summary

Monstera is not a single plant — it is an entire genus with dozens of fascinating species, each with its own character. Europe offers a full range of possibilities: from a Mediterranean garden, through a winter garden in the UK, to a Scandinavian living room with a grow lamp. The key is to adapt conditions to your region and chosen species — and patience, because monstera rewards with many years of spectacular growth.

If you want to start a collection from seeds, check out our offer: Monstera deliciosa Seeds — fresh seeds of carefully selected species, packed to preserve maximum viability.

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