Merja got rid of her dining table to make room for the monstera: “I can buy a new table, but Peikkopoika is one of a kind”
When Merja Tuomiranta received cuttings from her daughter’s workplace monstera, she never expected that four years later the plant would occupy half her kitchen. But Merja doesn’t mind at all; she finds Peikkopoika’s vigor enchanting.
A stunning monstera! What are its dimensions?
Peikkopoika (Finnish for “troll boy”—the Finnish name for a monstera translates to “troll’s leaf”) is uniform in its dimensions—it’s as wide as it is tall, about 210 centimeters in every direction. The largest leaf measures 94 cm × 82 cm.
Did you expect the plant to grow this large?
Its growth has been a pleasant surprise. Four years ago, when I moved into my current 58-square-meter apartment, I carried Peikkopoika in its pot under my arm and placed it on the kitchen windowsill. However, it could only stay there briefly because it grew so quickly. All my friends are amazed at how large it has become, and it is a regular talking point.
How old is your monstera?
I got Peikko a little over four years ago. My daughter brought home a bundle of monstera leaves from her workplace when they were thinning the plant. She gave me part of that bunch, and I planted the leaves directly in a pot.
I heard you even gave up your dining table so your monstera could grow in your kitchen. Where do you eat now?
I’d been thinking for a long time that once I repotted Peikkopoika, I’d need to replace the table with a smaller one. The plant is nearly touching the ceiling already, so it needs space to spread out sideways. I rehomed the four-person dining table through Facebook. In its place, I temporarily set up a small round three-legged table. It’s only 40 centimeters in diameter, but it’s enough for a cup and a bowl of porridge. I’m looking to replace it with a small semicircular folding table that would fit neatly next to the monstera as a sort of continuation of it.
Many people would sooner give up the plant than the table. What led you to this decision?
The plant has enchanted me with its raw power: its remarkable growth, unusual aerial roots, and vigorous leaves. You can practically watch a leaf grow: in the morning, you might see a 0.5-centimeter bud, and by evening, it’s already 1.5 centimeters.
Peikkopoika is the first thing I see in the morning. It keeps me company at breakfast. And when I walk through the front door, it’s there to welcome me. It energizes me, and it has proven with its growth that it truly wants to belong in this apartment. You can buy any kind of a new table at a store, but Peikkopoika is one of a kind.
Your kitchen must have the perfect light for the monstera. Which direction does your window face, and do you use grow lights in winter?
My plants do well with natural light. I live on the fourth and top floor of my building. The kitchen window faces the morning sun (southeast), and the living room window faces west. The apartment is open and bright, without any unnecessary doors. There aren’t any close trees or buildings outside the windows.
What kind of pot is your monstera in, and how do you care for it?
All my plants are in self-watering pots, and I water them once a week on Mondays. I add a bit of Kekkilä plant fertilizer to the water year-round. I repot the plants as they grow to make sure they always get sufficient water for their size. I’ve repotted the monstera twice so far.
I learned my watering routine from my dad. When I was a child, he used to sit at the kitchen table every day, watering the flowers on the windowsill. My mother would say they didn’t need watering daily, and he’d reply, “Well, you drink water every day, don’t you?”
In winter, I mist the plants occasionally. My plants stay consistent year-round and never wither.
A monstera that big must be heavy. How have you supported it?
Its stem is supported by a stake, and that stake is tied with string to the window handle. So I don’t wash that window very often, but luckily the rain rinses it from the outside.
Have you trimmed the monstera’s aerial roots?
At first, I let the aerial roots grow any way they liked, but then I started pruning them ruthlessly. The plant doesn’t suffer one bit; it just grows new ones. I’ve also guided a few of the aerial roots into the soil just to try it out, and they’ve been perfectly happy as well. Aerial roots [in Finnish] originate from the plant’s original habitat, it uses them for support.
What kind of plant enthusiast are you in general?
I’m a fan of green plants. I find them easier than flowering species. I don’t buy flowering plants for myself, because I don’t think I’m good at caring for them. My friends give me roses, geraniums, and similar plants, and they last as long as they do. Right now, I have a new acquaintance: a regal geranium, which I’ve had on my balcony since early May, and it’s been blooming nonstop ever since.
