If you’re looking to turn your home into a lush, tropical paradise, the Monstera (or Swiss Cheese Plant) is your best friend. But those iconic, holey leaves aren’t just for the plant itself—they’re actually amazing for DIY home decor! You can use a Monstera leaf as a mold for a stunning trinket bowl or even let it shine as a minimalist centerpiece in a vase.
Crafting a Beautiful Monstera Leaf Bowl
The Monstera produces plenty of large, gorgeous leaves that look just as good off the plant as they do on it. If you want to make a custom leaf-shaped bowl, grab a fresh leaf and a few supplies: air-dry clay, sandpaper, a rolling pin, a sharp craft knife, and a flat workspace. Just follow these simple steps:
- Roll your air-dry clay into a smooth ball.
- Use the rolling pin to flatten the clay on your workspace until it’s slightly larger than your leaf.
- Snip the stem off the leaf, then lay the leaf face-down (vein-side down) onto the clay.
- Gently press the leaf into the clay to capture all those cool textures, then carefully peel it off.
- Use your knife to trace and cut out the leaf’s silhouette.
- To get that “bowl” curve, drape your clay leaf over an upside-down bowl or basket while it dries.
- Let it sit for about 48 hours until it’s completely hardened.
- Use your sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges.
- Finally, paint your bowl in vibrant greens or even metallic gold for a chic look. Voila!
The Monstera Leaf as a Vase Showstopper
A single Monstera leaf can be a total showstopper in a large vase, whether it’s framing a colorful bouquet or standing solo for a clean, modern vibe.
To get started, cut your chosen leaf using a sharp, sterilized knife. Let the cut end air-dry for about an hour before popping it into water. Pro tip: Use rainwater or tap water that’s been sitting out for a bit, and toss in a small piece of charcoal. This helps prevent rot and keeps the water fresh. Place your vase in a bright spot, but keep it out of direct, scorching sunlight.
If you swap out the water regularly with filtered or lime-free water, your leaf can stay fresh for weeks! Sometimes, you’ll even see little roots starting to sprout from the stem, giving you a perfect cutting. You can then plant that cutting in some potting soil and grow a brand-new Monstera baby!
A Quick Safety Note: Monstera is Toxic
As much as we love them, it’s important to remember that Monstera leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals, which are toxic. These can cause skin irritation or be very dangerous if ingested by pets or kids. I always recommend wearing gardening gloves when pruning or handling the sap to keep your hands irritation-free.
