Houseplants

Spotlight on the Monstera deliciosa

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Who wants a tropical decor at home to forget that fall is already upon us? One of my favorite plants to add some ambiance to my home is, of course, the Monstera deliciosa!

Monstera deliciosa

The Monstera is a plant native to Central America. It is a plant that, as the name suggests, literally becomes... a monster! In nature, it climbs up trees. Its leaves can measure up to 1 meter long. It's crazy! I had the chance to see one that was gigantic during my trip to Florida last spring. The plant lover in me was truly impressed.

But what about the Monstera in our homes?

The Monstera is a relatively easy plant to care for. I recommend it to all beginners. It will be very happy in a well-lit room with direct morning or afternoon sunlight. It will also tolerate slightly darker places, but it will not be in its ideal environment to grow and produce large leaves. I also suggest staking your Monstera. Giving it a sphagnum moss stake will greatly help it produce large leaves and grow straighter. Without a stake, the plant can become quite heavy and fall as it seeks to cling to grow. As for watering, it's very simple: it's best to wait until the top of its soil is dry. I also prefer to repot it in a well-aerated and more draining soil mix (my favorite mix: indoor plant soil + perlite + orchid soil). It is also important to fertilize it when it is growing. I like to give it a seaweed-based fertilizer or fish hydrosol. Not more complicated than that!

The Monstera will produce aerial roots to better cling and grow. You can cut them without any problem if you prefer its look without the roots. The aerial roots will help capture moisture better, but it won't be harmful to the plant if you decide to cut them.

Why is my Monstera producing new leaves without holes?

There are several reasons for this. The first is often because your Monstera may still be too young! Baby monsteras will not have fenestrations in their leaves. They will develop them as they grow.

The second reason is a lack of direct sunlight. The Monstera will need a lot of light for the leaves to develop fenestrations as they mature.

Yellow leaves on my Monstera, why?

Generally, yellow leaves are related to a lack of water or watering that is too spaced out. Otherwise, it can also be caused by a lack of light or unwanted insects. The pests often found on this plant are thrips. While brown leaves can be caused by too much water or a fungal disease.

Did you know that the Monstera can bloom? Yes, yes! And it even produces a fruit! Apparently, the fruit is very good. I would love to have the chance to taste it one day! But, in our homes, it is quite rare to see it in bloom.

How to propagate my Monstera?

It's super simple. Below a node (you can usually see an aerial root there), cut. Then, you can put the cutting directly in soil or water (depending on your preferred propagation method).

The different varieties of Monstera

There is the Monstera deliciosa that we are used to seeing, but there are several varieties of monstera!

Monstera deliciosa ‘Albo’

The Monstera ‘Albo’ has white variations on its leaves. It's a slightly rarer plant and more challenging to care for because of the white. The white on the leaves will not photosynthesize and therefore will be more prone to turning brown eventually if there is not enough light. I recommend installing a grow light for it.

Monstera ‘Albo’

Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’

The Monstera ‘Thai Constellation’ is another variety with cream white color variation. It's one of my favorite varieties. I find it easier to care for than the ‘Albo’ variety and just as magnificent. One thing I find, however, is that it is very slow in growth compared to the Monstera deliciosa.

Monstera ‘Thai constellation’

Monstera karstenianum ‘Peru’

The Monstera ‘Peru’ is also in the monstera family. It's a beautiful green plant that can be arranged as a hanging plant or on a stake. I love its textured leaves; I think it stands out well from other green plants. There is also the Monstera Peru ‘Variegata’ variety, which is the same plant but with pale green variations.