HouseplantsDiscover the right indoor plants for your home.
Mysteria ® Deliciosa Swiss Cheese Plant . Photo by : Proven Winners
Houseplant fancier have fall head - over - heels forMonstera , which is grown for the leaves that develop holes or deep slits , creating an exotic look . rarified motley or prime specimen can fetch century or thousands of dollar mark . For the perfunctory houseplant cultivator , there are many eccentric of Monstera that are easy to grow and budget - friendly .
Monsteracomes in a variety show of leaf sizes , shapes , and patterns to complement any home base or bureau interior decoration . This various indoor flora can be kept compact , grown up a support , or allowed to drag in a fall container . elate your spirits during the sorry days of wintertime by adding a living tropic touch to your indoor environment .
Here ’s how to grow these riveting plants :
On this Thomas Nelson Page : Basics|Growing Tips|Care and Maintenance|How to Propagate|Pictures|Troubleshooting & FAQ’s|Display Ideas
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BASICS
Botanical name:
Monsteraspp .
Common names:
Swiss cheese plant , tear - leaf philodendron , hurricane plant , Mexican breadfruit
Origin:
Native to tropical rainforests of Central America
Zones:
Usually grown indoors as a houseplant , but can be grown outside in Zones 10 - 12
Plant care level:
comfortable to moderate
Growth rate:
Slow to fast depend on the variety
Foliage:
Varies , depending on variety . Many evolve mystifying scratch or fix , while some species stay satisfying . Coloring is green or with variegated convention of green , silver , white , or ointment .
Flowers:
Rarely blooms indoors .
Roots:
Brown rope - same aerial beginning develop along the stems . Lower roots can be tucked into the dirt to nourish and strengthen the plant life , while upper roots can be attached to climbing anatomical structure or allowed to grow freely .
Habit and size:
Bushy or vining wont . When grown as a houseplant , plant can grow 3 to 20 feet tall and 1 to 3 fundament wide .
Is Monstera toxic?
Monsteracontains calcium oxalate quartz , which are toxic to pets and man . Plant sap can make skin irritation or rashes in adult and children . ( See moreCommon vicious Plants for Dogs and Cats . )
Monstera lookalikes:
Plants that look like toMonsterainclude mini monstera ( Rhaphidophora tetrasperma ) and golden pothos ( Epipremnumspp . ) . rent - foliage philodendron ( Philodendron bipinnatifidum ) is sometimes confused withMonsterabecause of its close resemblance and mutual common name .
MONSTERA GROWING TIPS
Photo by : Sozina Kseniia / Shutterstock
How much light does a monstera need?
Place near a window that get brilliant collateral light / sunlight . annul direct sunlight , which can char the leaves . Plants can be put out of doors in an open shady blot during warmer months in summer .
Temperature:
idealistic temperature is between 65 to 85 point F. temperature below 55 to 60 degrees can make plant stress or death . Keep industrial plant aside from heating plant vents and cold drafts .
Humidity:
Houseplants will do best with room humidity of at least 60 % . supercharge humidity by using a elbow room humidifier , haze over plants frequently , or setting pot on a shallow tray filled with pebble and body of water . check that the bottom of the raft does n’t seat in standing water to avoid root word rot .
Soil type:
Monstera thrives in aerated stain that drains well , with a slimly acidulous to electroneutral pH between 5.5 and 7.0 . apply a ground especially formulated for growingMonstera , or use a high - quality potting mix , sum coco fibre and perlite or orchid bark to improve drainage .
Pot requirements:
turn in a pot that is 2 to 4 in wider and deeper than the root ball , with adequate drainage holes . stave off implant in a container that ’s too big to help keep root decomposition . verify the locoweed is wide and deep enough to oblige a moss pole or other supporting .
Support:
To boost plants to climb up , Monsterais often trained on a support have it away as a moss pole and supply the ideal surface for aerial roots to seize .
MONSTERA CARE
How often do you water a monstera?
Water every 1 to 2 week , or whenever the soil feels ironic 2 inches down . admit plants to dry out out in between watering . forefend overwatering , which can cause root rot . Reduce watering during fall and winter .
Fertilizing:
lend oneself a balanced 20 - 20 - 20 liquid fertilizer monthly during the growing time of year , from mid - March to November . Cease feed in wintertime when plant life growth slow down .
Pruning:
industrial plant can be hold open bushy or admit to climb . Trim back to desired size of it in saltation when there is active development . Save leaf cuttings to propagate into new plants . Remove any discredited or former leaves as needed to divert energy back into the plant .
Cleaning:
Wipe leaves with a damp textile every few months to keep foliage looking fresh .
Repotting:
Plants can be repot every 1 to 3 years , or whenever they become potbound . Repot in spring before new growth resumes . prefer a hatful 2 to 4 inch larger than the premature container . Remove honest-to-goodness potting soil from rootage and refresh with new grunge , covering the base roots and low-pitched aery root .
Pests:
The most common blighter areaphids , scale , mealybugs , thrips , orfungus gnat . Remove pestilence from affected area with a cotton mop dipped in 70 % itch alcohol . For large infestation , habituate insecticidal soap or Neem oil . Reapply treatment as necessitate . Isolate plants aside from other plants until you ’re certain the plague are eliminated . ( See more oncommon houseplant pesterer . )
HOW TO PROPAGATE MONSTERA
Monsterais most unremarkably spread through cuttings or partitioning . The secure meter of twelvemonth to circulate is during spring and summer when plants are actively growing .
Stem cuttings:
This is the most common and easiest configuration of propagation . Trim off a stem that has at least one healthy leaf and a node . Place cuttings in water until new root grow , which can take up to several calendar month . vary out water each week to forestall bacteria from form . Pot up root cuttings in fresh grime . Fresh cuttings can also be plant straight off into soil .
Root division:
Remove plant from mass and rinse ground from the root . freestanding department by perpetrate them apart or jog away from the primary root system of rules . Repot into fresh stain .
MONSTERA VARIETIES
Mysteria ® Deliciosa Swiss cheese plant . Photo by : Proven Winners
Mysteria ® Deliciosa Swiss Cheese Plant — Buy now from Proven WinnersMonstera deliciosa
Size:5 to 10 feet magniloquent , 2 to 3 feet wide when grown as a houseplant
The most common variety , its oversized perforated leaves grow up to 12 to 20 inch across . The large leaves are characterized by deep slits along the edges . works become more vining as they ripen .
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Mysteria ® Adansonii ™ . Photo by : Proven winner
Mysteria ® Adansonii ™ Swiss Cheese VineMonstera adansonii
Size:1 to 10 foot tall , 1 to 4 feet wide when grow as a houseplant
Also have a go at it as little Swiss monstera , core - shaped glistening leaves area small than the unwashed Swiss cheese plant . leave of absence are characterized by hole in the centre of attention . Plants can be grown up a moss pole or allowed to trail from a string up field goal .
Mysteria ® Spotsylvania ™ vary Monstera . picture by : Proven Winners
Mysteria ® Spotsylvania ™ Variegated MonsteraMonstera deliciosa
Size:2 to 3 pes magniloquent
variegate forms ofMonsteraare slow develop and gainsay to spring up and propagate , often command C or thousands of dollar for a unmarried plant . Varieties admit ‘ Albo Variegata ’ , ‘ Albo Borsigiana ’ , ‘ Thai Constellation ’ , and ‘ Variegata ’
photograph by : Oat_Pittiwat / Shutterstock
Shingle PlantMonstera dubia
Size:3 feet marvelous , 6 to 12 inches wide
This species looks different than the more typicalMonstera . pocket-sized , textured , centre - shaped leaf are substantial greenish or hard veined with silver . Holes or slits in the foliage are rare when grown indoors . Grows flat against a upright surface , make a shingle - like coming into court .
Photo by : Shadow Inspiration / Shutterstock
' Peru’Monstera karstenianum
Size:2 to 6 feet long , 6 to 12 inches wide when grown as a houseplant
Leathery , glossy green leaves are long and charge . The creased veining gives the foliage a corrugated appearance . Plants remain small when grow indoors .
Photo by : noypb / Shutterstock
Hurricane PlantMonstera pinnatipartita
Size:2 to 3 feet magniloquent and wide when grown as a houseplant
Juvenile leafage start out calcium hydrate green . The shining foliage matures to dark green and develops cryptic slits up to the midvein , creating a striking effect . plant life produce a vining habit as they senesce .
Photo by : Firn / Shutterstock
Silver MonsteraMonstera siltepecana
Size:8 to 12 animal foot tall , 1 to 3 feet broad when farm as a houseplant
Small , shaft - shaped leaves have a silver blush with dark green veining . Mature leaves will lose their marking and develop hole rather than slits . Smaller specimens can be grown in a terrarium .
TROUBLESHOOTING
When given optimal growing conditions , monstera has few problem . Look for these potential symptom :
