Monstera is often described as amazing or bizarre. This vine is native to the humid and warm subtropics. In the wild, it grows to gigantic proportions, entwining not only the trunks of enormous trees but also their crowns. While the vine rarely blooms indoors, in the wild it produces flowers and even bears fruit. Only a few species are capable of blooming with proper care. This article will discuss replanting, propagation, and diseases of this plant.
Why you shouldn't keep a Monstera at home
Besides the fact that monstera is a poisonous plant, there are countless legends and superstitions about why it shouldn't be kept indoors. Even experienced gardeners recommend growing it only in offices and other non-residential spaces.
Despite all these speculations, no matter how plausible they may be, science hasn't proven that monstera is harmful to humans. The plant's sap isn't even allergenic, let alone poisonous. What has been found in monstera tissue is a substance that irritates mucous membranes. This is the monstera's biggest drawback. Therefore, it's safe to keep it indoors; it's practically non-toxic.
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In many Asian countries, on the contrary, it symbolizes prosperity, happiness, and success. Some even plant it in front of their homes, believing it will protect the family from the evil eye and other negativity. In some Asian homes, a monstera pot is placed at the head of the seriously ill, believing the plant absorbs negativity and helps the person recover. Caring for a monstera at home can be somewhat challenging.
Therefore, if you decide to purchase a plant and make friends with it, it is better to place it in the dining area, living room or hallway, but not in the bedroom or children's room!
In the office, monstera can provide a boost of energy, uplift your mood, and increase work efficiency. The best room to plant it in is the one where negotiations are taking place.
Monstera: description with photo
Monstera (Latin: Monstera), as mentioned above, is a large tropical plant, a vine with large, lobed leaves and a growing point at the top of the shoot. The plant belongs to the Araceae family.
Indoors, the vine produces leaves up to 50 centimeters in diameter. The leaves are a rich green, sometimes with light veins or spots. The vine has numerous aerial roots that help it thrive. When growing a monstera indoors, these roots should be directed into the soil, but if this is not possible, attach special soil bags to them.
You may be interested in:Types of Monstera
Monstera gained particular popularity in the 18th century. Thanks to the British colonies, it arrived in India, and then rapidly spread to the East. Today, the plant is considered one of the most popular houseplants.
The genus Monstera comprises over 45 plant species, with six new species discovered and described in the late 20th century alone. Some species of Monstera require special care at home, as shown in the photo.
Monstera Adanson
Found in the tropical forests of Costa Rica and Brazil, it reaches over 15 meters in height. The leaves range from 15 to 40 centimeters in width and 22 to 55 centimeters in length, with numerous small holes on the thin leaves. Flowering occurs primarily outdoors: the short peduncle, 10-12 cm long and no more than 2 cm in diameter, bears small, light yellow flowers.
The young foliage is heart-shaped; with age, the leaf begins to divide and break apart. During flowering, a spadix forms on the white spathe. It produces edible fruits with a pineapple scent.
Plants grown in greenhouses reach heights of 12-24 meters, but indoors, the vines don't exceed 5-6 meters. This species of monstera can also bloom indoors, but only under the right conditions. The fruit takes over 10 months to ripen. While the monstera flower isn't particularly beautiful, it does have an interesting appearance.
Biologists are familiar with the variegated coloration of this species, but, unfortunately, it is more demanding in terms of habitat conditions and does not do well in residential premises.
Monstera Borziga
This species of monstera is believed to be native to Mexico. It is much smaller than the Deliciosa, with much thinner stems and leaves rarely exceeding 30 centimeters. It is much more common in gardeners' homes.
The leaves are oblong, up to 20 cm long and 5-6 cm wide. Their entire shape has distinct sides at the base. Flowers are borne on a short stem. It rarely blooms indoors.
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The oblique monstera, often called the pierced or perforated monstera, grows in the humid forests of the American tropics. Its leaves resemble a very large egg, sometimes reaching 80 centimeters in length and 30 centimeters in width, and are covered with irregular holes.
Monstera maintenance, care and propagation
The Monstera Deliciosa is most often grown indoors and has become a favorite among amateur gardeners. Its solid, glossy leaves become serrated over time, developing a beautiful, decorative shape. With proper care, it blooms frequently and produces edible fruit.
But before eating them, make sure they're fully ripe; otherwise, you could get a mouth burn or mild poisoning, requiring gastric lavage. If you don't care for your monstera properly at home, the leaves may dry out.
Lighting
Although many describe the monstera as a shade-tolerant plant, it's a misconception that it can thrive without light. The plant's natural photosynthesis occurs in bright and diffused light, but occasional periods of shade are essential. This means the plant responds positively to light and prefers partial shade. In complete shade, the leaves will turn pale and the plant will stop growing.
West- and east-facing windows and rooms are ideal for this vine. Avoid frequently relocating a mature plant, as it can take a long time to survive such stress. The foliage's decorative appearance often deteriorates, and they begin to yellow and dry out.
Temperature of content
The ideal temperature for almost all climbing vines is considered to be between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius, but this is only during the spring and summer, when they are growing and producing new leaves. Late fall and winter are the time of dormancy, with temperatures expected to be cooler, ranging from 16 to 19 degrees Celsius.
The plant does not like drafts at all and reacts to them immediately.
Watering and humidification
For watering, use settled, room-temperature water. The vine should be watered 1-2 times a week, preventing root rot. If the soil is constantly overwatered, yellow spots will appear on the leaves. Allowing the soil to dry out is also unacceptable, as the monstera will immediately begin to wither.
Misting with filtered water, which doesn't leave a white residue on the leaves, is considered an excellent remedy. In addition to misting, wipe the leaves weekly with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust and restore the plant's glossy shine.
Top dressing
Fertilizing is especially necessary for the normal development of the vine's creeping habit. During the active growth period, fertilize it 1-2 times a month, 2-3 hours after watering.
You can use specialized complex concentrates purchased in stores as feed; Master fertilizers are excellent for this purpose. As for young plants, if the soil is properly selected for planting, the plant does not need feeding for the first year.
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Monstera is a climbing vine and requires support. For this purpose, you can use a beautiful and elegant trellis, various support slats, decorative cords, and other supporting elements.
It's very convenient to use pipes wrapped in palm fiber. They're convenient because you can drill holes in them for aerial roots and fill them with soil. Then, as the plant grows, you can guide the roots into the holes. This solves more than one problem:
- Reliable support.
- Complete nutrition for the entire whip.
Circumcision
As the vine ages, it loses its decorative appeal, dropping leaves from the base of the stem and becoming less attractive. To rejuvenate the plant, pruning is used to stimulate the growth of lateral shoots. This is done by cutting off the growing point.
Trimming aerial roots is unacceptable. Roots that can be directed into the potting soil are secured in place; those that cannot be reached should be wrapped in damp moss or placed in small jars.
Provide strong and stable support. It's recommended to place a small pot filled with soil for each root to allow the aerial roots to take root. Growing a monstera indoors requires specific care, as shown in the photo.
Propagation and transplantation of monstera
Until three or four years old, the vine grows vigorously, requiring annual repotting. After five years, it's sufficient to replace the top layer of soil in the pot every three to four years. For planting, use a large pot with high-quality drainage material underneath.
A good supply of air is essential for the monstera's root system. When properly cared for indoors, repotting is necessary during the first few years.
To prepare soil for planting young monstera, you will need:
- 1 part turf soil;
- 1 part peat soil;
- 1 part humus;
- 1 part river sand.
For mature plants, a pH level of 6.5-7.0 is required, the soil consists of:
- turf - 3 parts;
- peat - 1 part;
- deciduous - 1 part;
- humus - 1 part;
- river sand - 1 part.
Reproduction
Monstera is most effectively propagated indoors by shoots or cuttings. Propagating this plant is generally a surefire method. The best time is considered to be from March to June. For this purpose, use lateral shoots that emerge from the lower part of the vine and have aerial roots.
The pre-prepared and dried cuttings are placed deeper into a pot filled with soil at the cut points, and the aerial root is also covered with soil. The planted cutting is moistened, sprinkled with a layer of sand, and a small greenhouse is created using a jar, glass, or plastic film. As you can see, propagating monstera at home is not that difficult.
Monstera Flower – Signs and Superstitions
Many myths and superstitions revolve around the monstera. Many consider it a demonic flower, bent on harming people.
Let's try to refute some of them.
- At night, the vine absorbs oxygen at a furious rate; if a person sleeps with it in a closed room, it could suffocate. Not true! Monstera is just an ordinary plant that, like many others, absorbs oxygen at night and releases it during the day. Therefore, if this statement is true, growing the plant in houses and apartments is completely out of the question! However, it is true that the vine humidifies the air and collects most of the dust on its leaves!
- There's talk of this vine being particularly toxic, with skin burns guaranteed if touched, and even poisoning, possibly even death. In fact, some monstera species have tiny needles on the back. However, to get them on the mucous membrane, you'd have to put them in your mouth, which could result in a sting. Monstera is still being studied scientifically, but there's no evidence yet that the plant poses a threat to human life. However, it's true that it's a favorite delicacy among some peoples of India and Australia! Not only the ripe fruits, but also certain parts of the plant are eaten.
- Another terrifying myth claims that the monstera is capable of strangling a person or feeds on human flesh. In reality, these hypotheses were brought back by travelers who found human skeletons entangled in the plant's roots, but there is no evidence to support this. After all, the flower could have passed its parts through long-dead people or animals.
The article provides ample information for growing this green beauty. Of course, it's quite a hassle, but if you succeed, it will reward you with a gorgeous appearance. In its favor, it should be noted that monstera supplies the room with ozone, oxygen, and air ions, and absorbs colorless gas and formaldehyde.
Besides the above, it also heals and calms the nervous system, regulates heart rhythm, and relieves headaches. Decide for yourself whether you can keep a monstera at home.
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