Monstera: Why You Shouldn't Keep It at Home, Signs, and Superstitions

Ornamental greenery has become a common addition to homes and offices, serving not only aesthetic purposes but also purifying polluted air and releasing essential oxygen. However, some plants have a bad reputation and are often ignored due to folk beliefs and superstitions. The tropical vine, Monstera, is an excellent choice for decorating an office or hallway, but there are also many myths about why it should never be grown or kept indoors.

The plant is considered a harbinger of family troubles and an energy drainer, as well as a potential source of danger due to its poison. Of course, these superstitions don't stand up to scrutiny and lack scientific justification. However, believing them or not is a personal choice. Furthermore, not all beliefs associated with the vine are negative.

Description of the Monstera vine

Monstera was introduced to Asia and then came to our country. Its native land is the tropical forests of Guatemala and Brazil, where it grows wild. It's a perennial vine, classified by scientists as a member of the Araceae family. There are over 30 different species, some of which are cultivated for indoor growing. The flower's name translates as "amazing, bizarre," and is popularly known as "crybaby."

Monstera is characterized by the following features:

• large green leaves that change shape depending on age: in young plants they are heart-shaped, while in mature plants they become cut with holes of various shapes;
• waxy surface of leaves;
• the presence of hydators on the leaves;
• the growing point that is located at the top of the stem;
• aerial roots that become woody with age;
• small flowers of a white-green color, forming an inflorescence-spacing;
• a pineapple-scented cob of fruit that appears after flowering.

When grown indoors, the plant can reach 3-6 meters in height, given sufficient space and a large pot. Being a tropical plant, monstera prefers indirect light and high humidity, so avoid placing it on a windowsill with direct sunlight and mist it regularly, especially in summer. During the growing season, water the plant generously and fertilize it several times a month.

Why can't you keep a monstera at home?

Despite the fact that this vine has appeared in homes for a long time, many are still interested in whether it can be grown at home. This dilemma arose against the backdrop of many superstitions associated with the plant.

Negative signs and superstitions about the flower

Although the plant is quite popular among gardeners, there are conflicting beliefs and superstitions associated with it. The most popular of these are:

1. At night, the flower absorbs a lot of oxygen, and a person in the same room with it can suffocate while sleeping.
2. Being an energy vampire, the plant damages a person’s aura and various troubles and illnesses begin in his life.

   

3. Unmarried girls and women are advised against growing monstera, as it has a negative effect on men: it drives them away and ruins relationships.
4. The plant's appearance and its twisted roots reveal its evil nature and do not bode well for those who grow it at home.

Harmful to human health

Controversy about the flower's harmfulness to humans arose from travelers' accounts of seeing it in its natural habitat. People would find skulls and skeletons in tropical jungles, with brightly colored monstera leaves growing through their bones. This led to the belief that such greenery was deadly.

There is, in fact, some truth to this statement, and it stems from two factors: the weeping bug's foliage and its venom. Due to its large leaf surface, the plant emits a lot of carbon dioxide during its growth and development, which is a normal and natural phenomenon. However, some people worry that the size of the leaves could affect the human respiratory system.

The second concern about growing monstera stems from the poison found within the leaves and stems. Contact with mucous membranes can cause choking symptoms, and allergic reactions such as rashes or itching can occur upon contact with the skin. Ingestion of the toxic substance is possible by chewing the plant's leaves.

People with a rich imagination may see monsters from movies or childhood dreams in the outlines of the monstera. The twisted roots and leaves resemble hands with splayed fingers. Such visions can bother them in the evening and at night. Of course, you shouldn't keep the flower if it evokes such negative associations, as a healthy nervous system is more important.

The benefits of the plant for humans

Eastern traditions hold a completely different view of this ornamental plant. In Asia, the plant is considered a powerful talisman, bringing prosperity, longevity, and good fortune to its owner. If there is a sick person in the house, placing a crybaby plant near them is a good way to speed up their recovery; it is a good healer of ailments.

The Chinese believe that a monstera will keep troubles, bad weather, and even bad people out of the house if you place it near the entrance or on the threshold.

Esotericists believe in the plant's positive energy and claim that when near a monstera, a person's thoughts become clearer, making it much easier to solve problems and find a way out of difficult situations. Esoteric tradition also considers the flower a powerful absorber of negative energy, capable of balancing and eliminating its impact on the atmosphere in the home.

Feng shui practitioners are also familiar with this flower, which is traditionally used to eliminate chaos and bring order to various areas of life. Furthermore, experts in this ancient tradition claim that the monstera helps build harmonious and equal relationships between partners.

As can be seen from the above-mentioned signs and superstitions, they are quite contradictory and depend on both cultural characteristics and people's worldview.

For those who don't believe in the myths and superstitions associated with this type of vine, it will be interesting to know that the monstera can bring many benefits to the home in which it lives:

• capable of absorbing harmful substances in the air;
• enriches the room with oxygen;
• has a suppressive effect on microorganisms, viruses and fungi;
• humidifies the air in the room;
• has the function of a “natural barometer”: the appearance of droplets of moisture on its leaves always precedes rain;
• absorbs electromagnetic waves from microwaves, refrigerators and other appliances;
• ionizes the air in the house;
• serves as a decorative ornament for any room;
• According to Eastern wisdom, it improves brain function and memory.

Unlike popular superstitions, these facts have been verified and confirmed by scientific research, indicating the need to cultivate the plant not only for the purpose of decorating the space, but also for its health benefits.

Rules for keeping monstera safely at home

Due to the plant's toxic substances, small children should be kept away from the flower. Breaking off a piece of the plant can cause burns to their delicate skin, or they could chew on the flower, which is also dangerous for children. The same principle applies to people with pets. Monstera's poison can be fatal to them.

Since monstera plants become heavy and bulky with age due to woody roots and large, voluminous leaves, they need to be tied to a secure support to prevent them from falling and damaging nearby furniture, flowers, or injuring people. It's also important to choose the right pot size to prevent the vine from toppling over due to its weight.

Frequently asked questions about growing

Monstera is an excellent greening solution not only for the home but also for the workspace. Superstitions surrounding the flower's negative effects vary depending on a person's religion, culture, and upbringing. Overall, the plant can be very beneficial, purifying indoor air.