Monstera
Scientific name: Monstera deliciosa Liebm
Common Names: Monstera, Ceriman, Windowleaf, Cut-leaf philodendron, Swiss-cheese plant, Split-leaf philodendron.
Monstera: Evergreen tropical vines and shrubs
Genus: Monstera spp.
Family: Araceae (Aroids)
Monstera spp. is indigenous to the hot, humid, tropical forests of Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama. It is introduced and cultivated in many tropical regions for its ornamental value. Monstera is suitable for open field cultivation in south China like Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan province, etc., while it is suitable for greenhouse in north China like Beijing, Shandong, Hubei & other northern regions.
They are famous for their natural leaf-holes. The Monstera's leaf-holes are called fenestrations. In China, we call it tortoise back bamboo(Gui Bei Zhu) as it is very similar to the tortoise back. Its stem is thick and strong like bamboo. Its leaves are green all the year round, stems are sturdy, and also extremely shade resistant. Therefore, it is a popular indoor foliage plant. In China, Monstera is also a symbol of a long life and the honoring of elders and respected people.
Monstera is a climbing shrub with fast growing broadleaf vines, its stem is cylindrical, green, sturdy, with pale half moon shaped leaf trace, size is 2 to 4 inches (5–10 cm) in diameter that may along the ground or, if allowed, will climb onto trees and structures. Petiole is green & can reach up to 1m long. The heart-shaped leaves are super large, with 40-60cm wide, feel like thick leathery. Its front surface is shiny & light green color, back surface is greenish white. With its large, holey green leaves Monstera can be categerized into different varieties. The classic green version is supplemented with a white variegated variety and a climber with smaller leaves that have large holes. Adult leaves can grow up to 1m if giving enough light and water. The vine stem is covered with leaf scars from previous leaves, long, cord-like aerial roots.
Air Purifying: Monstera can absorb carbon dioxide at night, which is very helpful to improve indoor air quality and oxygen content. It has the characteristics of preferentially adsorbing harmful gases such as Formaldehyde, Benzene, TVOC, etc. The adsorption capacity of Monstera for Formaldehyde is equivalent to that of 10g coconut charcoal, achieving the effect of purifying indoor air quality. It is an ideal indoor plant.
Light: Monstera thrives in bright to medium indirect light and should avoid strong light exposure and drying out. It prefers a warm, humid & shady ecological environment. Too much direct light in warmer months may burn the foliage. Though Monstera is a kind of indoor plants, it is still necessary to put it outside at least once a year in direct sunlight to encourage the plants to grow lush.
Water: Make sure to give Swiss cheese plants regular watering during the growing season every 1-2 weeks. However, trying to avoid excess water accumulated in container as it might lead to root rot. It is allowed the soil to dry out between waterings. Water thoroughly during their growing period and reduce watering in fall and winter. Water more often in brighter light conditions and less often in lower light conditions. To increase humidity indoors, it is recommended to use a spray bottle to mist the foliage.
Temperature: Prefer temperature in the 65°F-85°F range (18°C-30°C). It’s better not to let it go below 60°F (15°C) as it is not cold resistant.
Soil: If established in a container, use a well-draining peat-based potting media mix. However, if outdoors, it prefers light sandy, medium loamy and heavy clay soils with acid or neutral PH.
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