P(l)antonesA Botanical Collection of Colors

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Monstera deliciosa

Monstera

Monstera deliciosa

Light: Indirect Sun

Water: Once a Week

Soil Preference: Moisture Retaining

Nickname(s): Split-leaf Philodendron, Swiss cheese plant, Fruit Salad Plant, Mexican Breadfruit Plant


Geographical Origin

The Monstera deliciosa is native to the tropical forests of southern Mexico, south to Panama. It has been introduced to many tropical areas and has become a mildly invasive species in some places.

Fun Facts

Monsteras can produce fruit! If you can mimic its natural environment and provide fertilizer, when the plant is a few years old it might start producing fruit. Not every Monstera does though, so if yours does - you're lucky!!

The Monstera's leaf holes are called fenestrations and are theorized to maximize sun fleck capture on the forest floor by increasing the spread of the leaf while decreasing the mass of leaf cells to support it.

Propagation

Using a clean pruning shear (or super sharp, clean scissors), cut off a stem an inch or two below a node and place it in water. It should root within a few weeks and after the roots are several inches long you can pot it in soil!