If there's one plant that requires no introduction, it's Adam's Rib or Monstera Deliciosa. It is enough to enter a social network and see that many people have fallen captive in its tangled stems and perforated leaves, whether they are plant enthusiasts or not. She is even present in decorative prints and is a frequent guest in the photo shoots of decorative magazines. The Monstera is like mid-century furniture: timeless and exquisite. Simply iconic.
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Although it is a plant that has quite simple requirements, there are those who have not been very lucky and have seen it go to a better existential plane or have it small and sad in a corner, not knowing very well what to do so that it develops its full potential. It's also possible that your Adam's Rib looks a little droopy or stagnant, that it doesn't quite turn into that exuberant and exquisite specimen you see in photographs. Don't worry, we'll go from the basics to the most specific tips so that you can learn all the necessary tricks to make your Monstera stand out.
Getting to know the Monstera
Deliciosa is a tropical plant, belonging to the Araceae family, just like calla lilies, anthuriums and philodendrons. It owes its name of monstera to Latin, as it means strange, out of the ordinary because although it has impressive green leaves, they are furrowed by these holes that form spontaneously. The delicious part comes from its exquisite fruit, because in its habitat it produces an elongated fruit with the same shape as corn cobs, which when eaten ripe has an exquisite flavor reminiscent of pineapple, banana and mango.
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However, even when its fruit is edible, the rest of the plant is poisonous and if you eat the fruit without waiting for it to be ripe, you can suffer from irritation and other discomfort. Needless to say, it is not suitable for pets or children, especially if they have a habit of playing with plants. However, if your pet nibbles a little, your monstera will only have some stomach upset. You still don't want to let them bite into them or consume their leaves.
In its natural habitat, Adam's rib is huge, can be many feet tall, and its leaves expand around. Believe it or not, monsteras produce long, white flowers that don't have much aesthetic significance. It will never bloom if it's in a pot, but it's also not worrisome because its appeal lies mostly in its lush foliage.
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Some people confuse Monstera Deliciosa with open-leaved philodendrons, as their leaves are very similar, especially on younger plants, but there is a simple trick to distinguish them: the leaves of the phyllondendron are perforated at the edge but lack the holes that the monstera has near the midrib.
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One of the coolest things about the Monstera is that it can grow both indoors and outdoors, and this doesn't necessarily mean that it will have a lesser or distinct development, the only difference is that indoors it doesn't flower. This plant has a lot of aerial roots, given its climbing size. These rootlets will get into crevices or attach themselves to adjacent trees and branches to climb up. Remember that it is a climbing plant and not parasitic, so if you have it outside and it climbs one of the trees, it will not hurt it.
If you put your Adam's Rib in a place that's too dark, it will exhibit a behavior known as negative phototropism. That is to say, instead of moving and growing towards the light (like most plants) it will do so looking for shade. This doesn't mean that your monstera is choosing suicide, but rather that she is remembering her origins. In the tropical jungle, darkness means that she is under a very tall tree, larger than herself, which she can climb to reach the sunlight. The problem is that inside the house there are no taller trees, so be careful with the light.
Just
as you have to learn to walk before running, it's worth reviewing the most basic care of Adam's Rib before diving into the specific tips. Offering the minimum right living conditions is always the first step to making your plants happy.
- Watering
La Monstera doesn't need too much water. In fact, overwatering is counterproductive. It is best to water once a week during the warmer season and every 2 weeks during the winter. However, check the substrate before watering. It should be completely dry, at least for the first 2 cm. When in doubt, it's best to let a day pass. This plant resists drought very well but is not good with excess humidity.
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- Temperature
This is a tropical plant that prefers warm temperatures. It will be very happy if you manage to keep it between 18 and 27° C. If it is in a colder climate, it will grow slowly and little and if it reaches 10°C, it will stop growing completely. This is why if you live in a place with strong winters, the idea is to keep the plant indoors in this season.
- Location
Adam's Rib requires a lot of light, but indirectly. Remember that it is a plant from the rainforests, where it lives in the shelter of the tallest trees. Direct sunlight can burn its leaves and deteriorate the plant's overall health, so it should always be in shade or semi-shade. Of course, if it does not receive enough light, it will not develop its holes and will tend to look for shadow (the negative phototropism we mentioned) and will die.
- Humidity
This lush, tropical plant requires an environment with medium to high humidity in order to grow and develop freely. If your plant is indoors and the environment is dry, due to the action of heating or air conditioning, it is essential to get a water sprayer and use it regularly.
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- Substrate
La Monstera is a super versatile and relaxed plant with its substrate, it does not require a special pH or composition but it is essential that it has excellent drainage, because if the roots become waterlogged, the plant will die. A good substrate mix for Monsteras is universal substrate, peat moss, and perlite to make it a little lighter. Don't forget the old trick of putting some gravel or pebbles in the bottom of the pot to prevent excess moisture.
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- You
can use a fertilizer for green plants or organic fertilizer, well diluted in the irrigation water and apply it every month or month and a half during their growing season, which is spring and summer. Personally, as the Monstera is not a flowering plant or one that requires constant and particular nutrition, I prefer to use a long-release fertilizer in the form of sticks that are put in the substrate and that dissolve little by little with watering. However, read and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
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- I
happy Monsteras that grow freely but if you feel that you should put a little order in it because it has grown wild and crazy, then don't be afraid to cut it a little. Preferably you should prune in spring, you can also use the stems you have cut to reproduce it and take advantage of it to remove wilted or deteriorated leaves.
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Tricks to keep your Adam's Rib happy
- The Monstera needs a lot of room to grow. Forget about putting it in a small planter or putting it on the narrow shelf of a library, you have to give it a lot of light and space so that it feels comfortable and begins to spread.
- If your plant looks big and pretty, but droopy and sad, it may be because it needs stakes or spaces to be able to climb. You can place wooden rods, supports, and even place it under other plants for them to climb happily.
- Clean the leaves. You need to remove dust and dirt residue from the surface of the leaves so that she can continue to photosynthesize and grow. You can use a damp cloth or use special mixtures to clean leaves. There are those who use a drop of olive oil on a cloth to give them a little shine and even vinegar diluted in water.
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- Keep your plant's stake moist at all times, as this helps the aerial roots of Adam's rib to rise more easily as it will naturally seek moisture. Coir-coated stakes are great because they can be moistened and the plant will climb easily. Don't worry if you don't like the way it looks, because the Monstera will cover it in no time.
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- There are those who advise cutting the aerial roots that protrude from the plant, avoid doing this as you are harming the development of your plant. It's best to guide them upwards, to the stake, or back to the substrate to keep growing.
- Repot your Monstera whenever you feel necessary. When you see that the weight of the plant is too much for the pot, when the roots begin to peek above the substrate and under the pot. Ideally, you should do this in spring and move it to a pot that is at least 20% larger than the previous one. Don't overdo it, because if the pot is too big, moisture can affect the roots and kill the plant.
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- If you want to reproduce your Monstera, you don't need to cut stems that are too long to make cuttings. Look for branches that have at least one leaf, stem, and aerial root. You can put it in water, so the roots will develop better and you can sow it in a pot.
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- It is a plant that is not very demanding in terms of substrate nutrition, but this does not mean that you should forget it. During the growing season (spring and summer) you can fertilize every 2 weeks with a liquid fertilizer, hopefully organic.
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- If your plant is indoors and you're having a problem with pests, it may be fishing for them outside if you take it out to get rainwater. In addition, this can produce thermal shock in the plant. It's best to put a container outside to collect rainwater and then use it for watering.
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- If your plant's leaves have white spots and aren't varied, it's because the water you use to water it is a bit harsh. The solution is simple: fill the shower with tap water but let it sit for at least 24 hours before watering or spraying.
- If the leaves of Adam's Rib are too yellow, the problem is that it has too much direct light. Move it to one where it's more protected, but don't overdo it with the darkness. Remember negative phototropism.
- The substrate of the Monsteras should not be hard and compact, but loose and aerated so that the roots can take in oxygen.
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