Monstera deliciosa (Araceae) Care Guide: Growing Methods, Precautions, Living Room Feng Shui, and Price

Monstera deliciosa is a perennial woody climbing evergreen shrub of the genus Monstera in the family Araceae, also known as Penglai banana, Monstera banana, and electric wire orchid. Indoor-grown Monstera deliciosa rarely blooms, and it is a well-known foliage plant, so what are the growing methods and precautions for Monstera deliciosa? How much does one pot cost? Is it good feng shui to place it in the living room?

The stem is green, thick and sturdy, ringed around its circumference, otherwise smooth; the petiole is green; the leaves are large, heart-shaped ovate in outline, thickly leathery, glossy on the surface, light green, and greenish-white on the underside. The spathe is thickly leathery, broadly ovate, boat-shaped, and nearly upright. The spadix is nearly cylindrical and pale yellow. The staminal filaments are linear. The pistil is top-shaped, yellow, and slightly raised. The berries are pale yellow with purple blotches around the stigma. The flowering period is August-September, and the fruit ripens after the flowering period of a different year. In China it is cultivated outdoors in Fujian, Guangdong, and Yunnan, and mostly grown in greenhouses in Beijing, Hubei, and other places. It is native to Mexico, and has been introduced and cultivated for ornamental purposes in many tropical regions.

Market Price of Monstera deliciosa

The market price of Monstera deliciosa is determined by the size of the plant, and prices vary from place to place. Usually, one about 40 cm tall costs 35-40 yuan, one over 70 cm tall costs over a hundred yuan, and one over 1 m tall costs more than 200 yuan.

Growing Methods and Precautions for Monstera deliciosa

Environmental Requirements for Growing Monstera deliciosa

1. Soil

When growing Monstera deliciosa, it should be kept in fertile, loose, slightly acidic loam with high water absorption and good water retention, and leaf mold or peat soil is best. For the pot of Monstera deliciosa, a large pot is preferable for cultivation; insert a 1.3-1.5 m wooden stick into the pot and plant the Monstera deliciosa, first to prevent lodging, and second so it grows luxuriantly attached to the pole.

2. Light

Monstera deliciosa is shade-tolerant and avoids direct sunlight, so as a potted plant it is most suitable placed in a bright spot indoors.

3. Temperature

The suitable growing temperature is 20-28°C. Monstera deliciosa likes warmth and moisture and grows well at normal room temperature. It is not cold-tolerant, and the overwintering temperature must be above 5°C.

4. Humidity

The soil for growing Monstera deliciosa just needs to be kept moist. In summer, spray water frequently to maintain high air humidity, and keep the leaves clean regularly to facilitate photosynthesis.

Watering Methods for Monstera deliciosa

Water once a day normally, once each in the morning and evening in summer, spray water on the leaves and sprinkle water around the surroundings when the weather is dry, water once every 3-4 days in winter, and spray the leaves once every 7-10 days with clear water close to room temperature.

Fertilizing Methods for Monstera deliciosa

Monstera deliciosa is a flower that relatively likes fertilizer, and fertilization should mainly use nitrogen fertilizer. For young plants, apply dilute cake fertilizer water once every 15 days from April to September; for mature plants, apply decomposed dilute cake fertilizer water once a month. In spring and summer each year, apply 2-3 additional applications of 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate diluted solution, and do not fertilize in winter.

Propagation Methods for Monstera deliciosa

1. Layering propagation: This can be done from May to August, and after about 3 months it can be separated from the mother plant to become a new plant.

2. Cutting propagation: Each spring, cut off a node-bearing section from the stem, preferably with 2 nodes and leaves, and insert it directly into a planting pot, water it thoroughly, and place it in a warm, humid, shaded place; it will root in about a month.

Pruning Methods for Monstera deliciosa

Monstera deliciosa is a large foliage plant with thick stems and large leaves. Especially when dividing mature plants, a frame should be set up and tied to prevent lodging and deformation. After the shape is set, the frame is removed. At the same time, after shaping, when the stem-node leaves grow too densely or the branches and vines grow too long, pay attention to pruning the whole plant, striving for a natural and beautiful appearance.

Soil and Pot Changing for Monstera deliciosa

The pot needs to be changed once a year. The pot-changing time should be between March and April. When changing the pot, remove the old soil, cut off dead roots, and then add decomposed organic fertilizer or phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to the pot as a base fertilizer.

Causes of Yellowing Leaves in Monstera deliciosa and Remedies

1. Unsuitable soil

Monstera deliciosa was originally a parasitic plant, and its well-developed root system is fleshy, with high requirements for loose and breathable soil. Clayey and slightly clayey soils will affect root growth to varying degrees. If the soil is not well aerated or is not changed for a long time, it may cause soil compaction, affecting the respiration of Monstera deliciosa, thereby causing poor growth and yellowing leaves.

Remedy: For home potted Monstera deliciosa, the growing soil can be a mixed soil made by blending 2 parts cooked loess, 1 part honeycomb coal ash, and 1 part chicken manure. This can ensure both the breathability of the potting soil for Monstera deliciosa and meet the fertilizer requirements needed for growth.

2. Too much or too little watering

Too much water can cause root rot in Monstera deliciosa, and too little water can cause the plant to suffer from water shortage and grow poorly; both conditions can cause yellowing leaves. Remedy: Water Monstera deliciosa regularly, watering thoroughly each time, keep the soil surface slightly dry, and when the air is dry, sprinkle water on the surroundings and on the leaves of Monstera deliciosa.

3. Too much or too little light

Monstera deliciosa is shade-tolerant, but placing it in a shaded environment for a long time will affect photosynthesis and cause the leaves to turn yellow; at the same time, it should not be placed in strong light, as strong light will cause the leaves of Monstera deliciosa to scorch and turn yellow.

Remedy: In summer, Monstera deliciosa should be shaded, and it is best to give it some scattered light.

4. Temperature too low

The suitable growing temperature for Monstera deliciosa is 20-25°C. In winter, the nighttime temperature during the seedling stage should not be lower than 10°C, and mature plants can tolerate 5°C for a short time; below 5°C, frost damage is likely to occur, causing the leaves of Monstera deliciosa to turn yellow.

Remedy: In winter, the roots of Monstera deliciosa need to be properly kept warm to enhance the plant's cold resistance, but do not place Monstera deliciosa directly on a radiator or next to an air conditioner.

5. Too little fertilizer

Iron is an essential raw material for plants to synthesize chlorophyll. If the soil or fertilizer lacks iron, it will affect the synthesis of chlorophyll in Monstera deliciosa, thereby causing the leaves to lose green and turn yellow.

Remedy: For yellowing leaves caused by iron deficiency, apply alum fertilizer water or spray a 0.1—0.3% ferrous sulfate solution.

6. Poor ventilation

Poor ventilation can cause the leaves of Monstera deliciosa to turn dull yellow. Remedy: Keep the room well ventilated, and you can also place Monstera deliciosa indoors for viewing during the day and move it outdoors at night.

Is Monstera deliciosa toxic?

Monstera deliciosa is mildly toxic; it is a toxic plant listed in the Chinese Plant Atlas Database. It is understood that the toxic part of Monstera deliciosa is its sap, which has irritating and corrosive effects, causing pain and burns when it contacts the skin. The unripe pulp contains calcium oxalate needle crystals, and eating it burns the tongue.

Uses of Monstera deliciosa

1. Monstera deliciosa has a very graceful plant shape, peculiar leaf shape, and remains emerald green all year round, so green it seems about to drip. Its aerial roots extend very long and can coil around, quite charming, giving people a special sense of beauty, making it outstanding among foliage flowers. Large Monstera deliciosa plants are suitable for large placements in entrance halls, living rooms, and conference rooms, while small and medium-sized plants are suitable for home placement, giving the environment an elegant atmosphere. In some places it is also planted beside trees or in corners of houses and other slightly shaded places, allowed to grow and climb freely, growing extremely luxuriantly.

2. Besides beautifying and being ornamental, its flowers and fruits also have certain edible value. The spadix is tender and juicy, and in the place of origin of Monstera deliciosa it is mostly eaten as a superior vegetable, refreshing and crisp. The yellow bracts outside the inflorescence are quite thick and fleshy, and can be eaten raw or coated in batter, fried in oil, and then eaten. The flavor of the Monstera deliciosa berries is even better, and they can be eaten as fruit, tasting similar to pineapple, and can also be made into a beverage with an excellent taste.

3. Feng shui effect: Placing Monstera deliciosa in the home has a certain feng shui effect, but attention should be paid to the placement location. In the north, the place of Ren and Gui water, Monstera deliciosa is used as the Dark Warrior; specifically, placing Monstera deliciosa at the study door can increase official luck and add fortune and emolument. Placing Monstera deliciosa in an elderly person's bedroom can add fortune and longevity and benefit the elderly.

Flower Language and Symbolic Meaning of Monstera deliciosa:

Because the leaves of Monstera deliciosa look very much like a turtle shell, and it is a relatively hardy indoor item, and at the same time it has the peculiar ability to absorb carbon dioxide and is beneficial to human health, its flower language is health and longevity.