Known for its unique appearance, Monstera Adansonii is a beloved indoor plant. Fortunately, caring for an Adansonii plant is relatively straightforward! If you’re not a Monstera expert, it’s easy to confuse Adansonii with other Monstera varieties. Are you confident you can distinguish it? Let’s explore more in this article brought to you by Xu Farm.
I. Origin and Characteristics of Monstera Adansonii
Most articles often mention that Adansonii is found in South and Central America. But does it appear in other places?
In reality, this plant thrives outside of South American countries in the West Indies, including islands like Antigua, Guadeloupe, and Dominica. These islands have become popular spots to spot the wild Monstera Adansonii. Some subspecies of Adansonii have sadly become extinct due to deforestation.
In the wild, you won’t find this plant on the ground. They are robust climbing Monstera species with exceptional growth capabilities, and they thrive best in low-light environments.
As we know, Monstera Adansonii is also commonly known as the Swiss Cheese Vine. However, there’s a similar-sounding plant in nature – the Swiss Cheese Vine Plant.
The Swiss Cheese Vine Plant is the famous Monstera deliciosa, which is favored by many. Unlike its cousin, Monstera deliciosa is a flowering plant with fruit, especially larger in size. So, even though the names can be confusing, the external appearance makes the distinction quite easy.
Varieties of Monstera Adansonii – Monstera Adansonii Variegated
Another variation of Adansonii is the Adansonii Variegated. This is considered the most premium and luxurious version among Adansonii species. Even cuttings of Monstera Adansonii Variegata are sold for thousands of dollars.
Monstera Adansonii Variegated
Variegated Adansonii also tends to grow more slowly than their green counterparts. This is mainly due to the white parts of the leaves lacking sufficient chlorophyll for photosynthesis.
Moreover, the entirely white sections of leaves will eventually turn brown and die. If your plant exhibits white leaves, you’ll need to trim the lower leaves and hope that the plant suffers less damage.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that these plants are sold for thousands of dollars, and only a few nurseries in Asia, the United States, and collectors of Araceae family plants often cultivate this beautiful variation of Monstera Adansonii.
Is Monstera Adansonii Toxic?
Adansonii is mildly toxic and can cause burns, swelling, and vomiting in pets like dogs and cats. So, we do not recommend growing this plant indoors if you have pets. Place the plant in high, safe positions. Especially, consider this carefully before displaying it!
II. Differences Between Monstera Adansonii and Monstera Obliqua
If there was a rare plant, it’s Monstera Obliqua! This extremely rare plant has left us all amazed. And there’s a lot of confusion because it can look very similar to Monstera Adansonii. Plus, there are many misleading advertisements out there that make people think they’re buying Obliqua when, in fact, it’s Adansonii!
To summarize before diving into details, here are the key differences between the two Monstera species:
- Leaf thickness
- Shape of holes on the leaves
- Size and edges of leaves
- Growth rate
- Price
1. Leaf Thickness
With the rarity of Obliqua, few of us have the chance to compare these two plants. However, the key difference between Obliqua and Adansonii is the thickness of their leaves. Monstera Obliqua has much thinner leaves, almost paper-thin.
2. Shape of Holes on Leaves
The holes on Monstera Adansonii tend to be slightly narrower compared to the more rounded holes on Obliqua.
3. Size and Edges of Leaves
Obliqua leaves generally have slightly wavy edges, whereas Adansonii leaves have straight edges. This insight comes from Kaylee Ellen on YouTube, who has made a great video on this topic.
4. Growth Rate
If you have a plant growing rapidly indoors, you can be quite sure it’s an Adansonii. Obliqua grows incredibly slowly. Even in its preferred tropical climate and high humidity, it takes several years to climb just a few meters, even in the wild!
Contrastingly, Monstera Adansonii can grow several centimeters in a month!
5. Price
Between Monstera Obliqua and Monstera Adansonii, Obliqua is significantly more expensive than Adansonii. So, if your budget isn’t extravagant, Adansonii is an excellent choice.
III. How to Care for Monstera Adansonii
Soil Mix for Planting
Plant Adansonii in a well-draining soil mix composed of orchid bark, perlite, sphagnum peat moss, and charcoal. Since it’s an epiphytic plant, it requires excellent drainage to prevent root rot. The ideal pH range for your plant is between 5.5 to 7.0 pH, promoting robust and rapid growth.
One of the most crucial care principles is proper drainage. Pots with large drainage holes at the bottom are ideal for optimal growth.
Choosing the Right Pot
Monstera Adansonii thrives best when repotted every 2 years. To ensure the plant remains healthy, experts recommend gradually increasing the size of the pot for Adansonii each year. However, ensure that the pot size or planting mix is balanced to avoid watering issues.
Use clay pots or pots with good drainage holes to provide the highest level of safety for your plant.
Light
Adansonii is naturally found in sparsely lit forests in South and Central America. It thrives in sunlight but not harsh direct sunlight; morning sunlight is best.
Indirect light is ideal for Adansonii to promote healthy growth. The amount of light it receives indoors will be significantly less than natural sunlight. In order to give the Monstera plant the best chance, place it a few steps away from the window to receive adequate light.
Watering
Caring for Monstera Adansonii is generally straightforward, except for its water requirements.
Water your plant regularly and ensure that the soil stays consistently moist but not waterlogged. Typically, water once a week when growing indoors, ensuring that the soil never dries out completely or cracks.
When watering, be thorough to create a forest-like environment for your plant. Proper watering will also help flush accumulated salts from the soil.
Overwatered Monstera can be a significant issue, so ensure suitable drainage through the bottom holes of your pot.
Temperature
The ideal temperature for this plant is around 18-27°C (64-81°F). Lower temperatures can significantly affect the plant, inhibiting growth and potentially leading to its demise due to cold conditions.
Humidity Maintenance
Your indoor plant requires slightly higher humidity than most indoor plants, as it’s naturally found in regions with continuous high humidity levels.
Maintain the humidity in your room at around 50% or higher to provide the best living conditions for your plant. You can mist the leaves to ensure that the plant is adequately hydrated. Maintaining humidity levels above 90% is ideal for optimal growth. However, based on our experience, ensure humidity levels above 60% for healthy growth in a greenhouse or dry indoor setting. You can use humidifiers, regular misting, or place a tray of water with pebbles or stones beneath the plant to increase humidity.
Fertilization
Those growing this plant indoors must use an appropriate amount of fertilizer. Liquid or slow-release fertilizers can be employed.
Fertilizing is crucial when caring for Monstera Adansonii because it grows rapidly and cannot produce enough chlorophyll without adequate nutrients. Failure to provide sufficient nutrients may result in Monstera leaves turning yellow.
Fertilize during the spring and summer, approximately once a month, but avoid fertilizing in the winter and fall.
Do not fertilize immediately after repotting the plant or if the plant has weak roots. Fertilizing during root weakness can lead to leaf burn.
IV. Propagating Adansonii Plants
The propagation of this plant is quite simple. It is typically done through pruning or by taking a cutting from the stem. You can choose to propagate Monstera in water before transferring it to a pot. Ideally, propagate Adansonii using the stem cutting method.
Once propagated, these plants usually take about 2 to 3 weeks to develop before they can be potted separately.
You can easily distinguish new and mature growth by the external appearance of the leaves. Younger leaves tend to have fewer holes than older ones. After cutting, the new leaves will also be smaller than the older ones. It’s not unusual for new growing plants to have no or very few holes on their leaves. Newly sprouted leaves will be bright and vibrant green, while mature leaves will transition to a darker shade of green.
[…] Obliqua plant is often confused with Monstera Adansonii due to their unique and similar appearances. Even experienced gardeners sometimes struggle to differentiate between the two species. This is why you might come across a plant labeled as Obliqua in-plant shops, but it’s actually a Monstera Adansonii. […]