Monstera Obliqua – Unique Traits, Care, and Growing Tips

If you’re a Monstera enthusiast, you’ve likely heard of Monstera Obliqua. This is a plant with holey leaves. The holes take up to 90% of the leaf’s surface area. They captivate collectors worldwide. In this article, we’ll delve deep into understanding this plant. We’ll distinguish Obliqua from other Monstera species. Xu Farm will also share all you need to know. They will cover caring for the plant, repotting, proper propagation, and potential issues.

I. Introduction to Monstera Obliqua

Obliqua plant belongs to the Araceae family and stands out due to its unique foliage. Its odd shape and look have made it especially alluring to Monstera enthusiasts.

Obliqua is part of the Monstera genus, known as an epiphytic plant. This means they can grow by attaching to other plants. They take moisture and nutrients from the air. Epiphytic plants do not parasitize and draw nutrients from the host plant.

Monstera Obliqua’s natural habitat spans from Panama to South America. Researchers believe that the most are in Costa Rica, Peru, and the Amazon.

1. Plant Characteristics

The appearance of Monstera Obliqua varies . This plant is small, growing only a few meters in height, and can be described as a climbing plant.

The plant’s stem is only 2-7mm thick. This makes Obliqua the slimmest-stemmed plant in the Monstera family. For comparison, the mature stem of Monstera deliciosa can reach up to 8cm in thickness.

Also to the stem, Monstera Obliqua produces stolons. The stolons crawl until they find a new host plant. They cling to it and grow on, sometimes reaching lengths of up to 20 meters.

Obliqua’s leaves measure 10-25cm. They are not large compared to other Monstera species. People think of Monstera Obliqua as having famous holey leaves. The holes can reach up to 90%. This feature is common in the Peru variety of Monstera Obliqua. It is often called Monstera Obliqua Peru.

Generally, Monstera plants do not seem to have a specific flowering season. They can flower at any time of the year. When they do, Obliqua grows inflorescences one after another. Obliqua can start flowering at around 1.5 years of age.

The fruit of Obliqua is diamond-shaped and green. At first, the flower spadix turns pale greenish-white. Then, it turns bright yellow.

After flowering, the spadix will turn back to pale green. Then, it will fade to a deep orange.

2. Distinguishing Monstera Obliqua from Monstera Adansonii

Obliqua plant is often confused with Monstera Adansonii. This is due to their unique and similar looks. Even experienced gardeners sometimes struggle to differentiate between the two species. This is why you might find a plant labeled as Obliqua in shops. But, it’s actually a Monstera Adansonii.

To distinguish these two plants, pay attention to their leaf designs.

Adansonii leaves have many holes. Obliqua leaves have larger and more holes. In fact, up to 90% of a mature Monstera Obliqua leaf can be these gigantic holes. They earned the plant the nickname “Monstera with massive holes.””

Obliqua leaves are also thin, almost paper-like. In contrast, Adansonii leaves feel thicker, slightly tougher, and more intricate.

II. Caring for Monstera Obliqua

Obliqua is one of those plants. It needs little care to thrive if you meet certain criteria. With enough water, light, humidity, and warmth, it will grow into a stunning plant. It will adorn your space with its holey, elliptical leaves.

Watering

Watering is tricky and vital for Monstera Obliqua care. The plant needs consistent moisture. But, too much water can cause problems like Monstera root rot. The key is to determine the interval between watering sessions.

When you first bring your plant home and repot it, ensure the soil surface is moist. Stick your finger into the pot. If the bottom layer is drier than the top but still slightly moist, you’ve watered enough.

Check the soil’s moisture levels every few days using the same method. This helps you gauge when it needs watering again. Resting between waterings is a few days. But, it can vary with the seasons and humidity.

During spring and summer, you may need to water your plant more often. This is because of the higher temperatures, lower humidity, and faster evaporation. In contrast, during winter, you might reduce watering to once or twice a week.

Light Requirements

Meeting the plant’s light needs is straightforward. Since it grows in the forest, it requires moderate indirect light. Never place the plant in direct sunlight. If you keep it on a porch or near a window, make sure the pot is in the shade

You can place the plant near a window. It should get indirect sunlight. If the sunlight is too harsh, use sheer curtains to filter it. If you notice direct sunlight causing leaf burn, it’s coming through the window. Just use white blinds to dim the light. This will not harm the plant.

If you don’t have access to enough natural sunlight, don’t worry! You can still have a healthy Monstera Obliqua. By using specialized LED grow lights for indoor plants, your Monstera will thrive. When choosing lights, pick full-spectrum LED grow lights. They let you adjust the light’s intensity.

Suitable Temperature

You need to make some adjustments as the seasons change. This will help your plant grow well. It can do well both indoors and outdoors. During spring and summer, you can place the pot on the porch, and as winter approaches, bring it inside to keep it warm. Indoor temperatures are more easily controlled.

Monstera Obliqua thrives best at 15 to 20 degrees Celsius (59 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit). You can regulate its temperature by placing it in a room with a thermostat. This is crucial in winter. The plant can’t tolerate temperatures below 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit).

Humidity Requirements

When it comes to humidity, there are no specific criteria you need to meet. In the Brazilian rainforests where it originates, humidity levels are over 50%. So, you can keep the plant near a bathroom or in a humid area like near a water feature. But, if you can’t meet this criteria, don’t worry! Your plant will do well even with the use of a humidifier or a misting device.

Soil Type for Monstera Obliqua

Choosing the right soil is one of the most critical factors in Monstera Obliqua care. Without the appropriate potting mix, you won’t get the desired results. First, ensure the soil has the correct pH level, which should be acidic but not below 5. If you’re concerned about soil acidity, keeping it around 7 is a safe option.

Second, use peat moss as the base for the soil. You can buy potting mix from a store or create your mix. Peat moss is essential as it retains moisture, allowing the plant to absorb most of the water. Another key part is perlite. It makes small air pockets. They help roots grow and reach nutrients.

The soil can contain other moisture-retaining components like coconut coir. Always use organic soil to provide essential nutrients. One thing to avoid is sandy and dry soil.

Fertilizing Monstera Obliqua

Before purchasing fertilizer, check if the soil already contains slow-release fertilizer. Most potting mixes made from peat moss come with this fertilizer. Your plant won’t need more for a few months.

After that period, you can begin fertilizing. Monstera Obliqua responds well to liquid fertilizer mixed with water. A 20-20-20 NPK fertilizer yields excellent results. Mix one tablespoon into 1 gallon of water, and that should be enough. When fertilizing, be careful not to let the fertilizer fall onto the base of the plant.

Typically, during spring and summer, your plant may must more frequent fertilization. But, you can reduce or stop fertilizing altogether during the winter months. Consider the fertilizer’s composition. Make sure it lacks too much salt. High-salt artificial fertilizers can dry and harm the plant’s roots. Monstera Obliqua doesn’t need much fertilizer. But, it does help its growth and health.

III. How to Grow Monstera Obliqua

Successful large-scale propagation of Obliqua plants is not well-documented. But researchers have explored at least two methods for propagating Obliqua plants.

1. Propagating Monstera Obliqua from Stolons

Obliqua plant produces stolons, which are perfect for propagation. Stolons resemble a section of stem with a node. They grow , although they rarely produce any leaves. You can use each section of the stolon for propagation.

There are several ways to do this. You can cut the stolon into sections with nodes. Or, you can try to root each section while the stolon is still attached to the parent plant.

You can root stolons in sphagnum peat moss and place them in a high-humidity environment (90-99%). After 3 to 4 weeks, you’ll start to see one or even many roots emerging.

Once the stolons have established roots, you can place them in a potting mix to start growing. Keep the stolons in a warm, humid place. If you do, you’ll see root growth and the first leaves!

2. Propagating Monstera Obliqua by Air Layering

You can also use air layering to propagate the Obliqua plant. First, cut a section of the main stem from 5cm to 7cm below a node, then plant it in a pot with a mix of soil, peat, and coconut coir. The goal is to provide enough nutrients for the plant to grow . Lightly mist the soil to keep it moist and encourage root growth. It takes time for the air-layered branch to grow roots. So, be patient and keep them in a warm, humid place. Then, insert the cut end into the pot when the roots have formed.

IV. Conclusion

Monstera Obliqua is an slow-growing plant. While still young, it is often confused with Monstera  Adansonii. This makes it hard to tell them apart due to the long time it takes to grow up.

But, for plant enthusiasts, they will wait to find their favorite kind. This plant can be a precious gem in a collection. This is especially true for those with much experience.