You may not know what monstera albo is, but chances are you’ve seen one. They’re the glorious hanging plants that look like they came straight from the jungle in a Dr. Seuss book! But while monsteras are easy to care for and have a lot of benefits, they can also be sensitive little things that need just the right amount of attention or else they’ll turn their leaves brown on you. So how do you take care of monstera albo plant? We’re here to help!
What is Monstera Albo Plant?
Monstera Albo Borsigiana, or monstera deliciosa is a part of the monstera family. It has very broad leaves and can grow up to 25 feet in height. As they grow, monstera albo plants can have as many as one thousand spiral-shaped glossy green leaves that are about 12 inches long and wide.
The stem or trunk may be up to 36 inches in diameter and 40 feet tall. The leaf edges are lined with thorns that make it an attractive plant for hanging baskets and containers because they provide great support. It produces large white flowers on spikes that will attract bees and butterflies. Monstera Delisioca ‘Albo-Variegata’ is one of several diverse variegated kinds, with white or pink stripes.
Origins of Monstera Albo Plant
The monstera albo, also known as the Swiss cheese plant or the butterfly palm is native to Mexico. They grow in warm and humid climates near water sources such as rivers, streams, swamps and lakes. In their natural habitat they can be found up to 2400 feet high! Another thing that makes monsteras so unique is their leaves which are shiny and glossy. They’re also thick, making monsteras great for keeping out the light or as a door to your room!
The albo monstera plant is a native of the tropics. The monstera albo plant has been used in gardens for centuries, and it was introduced to Europe during the Victorian era. It can be found all over tropical climates such as Africa, New Guinea, Central America and much of South East Asia.
Monstera Albo Plant Care Guide
The monstera albo plant is best known for its lush, heart-shaped leaves. It’s a jungle favorite that thrives in high humidity and cool temperatures. A monstera albo can grow from floor to ceiling with the right care, so if you have limited vertical space it might not be the perfect choice for your home or office. This monstera albo plant care guide will walk you through the most common problems that people experience and provide tips on how to keep monstera albo plants happy.
Soil
Monstera albo prefer soil with a higher organic content. There are some who believe monsteras should be planted using potting soil, but they do not need this because their roots grow extensively into the ground below them. However, if you have monsteras in pots it is imperative to use an appropriate peat-based compost that has plenty of organic material in it.
Light
As monstera albo are natural jungle plants, they require a lot of light. They will not thrive in low-light conditions and will become leggy with weak leaves and may eventually die. If you live somewhere that is naturally dark or has less than 12 hours of daylight, then monsteras should only be grown as houseplants (or in a greenhouse setting).
Monstera albo plants are happiest when grown outdoors, given the right light conditions. They require 12 hours of daylight each day but do best with a lot more than this to stay healthy and strong. In their natural habitat they’re happy to sit outside all year round! It’s not uncommon to find monstera albo plants that have grown and thrived for over 50 years.
Monsteras will need a lot of light in order to grow properly, so it’s best if you can provide them with the right conditions by growing monsteras outdoors or on a windowsill near a large window where they’ll get lots of light.
Monsteras can be grown outdoors in the garden or on a porch, however they will need some protection from direct sun if placed in an area that is exposed to it for long periods of time during any part of the day. The leaves may burn and brown up without this protection.
Watering
Monstera albo plant needs to be watered every day. The soil should feel dry before you water the monstera albo, but not too dry as its roots will then suffer. If left unwatered for more than two days, monstera plants are at risk of dying from thirst; this is especially true in warmer climates. Monstera albo plant needs to be watered only during the morning hours and not after sunset. If you do not have time to water monstera albo, use a container such as a saucer full of pebbles that will retain moisture for many days or alternatively invest in an automatic watering system.
Temperature
The monstera albo plant can withstand a wide range of temperatures. The monstera albo is sensitive to low humidity in the air, so plants should be grown either indoors with added humidifiers or outdoors where it’s warm and humid all year round.
Outdoors: In regions that have warmer climates like California, monstera albo plants should be grown in a shady area. It is important to water monstera albos regularly, and keep them out of direct sunlight for the summer months. For cooler climates like New England, monstera alba can survive with protection from cold by either growing monstera albas indoors at all times or by planting monsteras outdoors during warmer months.
Indoors: monstera albas should be grown in an area with natural or artificial light sources, and it’s important to keep the monsteras out of drafty areas for fear that they will lose too much water from leaves. Temperatures should range anywhere from 55-85 degrees Fahrenheit indoors (14-29 degrees Celsius).
Humidity
One of the things monstera albo needs is high humidity. To combat dry air in your home or office, you can mist it a few times per day and place it near a humidifier or have one running constantly. You might also want to consider using containers with water on top and inside them as well for added levels of moisture that monstera albo needs.
If you’re not able to provide monstera albo with the humidity it requires, consider placing a humidifier next to or underneath monstera so that the air can travel up through its leaves and down around the plant. That way, monstera will be getting some of its moisture from both above and below. If monstera albo is near a window or door that consistently lets in dry air, try moving it to another location.
Fertiliser
Fertiliser is essential for monstera albo plant. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium should be applied to the leaves of monstera albo plants at about once a month. This will provide your monstera with important nutrients that it needs in order to thrive. If you are struggling to find fertilizers which suit monster, you could try using fish emulsion.
Toxicity
Monstera albo is not toxic to humans. However, it can cause irritation to the skin and eyes when touched or if sap gets into a person’s eye. Allergic reactions are also possible from monstera albo coming in contact with an individual such as hay fever sufferers who have developed allergic reactions to pollen. For these reasons, monstera albo should not be grown in homes with small children or pets.
monstera albo leaves are toxic to cats and dogs, so it is best to keep the plant away from these animals for their safety as well as your own. They also contains calcium oxalate crystals which can cause itching, redness, and swelling in humans.
Pruning
Pruning monstera albo may be necessary to keep the plant healthy. You should prune its leaves in early summer, every few years. When you do this, cut out any dead or weak branches and discard them on your compost pile (or in a plastic bag so they don’t rot). Don’t throw away the cut-off leaves, though. They’re still good for the plant and can be placed back on it or recycled as mulch in your garden bed.
Propagation and Growth
There are a few ways to propagate monstera albo plants. One way is by cutting the stem and placing it in moist soil away from direct sunlight for two weeks, then planting in the desired location. Another way is taking cuttings of one inch or less off of stems that have reached at least six inches long. This can be done by pulling the stem, then cutting and removing a small section of it. This is placed in moist soil for three weeks before planting into the desired location.
Repotting
You may need to repot monstera if the roots have grown out of the pot. Find a new, larger pot and carefully remove monstera from its container- be sure not to damage any of the root system in the process! Place monstera into your newly chosen pot so that it is at about two inches below the rim.
Fill the pot with a good quality soil mix and place monstera on top, making sure it is in an upright position. Add more soil to fill up any gaps around monstera’s roots until they are at about two inches below the rim of the pot- water well before filling all the way so that everything settles smoothly. Do not forget to fertilize monstera monthly with an all-purpose fertilizer.
Plant Disease
Fungi and root rot are the two most common diseases that monstera albo plants can develop. Fungal spores can be carried in water droplets from a neighboring infected plant or brought in on your hands, clothing, shoes, or tools. Root rot is caused by soil-borne pathogens such as bacteria and fungi which damage roots and cause the plant to wilt.
Monstera Albo Plant Variegated
The monstera albo variegata plant is one of the most popular plants in any household. This monstera borsigiana albo variegata or aka monstera deliciosa albo variegata leaves are green with white stripes on it. The monstera albo also has a vine that hangs down from its roots which can grow and attach to anything, this makes monsteras great for hanging indoors and outdoors.
This variegated monstera plant is a low-maintenance type of plant; it does not need much care or pruning to thrive in the right environment. A monstera borsigiana variegata requires more indirect light so an east-facing window would be ideal for this monstera. The soil should also have a neutral pH because monsteras prefer to stay at a steady-state, so having soil that matches the monstera’s needs is best. The variegated monstera albo plant will need pruning once every two years or less often if they are getting enough light and water.
Variegated monstera deliciosa plant do great in a low light environment. This monstera plant is a very easy indoor houseplant to maintain and it does not require much care at all, the only thing you really have to worry about with this monstera albo variegata would be watering from time to time.
Common Issues with Monstera Albo Plant
Monstera albo may be susceptible to spider mites, so make sure that you keep an eye on them as they do best with plenty of water and humidity. If leaves start looking brown or yellowish from these pests, then use a spray bottle of water to keep the humidity up and use neem oil if you can find it.
Monstera albo leaves may also fall off from too much sun, which is why they do best in partial shade or filtered sunlight. If this happens, then just place them back on monstera albo’s branches until new ones grow.
Monstera albo may also have trouble flowering, which is why it’s best to put them in the ground where they can get plenty of root space and sunlight.
Tips for Keeping Monstera Albo Plant Happy
Here are some of the tips ways to care for your monstera albo, or other tropical hanging houseplants if monstera albo isn’t your style:
- Watch the humidity in your home. A monstera albo plant thrives with high humidity and cool temperatures so you may need to keep it away from heating vents, open windows or fireplaces.
- When watering monstera albos be sure not to water more than once a week. The monstera albo plant is not a fan of constantly wet conditions so over watering can be damaging to the monstera albo’s delicate roots and lead to root rot.
- Fertilize with indoor houseplant food or dilute liquid fertilizer once every two months during spring and summer months, as well as fertilizing every week during fall and winter.
- Plant monstera albo in a large container with potting mix that doesn’t contain peat moss or perlite as they can cause root rot.
- Watch for spider mites, which are tiny red pests that attack plants like monstera albos by sucking the plant’s sap. Spider mites can be killed with a simple spray of water.
- Remove dead leaves or damaged stems to keep monstera albo happy and healthy.
Monstera Albo Plant Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Monstera Albo so expensive?
The monstera albo plant is a particularly exotic and beautiful leafy vine that can grow up to 20 feet long. This makes the monstera albo plant an expensive investment for any garden, as they need plenty of space to grow in order to develop their full potential.
How much does a monstera Albo cost?
Monstera albo plants range in price from $30 to over $100, depending on size and available stock.
Where do Monstera Albo come from?
Monstera Albo are native to Central and South America. They grow well in hot, humid climates that could range from what we consider subtropical all the way up to tropical climates.
What is a monstera Albo?
The monstera albo, or the white monster as it’s also called, is a tropical plant with leaves that look like what you would imagine from an ancient rainforest. It sends out vines and has such lush foliage that one could be easily fooled by its appearance into thinking they are looking at greenery on some exotic island rather than a plant in their own home.
Conclusion
The monstera albo plant is a lush and exotic beauty that needs care. If you’ve planted your monstera or have just received one from someone special in your life who wants to share this beautiful monster with you, follow these monstera albo plant care tips to help keep your monster healthy! Find variegated monstera for sale here. You may find monstera albo for sale at your local nursery.
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