Monstera variegated or variegated in the interior

Monstera is a genus of plants found in the warm and humid climates of Central and South America, as well as in Eastern India. The name of the species comes from the Latin word "monstrum", which translates as "monster, monster", which is why superstitious people do not like the flower. Thanks to the unpretentiousness of most monsters, many plant lovers keep various types of houses, and they, in turn, fit perfectly into the interior.

What is monstera variegated

Monstera variegata is the most suitable species for keeping in an apartment, because these plants, with proper maintenance, are placed even in a small room. It has variegated white-green leaves, and with age, the area of ​​white increases. Some specimens brought from Holland become common over time, that is, they lose their white color.

What does a flower look like

All species are considered large plants, but if you wish, you can provide the proper conditions for this monster in a small room, however, this cannot be done without basic knowledge of care.

Monstera variegated in the interior

All types of monsters look harmoniously in the interior of the apartment, and the variegated monstera will become a real decoration of any room, be it a kitchen or a living room. With its help, you can create the feeling of being in a tropical forest. Monstera looks impressive in the interior of any apartment.

Monstera in design

Home monster care and pruning

Compared to other types of monstera, Alba is more demanding on lighting and conditions. It grows slowly, it should be placed near the western or eastern windows to avoid burning or being in the shade for a long time.

Basic rules for caring for a monster variegat:

• in order to properly plant the monster, it is imperative to put a drainage layer on the bottom of the pot. It is important to transplant the plant in a more spacious container in a timely manner (preferably in spring and summer) as its roots grow.
• monstera feels comfortable at a temperature of 20-25 ° C, that is, at room temperature. It is advisable to humidify the air, especially at a higher air temperature in the house, in order to bring the conditions of the apartment closer to natural ones. If the temperature drops, then you need to water less often;
• feeding the monstera is necessary, but the plant is also quite demanding for it. Some experts believe that it is undesirable to use organic fertilizers so that the flower does not lose its color, therefore they feed the variegata with mineral fertilizers for ornamental plants, but reduce the concentration by 50%;
• if the monstera grows, then it will need support. You can design it yourself or buy a ready-made coconut stick. It is worth wrapping the support with wet moss, to which to attach aerial roots;
• water the monster with settled water.In terms of irrigation, this species is very capricious: it is impossible both to overmoisten the soil, and to allow it to dry out. The water should be at room temperature. With too much watering, dark spots form on the white areas of the leaves of the plant;
• once every two weeks, it is worth washing the plant under a warm stream of shower, or at least wiping the leaves with a damp cloth to wipe the dust off them. When using the first method, you should avoid getting tap water into the pot. This can lead to wilting of the vine.

Young Shoot of Tropical Creeper

How to shape a monster at home

Any owner of this "monstrous" flower sooner or later wonders how to cut a monster variegat. This procedure is needed when the plant has grown a lot, or vice versa, in order to accelerate its growth or provoke lush branching.

The formation process is extremely simple: cut off excess branches with clean scissors. To activate the growth of shoots, pinch off a small part and sprinkle the cut with ash.

Monstera Aerial Root Care

The aerial roots of the monstera are an integral and important part of the variegata, they cannot be cut off if they do not interfere in any way. If you nevertheless decide to remove them, then you need to reduce the length of the aerial roots by about half, they will temporarily stop growing.

The roots that are located the lowest on the trunk should be directed into the soil if they reach it. This can be done by carefully tying them to the trunk of the plant. Some of the roots higher up may even self-attach to the wall.

In general, by their nature, aerial roots are intended not so much for nutrition as for support. They, like the whole monster, must be sprayed (this should be done about once a week), otherwise they will suffer first of all with a lack of moisture.

Reproduction of vines

There are several ways to breed vines. Perhaps the best and most common method is propagation by stem cuttings. Step-by-step instruction:

1. Cut the shoots so that at least one bud and one leaf remain on each of them.
2. Dry the cut points and sprinkle with charcoal powder. After that, plant 2-3 cuttings in one pot, while the soil should contain perlite.
3. The soil should not dry out, and the temperature in the house should be above 20 ° C. In order for the cuttings to take root faster, you need to cover them with a jar or bag. Sometimes this is a very long process that can take up to six months.

Reproduction by air layers is not the easiest way to use at home, however, it is more effective than others. One of its advantages is that nothing needs to be cut off from the monstera. Find a shoot with the strongest and healthiest aerial roots on the plant and create a humid environment. To do this, you can wrap it with moss (attach with polyethylene), which must be constantly sprayed and watered.

Flower propagation

Reproduction by apical cuttings is to cut off the top of an adult monstera and lower the resulting cutting into a container of water. It is already possible to transplant when three root processes are formed on it.

In addition to the above methods, the flower can also be propagated by leaves and lateral shoots, but these methods are not so convenient and effective.

Thus, the variegated monstera is an excellent option for an apartment: it complements the interior and does not require special costs or maintenance.To keep her at home, you just need to comply with the optimal conditions that have been described in this article. The flower will thank you with an unusual and pleasing to the eye appearance and clean air in the house.