Spotlight: Monstera Deliciosa
The Monstera deliciosa (or sometimes called the split-leaf philodendron), gets its name from Swedish descent and humorously means “Swiss Cheese Plant” because of its iconic holes that can be seen on their leaves. You may have seen this plant make a trendy infiltration into our culture; maybe on phone cases, wall art, or calendars. This tropical plant, to say the least, is aesthetically pleasing, exotic, luscious and so incredibly lively! You can’t go wrong with this one. Here are some fun facts about these babies:
LOW MAINTENANCE
You heard us. Easy to care for. No fuss! The Monstera deliciosa only asks for water, a medium amount of bright light, and some love. So you get a whole lot of greenery in your home without having to put in much work; it truly is difficult to kill for those who tend to be more hands-off with plants, but still love the energy and life they bring.
IN THE WILD
Coming from the Arum family, this plant is native to southern Mexico and Central America where it grows wild on the trunks of trees. In their natural habitat, they grow fruit that is said to taste like a fusion of pineapple and banana (this is where the deliciosa portion of its name comes from!), but as an indoor plant, it’s rare for it to produce its fruit. *Tip: Because it tends to climb onto trees, it’s helpful to purchase a moss stick that your Monstera can attach onto for extra support.
AN ICON
As stated, the Monstera deliciosa has made quite the appearance in our culture the past couple of years. You’ve most likely seen them in many different contexts; from wallpaper decor to phone case design, you name it! Mostly, you will see them living their lives as gorgeous houseplants. They’re everywhere and we have a feeling they might stay awhile. They even have their own hashtag, #MonsteraMonday. Follow along for your weekly dose of Monstera deliciosa!
TOXICITY
Although this jungle plant is absolutely breathtaking, it’s important to know that it can be very toxic to humans and pets alike if ingested. Additionally, the sap is known to sometimes irritate the skin, so if you tend to experience general skin sensitivity, this may not be the best plant for you. Purchasing and nurturing a plant is a long-term decision, so factoring out all aspects of a plant’s DNA is important to see if it works with your lifestyle.
SIMPLE PROPaGATION
You can easily propagate this monster to reproduce even more! In our opinion, a single Monstera leaf in a glass gives a beautiful minimalist design to any space, too. You can propagate pretty easily through a stem cutting approach. Stem cuttings require a cut right below an aerial root, then you would proceed by potting it. Click here to learn in more detail how to propagate a split-leaf philodendron.
