Monstera is a beautiful large evergreen plant native to the equatorial tropics of the American continent. Contrary to signs, it perfectly stuck in the modern interiors of rooms and offices as an element of an elegant aristocratic phytodesign.
Flower story
Another name for the plant is philodendron. It belongs to the number of vines, which is hard to believe, looking at the huge carved and shiny leaves of a giant room flower. The length of the leaves is about 30 cm. Young plants have whole leaves, which, as they grow, become holey and slotted. It is for such an exotic appearance that a flower, similar to a kind of green monster, got its name.
An exotic plant came to Europeans in the middle of the 18th century. Initially, the view of the UK was brought in the look of an attractive monstera. Subsequently, from the expedition along the Mexican coast, the Europeans brought Monstera karwinsky. She gained popularity as a houseplant closer to the end of the 18th century. A special merit in the study of its natural species belongs to the American botanist Thomas Croatt, who at the end of the 20th century made a description of six new monsters.
The main types
In nature, there are about 50 varieties of the exotic "monster flower", but a few are usually grown in the house, including hybrid varieties. At the same time, Monstera is one of the most popular indoor plants, giving way to a wide variety of ficuses among the evergreen plantations.
Monstera delicacy (Monstera deliciosa)
It is also called attractive (monstera deliciosa lieb.), Because with large, gracefully carved leaves of a heart-shaped shape, it looks more advantageous against a background of relatives with perforated leaves. In the wild, found in humid South American tropics and mountain forests, where it can grow at an altitude of more than 1 thousand m.
Home conditions allow you to grow a 3-meter-tall plant, and in greenhouses, where the natural environment for the growth of monstera is recreated, it can reach 12 m.With proper care, it will bloom in the house annually, but fruits can only appear under greenhouse conditions. The fruits are edible berries that taste like pineapple, so the species is also called the tidbit monstera.
Monstera deliciosa borsigiana
Among the varieties can be identified several of the most famous and popular for growing. Variegated delicate monstera grows very slowly and is most demanding in terms of care. Variegata variety has cream (less often snow-white) stripes or spots on the leaves, because of which they seem to be covered with marble chips. Therefore, the view is sometimes called the variegate marble monstera.
The Borzig variety or Monstera Deliciosa Borsigiana was bred by Mexican plant breeders specifically for growing at home. It especially attracts lovers of indoor evergreen flowers, since it has smaller dimensions compared to its main relatives.
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Monstera adansonii
It is found in the tropics from Costa Rica to Brazil. It can grow up to eight meters. The leaves are ovoid in shape, large, long, with numerous holes throughout the surface. At home, it blooms very rarely. The light yellow inflorescence is similar to an ear of corn.
Monstera oblique (Monstera obliqua)
It is also called sickle-shaped. She is the smallest of all species. Its homeland is the Brazilian rainforest. The view is more compact and less overall in comparison with its relatives. Long and wide lace leaves with asymmetric oblong slits give it a special decorative appeal. At home, does not bloom. Since the plant has many aerial roots, it certainly needs support for normal growth and development.
Monstera Karvinsky (Monstera karwinsky)
The species native to Mexico grows to three meters in height. Initially, the plant has whole bright green leaves, which become darker as they grow older. With age, slots appear on their surface. Due to its substantial dimensions, this flower is most often decorated not with rooms in houses, but with offices and public institutions (cafes, libraries, cinemas). It will look spectacular in the center of the spacious living room of a country house. This species grows well in the shade.
Monstera Friedrichstal (Monstera adansonii)
A very tall flower has particularly large leaves, so only the most avid flower growers are able to grow it in urban apartments. But all efforts are worth the result, because the most decorative-attractive monstera pleases the eyes not only with a woody appearance with numerous carved leaves, but also with beautiful flowering snow-white flowers. The plant needs excellent natural light, it is ideal for spacious rooms with panoramic windows.
Pointed (Monstera acuminata)
It differs in bright green heart-shaped leaves with pointed edges, from which the name of the species originated. In an adult plant, the leaves can reach half a meter in length. Indoor usually does not bloom.
Marble (Monstera variegata)
A rare high-growing species native to East India. In a young flower, the leaves are whole, as they grow, they acquire slits, becoming especially prominent. The trunk and leaves are covered with white or beige bloom, which gives the plant a particularly exotic look.
Punched or full of holes (monstera pertusa)
Grows in American rainforests. The leaves are oblong, ovoid, more extended downward. Uneven “holeiness” gives them an exotic look.
Doubtful (monstera dubia)
An interesting feature of the species is variegated leaves, which in young plants have pronounced silvery patterns between the veins. In an adult flower, they acquire a standard green color and a carved appearance.
Myths, signs and superstitions
Monster is credited with the curious property of predicting the weather, which is why it is called a synoptic flower. Before rain, droplets of moisture can usually appear on its leaves.
The plant is surrounded by many myths and related superstitions. Most of them are associated with an unusual appearance - carved leaves and curved roots, because of which it resembles an enchanted monster. That is why many are unsure whether it is possible to keep a monster at home without fears of life. If you believe a number of signs, myths and superstitions, then it is poisonous and can cause harm to its owners.
There are even very creepy myths. It is believed that a monstera can strangle a person and even feeds on the flesh of the dead. The last myth is connected with the fact that in the jungle the bones of the dead, often entangled in this plant, were often found. But no one knows for certain how these people died, and most likely the plant grew after their death.
It is also believed that this is a vampire plant, because it absorbs energy and even, as some say, oxygen in the room. In this regard, in particular, it is not recommended to keep a flower in the bedroom. But in rooms where scandals often arise, it will only be of benefit, since it absorbs negative, absorbs the energy of chaos.
Some also believe that this plant can relieve headaches if you lie down next to it. There is some truth in this belief, since the flower has leaves with a large surface. They help to cleanse the air, and it’s easier to breathe in the rooms where the monstera is located.
Among the useful properties include the ability to ionize the air of the room where this flower is located. Therefore, the inhabitants of the house are less likely to get sick with it. In Asian countries, a monster is endowed with the properties of a true protector mascot that can attract good luck.
Monstera in the interior
Monstera is not demanding to care for and decoratively very attractive. Not surprisingly, she was easily able to win the role of a real favorite among connoisseurs of indoor plants. As “neighbors”, such indoor flowers as Benjamin's ficus, Feminine Happiness, and a tangerine tree are suitable for her.
And about ficuses we recently wrote an interesting article. We highly recommend reading it.
Monstera is used not only as a living plant in the phytodesign of the room. She also has a leading role in fashion trends in interior decoration. It often serves as a decorative element and one of the trend patterns of botanical prints.
If you want to keep up with fashion trends, you can use the following recommendations:
- Dry the leaves of the plant, place in the framework of the herbarium and decorate the walls with them.
- Use a flower leaf as a stamp to decorate wallpaper / walls with an original print. It is necessary to cover one side with a suitable color of acrylic paint, and then firmly press it to the wall or other object, where an ornament will be created from the prints of carved flower leaves.
- Use a sheet of monstera as a template for creating original napkins and panels from textiles, decorative carved elements from plywood. The latter, painted in bright colors, will be an ideal thematic decoration of an eco-interior, if they are fixed on furniture, walls.
- Order special sconces, table lamps with a lampshade of monstera leaves.
- Cut the leaves of the monstera and create an unusual bouquet for the vase, complementing them with blooming buds of other plants.
Summary
Pictures and photos of the flower are partially able to convey the unique charm that it possesses. Curious is the fact that its name can be translated in two versions: "monster" or "bizarre." It depends on your view of the monster what importance it should be given to it: it is a monster or a bizarre exotic beauty that can decorate any room.
Article Author: skywriter13