Monstera aurea is the most adorable Monstera that is perfect for adding some spunk to your house.
With its stable, yellow-colored variegations and easy care needs, there is no reason why you cannot keep this plant by yourself.
So without further ado, let us jump into the fundamentals of taking care of this extremely rare plant.
Contents
What Is Monstera Aurea?
Monstera Aurea, or as it is more affectionately called, Monstera marmorata or Monstera aurea variegata, is an extremely rare and highly variegated plant. It is popular mostly for its large fenestrated leaves and the individual yellow variegations on each leaf.
Monstera Aurea Care
The plant care for Monstera aurea plant requires you to expose it to bright, slightly filtered light and temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Sixty percent is the lowest tolerable limit of humidity. Fertilize daily using a diluted liquid fertilizer or pellet forms twice a year. The soil needs to be both rich in nutrients and well-draining.
You can read about all care requirements in exquisite detail in this section.
– Water Requirements
These rare house plants need to be watered about twice a week during summer. When the soil dries slowly in winter, water only once a week. There are some more things you need to know regarding watering these plants. Read up on some important tips below.
Water When the Topsoil Is Dry
This plant likes to be watered only when the topsoil of its pot becomes all dry. If you water before it dries up, you risk overwatering the plant and turning the soil into mud.
How to tell if the topsoil is dry, you ask? Simply put your finger to it. You can tell whether it is dry or moist by feel. You can stick your finger some inches down the soil to get an idea of the depths to which the soil has dried.
Use the Right Type of Water
Using just any water for your plants can be detrimental to the health of your plant. Distilled water is the safest and the best choice in any case. It is free from salts, minerals, and potential toxins and can be used without worries.
That is good enough if you can get filtered or reverse osmosis water. Many people collect rainwater and use it for their monsteras.
Tap water, on the other hand, can be problematic for plants. You never know how contaminated your municipal water is unless you get it checked from a lab. For a rare plant such as this one, keep tap water in an open container overnight to eliminate harmful chlorine.
Use a Moisture Meter
A moisture meter is a must-have gizmo for anyone serious about keeping rare plants. It can be bought in under 20 dollars and is pretty accurate in its readings. You can insert it within the soil, and it will show you how moist the soil is. Trust us; this instrument will make watering plants so much easier.
– Light Requirements
The Aurea plant needs bright light that has been lightly filtered to mitigate its intensity. It doesn’t grow well under very low light conditions nor take well to direct intense light. You can grow it in a garden but under shade from the mid-day and mid-afternoon sun.
Here is a general guide on putting this plant in your house for optimal light.
Perfect Natural Light
Indoors, the southern-facing window receives light with the perfect wavelength for this plant’s growth. Take care to put a semi-sheer curtain over this window during the brightest parts of the day. A plant placed two or three feet away from this window will also receive enough light.
The northern facing window is not hte best idea when it comes to fulfilling the light needs of this plant. You can put it near the east side or the west side window. If it starts appearing as if this light isn’t enough and leaves have started losing their variegations, then you need to install artificial grow lights.
Perfect Artificial Light
Inside the house, you might almost always need to substitute natural light with artificial light. You cannot use just any light; only use specialized lights for growing your plants. These days, LED lights are easily affordable and work effectively for plants.
They are best installed overhead so that all sides of the plant get illuminated. If they are placed to the side, keep rotating your plant towards the light source every couple hours.
– Soil Requirements
Your Aurea variegated plant has three primary requirements from its soil: drainage, nutrition, and the right pH. Read about these requirements and more below.
- Take an ordinary potting mix and add your own additives to make the perfect soil for Monstera borsigiana aurea.
- Perlite or pumice can be added individually or in combination, making up at least one-third of the soil. They increase soil porosity, drainage, and air circulation.
- Nutrient-rich soil additives like peat, sphagnum, or compost should also make about one-third of the soil. They also serve the dual role of storing water without contributing to the soil’s water content.
- Another clever hack is to cover your soil with a one to a two-inch-thick layer of mulch. This keeps the soil hydrated and prevents it from desiccating too rapidly. It also decomposes over time to add different nutrients to the soil.
- The pH range for the super rare Monstera aurea needs to be between 5.5 to 7.0.
- The pot for the soil better is a clay or terracotta one. Plastic or ceramic pots retain water for a longer time and often contribute to rot.
– Temperature Requirements
This plant is partial to a wide range of temperatures from 59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. That is why you can place it outdoors and indoors in your house. This is especially true in summertime, when temperatures usually fall within this range.
The problem occurs in winters when temperatures drop below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Frost is not healthy for this plant. The plant is already going through a period of dormancy during this time, so falling temperatures might lead to a total cessation of any growth in the plant.
That is why moving the plant inside when winter starts is advisable. Additional care tips are keeping the plant away from open windows at night. Don’t let it stay near an open vent or air conditioning unit. These random temperature drops are also detrimental to the plant’s health.
– Humidity Requirements
Like its sister plant Monstera adansonii, this plant also needs at least 60 percent humidity in the air to survive. To thrive, you might want to increase the humidity even further. Otherwise, you will see the leaves turning brown around their edges.
We understand that such high air moisture levels are difficult to maintain at home. That is why we have compiled a list of the easiest ways to work on increasing humidity around this plant.
- You can go for a humidity tray kept under the plant’s pot. It is filled with water that evaporates and contributes to air moisture. It would help if you placed large pebbles or rocks in this tray for the pot to rest on. If the pot is touching the water, this could lead to trouble.
- Misting every second or third day is your second option. Take a spray bottle with a small nozzle and lightly mist the leaves of the plant. Early morning or mid-afternoon misting is always better than misting later in the day. It allows more time for the water to dry off.
- You can also wipe the leaves of your plant with a damp cloth. Do this every once or twice a week. This would keep your plant clean as an additional benefit.
- Invest in a humidifier from a reputed company and place it in the room along with adansonii aurea, Monstera karstenianum Variegata, deliciosa aurea, and other humidity-loving plants.
– Fertilizing Requirements
A healthy plant needs a regular dose of fertilizer all year round, especially when growing in spring and summer. You can cut back on fertilizing during wintertime. Depending on your preference, you can choose either liquid fertilizer or slow-release ones.
Here are some pros and cons of both of them.
Liquid Fertilizer
A liquid fertilizer comes in a variety of types. You should buy one that has balanced proportions of the three main nutrients. To be safe, you should also dilute it by mixing water.
Make a habit of watering the plant first and then fertilizing. Pour the diluted fertilizer into the soil about six inches from the main stem. Pouring fertilizer directly on any plant part will cause chemical burns.
Liquid fertilizer instantly provides your plant with the much-needed nutrients. It also needs to be applied every week during the warmer months when the plant is actively growing.
Slow Release Fertilizer
A slow-release fertilizer is for those who don’t have the time to fertilize every week. It comes in the form of solid balls or pellets to be buried halfway within the soil.
You only need to bury this type of fertilizer once every five to six in the soil. It dissolves over time and slowly releases its nutrients. This property also makes it a bit safer than the liquid one.
– Pruning
Pruning is an essential practice for keeping the aesthetic of your plant alive. You will need to trim the plant’s weak branches and stems yearly.
To maintain the plant’s shape, start by trimming the plant more from the bottom. Also, keep a constant check on your leaves. All old, damaged, or diseased leaves are better off removed.
Never cut off more than one-third of the plant all at once. Secondly, never prune a plant with gardening instruments that have not been satisfactorily cleaned and disinfected.
Propagation
For a rare and expensive plant such as Borsigiana aurea variegata, propagation is the only method to own more of it. You can also gift all your friends this plant by propagating it.
If you want to learn the correct method of propagation, then we have you covered with two reliable methods.
– Stem Cutting
Taking a Monstera aurea stem cutting is our favorite method of propagating this exotic plant. Trust us, this method is the best and has rarely failed us.
We have compiled a simplified step-by-step guide for you below.
- Taking a stem cutting from the tip ends of any stem is the preferred method of many experts.
- The minimum length of your Monstera aurea cutting should be 4 to 6 inches long. It is best to use sharp gardening scissors that are also clean to take this cutting.
- First, you need to allow time for the cutting to dry. Wrap it in a paper towel and store it in a cupboard away from air and light.
- In two to three days, your cutting will be ready for planting.
- Initially, it would be best to use only a smaller pot filled with the perfect soil for Monsteras.
- The cut end of the cutting should go inside the soil. Approximately more than half of your cutting should be within the soil.
- Now choose a bright and warm spot for your baby plant and move it there. New shoots will grow out of the cutting in three to six weeks.
– Seed Propagation
The foremost requirement of seed propagation is that the seeds must be authentic, fresh, and from the best source possible.
Here is a step-by-step guide on this whole process.
- It is best to start seed propagation in a seedling tray. This tray will be filled with nutrition media such as moss or peat. Dampen it slightly by sprinkling some water on it.
- Insert the seeds one by one into the medium. They need to be at a distance of no less than two inches from each other.
- Place the tray in a warm and bright location. You might want to cover it with a transparent plastic sheet to create a greenhouse effect.
- Keep the medium nutrition damp at all times until the seeds germinate. After some time has passed and the plantlets have grown a bit, you can repot them in their own pots.
Problems
The problems with aurea variegated plants are nothing to worry about. These include rot, yellow or brown leaves, or pest infestation and are easy to treat. We have compiled a detailed account of all these problems that you can read below.
– Root Rot
Fungal rot of the root is the bane of all plant parents’ existence. This polyfungal disease is the direct outcome of an overwatered soil. Either you must be watering more than is needed, or your pot and soil are suffering from poor drainage. In the end, your plant will suffer.
You will see yellow and brown spots all over the plant. Leaves will appear swollen and might be hanging down unnaturally. A foul smell will adhere to it as well.
It is important to learn how to treat rot. You can read all about this here.
- Take a knife and rake to loosen the soil, then take the infected plant out of its pot.
- Wash the soil off the roots with water. Notice how they are brown and mushy instead of firm and white as they should be.
- Now the most rotten parts of the plant that cannot be salvaged need to be cut off.
- Don’t chop off more than one-third of the entire plant. This would end up killing it instead.
- You will need to prepare a new pot with soil and then put the diseased plant in it.
- Weekly sprays of a potent copper fertilizer are essential for further plant growth.
– Yellowing of Leaves
Yellow leaves on your Monstera aurea variegata have three primary causes: overwatering, sunburn, and pest attacks. In case of overwatering, the yellowing will be accompanied by swollen and mushy leaves. You need to adjust your watering habits as soon as possible.
If the yellowing is due to sunburn, your leaves will also be crispy and slightly brown at the edges. Place a curtain between the window and your plant. The affected leaves will not revert back to their previous state, but you can save the others from turning.
If common plant pests attack your plant, it will develop yellow spots all over it. Sometimes, a large part of the leaf might be affected. It would help if you got rid of the infestation in this case.
– Brown Leaves
Leaves turning brown is most probably happening as a result of underwatering or lower humidity levels. The leaves turn not only brown but also dry, paper-like, and curled at the edges.
The leaves that have already been affected have low chances of getting better, but you must improve your plant’s cultural conditions immediately to protect the rest of the plant.
– Pests
It is very common to have pests and bugs attack common household plants regularly. Mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites are the most commonly-seen pests. Pest infestation doesn’t kill the plant right away. Instead, it weakens it slowly over time and affects its growth.
It is fairly easy to spot a pest attack on your poor plant. Look under the leaves and stem sheaths; you will find hordes of pests. Yellow spots will appear over the leaves. The plant will have an overall weak and dull appearance.
Here is how you can treat a pest infestation with a hundred percent success rate.
- The key to treating any infestation is to remove bugs manually. You can do this by picking them off or using water to wash them off.
- When washing the plant, it helps to use an insecticidal soap so that the larvae also get killed.
- Next, make a habit of spraying the plant with an insecticidal spray every week until the plant becomes completely bug-free.
- You can substitute insecticidal spray with neem oil spray for a more organic option. Mix one teaspoon of neem oil in one gallon of water for a powerful anti-bug solution.
- As a safety measure, move the infested plant at a distance from other house plants. These pests are quick to jump from one plant to the next.
Frequently Asked Questions
– What Is the Difference Between Albo and Aurea?
The main difference between Monstera borsigiana albo and Monstera borsigiana aurea is the color of their variegations. Monstera albo borsigiana is known for white color variegations on its leaves, whereas aurea has yellow variegations. That is why it is also called yellow variegated Monstera.
On the other hand, the major difference between Monstera aurea vs deliciosa lies in the structure called geniculum. This is the part from where the leaf joins the stem.
In Monstera deliciosa, the geniculum will be wrinkly, which gives this plant the ruffled appearance that is missing in aurea. Other than that, Aurea monstera has an uncanny semblance to variegated Monstera deliciosa.
– Is Monstera Aurea Variegation Stable?
Yes, the variegated Monstera aurea is stable in its variegations. This means that these variegations are genetic and will not revert. Any new plant propagated from this plant or its seeds will inherit the same variegations. Other fellow Monsteras that are also stable are Thai constellation and Monstera adansonii.
In order to maintain its beautiful variegations, your plant needs around five to eight hours of bright sunlight each day without fail. Like other similar plants such as variegated Monstera peru and Monstera adansonii variegated, this plant needs more light than a regular Monstera.
If the plant receives less light than is optimum, you will notice the variegated parts turning green. This is not reverting but a survival tactic to increase the green food-producing part of the leaf. Improving the plant’s light needs will make the variegations return to normal.
Conclusion
We have covered extensive ground on this plant which, of course, calls for a quick recap.
- Monstera borsigiana aurea is one of the rarest monsteras with yellow-colored stable variegations.
- This plant must be kept in bright light only filtered from the harsh mid-day sun.
- Water only when the top soil appears dry to the touch. It grows best under high humidity and temperature conditions.
- Because monstera aurea prices are quite high, it is best to propagate it at home using stem cuttings or seeds.
If you are an avid Monstera lover, this plant is a must-have in your collection. It looks even better than the wildly popular Monstera deliciosa aurea, and with our simple guide at your disposal, what else do you need?
- Review Robomow RS630: The Mower to Revolutionize Your Lawn - June 9, 2023
- Bosch Rotak 32 Review: An Option for Lawn Maintenance - June 9, 2023
- Worx WG779 Review: The Impressive Mower and All Its Features - June 9, 2023
