Thai Constellation Monstera Care InfographicThe Thai constellation monstera is a genetically engineered type of the Monstera deliciosa tropical plant. It has large green and cream-colored leaves with a lot of tiny little holes.
You will not find a cooler-looking plant than this. Learn all the ins and outs of taking care of this plant in this complete, tell-all guide.
Contents
What Is Thai Constellation Monstera?
Thai constellation monstera is an engineered variety of the Monstera deliciosa plant. It was made from tissue culture in a laboratory in Thailand. It has large-variegated leaves that are green and cream-colored and have holes up to three inches in size, which is why it’s also called the swiss cheese plant.
Thai Constellation Monstera Care
The Thai constellation monstera house plant will grow superbly in filtered light and plenty of warmth and humidity. Use a soil mix that is both rich organically and also drains well. Fertilize it once every month and don’t forget to prune the old, dead leaves every fall.
You can learn all the details in the upcoming sections.
– Water Requirements
The monstera thai plant needs to be watered almost every week in the summer. In the winter, the soil needs more time to dry out. You will need to decrease the frequency of watering and only water once or twice a month.
Find out more in detail below.
– How To Water
Always water this plant when at least the top two inches of its soil become completely dry. You can insert your finger or a stick into the soil up to two inches deep. If it comes out dry, you are good to go. Otherwise, hold off on watering for a while.
A moisture meter is an instrument that tells you accurately how dry your soil is.
It is very useful for all plant owners. However, it is a bit delicate and on the pricier side.
Always use copious amounts of water. Aim the beam of water directly towards the soil and keep watering until water begins to come out of the drainage hole at the bottom.
– Most Suitable Water
The most suitable type of water for monsteras is distilled water. This water is free of all types of minerals, toxins and salt complexes. The second best type of water is filtered water.
Of course, not everyone can afford to water their plants using filtered or distilled water. If you have no choice but to use tap water, have it checked for chemicals. Send a sample to the nearest laboratory and they will return a detailed report in a few weeks.
– Light Requirements
The monstera thai constellation plants need partial or filtered light to grow. They cannot tolerate direct sunlight as it is dangerous for their delicate leaves. They also cannot survive in low light conditions. Low light makes it very difficult for their variegated leaves to photosynthesize properly.
Learn more about the light needs of these plants in the upcoming sections.
– Growing Monstera Plants Under Natural Light
When kept outdoors, keep these plants under the shade of a much larger tree or neighboring plant. Even better is to simply keep them in a patio or covered outdoor space.
When kept indoors, choose the brightest room in the house for them. Keep them as near the windows as possible. Far off corners of the room don’t receive adequate enough sunlight. In fact, the intensity of sunlight decreases the farther you move away from the windows.
You can place them near the eastern-facing window quite safely. The direct morning sunlight is mild enough to be received well by these plants. For the rest of the day, only indirect light illuminates them. In case the windows in the room are southern or western-facing ones, cover them with sheer curtains to filter out the intense sunlight.
– Growing Monstera Plants Under Artificial Light
You can also opt for artificial grow lights. Sometimes, the sunlight indoors is not adequate enough to grow this plant properly. These lights are not as effective as natural light, so you need to turn them on for at least 13 to 14 hours each day.
You have two options when it comes to artificial grow lights for plants. The traditional fluorescent lights are the most effective but they consume a lot of energy, so be ready for the mounting electricity bills.
LED-powered grow lights are your second option. They are cheaper and also conserve energy. On the downside, they are not as effective as fluorescent lights, so you will need to buy more of them to grow your plants.
– Soil Requirements
Here are some points to remember regarding this plant’s soil requirements:
- These plants need soil that is rich in organic matter. This is because Monstera thai constellation plants are epiphyte in nature and draw nutrients from other trees.
- Take any ordinary potting mix and add peat or sphagnum moss to it. These substances are richly organic.
- We also like to add compost to the soil. Casting worms is another great way to increase the nutrient levels of these plants.
- Airiness and rapid drainage is another important aspect that your soil needs to have. You can add pieces of bark, perlite or even coco coir to the soil to improve its drainage ability.
- Loose soil is also healthy for the roots. It allows them room to breathe and spread. Roots don’t take kindly to the soil that is too tight and compacted.
- Your soil needs to be able to retain moisture as well. For this, we suggest adding a layer of mulching to its surface. You can use a variety of mulch materials like newspaper, grass clippings, or even wood shavings.
- The ideal soil pH should be between 5 to 7.5.
– Temperature Requirements
The ideal temperature range for growing monstera thai constellation plants is 64 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. You can keep these plants safely outdoors during summertime.
These are not frost-hardy plants at all. Below 64 degrees Fahrenheit, their growth will slow down and leaves might start falling. Below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the growth of this plant stops altogether; the plants might go into frost shock and might never come out of hibernation.
If you are keeping them indoors, then you need to take care of them during the summers too. Cold drafts of air from the vents or air conditioners might affect them, so keep them well away from any such sources of cold air.
During winters, it is always better to transfer these plants indoors. You can manage temperature better inside the house. Even when placed inside, keep them away from open windows or any other sources of cold air.
– Humidity Requirements
This variegated monstera needs medium to high humidity levels at all times. Aim towards more than 60 percent humidity levels on average. In fact, the more moisture that there is in the air, the better your plant will grow and glow.
Learn some of our time-tested methods to improve humidity around the plant:
- Buy a humidifier. It is one of the most useful devices to have as a dedicated plant parent. It maintains the required humidity levels all the time, but the only downside is that it is pretty expensive. It also needs to be turned on all the time, so expect an increase in your electricity bills.
- You can also make a humidity tray for your monstera deliciosa. Take a shallow tray and fill it with water and some pebbles that are large in size. Place the pot on top of these pebbles.
- The evaporating water from the tray will increase humidity around the plant, so make sure that the bottom of the pot is not in contact with the water. This will put the plant at the risk of developing fungal rot.
- Another great way to increase humidity is to mist the plant. Use very light water as there is no need to douse the whole plant in water. In fact, this could be dangerous.
- Always mist the plant in the morning. This gives plenty of time and a warm temperature for the water to evaporate before evening. Hence, the risk of developing fungal rot is decreased.
– Fertilizing Requirements
Your Thai constellation monstera house plant needs regular feeding. Only fertilize during the growing months from spring until late summer. Stop fertilizing during the winter dormancy period.
Learn how to fertilize this plant at home:
- Use a balanced fertilizer for this plant. This means a formula with an equal amount of the main nutrients, which are Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. A fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 20:20:20 or 1:1:1 works best.
- A slow-release fertilizer is on the safe side. It comes in the form of pellets that you can bury in the soil. It will then continue to release nutrients over a period of several months.
- Liquid fertilizer gives you better control over nutrient supply, but always dilute it to half or one-third of its original strength.
- Always water the roots of the plant first before using liquid fertilizer. This is a precautionary measure to prevent chemical burns to the roots.
- Flushing is an important aspect of fertilizing your plant. It removes all the build-up salts from the soil that form from commercial fertilizer use. Simply put the pot under a running tap for five minutes and let all the water flow out of the drainage hole.
– Pruning and Repotting
The monstera thai constellation house plants is a slow grower. Each year it grows about one or two feet tall. You will need to repot it once every two years, and the new pot should be two to three inches larger in diameter than the root ball of the pot.
Pruning is an important aspect of plant care. Remove old, yellowed or drooping leaves at the end of each growing season. It will improve air circulation and release nutrients for younger leaves.
Propagation
You can propagate the variegated monstera using four different techniques. These involve stem cutting, aerial roots through layering, using seeds or simply dividing one plant into two.
Read ahead to find out how to carry out each type of propagation by yourself.
– Stem Cuttings
The best way to propagate this plant is by using a suitable thai constellation monstera cutting. You can use both water and moist soil as the growth media. Continue reading to learn how to do this.
- Take a clean knife and cut six to eight inches of a healthy stem. Make an oblique cut to take your cutting. The cutting should include aerial roots and at least one leaf node and an attached leaf.
- Allow your cutting to dry out for about a day in a dark, dry place. Apply rooting hormone at the cut end. Next, you can either place the cutting in water or in damp soil.
- If you choose water as the growth medium, place the cutting halfway in the water. The leaf should not be submerged in water. Use filtered water and change it every week, you can also add some seaweed as well as a source of nutrients.
- Now place your cutting in a warm and bright place. Make sure it is also humid. With this in mind, what better location to place the cutting than in the kitchen or the washroom?
- In a few weeks, new roots and shoots will begin to emerge. Allow them to grow to a substantial size, then transfer them to a proper pot with the right soil mixture for Monstera.
– Separating Two Monsteras
You can separate one large Monstera into two plants and then propagate them both. This allows you the additional benefit of managing an ever-growing plant.
Want to find out how it works? Read ahead!
- Remove the whole plant from its pot. You will need help because monsteras can be quite big.
- We suggest you water the plant thoroughly first before allowing the soil to dry a bit. This half-moist soil will be easy to uplift the plant from.
- Gently shake loose the soil attached to the roots of the plant. You can also wash the soil and the dirt off.
- Divide the plant into two to three parts through the roots. Be very careful not to inflict damage on the roots or the stems in the process. You might even need to untangle the roots first.
- Repot each separated plant in a new pot. One rule of thumb is that your pot should be only two to three inches larger in diameter than the obtained root ball of your plant.
- Always disinfect the gardening scissors or knives prior to using them on plants. If they are infected, they will spread diseases to your baby plants. Use alcohol and water to clean your tools after each use.
– Air Layering
You can also propagate this plant using an air layering technique. This is a very innovative technique as it involves propagating through a stem that is still attached to the parent plant.
You can read the step-by-step process in detail here:
- Choose a healthy stem for air layering. It should be at least 8 to 10 inches long.
- Take a clean knife and make a cut below a node on this stem. This cut should be deep but not extend all the way through the stem.
- Insert a piece of wood or a toothpick in this wound to keep it from closing.
- Dampen a reasonable amount of sphagnum moss and cover the wound with it. Wrap the whole thing with a plastic sheet and tie it with a string.
- Every three to four days, remove the plastic covering. Dampen the sphagnum moss covering the wound anew.
- In a couple of months, the cut in the stem will produce aerial roots. Allow them to grow a few inches and become strong enough.
- When the new roots are strong, cut the stem from its base and plant it in a new pot filled with freshly mixed soil.
– Seeds
Propagating through seeds is the most difficult and time-consuming method. It is also quite a task to find authentic and fresh seeds for this exotic plant. Here is how to propagate Monsteras using seeds:
- Always buy Thai constellation monstera seeds from a trusted vendor. A lot of the seeds being sold these days are fake.
- Take a seedling tray of an appropriate depth. Fill it with a suitable nutrient medium and moisten the medium by sprinkling some water on it.
- Now take the seeds one by one and insert them gently into the tray. Maintain a distance of about one to two inches between each buried seed.
- Keep the tray in the warmest room of your house. Make sure it gets plenty of indirect sunlight. Keep the nutrient medium moist too.
- In a few months, the seeds will germinate. New roots and shoots will emerge.
- Take small pots and fill them with well-draining soil this time. Bury the new baby plants very carefully in it. Keep the soil moist for the first couple of weeks.
Problems
Common problems with the Thai constellation are fungal infection due to waterlogging, pest attacks that destroy leaves, or low light causing loss of variegation and a spindly plant.
Continue reading to learn the solution to all these problems.
– Root Rot
This is a serious fungal infection that occurs when your plant is being overwatered. Water retention by the soil or the pot is also a close culprit. It can destroy a plant in weeks.
Yellow or brown and moist rot spots will appear all over the plant, and leaves will start drooping. In order to save your plant, remove it from its old infected soil and pot.
Cut off all the rotten parts using sharp gardening scissors, then repot the whole plant in a new pot filled with newly mixed soil. Spray copper fungicides over the plant for a couple of months to make sure all the fungal spores are dead.
– Pests
Mealybugs, mites and scale bugs are the insects to be on the lookout for. They will cause leaf yellowing and eventually dropping. Learn how to get rid of them by reading this section.
– Mealybugs
Mealybugs are small, white insects that very commonly affect household plants. They look like cotton bugs and feed on the nutrient-rich sap of your plant. Over time, the plant begins to show signs of weakness.
A mealybug infestation begins with the yellowing of leaves. These bugs secrete a sticky substance called honeydew over the leaves, which attracts mold. The leaves might also begin to fall off.
Over time, the growth of the plant becomes severely stunted. You will also notice a large number of these bugs hiding under the cluster of your variegated leaves.
– Spider Mites
These bugs are a more serious threat than mealybugs. They are very small and cannot be detected with the naked eye. This means that they can reproduce in alarmingly large numbers without being detected.
They also suck sap from the leaves of your monstera variegated. Yellow blotches will appear on the green part of the variegated leaves. This reduces the photosynthetic ability of the plant and it will begin to die.
You can detect a spider mite infestation by looking at the underside of the leaves. Delicate web-like structures will appear there. Rapid leaf drop of yellowed leaves is another sign of infestation.
– Scales
Soft, brown scales also tend to produce a rather nasty infestation in Monsteras. These insects are round, flat, and brown in color. They are sap-sucking creatures as well, and a lot of times, these scales are mistaken for harmless brown spots on the leaves instead.
Like all other sap-eating bugs, they weaken the plant. The leaves undergo chlorosis and start to fall off. You will notice a drastic decline in the growth of your plant.
– How To Get Rid of Bugs
Get rid of bugs by washing them off the plant. You can then use DIY remedies like neem oil, vinegar mixed with water, or milk mixed with water to kill the remaining bugs. Insecticidal sprays work as well.
Read all the details below.
– Isolate The Plant
Isolate the plant infested with bugs as soon as you notice their presence. These bugs jump from one plant to the next very quickly. You don’t want your entire plant collection to be infested with these nutrient-sucking parasites.
– Wash With Water
The best way to get rid of bugs is to physically remove them from your plant. Move the plant to a sink and wash it with insecticidal soap and water. You can use a toothbrush to scrub off the more resiliently-attached ones like brown scales.
Washing with water will get rid of a majority of insects. You can also pick them off the plant one by one using a piece of cotton or tissue paper.
– Use DIY Vinegar Mix
Mix 80 percent water with 20 percent vinegar. This is quite a potent solution to kill most bugs. Spray every day on the plant.
Usually, we recommend using common household vinegar, but you can also use vinegar of higher concentrations. Just make sure to dilute the mixture first.
– Use Neem Oil
Did you know that neem oil is a natural insect killer? Take a few drops of neem oil to wet a Q-tip. Use this Q-tip to apply the oil directly to the bugs that you can see. Its high viscosity will suffocate the pests.
– Water and Milk Solution
Mix milk and water to make a DIY mixture that kills bugs. Spray it on the plant every day, especially under the leaves.
– Insecticide Spray
An insecticide spray is obviously the most effective method to get rid of bugs, but these sprays are heavily laden with chemicals. Take all the usual precautions while using them.
– Loss Of Variegations
It is uncommon for these plants to completely lose their variegation completely. However, unfavorable conditions like sunburn or fertilizer might cause the green portion of the plant to disappear.
In such a case, you need to find the cause behind the loss of color and then treat it accordingly.
– Leggy Plant
If the monstera thai constellation does not receive enough sunlight, it will begin to grow in the direction of the light. As a result, its stems will become elongated and spindly.
Therefore, you must not forget to provide it with bright partial light for half the day. Keep it near a window or grow light. If the pot is placed in a corner, keep rotating it so that all sides get an equal amount of light.
– Toxicity
This plant is toxic for both plants and animals. All parts of the plant cause diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps upon ingestion. Keep it away from the reach of children and pets.
It is also known to produce allergies when the skin comes in contact with its sap. Always wear gloves when touching this plant. In susceptible individuals, a pretty severe rash might break out.
Take proper safety precautions to protect yourself. Wear gloves and full-sleeved clothing when taking care of monsteras. We also suggest wearing goggles to avoid touching your eyes with contaminated hands.
FAQ
What is the best growing medium for Thai Constellation Monstera?
Coconut coir mixed with perlite or orchid bark is ideal for Thai Constellation Monstera as it retains moisture while promoting good drainage.
Does light increase Thai Constellation Monstera variegation?
Yes, bright and indirect light can enhance the variegation of Thai Constellation Monstera leaves. Direct sunlight may cause damage.
What Is the Difference Betwen Thai Constellation and Monstera Albo Borsigiana?
The main difference between the Thai Constellation Monstera and Monstera Albo Borsigiana is that Monstera Albo Borsigiana has smaller leaves with pure white variegations that are in the form of large chunks, while the Thai Constellation Monstera has cream or yellowish variegations that are smaller in size and spread all over the plant in the form of speckles.
Conclusion
In this section, let’s take a look at a brief summary of this article:
- The Thai constellation monstera is a variety of monstera deliciosa. It has yellow, cream-colored variegations on its large leaves. It needs bright filtered light, but direct sunlight can damage its leaves.
- It is best to water this plant every week during the summer. Use distilled or filtered water, and make sure that the soil and the pot has good drainage as this is a sensitive plant and susceptible to fungal rot.
- Maintain temperatures between 64 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, provide high humidity and fertilize once a month.
- There are a lot of ways to propagate this plant. You can use layering in the air, cuttings from stems, seeds, or plant division to propagate your plant.
The Thai constellation monstera is an extremely rare plant. It is equally friendly; just make sure to give it plenty of filtered light, water once a week, and provide high temperatures and humidity. Trust us, you are now ready to become the best plant parent to this species.
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