It can be challenging to find variegated Monstera for sale due to strong demand and short supply. Don’t get scared off! We’ve gathered your top choices right here, whether you’re looking for a white variegated Monstera Deliciosa Albo Variegata, Thai Constellation, yellow variegated Monstera Aurea, or even a rare variegated Monstera Adansonii.
Small Shops and Nurseries
Variegated Monstera is sold at a few quaint plant stores and boutiques. Ask whether they ever sell variegated Monstera if you’re lucky enough to have a store nearby that sells uncommon or collector plants. Your suggestions may affect their upcoming inventory!
A variegated Monstera is often one of the most expensive plants to buy, and there are only a few available. Fortunately, by purchasing locally and supporting small businesses, you’ll avoid shipping and have access to individualized counsel.
Large Stores
Large nurseries and garden centers cannot buy variegated Monstera from wholesalers because it is difficult to mass produce them. The production of Thai Constallations is now underway at Costa Farms, however the company just disclosed that they won’t be ready until at least 2022.
Therefore, chance is your best bet when looking for a variegated Monstera at a hardware, grocery, or big nursery!
A random mutation results in variation. Normal Monstera occasionally exhibits sport, also known as accidental variegation, turning into a variegated plant! This fortunate occurrence is more likely to occur in a sizable plant-stocked store. The nice part is that you can buy these plants at regular Monstera prices without paying a premium.
Check the stems first whenever looking for sporadic variegation! Monsteras can produce leaves with a few patches of variegation, but unless this pattern is present in the stem or petiole where new growth begins, it will not appear in subsequent leaves.
Finding Variegated Monstera for Sale in the USA Online
If you’re having trouble physically locating variegated Monstera for sale in the USA, searching online will provide you access to a wider selection. You can find cuttings, nodes, and young Monstera in addition to bigger established plants.
Additionally, you’ll discover a wider range of rates, from excellent bargains to blatant price gouging. Even while it’s wonderful to find a discount, always keep in mind that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Ebay
With numerous listings and new ones being updated every day, Ebay is one of the finest places to buy variegated Monstera. To view the successful bids, you can make your own search alerts, filter results based on price, and search previous listings.
Even though some goods are for sale, the majority of Ebay listings are auctions. Ebay is more difficult to use and initially puzzling than purchasing a plant from a store. Learn how to use the Ebay auction system to increase your chances of placing the winning bid on your ideal plant.
The hefty seller fees of 10% charged by Ebay are included in the pricing. Furthermore, bidding conflicts might raise prices. You can get some fantastic prices by keeping an eye on the available auctions and searching for hidden gems. Just be aware that you might have to lose a few auctions before you get lucky while purchasing Monstera via auction.
Social Media
You may interact with other Monstera lovers on social media platforms like Facebook. Direct trade or purchase with hobby growers is possible there.
Consider joining local or state-wide clubs that focus on indoor plants. According to my experience, hobby shops nearby can provide you the best deals! You can participate in expanding the local houseplant community without worrying about shipping. If you live in a city or suburb with a lot of local listings, Facebook Marketplace is an excellent location to look for plants.
There are also numerous national associations in the USA for purchasing, selling, and exchanging unusual plants, such as variegated Monstera. Search for uncommon plant purging or BST (buy, sell, trade) groups on Facebook to find these communities. Tropical + Rare Plant Purge BST and Time to Splurge and Purge BST are two excellent group examples.
Last but not least, there are Facebook communities devoted to evaluating online plant retailers! Before making a purchase, you can search for sellers to learn about customers’ experiences.
Etsy
There are fewer plant shops on Etsy than on Ebay, but you don’t have to bid! Be prepared for hefty prices because Etsy also charges a high fee. According to my observations, Etsy has some of the most expensive variegated Monstera costs. On the other side, searching and buying are both fairly simple.
Online Nurseries
Don’t panic if there isn’t a nursery for uncommon plants nearby. Online, there are many plant stores in the USA that sell variegated Monstera. Some even limit their sales to the internet. Google searches, plant group recommendations, and social media can all be used to identify internet stores.
Here are a handful of the more reputable and well-reviewed online plant stores that I have previously observed offering variegated Monstera. These websites are not affiliated with me; I simply compiled this list from my own varied Monstera searches.
Due to their rarity, variegated Monstera are frequently out of stock. Don’t let this get you down; keep checking back or subscribe to get notified when a refill happens.
Monstera Albo Borsigiana
Despite some claims to the contrary, Monstera Deliciosa and Borsigiana belong to the same species.
One of the most well-known Monstera variegata has grown in popularity as a result of Instagram.
Large white patches will appear on the foliage of M. Albo Borsigiana due to a spontaneous mutation that causes the variegation. These spots are erratic and prone to become green again.
Depending on how many leaves it has, a single Monstera Albo Borsigiana cutting is worth approximately $250, while a rooted plant can range in price from $400 to $1,000.
Monstera Thai Constellation
This common house plant was created using plant tissue culture in a lab in Thailand and has undergone artificial mutation.
It is one of the most desired plants due to its lovely variation in sectoral and marble patterns. As a plant that was grown in tissue culture, the variegation is quite stable and will be passed on to new leaves as they develop.
Although a rooted Monstera Thai Constellation can cost anywhere between $250 and $350, I’ve never seen Thai Constellation advertised as a cutting.
Monstera Deliciosa Aurea
The yellow variegation of Monstera Deliciosa Aurea, also called Monstera Marmorata, gives it the look of a Golden Pothos.
It also needs regular maintenance to keep its sectoral pattern variegation. To maintain the variegation, immediately cut any leaves that have turned green.
Because it is so uncommon, Monstera Deliciosa’s Aurea variant commands a high price. Costs for rooted plants range from $2,000 to $3,000.
Is It Possible for Regular Monstera to Develop Variegation?
Regular Monstera can eventually show variegation, though it is rare. One of my friend’s Monstera Deliciosa cuttings was fortunate enough to begin displaying Albo variegation.
Only one in 100,000 plants will randomly produce a variegated Monstera. This means that in order to obtain a variegated Monstera, you would need to propagate 100,000 cuttings and hope that one of them would show the trait.
What is the price of a variegated monstera?
Swiss cheese plant, sometimes known as variegated Monstera, can get up to $5,000 at auction. On the well-known auction site Trade Me, a rare M. adansonii went for $700 and an M. aurea sold for $3,726.
The Variegated Monstera is currently one of the most popular plants and is adored in New Zealand and other countries. But because of how slowly the plant reproduces, it is quite uncommon.
This plant is known for its sporadic splashes of color in a variety of colors and its irregularly shaped leaves. Numerous plant-related social media influencers adore it because of its distinctiveness. Garden centers only charge $20 for standard green varieties, while the cost of variegated varieties is increasing.
Can a common monstera develop variegation?
Green seeds are the first stage of life for the genuine Monstera Deliciosa Variegata. Commercial plant producers in Australia buy substantial quantities of seed that are not sold to the general population. There is a certain moment the seeds arrive at growers and they must be sowed for growth inside a constrained time window since the seed planting process is time-sensitive. The seeds grow into a green Deliciosa plant, but occasionally something goes wrong and the plant’s DNA change. A Monstera Deliciosa becomes a Monstera Deliciosa Variegata in this manner. Since this is an uncommon occurrence, naturally variegated real Monstera Deliciosa are difficult to find. Additionally, three other colors—light green, yellow, and white/cream—can result from this mutation.
Can a plant be variegated?
I definitely collect variegated plants and am infatuated with them. Because of the pearl string’s variety, it is currently my favorite. Given that some kinds, like Variegated Monstera, cost astronomical sums of money, I had a few queries concerning plants with variegation. Here’s where my investigation led me:
A. The green pigment chlorophyll is absent from some plant cells, which causes variation in leaf color. Typically, a cell mutation causes it.
A. Plants can have genetic (inherited) or random variegation (chimeric). If the color change is hereditary, it is stable, which means that it will return to the new plant if you produce a green stem from a plant with colored leaves or plant its seed.
A variety of factors might cause variegated plants to revert or turn green. It could be a response to temperature extremes—hot or cold—or to low light levels. Some claim that since the plant grows stronger when it has more chlorophyll, it might have done so as a means of survival. When this occurs, it is preferable to remove the afflicted leaves because, if you don’t, the plain green foliage, which has more chlorophyll and vigor than the variegated foliage, may really take over the plant.
A. Variegation cannot be artificially created or done at home. To spread the variegated plant love, it is best to borrow a cutting from a friend or give your own away.
Cost of a Monstera Albo
Albo Borsigiana and Thai Constellation are the two most prevalent varieties of variegated Monstera. While they could appear similar at first glance. Their care, development, accessibility, and cost will all be impacted by some obvious distinctions.
It will be easier for you to choose which one to have in your house if you are aware of the distinctions between Albo and Thai.
Mutationnatural vs. tissue culture
It is a naturally occurring mutation in Monstera Albo Borsigiana that first leads to variegation. There once was a normal, green M. Borsigiana whose cells began to spontaneously mutate in a way that caused those cells to stop producing chlorophyll. In the Monstera’s stem, these mutant cells proliferate and are transferred to the subsequent leaf.
The only cells with this spontaneous mutation are white cells. Monstera Albo seeds won’t develop into variegated progeny. Only a cutting from a mother plant can produce a new variegated Monstera Albo.
The genesis of the Monstera Thai Constellation is distinct. It was produced via tissue culture in a lab in Thailand. In this subspecies, every cell of the plant carries the mutation that results in the variegation.
The forms soldcuttings vs. plant.
Almost typically, Monstera Albo Borsigiana is marketed as a clipping from a mother plant. Because Albos take so long to mature, it is uncommon to see one for sale; instead, nurseries prefer to sell cuttings because they are more profitable. If you do locate an adult Albo for sale, it will probably cost a lot of money.
Normally, immature plants of Monstera Thai Constellation are offered for sale. Due to its production in the lab, it can be grown and sold in this manner. Small plants grown from tissue cultures are then sold after being potted up in soil. Due to their immaturity, these baby plants will initially have smaller leaves and may not have any fenestrations.
The variegation pattern & stability
Beautiful variegation can be seen on Monstera Albo Borsigiana. Its leaves exhibit white marbling and spots of green color. There will be variations between every leaf.
This pattern of variegation is unstable as a result of its natural mutation. Albo Monsteras can switch back to producing either green leaves or completely white, chlorophyll-free leaves. These stunning, all-white leaves are quite stressful for the plant and will be the first to wither.
The mutant cells found in the stem and leaf node are what cause the albo’s leaves to be variegated. Even within the same plant, this might vary significantly. The color of each leaf will depend on the color of the leaf before it. You can anticipate how much white and green will be on the subsequent leaf by observing the growth and variegation of your Albo.
To sustainably balance beauty and photosynthesis, too much white or too much green in new growth on your Monstera Albo will need to be cut back.
The Albo’s variegation pattern is not seen on Monstera Thai Constellation. The surface of all Thai leaves is covered with tiny creamy spots that look like constellations. The light areas are more of a creamy color than a blinding white. Compared to Albo, Thai Monsteras have fewer and smaller sectoral variations (those big, white patches).
Additionally, Thai Monsteras have substantially more consistent variegation. All of the cells in the plant have the mutation because they were created in a lab. You don’t need to be concerned about your Thai Monstera going back to having only green leaves.
The variation is unpredictable even if it is stable. There is neither an advance nor a regression of white or green leaves from one leaf to the next.
Inter-nodal spacing
The distance between nodes along the stem is referred to as inter-nodal spacing. Thai and Monstera Albo are significantly dissimilar in this regard.
The leaf node on Monstera Albo Borsigiana can grow up to 34 inches long (10 cm). This indicates that the leaves are farther apart.
Due to its more vine-like appearance and growth, Monstera Albo may not appear as lush and verdant as it once did. Using anything like a moss pole will be necessary for this type to climb.
It is also incredibly simple to take cuttings thanks to this longer leaf node. With pruning shears, there is plenty of room to reach inside.
One inch or less is the minimum internodal spacing for Monstera Thai Constellation (23 cm). As a result, the Thai Monstera seems extremely dense, bushy, and luxuriant. However, since there isn’t much place for the scissors, cuttings are more difficult to make as a result.
Leaf size
A slightly smaller subspecies of M. Deliciosa is known as Monstera Borsigiana. The width of its leaves is less than a foot (30 cm).
However, Thai Constellation has considerably larger, more typical Monstera-like leaves.
Rarity
Thai Constellation is substantially more common than Monstera Albo Borsigiana. It can only be created through cuttings, as opposed to Thai, which is cultivated in a lab for commercial production. Albo also grows more slowly than Thai, which extends the period between cuttings.
Thai Monsteras are still difficult to find. They are only made in one lab, and they can only make a certain number at once.
Pricing
Monstera Albo Borsigiana is typically more expensive than Thai Constellation due to their scarcity and high demand.
In some locations, a cutting of Monstera Albo can be purchased for $100 USD; some dealers charge more depending on the cutting’s size. A young plant will cost around $800 USD, while a mature plant would cost over $1,000 USD to purchase.
A young Monstera Thai Constellation will cost between $150 to $700 USD at the time of this publication, which is less than a Monstera Albo of the same size. Additionally, mature Thai constellations can fetch over $1,000 USD. Although less frequent, cuttings of this kind are not unheard of.
That is a lot of data to keep in mind! For an easy and quick comparison, see the following graph: