A Monstera can also be grown from seed. If you’re lucky and have a Monstera that is in bloom, you can use the flower’s seed after the fruit has finished ripening. Otherwise, buy it from a shop. Although Monstera seeds are quite simple to obtain, they don’t have a long shelf life, so the sooner you plant them, the better.
First, let the seeds soak in lukewarm water for 12 hours. The seeds ought to slightly swell. Next, bury the seed in a thin layer of soil and maintain soil moisture. Although you don’t need much light, it helps to accomplish this in a warm environment, so keep it out of direct sunshine. A young Monstera initially begins to swell toward the night. A little sapling will grow from the ground in 10 to 3 weeks. Before it obtains the typical fenestrated leaves, it will take some time.
How can I obtain seeds of Monstera Deliciosa?
Monstera deliciosa, often known as Swiss Cheese Plants, are highly sought-after and expensive because of their large leaves and stunning fenestrations. If you’ve ever visited a nursery in search of a dependable Monstera, you’ve definitely noticed that they frequently have a pricey price tag. But don’t let that discourage you! Without any prior knowledge, you may cultivate these gorgeous plants from seed at home.
Can a Monstera be grown from seed? Yes! Seeds, which can be obtained from the fruits of the Monstera Deliciosa, can be produced with just a few tools and some time. If you don’t have access to the seeds at your house, you can buy them from reliable sellers online. But beware—the internet is rife with fraud.
Growing a Monstera is a great way to get numerous plants without having to spend money on full-grown houseplants, whether you’ve ever started plants from seeds before or not. Monsteras grown from seeds are robust and content indoor plants, despite the longer time it takes to reach maturity and develop fenestrations.
Can Monstera Variegata be grown from seed?
If you’ve ever seen a Monstera plant with variegated leaves, you probably fell in love. These plants recently grabbed the internet by storm, and they continue to be quite popular in fashion publications and Pinterest home décor ideas. But you know how unappealing it is if you’ve seen the price tag!
As a result, you might wonder if variegated Monstera seeds can be grown. If you are willing to wait, this may seem like a fantastic, affordable method to acquire a lovely plant.
Sadly, the answer is no, you cannot. Anyone trying to sell you variegated Monstera seeds is trying to con you since variegated Monstera plants cannot be grown from seeds. Purchase these seeds not. Even seeds derived from a variegated plant cannot guarantee the presence of the recessive gene that causes variegation. You need to purchase a plant if you want a variegated Monstera.
How long does a Monstera seed take to sprout?
One of the popular houseplants you can’t miss if you’re getting into the houseplant hobby is Monstera Deliciosa, often known as the Swiss Cheese Plant. What more could a houseplant enthusiast want for? They have magnificent, recognizable leaves that can get as big as your head and just have that lovely potential to take over half a room. These plants can be grown from seed, which is surprising but really excellent news, and it’s also not too difficult if you have the fundamentals down pat!
Getting the Seeds to Grow:
You may or may not have read my very first blog entry on this site, How to Grow Houseplants from Seed, which outlines the essential requirements for the majority of houseplants to germinate.
The optimal arrangement is a miniature greenhouse with a heat pad and grow lights because light, humidity, and warmth are necessary for growing Monsteras as well as most other houseplants. The seeds should be kept in an area that is regularly between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit if you don’t have a heat pad, and if you don’t have grow lights, you should maintain them in a location that receives bright but indirect light (an east, west or north-facing window out of direct sunlight can work).
Following completion of the fundamental setup, follow these instructions for actually preparing and planting the seeds:
1) Seed care: Germination of Monstera Deliciosa seeds is actually the simple part; the challenging part is keeping the seeds fresh and healthy. When it comes to Monsteras, freshness is important; the freshest seeds are hard and green, yellow, or light brown in color. They are difficult to maintain fresh since you can’t let them acquire too much moisture or let them dry out. They can be kept fresh and at a good moisture level by storing them in sphagnum moss in the refrigerator until you’re ready to plant them. I often advise planting the seeds a week after getting them to reduce the likelihood that they may lose viability.
It’s typically okay if the seeds are a bit dried out, but if they start to shrivel up and look predominantly tan or brown, they may not have much time left. However, even a little wrinkling doesn’t significantly affect viability.
2) Pre-soak: If the seeds are exceptionally fresh, pre-soaking is advised but not necessary. To prepare the seeds for planting, fill a container with hot or warm water, add the seeds, and let them soak there for 24 to 48 hours. This will assist in removing the outer coating to facilitate seed germination and, if necessary, rehydrate any dried-out seeds.
3. Set-up: You can go to this page I have here on houseplant seed set-ups for information on several set-up techniques that will work for Monstera Deliciosa seeds. The paper towel method is the best if you want to observe the seeds grow, but the ziploc bag or little greenhouse setup would also work well. I’ll keep using the tiny greenhouse approach.
Use a peat-based potting mix that has been saturated with warm distilled water or rainwater when planting seeds in soil, whether you are planting them directly into the ground or after they have already started to sprout.
Plant the seeds with just a thin layer of dirt covering them, then cover the planter with a dome, whether it be a greenhouse dome, a glass dome, or even just a ziploc baggie. If there is condensation inside the dome, the setup is likely at a good temperature and humidity level.
4) Maintenance: Keep the soil moist and in a bright, warm location, and keep an eye out for any signs of mold or fungus growth (never soggy). Within a month, and within two weeks under the ideal circumstances, the seeds should begin to sprout. Dig around in the dirt to see if you can find the seeds if you don’t observe any activity during that period. In general, seeds will germinate more quickly in warmer climates.
You can start taking care of your happy Monstera seedlings as you would an adult plant now that they are on their way to developing their first leaves with fenestrations. Here are some essential maintenance tips for Monstera Deliciosa.
Care for Monstera Deliciosa Plants:
Light: If you’re growing your Monstera indoors, give it bright, indirect light. If you’re growing it outdoors, give it shade. The leaves might become burned by too much direct sunlight.
Temperature: You should generally keep them between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive in either range, but you should try to limit temperature swings.
Water: During the growing season, give them a weekly drink to give the soil time to dry up. Water them less frequently in the cooler months when their growth slows. Occasionally spraying them or placing a humidifier near them can also be beneficial.
Fertilizing: Since they often don’t require much, limit your fertilization to two or three times each week during the growing season.
That concludes basic seed germination and Monstera Deliciosa care! I hope this article was helpful; if so, please leave a comment or get in touch with me directly.
Are there actually variegated Monstera seeds?
Variegated monstera seeds are unavailable. You can, however, buy monstera seeds. Additionally, the odds of getting a variegated one are one in a million.
How long do Monstera seeds remain viable?
We’re trying something new! We set aside seeds that appear dubious when we pack Monstera seeds throughout the year. We typically plant them ourselves, and some of them manage to defy the odds and are still viable, but we can’t make any guarantees with these seeds. So give these a shot if you enjoy a challenge! You might receive some seeds, or you might not:) These are NOT the seeds for you if you’re seeking for new ones with high germination rates! Our new batch arrives in July or August!
Important information to read before buying:
1) Plant your seeds as soon as possible. Monstera seeds do not store well; they can be kept in their packets in the refrigerator for two to three weeks, but the longer they are kept there, the less viable they become.
2) Due to a limited quantity, we only allow customers to purchase a maximum of 5 packets of Monstera Deliciosa; any orders for more than 5 Monstera packets will be canceled and reimbursed.
Regarding the seeds:
Regarding the Plants:
Instructions:
In order to prevent rot and drying out, keep Monstera deliciosa seeds in sphagnum moss in a baggie in the refrigerator if you won’t be planting them right away. Fresh seed germination is simple and quick, and germination rates range from 50% to 100% depending on the conditions and freshness of the seeds.
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: