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 entirely 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 a progression 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:
Thai constellation or Monstera Albo: which is superior?
Personal choice, available area, and preferred variegation all play a role in deciding between the monstera albo and the thai constellation. One is not superior to the other, in my opinion.
Choose the Thai Constellation if you want a larger plant that is simpler to maintain the variegation. This one is for you if you feel more at ease starting with a young plant.
Choose the Albo if you desire a taller plant and adore the exotic appearance of beautiful white foliage. Simply be ready to prune back non-variegated leaves in order to retain the variegation.
You should have little trouble with the Albo if you have previous experience growing plants from cuttings.
Thai Constellation Monstera: Is it uncommon?
There are 45 different plant species in the Monstera genus, the majority of which are tropical and feature lovely leaves with swiss-cheese-shaped holes in them. Only three species of Monstera have variegated variants, the Monstera Deliciosa being one among them.
Only random mutations or purposeful mutations produced in a lab can result in variegated Monsteras. The Thai Constellation and the Borsigiana Albo Variegata are the two most common varieties of variegated Monstera Deliciosa.
It is impossible to raise the Monstera Albo as a seedling because it is a rare mutant. As a result, each and every one of them is a replica of the original mother plant. It’s kind of cool to consider that, don’t you think?
Its leaves contain numerous huge, brilliant, cream-colored splotches and dots all over them. They are weaker and more demanding to care for since the chlorophyll mutation in it is more pronounced.
Additionally unstable, it can lose its variegation during growth or during propagation. Due of its distinctive variegation and costly cost, the Monstera Albo is highly sought for by plant enthusiasts worldwide.
A seed cannot be used to grow the Thai Constellation because it was created in a lab. Thai Constellations have cream-colored yellow spots and blotches that resemble someone smearing paint over them.
You can take cuttings from a mature Thai Constellation and the replicated plants will preserve the constellation-like variegation because this variety is quite stable and won’t lose its color. I choose a Thai because of their stability and somewhat lesser cost.
Where does the constellation of Monstera Thai grow?
Visit our page about The Elusive Variegated Monstera Deliciosa to learn more about the Variegated Monstera.
This popular houseplant may grow up to 6 meters tall in ideal indoor circumstances, making it a statement plant that belongs in any indoor space.
Different from the variegation of the Variegated Monstera Deliciosa Borsigiana, the Monstera Thai Constellation’s variegation is stable.
It is an upward climbing shrub that is quite popular right now with gardeners and lovers of indoor plants all around the world.
The unique leaves are up to three inches broad and have a cream and green variegation with big holes.
The price of Thai constellation plants is really high.
Its name, Thai Constellation, is appropriate given how well-liked and expensive it has become. A rare mutation, the marble coloring brought on by a lack of chlorophyll increases in value the more of it there is. Andy Roy from the Oxley Nursery said the craze for them is “unprecedented”. “We’ve never seen anything like it.”
Do monstera Albo prices differ from Thai Constellation?
Both of these plants are expensive due to their rarity. Although they can change depending on the state of the market, a Monstera Albo is often both more rare and more expensive. This is due to the fact that it is more difficult to maintain and disseminate, and it is simple for the mutation to disappear.
Thai Constellations, however, are very pricey. It is less difficult to grow via cuttings and tissue culture, but it is still uncommon, which makes it expensive. Although it won’t be as expensive as a well-known Monstera Albo, it won’t be cheap either.
Make sure to see the actual cutting you will receive before purchasing an Albo. Albos differ greatly, but Thai Constellation cuttings are very similar to one another.
To ensure that the plant has a good chance of surviving and will have a beautiful variegated appearance, make sure the white is present and there is adequate greens.
If it has chunky white areas, the rest of the plant will have chunky white sections as it grows. The rest of the plant will tend to mimic the white if it is more wavy or swirly.
An Albo’s variegation will largely follow the same pattern no matter where it grows on the plant, in contrast to a Thai Constellation, which can exhibit fairly different variegation. This implies that it’s crucial to have seen the plant in person before buying it so you know exactly what you’re getting and that it’s healthy.
Does Costa Farms provide Thai constellations for sale?
The well-known Monstera cultivar “Thai Constellation” won’t be sold this year, according to a Costa Farms announcement. The following notification has been published by the business on its website and social media:
At Costa Farms, we share your enthusiasm for Monstera ‘Thai Constellation’ because we are also quite interested in it. Additionally, we are aware that many of you are disappointed that it is still not on the market after we presented it at the TPIE trade conference in 2020. Our staff is similarly disappointed that we weren’t able to release it for you.
In the end, we can’t put it on the market until we have enough of them. We are unable to generate the tens of thousands of young plants we require via tissue culture because to Thai Constellation’s unfortunate peculiarities. We are unable to provide a release date for Thai Constellation as we enter 2022. Early experiments conducted by our research and development team were encouraging when we introduced it in 2020. But this size problem still needs to be resolved.
In the interim, we’ll be giving 200 of our earliest mother plants to a few of our shop partners and donating the proceeds from their sales to organizations that help the neighborhood. Keep checking back for additional information about the stores where these 200 Thai Constellation plants will be sold in the coming days.
Distinguishing Features
One of the rarest forms, Monstera Obliqua, is sometimes confused with Monstera Adansonii. Both of these Monsteras have several holes in their leaves, but there are a few significant variations.
Obliqua appears to be more of a hole than a leaf from a distance. What little leaf there is has such severe fenestrations that it almost resembles lace.
The durability of the leaves is another distinction between Obliqua and Adansonii. While the leaves of Obliqua are far more delicate, those of Adansonii will be thicker and more robust.
Due to the fact that juvenile Obliqua’s leaf holes don’t fully develop until it is a few years old, it will be difficult to tell it apart from Adansonii.
Care Tips
One of the most difficult types is Monstera Obliqua. Not for those with weak hearts!
It requires frequent moisture to keep its delicate leaves from disintegrating. Your Obliqua will require its own personal humidifier to maintain humidity levels above 80% unless you live in a tropical climate. Its leaves will fall off, turn yellow, and shrivel up if there is not enough humidity.
It will catch fire in direct sunlight just like other Monsteras. It prefers a pot with excellent drainage and peaty soil.
Obliqua develops extremely slowly since it doesn’t have a lot of leafy surface area to create chlorophyll, much like variegated plants.
Fun Facts
Obliqua can only ascend a few meters in height, which is not as high as other Monstera species. Additionally, it will develop stolons, which are runners that fall to the ground to take root and grow a new plant. For a Monstera, this is an uncommon trait!
Obliqua can produce up to 8 spadix flowers in a cluster when it blooms. Only one or two spadices are produced at a time by other Monsteras.
Is Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma a Monstera?
Despite not strictly being a Monstera, Rhaphidorphora Tetrasperma is frequently referred to as a “dwarf Monstera.” Its leaves resemble those of a Monstera. Although it belongs to a different genus than Monstera, it is a member of the same Araceae family.
Is there any other varieties of Monstera?
There are more than 50 different Monstera kinds, as I already indicated. To witness a different variety of Monstera that is not as well-known as the one stated above, watch Kaylee Ellen’s video!