Monstera obliqua is the most exotic tropical plant there is. The leaves are not only broad and attractive, but many types also have holes in them.
There is no doubt that plant enthusiasts are quite interested in these uncommon plants, yet most obliqua devotees find it difficult to get one.
Why do Monstera obliqua cost so much? Because Monstera obliqua plants are so uncommon, they can be fairly pricey. They are normally only grown by expert growers with extensive experience and knowledge of the plant due to their slow growth rate, which makes them difficult to propagate.
The Monstera obliqua is more complex than first appears. There are numerous things to like about this South American climber, including the unusual appearance and various kinds.
Let’s examine the causes of the high pricing and the various cultivars that are currently readily available in more detail.
Why are Monstera obliqua plants so uncommon?
The fact that this plant develops so slowly is another factor contributing to its difficulty in both selling and growing. The fact that these two plants resemble each other so much in their early years of development is actually one of the other reasons that monstera adansonii is frequently misidentified as monster obliqua. An obliqua won’t begin to produce those distinctive, heavily fenestrated, hardly there leaves for several years. They’ll resemble an adansonii until then.
Why do Monstera plants cost so much?
The multicolored Monstera is even more well-liked. leaves that are white-green. There are a few different variegated varieties, the most remarkable of which is the Monstera Delisioca ‘Albo-Variegata’. However, they are both pricey and extremely rare. Beginning in 2020, a botanist spent thousands of dollars on a Swiss cheese plant, which triggered an internet bidding war.
Why Are They So Hard To Find?
The white-variegated Monstera Deliciosa Albo Variegata is not an exception to the rule that plants with white variegation are typically more delicate than their green cousins. They photosynthesize far less as a result of producing less chlorophyll. Growing them takes time and expertise, in addition to being slow. A unique plant like this is going to be hard to obtain, and if you do find it, it will cost you because of the extremely high demand!
The Most Expensive House Plant in the World
After a furious online bidding war amongst botanists for the monstera, a Swiss cheese plant went for almost $5,000. By the time the sale for the Monstera Deliciosa Albo Variegata on the New Zealand website Trade Me ended, there had been 182 bids.
The sale brought in $4,930 for Kiwi botanist Jessica, who buys and sells plants as a hobby, making it the highest amount ever paid for a Monstera on the website. Jessica’s writing
“There’s no need to request pictures of the mother plant because THIS IS IT! I’ve never seen one that is so established and well-rooted before.”
Monsteras are Everywhere
It appears as though you cannot open a fashion magazine or visit a fashionable location without seeing Monsteras and, thus, desiring one. Yes, it’s a lovely plant, and nowadays, everyone enjoys having a lush, exotic indoor plant. It is an amazing, spreading, simple-to-grow, and generally low-maintenance plant called Monstera deliciosa ‘Albo Variegata.
There are many sellers can be located on Facebook as well. For instance, from Peace of Aloha Co.
“One of my personal favorites that I’ve been cultivating for a while and have just finished propagating more than 100 of. I spent $650 on my first plant, and over time, it produced a ton for me. This cultivar yields lovely variegated leaves with white coloring marbling. The artwork on those leaves is never the same.”
What Monstera has the highest price tag?
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.
Is Monstera obliqua challenging to maintain?
For the first several years of their growth, Monstera Obliqua and Adansonii are extremely similar, which frequently causes people to confuse them. The changes are only noticeable as the plants mature and Monstera Adansonii grows thick, leathery leaves as opposed to Monstera Obliqua’s short, paper-thin leaves.
As the plants develop, other physical distinctions, such as the size difference, become apparent. When fully developed, Monstera Obliqua is smaller and grows at a considerably slower rate than Monstera Adansonii. Obliqua also makes stolons, which are leafless runners. In their natural environment, these stolons can reach lengths of up to 60 feet.
In addition to being expensive and rare, Monstera obliqua are famously difficult to maintain. Having delicate leaves that are easily burned by direct sunlight or extended exposure to LED grow lights, as well as needing an atmosphere that is humid with an average moisture content of 80%.
Despite how exquisitely lovely they may be, there are several important factors to think about before purchasing one of these unusual and sought-after plants. So, let’s go through all you need know about taking care of a Monstera obliqua.
Is obliqua uncommon?
Only devoted plant parents and diehard Monstera fans should do this! One of the rarest and most difficult monstera kinds available, Monstera Obliqua is a pricey endeavor that only the most ardent plant parents take on. Here are some things you should know about the Monstera Obliqua if you’re determined to purchase one of these magnificent houseplants.
What distinguishes Monstera Adansonii from obliqua?
Monstera Obliqua resemble Monstera Adansonii in appearance. They develop holes inside the leaves that are similar in shape, and the leaves themselves are narrow rather than oval or arrowlike.
The Obliqua’s leaves are paper-thin and will typically be more of a hole than a leaf, whilst the Adansonii’s leaves are typically more leaf than a hole and have a delicate roughness to them.
Dr. Thomas B. Croat, a leading authority on Monstera, asserts that there have only been seventeen reports of the Obliqua in the wild, several of which have since been disputed. “Trust me, as much as I want this to be true, you do not have a Monstera Obliqua,” he tells wistful Obliqua owners. A botanical unicorn, that is.
What plant requires the most money to grow?
The 2005 sale of the Shenzhen Nongke Orchid for $224,000 made it the most expensive plant ever transacted. It took scientists 8 years to construct at a university lab.
Although it may be hard to imagine, in recent years it has become less surprising that people will gladly spend six figures on even the greatest indoor plants.
“The demand for houseplants, which began to increase about ten years ago, is at its highest point right now. In fact, a lot of experts who thought it was a craze or trend had to reevaluate what they thought first made it so popular, claims Dan Bruce, co-founder of Leafy (opens in new tab).
The fact that Pinterest searches for “Biophilic architecture,” which emphasizes plants in design, increased by 150% this year is evidence of this apex. Prices for in-demand plants have increased as a result of the surge in demand. Rare variegated monstera cuttings are now occasionally selling for three figures on online marketplaces like Etsy.
There has previously been a rise in houseplant popularity before the 2020s. Early in the 1600s, there was a “Tulip Mania” in the Netherlands, with prices rising. An obsession with orchids known as “Orchidelirium” during the Victorian era led to an increase in orchid prices and even thefts.
These are the most expensive plants you can purchase for some genuinely beautiful indoor garden ideas in the midst of the 21st century houseplant craze.
Which indoor plant is the rarest?
These gorgeous plants are probably already known to a serious plant enthusiast, but I’ll list my top ten. All of the plants on this list are rare collector’s goods. There is no set order for the plants.
Variegated Monsteras
The monstera is undoubtedly already well-known to everyone, but in the past two years, the variegated varieties have really taken off. There are two varieties of variegated monsteras: Borsigiana and Deliciosa. But I’ll cover that in a different essay.
Currently, there are four different variegated monstera types that are in high demand. These are Monstera Thai Constellation, Monstera Sport, Monstera Albo Variegata, and Monstera Aurea Variegata.
Monstera Albo Variegata
The Monstera Albo Variegata is the most prevalent of all of them. Several growers are already producing this in Belgium and Holland. The majority of the white variegated monsteras sold in Europe are produced by these growers. Prices for a plant with a few leaves are quite costly because of the slow growth of this plant and the great demand. These plants cannot currently be tissue cultured due to the natural fault of variegation.
Monstera Thai Constellation
Several growers in Holland are presently cultivating the Monstera Thai Constellation plant. However, they have very few. You correctly guess where the Thai Constellation is from: Thailand. They have been grown in tissue culture for many years in Thailand. Thailand is unable to provide the quantity of plants that farmers in Europe and the USA are requesting because to the huge demand. As a result, prices in Thailand and other nations throughout the world are exorbitant. It’s been said that growers in the US and Europe have successfully created Thai Constellations in their own tissue culture labs. In order to satisfy the market and bring down prices, it is waiting for the growers to release significant quantities of these plants.
Monstera Aurea Variegata
Aurea in Latin means “gold” hence the plant has a slight golden tint. Monstera Aurea is perhaps one of the most sought-after variegated monsteras. As you can see, this plant has lovely gold/yellow variegation on its leaves; in my opinion, it is extremely gorgeous! There is currently no large-scale production of these plants. These plants can only be obtained through cuttings in private collections or from plants developed from seeds with an extremely low likelihood of developing this kind of variegation.
Monstera Sport
This Monstera is peculiar; the plants’ variegation seems to be green or pale yellow. It is frequently known as Monstera sport. These plants are not mass-produced, just as the Monstera Aurea Variegata. These can only be obtained by taking cuttings from already-existing plants.
Philodendron White Princess
Through cutting, The Philodendron White Princess has been present in private collections for a while. However, this year they arrived on the market as whole, large potted plants. They have gotten easier to locate even though they are still rather difficult to discover.
For serious plant aficionados, their lovely white speckled leaves are instantly recognizable.
Philodendron Melanochrysum
This climbing philodendron is most likely the most sought-after one for 2020. Undoubtedly one of the rarer indoor plants. Its leaves are the ideal shade of dark green. When you have the Melanochrysum blooming in an area with a little bit greater humidity, it is a fairly simple Philodendron to cultivate inside. This philodendron’s leaves can grow to be enormous! Some plants in private collections and botanical gardens have leaves that can reach lengths of more than one meter!
Fortunately, this year has seen an increase in the availability of these plants due to extensive manufacturing in Holland; this trend is likely to continue in 2021.
Philodendron Gloriosum
Another stunning performance! The Philodendron Gloriosum is renowned for its enormous velvet leaves with stunning white veining that resemble a large heart. As you can see, these plants have a very high rate of growth. If you manage to get your hands on one, give it a good pot to crawl in since this Philodendron likes to crawl over climb.
The mother plants of this Philodendron are now being worked on by numerous growers in Belgium and Holland. As a result, this plant will be more widely available in the upcoming years.
Anthurium Veitchii
Anthurium the king, This year, there was a big increase in demand for this uncommon houseplant because so many individuals searched for it. No wholesale grower has offered them for sale as of yet. This year, you could only have acquired one by importing the plant yourself or purchasing it from a private grower or collector.
This Anthurium is desired for its magnificent look and lovely ruffled leaves. This plant’s interesting fact is that it can grow without soil. Due to its epiphytic nature, it prefers to grow in sphagnum moss. These plants can be found in the wild growing among trees, on cliff faces, or on moss-covered walls. The leaves can potentially reach a height of almost one meter!
Anthurium Warocqueanum
One of the most well-liked anthuriums for 2020 is the Queen. Unfortunately, garden centers do not now carry it, however it is occasionally accessible online. Originally from Colombia, this plant is currently grown in several South American nations as well as Asia. These plants may only be obtained by either importing them from there or purchasing one from a private European collector.
The velvety leaves of this anthurium contribute to its popularity. An anthurium with velvet leaves? Yes! It’s beautiful and deserving of desire. Its appearance is similar to something you may see in a fantasy film. Just check out its beauty!
Monstera Adansonii Variegata Archipelago
One of the most costly Monsteras and likely one of the most sought-after unusual houseplants in 2020. Although the variegated Monstera adansonii originated in Japan, it is now found in many collections across Europe. In 2020, a single leaf cutting with good variegation will cost you roughly $1500, yes, you read that right. Because they are so uncommon, these plants are not currently being cultivated in large quantities. Due to the unstable variegation, the plants cannot be grown in tissue culture. Cuttings are the only method for reproducing these plants.
This plant will undoubtedly still be very valuable in a few years, but as more and more individuals acquire one, its value will inevitably decline.
Monstera Obliqua Peruvian Form
This is unquestionably the most unique and uncommon of the Monsteras, and for the most of people, the holy grail of rare houseplants. When you are collecting monsteras, this is undoubtedly on your top wishlist. Originating in Peru, but now present in numerous collections across Europe. The plant can only be purchased from a collector. This plant can easily cost you a few thousand euros in a cutting.
Philodendron Pink Princess
A PURPLE PLANT? Yep! It does exist, but they are still uncommon. Fortunately, because many producers are diligently attempting to multiply their mother plants, there will be a greater supply of these in 2021.
This is a true eye-catcher for any plant collector. When guests come around, they will all notice the plant in your living room.
Variegated Syngonium
This year, the popularity of variegated Syngoniums really took off; there are so many distinct varieties that it’s nearly overwhelming. It comes in a variety of colors, from white to pink. For instance, take a look at this variegated Syngonium. Since Syngoniums are simple to grow, there will be much more of them in 2021.
For 2021, a lot of producers are currently raising a lot of mother plants of the variegated sygonium. Look at this expanse of white Syngonium with varying colors.