If you want to have a large and unusual green flower in your house - the monstera plant is just for you. There are a lot of superstitions and prejudices about her, but let's look at what she really means.

Description and features of monstera

Monsters are common in the south and center of America, as well as in the south of Mexico. This genus has up to 50 different species belonging to the aroid. These are evergreen giant creepers with large (up to 50 cm in diameter) leaves.

In rainy weather, drops of water flow from them, for this feature the plant was called "crybaby." Large, variously shaped holes in the leaf plate protect the plant in nature from breaking off.

Did you know? Often, monster seeds are carried by birds on trees and sprout on the bark. Initially, the plant grows like an epiphyte and lowers aerial roots (up to 6 m long) to the ground. Having reached the ground, numerous lateral roots are formed on the lateral roots, and after that the vine grows quickly and wraps around the host tree.

Aerial roots hang down from the stem nodes, which provide additional nutrition and support, and are also used for climbing. But often aerial roots are not enough to support a long and thin vine. In case of loss of contact with the soil, the plant lives as an epiphyte.Indoor monstera blooms infrequently. Her flower resembles a spathiphyllum flower. The inflorescence of the ear is shrouded in a light green veil. The ear of fruit is covered with sweet and sour taste berries and a pineapple smell. At home, the fruits of monstera are used as food.

It should be remembered that even at home, creepers grow up to several meters, so it is optimal to keep them in spacious and cool halls or office rooms.

Plant properties

A huge liana with a monster-like name may, through its appearance, lead to thoughts of harm, but let's look at its properties.

Benefit

• The useful properties of a flower include:
• enrichment with oxygen and maintenance of humidity;
• ability to absorb formaldehyde (it is emitted by some building materials);
• ionization and purification of air with the help of substances produced by it;
• dust collection and filtering;
• interior improvement;
• use for shading;
• barometer replacement (before rain, the leaves release droplets of moisture);
• absorption of electromagnetic radiation (recommended to be placed near household and office equipment).

Harm and Danger

Despite all the benefits, monstera belongs to poisonous plants.

• Therefore, she also has cons:
• microscopic needles on the leaves secrete substances that cause irritation of the mucous membranes if you touch them and then rub the mucous membrane of the eye, nose or mouth;
• the juice of the plant is also poisonous, therefore, if ingested, it can provoke poisoning, which is characterized by numbness and swelling of the mouth and pharynx, loss of voice and dysphagia.

Many attribute to lianas the ability to take energy or the fact that it absorbs a lot of oxygen, but this is all speculation.

Can I keep at home?

If you have a spacious house and a great desire to have a monster, then you can well do it. After all, all the stories about why you can’t grow this flower in your home do not have a scientific basis.

In a house or apartment, it is better to place the liana in the hall or hallway. It is better not to put it in the bedroom, for the reason that, like all plants, it absorbs oxygen at night. Of course, you will not suffocate, but it will be more comfortable for you and her if the plant stands in another place.

The monstera’s office will be useful in the meeting room. To a tired person, she will give a charge of vivacity and energy, improve the quality of work.

In Asian countries, a flower is planted near the house and is considered a guardian angel. Here he is a symbol of happiness and prosperity.

Did you know? The formation of the fetus takes almost a year after flowering. Unripe fruits cause irritation of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, therefore they cannot be eaten. Ripening can be accelerated by wrapping the fruit in paper and leaving it at room temperature for several days.

Signs and superstitions associated with the flower

This unusual plant is covered with many different signs and superstitions. Whether you believe them or not is up to you, but for now we’ll list some of them:

• as early as the 17th century, legends spoke of a tropical plant devouring people and sucking out juices from them;
• it is believed that the "monster" is able to absorb bad energy, but if it is not, then it starts to take good;
• a flower can ruin a career or relationship;
• provokes scandals;
• expels men from the house (a lonely girl will never find a companion, and if there is a spouse, he will soon leave).

But such signs are mainly characteristic of the West, but in the East this flower is perceived differently:

• a flower planted at the door is a talisman and brings good luck;
• a person near the plant gets rid of harmful thoughts, becomes more reasonable;
• the plant takes away bad energy.

Care and conditions for growing monstera

The plant is unpretentious in care, but in order to be beautiful and pleasing to the eye, it is necessary to adhere to simple rules.

Where should stand in the house

Monstera does not like direct sunlight, but prefers partial shade, so it is better to place it:

• on the windows (or under them) from the west or east side;
• on the north side, the plant may lack lighting;
• on the south side the flower will need to be shaded from too bright light.

Microclimate

Monstera is a tropical resident, so you should consider:

• the warmer, the faster it grows. The average temperature in spring and autumn should be within +20 ... + 25 ° C, and in winter - not lower than +10 ° C. The most optimal temperature is around +16 ... + 19 ° C;
• doesn't like drafts. They are especially dangerous in winter and autumn;
• tropical plant likes high humiditytherefore requires regular spraying. You can wash the leaves with a wet sponge. For these purposes, it is necessary to take protected warm water;
• diffused lighting guarantees large and beautiful leavesand with a lack of light, the leaves will be small and the aerial roots thin.

Watering and feeding

In watering, it is advisable to adhere to seasonality:

• from spring to autumn, plentiful, but not fanatical watering is needed. The top ball of soil between waterings should dry. The increased humidity of the substrate can cause a loss of decorativeness and slow leaf growth, as well as root decay;
• watering in winter reducesbut the soil should not be too dry;
• water for irrigation should be settled and room temperature.

Important! We should not forget that aerial roots, no matter how ugly they look, cannot be cut off. Creepers need them for support and nutrition.

Top dressing is applied in summer and autumn. In winter, the plant does not need fertilizers. It is advisable to use both root and foliar top dressing. Fertilizers are applied at least 2-3 times a month. Of complex fertilizers, Epin or Gumisol can be used, and K-6 Urea as foliar.

Pruning and transplanting

Pruning vines is needed in such cases:

• when you need to form a young plant (the top is plucked off and sprinkled with ash);
• sanitary pruning to remove dry or diseased leaves and stems.

The timing and method of transplantation depends on the age of the monstera:

• the young flower grows quickly, so you need to transplant every 5-6 months. For this purpose, you can use a transshipment with an old earthen lump. But such a transplant should be alternated with a complete replacement of the soil, since it is rapidly depleted;
• adult representatives do not need frequent transplants, as their growth stops. Replacement of the substrate and capacity is carried out as necessary (every 3-5 years);
• for plants that are too large, only the topsoil is replaced. Old soil is removed with a spatula to the maximum possible depth and is filled with new.

For transplanting, you can buy ready-mixed soil in the store, or prepare it yourself (mix peat, humus, sand and turf in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 3).

Liana grows rapidly, so she needs to establish a backwater with a height of about 1 meter.

Possible difficulties growing

Monstera can be affected by such pests:

• mealybug forms “cotton” lumps, which are most often located on the lower plate of the sheet or in its sinuses. The leaves of the affected plant turn yellow, growth stops. Monstera is isolated and treated with drugs against sucking pests every 4-5 days;
• spider mite also lives on the underside of the leaf. Its presence is indicated by light green spots, which fuse over time, the leaf turns yellow and falls off. For treatment, the drug Fitoverm is used. And for prevention, high humidity is needed.

Important! Liana does not like frequent rearrangements and touches. Therefore, do not disturb her too often without much need.

With improper care, a tropical beauty may experience such problems:

• leaf fall - This is a natural process, but if more of them are lost than they grow, then this is not normal. This may be caused by a lack of light or power;
• yellowing leaves indicates a lack of nutrition. Their decay is the result of waterlogging;
• if the sheet plate turns brown and “paper”, then you need a more spacious tank or higher humidity;
• leaves turn pale from excess lighting;
• stretching the stem and fading leaves causes a lack of lighting;
• one-piece, no-cut sheet plate occurs when there is a lack of nutrition or light.

Monstera is a very beautiful and unusual plant, rumors of the harm of which are very exaggerated. Whether to settle this pet in your home is your decision. If you decide on this, you are unlikely to ever regret it.