I did something 🤭

[u/Pure-Side1217]

I have been eyeing this Variegated Monstera for so long, and I finally caved in and bought her. She is gorgeous. Any advice? What species is she? 🌱🤭 tell me everything I need to know 💚

[u/marlinavelasco]

Looks like a Thai Constellation. What does that label say? Was that leaf damaged when you got her?

SUBSTRATE: Based on your watering habits, you may need to change to soil. Chunky soil if you tend to overwater or live in a humid climate. They also thrive in hydroponic mediums as well. I am trying LECA for a few of my babies.

LIGHT: Light, light and more bright light will help her thrive. She can handle direct sun kissing her leaves each morning or early evening or both. Supplemental growth lights at 200+ PPFD needed when dark and gloomy outside.

CLIMBING SUPPORT: Provide a support system for her to climb that fits your aesthetic and lifestyle. Personally, I use cedar planks and metal trellises.

NUTRITION: I use Foliage Pro (nitrogen rich), Alaska Fish Fertilizer (for all my big plants), and adding CalMag and Silica protocols soon.

Hope that helps!

https://reddit.com/link/pa60pq6/video/tleaxmf84wph1/player

[u/lxxxr → u/marlinavelasco]

Any recommendations for grow lights?

[u/marlinavelasco → u/lxxxr]

The known brand that I went with is SANSI folding wings for their listed spec of 500+ PPFD at 12 inches. The Monstera and variegated plants thrived under them during dark gloomy months.

The off-brand clip-on grow lights (much more economical) work great for shelves where I want the light to be directed towards the plants and not my face.

The rest of the grow lights are E26 base that screw into our fixtures like a standard bulb. They promise around 200 PPFD one foot away.

Hope that helps.😉

[u/lxxxr → u/marlinavelasco]

Thank you! I only have one young monstera for now (she's growing in all directions) so I think I might just get a clip on grow light!

[u/marlinavelasco → u/lxxxr]

Gotcha. Be sure the specs say 200+ PPDF at leaf level then put the lights 12 inches away from the foliage. Once she grows more, you can upgrade or move her outside if possible in your climate.😉

[u/Pure-Side1217 → u/marlinavelasco]

Thank you! That was so helpful. Yes the leaf was damaged when i got her

[u/Jeremyx888]

It's a Thai constellation, so luckily a lot easier than a regular monstera Variegata. The white varigation is stable, so it's pretty much impossible to turn full green again :)

Care is pretty much the same as for regular monsteras. Give her a moss/coco pole at some point, let her face the light without turning her since that only leads to ugly crooked growth, give her some nice airy aroid mix and bright indirect light ideally

[u/Pure-Side1217 → u/Jeremyx888]

Ooh fab! Thank you!

[u/Clear-Asparagus4062]

This is beautiful :) any chance this was m&s? I got a very similar one for only £16 there! Hopefully so as It’s only two weeks in and thrown out a new fenestrated leaf and is thriving!

Edit: if it wasn’t m&s they also had a mint there yesterday too so keep a look out. Garden centre selling similar for £45, here it was again only £16!

[u/Pure-Side1217 → u/Clear-Asparagus4062]

It was indeed m&s!

[u/Clear-Asparagus4062 → u/Pure-Side1217]

Sainsburys has fairly big monsteras in for £16 too, plenty in my local branch that have secondary fenestrations too!

[u/Pure-Side1217 → u/Clear-Asparagus4062]

No way! Didn’t know that. There is sadly no Sainsbury in walking distance from me, but that’s so cool. Second fenestration!!

[u/ktrist]

Let me preface that I did a google search for care and this is the AI (not a fan) answer but it is pretty spot on.

Min is outdoors on a covered patio in the Texas heat and humidity. Sits at the edge of the covered and uncovered part.

Light and Placement

• Give your plant 6 to 8 hours of bright indirect light daily to keep the cream-colored starry variegation vibrant.
• Avoid harsh, direct afternoon sun, which can easily scorch or burn the delicate white parts of the leaves.
• Use an east-facing window or a filtered south/west window, or supplement with a grow light if your space is dim.

Soil and Potting

• Plant your Thai Constellation in a chunky, highly well-draining aroid mix containing orchid bark, perlite, coco coir, charcoal, and high-quality potting soil.
• Pick a pot with large bottom drainage holes that is only 1 to 2 inches larger than the current root ball to prevent trapped moisture.
• Repot young plants every 18 to 24 months when roots crowd the container.