How Do You Care For A Monstera Obliqua?

Due to its high humidity requirements, Monstera obliqua is one of the more challenging houseplants to care for. Before investing in this more expensive houseplant, it makes sense to experiment with a Monstera adansonii plant first.

Also, keep in mind that immature plants’ leaves may not grow the enormous fenestrations found on older plants.

Water: When the top inch of soil begins to dry out, water your plant. During the spring, summer, and fall, when the plant is actively growing, you only need to water it once or twice a week. During the winter, water less frequently, perhaps once every one to two weeks

Light: Monstera Obliqua grows best in indirect light. Too much shade, on the other hand, causes the plant to wilt, while intense sunshine causes the foliage to burn. As a result, it is critical to check the sunshine levels in your home to ensure that your plant receives appropriate light without burning.

Fertilizer: During the growing season, Monstera Obliqua plants should be fed on a regular basis (spring-fall). Reduce the amount of fertilizer used in the winter to half the usual amount.

An organic slow-release fertilizer is the finest fertilizer for this plant. Dry granular fertilizers and liquid concentrates are both available.

Soil: This plant grows best in a well-draining mix with plenty of organic fibers to help it retain moisture without compacting the soil.

The pH of the soil should ideally be between 5 and 7. With a plant as unusual as this one, you don’t want to risk guessing the pH level.

Temperature and Humidity: If you thought typical Monstera Plants need a lot of humidity, you’d be surprised at how much more this plant requires. Monstera Obliqua demands near-constant humidity because it is so fragile and soft.

So, if you live in a tropical climate and don’t use air conditioning or heating, this plant is ideal for you! Otherwise, for this specialist plant, plan on getting a humidifier that maintains constant humidity levels of at least 60%. (Or keep it in a glass case at 80 percent humidity).

Does Monstera Obliqua Fenestrate?

Obliqua leaves are so densely fenestrated that there are more holes than leaf. Indeed, up to 90% of a mature Monstera Obliqua leaf is empty! Obliqua leaves are similarly paper thin and delicate, although Adansonii leaves are significantly firmer and have substance.

When most people think of Monstera obliqua, they envision highly holey leaves with a famed hole-to-leaf ratio of 90 percent.

In other words, there are many more Obliqua kinds or species, and observations suggest that 80 percent of these have only slightly pierced leaves.

Is Monstera Obliqua Monstera?

Monstera obliqua is a species of Monstera found in Central and South America. It, like most Monstera species, is hemi epiphytic. The plant is well-known for its extremely perforated foliage, which is sometimes described as having more empty space than leaf.

Michael Madison’s ‘A Revision of Monstera’ contains an illustration of the overall variance in adult leaf form from different individuals of this species. The species is not commonly grown, although the name is frequently ascribed incorrectly to specimens of the more common Monstera adansonii.

Is Monstera Obliqua Rare?

Monstera obliqua is one of the rarest—and most demanding—monstera types available, and it’s an expensive endeavor that only the most dedicated plant enthusiasts undertake.

Monstera obliqua lives in an ephemeral, or rapidly changing, habitat, frequently near sea level, and nestles amid the roots of larger trees.

It matures even on tiny trees because it is not a strong climber. Its small stature gives it the advantage of being able to use substrate that other plants cannot.

It is also epiphytic, which means it can grow on top of other plants and absorbs moisture and nutrients from the air, trash, rain, and water.

Is Monstera Obliqua A Slow Grower?

The Obliqua grows exceedingly slowly.

Individual plant collectors who only see Monstera obliqua as a houseplant have mostly contributed to this finding.

Furthermore, the slow growth, especially when contrasted to its counterpart, Monstera Adansonii, which appears to send out new leaves at a consistent rate and grows quickly overall.

In its natural habitat, the plant produces between 30-70 new leaves every 12 to 18 months. On the low end, that is 2.5 leaves.

How Much Light Does Monstera Obliqua Need?

To replicate the dense rain forest canopy it is accustomed to, this plant will require brilliant yet filtered sunshine.

It will look best on a window with partial shade from a sheer curtain or on a middle or lower shelf in a bright room.

Darker dwellings are suggested to use LED grow lights, such as this lightweight, low-cost type, which allows you to control the amount of sunshine your Monstera obliqua receives.

How Do You Propagate Monstera Obliqua?

This plant can be replicated by stolon propagation or stem cuttings (multiplying your plant collection from cuttings of the parent plant).

Because the latter is the simpler of the two methods – especially for new Monstera obliqua growers – let’s go through how stem cutting propagation works:

Do not start propagating until the growing season has begun: Taking stem cuttings from your Monstera obliqua is best done in early spring or early summer, when the shoots are still nimble enough to be removed readily before they mature and harden.

Your plant will also be less stressed if it is replanted during its natural growth season rather than any other season.

Take 5-7-inch-long stem cuttings with at least two nodes on each: Snip a 5–7-inch section of stem with clean pruning shears from a healthy stem growing from the main stem stalk.

Ensure that each cutting has at least two growth nodes (the point of attachment to the potential leaves).

Place each cutting in a pre-prepared pot and generously water: Plant each new stem cutting into its own pot (it helps to prepare new pots ahead of time by filling them 1/3 of the way with your preferred soil mix to keep them anchored). Fill each one with soil and water thoroughly once planted.

Allow a few weeks for development and avoid using fertilizer: The roots will take a few weeks to develop properly from your fresh stem cuttings, so expect to see some (slow) signs of development up to a month after propagation.

You should also avoid fertilizing them for at least the first 3-4 months to allow the new shoots to develop naturally in their surroundings.

Does Monstera Obliqua Like Humidity?

The most important aspect of caring for a Monstera obliqua is keeping it moist. Without it, your Monstera’s leaves will curl, dry out, or wilt, and your plant may even die. In other words, keeping the small leaf surface of this skeleton-like plant moist is critical.

Ideally, you should be able to give it with an environment that is 60% to 80% humidity. If this is not possible, regular misting, a plug-in humidifier, and the presence of several other plants may be able to supplement the moisture in the air.

Keep it away from artificial heating, air conditioners, and drafty doors and windows. As an extra precaution, place a moist pebble tray beneath your Monstera for derivative moisture.

How Do You Repot Monstera Obliqua?

As a sluggish grower, your Monstera obliqua can stay in the same plant pot for a while, although re-homing will be necessary on occasion to maintain soil health.

Repotting is usually necessary every three years. During this period, the roots may begin to protrude from beneath the pot drainage holes or become rootbound (circling within the pot).

After a while, the soil media may no longer drain efficiently, and the roots may become injured, so repotting allows you to give your plant a health exam.

Repot in the summer and within two days of the last watering: Repotting your Monstera obliqua, like propagating, is best done during the summer growing season to avoid stress.

If the soil is still moist from a recent soaking, repotting will be easier (2 days at the most). You can then easily take it out of its container pot.

Brush off the Old Soil Gently and Examine the Root Health: With the dirt still damp, you should be able to break it apart by hand (if it is tougher than expected, you can use a sterile knife to break apart clumps).

Check for signs of disease or injury once the roots have been exposed – healthy roots should be firm to the touch and pale in color, not mushy or dark.

What Is The Difference Between Monstera Obliqua And Monstera Adansonii?

The texture of their leaves distinguishes Monstera obliqua from Monstera adansonii. The adansonii has a strong, almost leathery texture and huge, roundish holes, but the obliqua is incredibly fragile, with holes covering the majority of the surface area of its leaves.

Other distinctions between the adansonii and the obliqua include growth pace (the obliqua produces new leaves slowly for a Monstera) and wild prevalence. Although this cannot be proved, it is claimed that there have only been a few hundred sightings of the obliqua in the wild.

How Do You Identify Monstera Obliqua?

Monstera obliqua has an extremely varied appearance. It is a little plant that grows only a few meters high and is classified as a green climbing plant.

The Obliqua has the thinnest stem in the family, measuring only about 2mm thick.

In its natural habitat, the Monstera obliqua stem grows 2-5m every year. These figures appear impossible to believe when kept as a houseplant.

Monstera obliqua also develops stolons, which are leafless runners that fall to the forest floor and spread horizontally until they locate a new tree to grow on. Stolons can grow to be up to 20 meters long.

Obliqua leaves are smaller, but the holes are more visible. According to certain gardeners and plant aficionados, obliques have more holes than leaf space! Monstera obliqua leaves are also paper-thin in comparison to Monstera adansonii’s slightly thicker leaves.

Monstera obliqua fruit bears a green spathe. The spadix initially turns greenish-white and later bright yellow.

After flowering, the spadix will become green again, eventually becoming practically pallid and then a deep orange in its last state.

Monstera obliqua fruits appear to be one-of-a-kind. One reason is because the orange globose berries are apart from one another. Other species group it together firmly.

Why Is Monstera Obliqua Expensive?

The Monstera obliqua is one of the rarest species in its genus, owing to its slow growth. For breeders and purchasers, the obliqua takes several years to mature into its trademark fenestration, initially resembling an adansonii. These plants, too, demand specific attention.

Another reason for their cost is that they are extremely difficult to care for. These stunning plants require precise conditions to grow and thrive, and they are prone to wilting at the slightest hint of stress. That said, once you’re up and running, you should have no issue keeping your obliqua alive.

Is Monstera Peru From Obliqua?

The geographical range extends from Panama to Southern America. It can be found in Costa Rica, Peru, and along the Amazon River. Given its extensive geographical distribution, it is remarkable that this plant has only been sighted a few times.

Because it is one of the smallest Monstera species, if not the smallest, it is possible that it is frequently overlooked.

How Do You Make A Monstera Obliqua Bushy?

Because they are slow growers, they will not require regular pruning, but you may aid restrict growth by trimming off any dead or damaged leaves as they arise with sterilized pruning shears.

Once the yellow, decaying leaves can be carefully taken away from the plant, prune them off. Pruning the vines to foster new growth will result in a bushier plant.

When pruning, cut about a quarter-inch above a node using clean scissors (where the leaf attaches to the vine). When you cut above a node, the node is NOT included in the area you cut off; it remains on the plant.

How Often Should I Water Monstera Obliqua?

Monstera are all tropical plants, which means they prefer lots of water. The obliqua shares this trait, but requires a little more attention than most. The last thing you want for this delicate gem is root rot. My best recommendation is to purchase a moisture meter.

When it comes to how often to water your Monstera obliqua, a basic rule of thumb is to water it once or twice each week during the hot months and once every ten days to two weeks during the winter. Of course, it’s best to keep an eye on the soil, since rigid watering requirements can be problematic.

In brief, always use your fingertip or a moisture meter to evaluate the moisture levels of your Monstera before adding water. It is best to let the top layer of soil dry between watering sessions.

How Much Does A Monstera Obliqua Cost?

A genuine Monstera obliqua is not inexpensive. You should expect to pay up to $200 for a stem with nodes, with no certainty that it will take. A juvenile Monstera obliqua will cost you around $7,000 to buy.

A big Monstera obliqua previously went for a jaw-dropping and record-breaking $23,000 in an online bid for those with a little extra to spend.

When buying for a cutting or plant, if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is, so be cautious.

Where Can I Find Monstera Obliqua?

Etsy, Ebay, and some specialized plant bidding sites are the best locations to look. Read the seller reviews, request images of the actual plant or cutting being sold, and question about insurance and guarantee.

If you have your heart set on a monstera obliqua, you may spend a long time looking and networking to discover a genuine obliqua. (This is part of the enjoyment for many plant collectors!)

Is Monstera Obliqua Toxic?

Yes, all Monstera plants are hazardous to humans and pets due to the presence of insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that, when consumed, can cause immediate mouth discomfort, swelling, and vomiting.

This plant genus is slightly hazardous to humans and toxic to both dogs and cats. Oral irritation, soreness and swelling of the mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing are all symptoms of exposure.

Does Monstera Obliqua Bloom?

Monstera does not appear to have a distinct flowering season. They can bloom at any time of year. When this happens, numerous inflorescences occur sequentially.

The phrase “inflorescence” refers to a flower. Monstera obliqua can produce up to eight spadices in a cluster, whereas other Monstera species only produce two.

Spadices, often spelled Spadix, is a spike of minute flowers grouped densely around a fleshy axis surrounded in a spathe. Monstera obliqua blooms 1.5 years after seeding.

How Big Does A Monstera Obliqua Get?

In its natural habitat, a fully mature Monstera Obliqua can grow to be 6 to 10 feet tall. Monstera Obliqua is unlikely to attain such proportions when cultivated inside, even with the correct levels of humidity and soil conditions.

It is an extremely slow grower, with about 1 or 2 leaves sprouting per month throughout the growing season. Each leaf will develop to be about 10-25cm long.

Is Monstera Obliqua A Philodendron?

Although this plant is often referred to as “philodendron obliquum”, it is actually its own species of monstera.

There are varying opinions on the best way to distinguish monstera obliqua from philodendron.

The shape and size of the leaves distinguishes the two. The leaves of the philodendron are divided rather than fenestrated. They are similarly feather-like, whereas Monstera leaves are spherical and heart-shaped.

Monstera is a much smaller genus than Philodendron, with only 45 species. Botanists chose the word, which comes from Latin, to characterize the ‘monstrously’ enormous leaves of these plants. There are, however, other plants that are similar to Monstera.

Is Monstera Obliqua An Indoor Plant?

Monstera Obliqua, often known as the ‘Monkey Leaf’ plant, is a houseplant with numerous benefits, including air purification, vibrant green leaves, and characteristic holes that emerge within the leaves over time.

Monstera is a tropical vine and can only be kept indoors in warm winter climates, where it can achieve 6 feet or so in height.

Monstera obliqua needs to be kept under warmth, where it will typically grow to around 6′ or so. If you have an indoor terrarium that allows for shallow roots, you would have no problem keeping Monstera happy.

Does Monstera Obliqua Bear Fruits?

Monstera obliqua fruit bears a green spathe. The spadix initially turns greenish-white and later bright yellow.

After flowering, the spadix will become green again, eventually becoming practically pallid and then a deep orange in its last state.

Monstera obliqua fruits appear to be one-of-a-kind. One reason is because the orange globose berries are apart from one another. Other species group it together firmly.

The fruit is an excellent technique to distinguish between species and reveals extremely distinct traits. The difficulty is that you will almost never have an inflorescence or fruit available.

How Do You Care For A Monstera Obliqua?