How Do You Take Care Of Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma?

How Do You Take Care Of Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma?

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is a tropical plant that thrives indoors. The split leaves of the green leafy plant give it the appearance of a Monstera deliciosa or a form of Philodendron.

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is also known as Mini monstera, Ginny philodendron, and Philodendron Piccolo.

Although Rhaphidophora tetrasperma belongs to the Araceae family, it is not related to Monsteras or philodendrons.

Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma species are popular among Jungalow-style enthusiasts and houseplant enthusiasts since they are simple to cultivate and care for.

Temperature Requirements

A warm, humid climate is ideal for your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma.

In terms of temperature, the average room temperature is ideal.

Temperatures ranging from 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (16 to 24 degrees Celsius) are optimal.

It’s fine if it gets a little warmer, up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).

Light Requirements

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma, like Philodendron and Monstera, need intense light but should be kept out of direct sunlight. Dappled, filtered light is ideal.

Place your plant in an east-facing room where it will receive morning sunlight and afternoon shade. Just make sure there is enough light.

Water Requirements

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma like to be damp (not WET, but moist). When the top inch or two of soil on your plant is dry, water it.

Watering frequency will vary depending on factors such as the quantity of sunshine the plant receives and the time of year (houseplants require less water in the winter since they are not in the active growth stages).

Humidity Requirements

Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is a tropical plant that thrives under high humidity. Maintain a humidity level of at least 50%. 60 percent or higher is desirable.

Because the usual household humidity may be too low for this plant, there are a few things you may do to raise the humidity.

To begin, place your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma on a tray with moist stones. This will already assist to raise humidity levels significantly.

Fertilization requirements

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is quite delicate, so don’t overfeed it or you’ll burn the roots. During the growth season, use a balanced indoor plant fertilizer once a month (the spring and summer).

Soil requirements

When preparing for the Rhaphidophora tetrasperma soil, there are three things to keep in mind. It must be well-draining, wet, and organically rich. If you can find them, coco chips are an excellent choice.

You may use half potting soil and half coco chips, for example. When propagating, you might alternatively use solely Coco Chips.

How Do You Propagate Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma?

Snip off a stem with one node and three or four leaves to propagate Rhaphidophora tetrasperma.

Stem cuttings Propagation in water

Cuttings in water are the simplest approach to reproduce Rhaphidophora tetrasperma.

Cut a portion that includes at least one node and a leaf with a clean, sharp pair of scissors, cutting a 1/4 inch below a node (meaning, the node will be included on the cutting).

Place the cutting in a glass of water, making sure at least one node is submerged.

This is significant because the node is where new roots will grow.

Place the cutting in a bright, indirect light source. Change the water when it becomes murky or slimy, which should happen every few days to a week, and refill it when it gets low.

Transfer the clipping to potting mix when the roots are two to three inches long. This plant’s roots may take many weeks to develop to a few inches in length.

Transfer your cutting to its permanent container once the roots have grown a few inches long. Water it well, then continue to care for it as usual!

Stem cuttings Soil Propagation in Soil

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma may also be propagated in potting soil.

Cut a portion that includes at least one node and a leaf with a clean, sharp pair of scissors, cutting a 1/4 inch below a node (meaning, the node will be included on the cutting).

Place the cuttings immediately into the potting mix, making sure that at least one node is covered (remember, the node is where the roots will sprout from). Make sure your pot is the right size for the cutting.

Maintain a wet potting mix and place in bright, indirect light.

Your cutting’s roots should begin to form after about a month. At this point, you can gently tug on the plant to see if it is resistant. If there is resistance, the roots have taken hold.

How Often Do You Repot Your Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma?

When it comes to R. tetrasperma, repotting should be taken seriously. This one develops quickly, therefore the roots require more space to expand. Most plants require repotting twice a year.

You require larger and deeper containers in re-potting Rhaphidophora tetrasperma. To prevent damaging the roots, carefully remove it from its prior pot.

Remove the old potting soil and inspect the root system for overall health. It may be necessary to remove rotting and dead roots.

After repotting, use a trellis to train the Rhaphidophora tetrasperma form into a certain pattern.

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma repotting instructions:

• Carefully remove the Rhaphidophora tetrasperma from the container.
• Remove any extra dirt from your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma plant’s roots.
• Remove any rotting or dead roots.
• Fill the new container halfway with the proper potting mix.
• Transfer your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma to the new container. Check if it is expanding at the same rate as previously.
• Fill the empty space with new potting soil.

If you opt to repot in the same container to limit growth, make sure to disinfect it first. You should also cut part of the roots to prevent the plant from becoming root bound.

How Big Does Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Grow?

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is a unique plant from the Araceae family. Malaysia and southern Thailand are native to the evergreen vining plant.

Its leaves resemble those of another plant, Monstera deliciosa, which is why it is sometimes known as little monstera.

It is, however, a completely separate species with considerably smaller leaves and no edible fruit.

The plant is also known as Philodendron Piccolo and Ginny Philodendron.

It has little decorative leaves with 6″ split lobes. The breaks resemble windows in the leaf, although they are minuscule.

Vining plants employ aerial roots to climb trees and trellises. These aerial roots cling to whatever they’re climbing to support themselves as they expand.

This plant grows quickly and requires damp circumstances, with little, green leaves. Depending on the local circumstances, it can grow to a height of 12 feet. As a houseplant, it is normally kept around 4-5′ vine length.

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is quite simple to care for. This gorgeous plant is ideal for infusing life into your home. But it does require a few things in order to survive.

How Often Do You Water Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma?

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma prefers wet soil and regular watering, particularly during the growth season. Water as soon as the top two inches of soil get dry.

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma prefers to consume more water throughout the growth season. Water once a week, when the soil is only slightly damp. Water less in the winter.

When it comes to water, rainfall is unquestionably the best option. Distilled water is also acceptable. If you are using tap water, be sure it is lukewarm.

Also, if you’re using tap water, it’s a good idea to let it sit (in a cup) for a day or two before watering your plant.

As with any houseplants, be certain that you are utilizing containers with drainage holes.

While this may seem apparent to you, there are still many plant pots and planters on the market that have no drainage holes at all.

Get a good pot with drainage holes for yourself. Your Mini Monstera will undoubtedly appreciate it.

Why Is My Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Not Growing?

One of the most typical problems for gardeners with R. tetrasperma is that it grows lanky. If it doesn’t get enough light, it will produce more growth.

While strong indirect light is ideal for this plant, make sure it gets plenty of it! Small quantities of direct sunlight might be beneficial if required.

Turning the plant on a regular basis so that all of it receives light can also help decrease lanky development.

While your plant prefers continuous hydration, this does not imply that you need water it every day.

Excessive watering might provide ideal circumstances for the development of fungal root rot.

Keep an eye on the moisture in the soil and only water your pot when required.

To space out your watering, use a timer to help you remember.

Your plant should not suffer from any yellowing leaves, nor should it have any brown spots on its leaves.

If your plant has these problems, it could mean also that there is too much light or too much fertilizer.

What Size Pot For Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma?

They can grow slightly tight in their pots, but will ultimately do and grow better in larger pots.

You may move up one pot size, for example, from a 6′′ to an 8′′ pot. Mine was in a 4′′ pot and was planted in a 6′′ container.

When the circumstances are favourable, Rhaphidophora tetraspermas grows rapidly. Going from a 6′′ grow pot to a 10′′ grow pot is OK if the plant and the new container are both in scale.

If it is root-bound, the plant will grow slowly and be weak.

Do Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Likes Misting?

Tropical plants, such as Rhaphidophora tetrasperma, prefer greater humidity levels than one might assume. Maintain a humidity level of at least 50%. 60 percent or higher is desirable.

Because the usual household humidity may be too low for this plant, there are a few things you may do to raise the humidity.

To begin, place your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma on a tray with moist stones. This will already assist to raise humidity levels significantly.

Another option is to relocate your plant to the bathroom, which is typically the area with the most humidity.

However, this is only a possibility if your plant still receives adequate sunshine (remember, your tetrasperma need strong, indirect sunlight!).

However, if your bathroom does not give enough sunshine for your plant, this will not work.

Last but not least, watering your Mini Monstera on a daily basis is another way to boost humidity.

However, it should be noted that spraying your plant’s leaves will only have a short-term effect in terms of increasing humidity.

It is absolutely beneficial to spritz your plant on a frequent basis, but this should not be your primary method of increasing humidity levels.

You might also just purchase a humidifier to suit the humidity requirements of your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma.

Does Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Likes Pruning?

If you want to keep your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma plant at its current size, prune it in the spring.

Pruning Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is similar to pruning a Philodendron or Monstera.

Cut the leaf stems where they connect the main stem using sterile pruning shears. Alternatively, you may just pinch off the vine tips.

Pruning your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma in a hanging basket can help reduce lanky growth.

Another purpose to trim the plant is to get stem cuttings that may be used to propagate it.

Pruning is mostly used to remove unhealthy or pest-damaged material and maintain a specified size.

It can also be used to minimize leggy growth caused by insufficient light reaching one side of the plant.

Cut off unwanted growth with clean snips, but don’t take off too much of the plant at once.

It’s acceptable to reduce it by up to 25%, but any more than that risks causing damage to your plant.

What Are The Pests And Diseases That Affect Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma?

Spider mites and root rot are the two most common difficulties that Rhaphidophora tetrasperma plants face.

Spider mites are visible under the leaves of your “mini monstera.”

These tiny bugs feed on your plant’s sap. If the infestation is not treated, your entire plant may perish. As a result, eliminating these plant-killing mites is a primary goal.

Overwatering causes root rot, which is typically avoided. So, if you see that the leaves are becoming yellow and the soil is too wet, wait until the potting mix is partially dried before watering.

In the worst-case situation, repotting a dying plant with root rot is the only way to rescue it.

Why Is My Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Leggy?

Your tetrasperma may be leggy if it is not getting enough light. Make sure that your plant has plenty of indirect light.

If your plant is indoors, try moving it to a room with more lighting if possible. Also keep the soil moist, but don’t over-water it.

Your Mini Monstera might also become leggy because of over-fertilizing. Over-fertilizing results in lush, super green growth and excessive leaf growth at the expense of blooming and flowering.

Overwatering is another reason for leggy growth. If the plant does not dry out thoroughly, it will be unable to take up nutrients from the soil.

If you notice that your tetrasperma is becoming lanky or straggly, prune it back a bit. This will significantly cut down on lanky growth.

Does The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Produce Flowers?

The blooms of R. tetrasperma are known as canoe-shaped spathes.

A spadix, which bears the clusters of little flowers, is enclosed in that spathe. If you’ve ever owned another aroid species, you’ll see similarities between them.

When grown indoors as a houseplant, however, Rhaphidophora tetrasperma seldom flowers. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t see one.

This is a rather common occurrence. Plants cultivated outside, on the other hand, have a better probability of producing blossoms.