What Is The Difference Between Monstera Deliciosa And Monstera Borsigiana?
Does Monstera Borsigiana Climb?
Monstera borsigiana, often known as the Swiss Cheese Plant, is one of the most well-known and widely popular houseplants in the world.
It is a climbing plant native to the tropical woods of Central America that uses aerial roots to ascend trees. Monstera Borsigiana can climb up a tree, if you are able to prune the plant and train it.
The most important thing to remember is that your plant needs humidity in order to do well. Monstera Borsigiana has a unique growth habit of having aerial roots which are not like those of other plants.
Monstera Borsigiana’s aerial roots are actually root-like structures that grow down from the plant to attach themselves to nearby structures such as tree branches, beams and even walls.
In fact, if it is indoors, Monstera Borsigiana will often grow a vine from the ceiling, by taking hold of whatever it can.
In the wild, the vines can grow over 100 feet up into trees. Inside your home or office however your plant will only be able to ascend about a foot and a half before it reaches its max height.
What Is The Difference Between Monstera Deliciosa And Monstera Borsigiana?
Monstera deliciosa and Monstera Borsigiana are two different species of Monstera, but they are closely related. Both bear the same foliage, flowers and fruit.
The difference between the two is that Monstera deliciosa is parthenocarpic (does not produce fruit) in nature; whereas the fruit of Monstera Borsigiana is parthenocarpic (produces fruit without pollination).
Monstera deliciosa originated from Mexico while Monstera Borsigiana originates from Central America. Both species are commonly used as decorative indoor plants because of their foliage and showy flowers.
It is generally easier to care for than other larger plants, such as ficus, crotons or bromeliads. It grows well in the shade or low light, and can actually do better there than in bright light. If the plant is too exposed to sunlight, it will succumb to leaf burn and leaf drop.
Geniculum is the primary distinction between Monstera Deliciosa and Borsigiana. The geniculum is the junction between the stem and the leaf. Due of the wrinkled Geniculum, the Monstera Deliciosa undulating leaves resemble ruffles. For the same reason, many people call to Monstera Deliciosa as ruffles.
In Monstera Borsigiana, there are no geniculum and the leaves appear to be smooth. The leaves of Monstera Borsigiana are also wider at the base than Monstera Deliciosa.
Monstera is a large genus of about 100 species in the family Araceae, which are all mainly used as ornamental plants, especially for houseplants. They have tall stemless trunks and distinctive foliage. Most species bear a showy inflorescence with fragrant flowers.
How Fast Does Monstera Borsigiana Grow?
Most people don’t realize that Monstera Borsigiana can grow quite quickly. They stretch and then unfurl through the ceiling of your room and grow until it hits the wall, where it appears as if it is going to touch the ceiling.
Then slowly but surely, it picks up speed and starts growing upward. If you’ve seen a Monstera Borsigiana do this in front of you, you know it is pretty spectacular. You can also use the vine to climb up a tall light or mirror for an equally dramatic effect.
Your Monstera Borsigiana cuttings will begin to develop roots after two to five weeks. Cuttings obtained in the spring will develop roots far quicker than those cut in early winter, for example. You can apply rooting hormones to expedite the process, but the cuttings should develop roots on their own.
If you purchase Monstera Borsigiana plants during the coldest part of winter, keep them in a warm dry place until roots have formed. Then, it will be easy to move your plant outside into a pot or garden and then into your home.
Monstera Borsigiana plants can be grown outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11 and in containers year round.
Monstera Borsigiana is a vigorous grower and tolerates a wide range of conditions, within reason. When kept too dry, it will drop its leaves. Similarly, if you overwater it, the roots will rot and the plant will die. In addition, keep in mind that full afternoon sun can burn its leaves.
Fertilize young Monstera Borsigiana plants every twice a month with a balanced liquid fertilizer; use half the strength that is recommended on the package. Increase to full strength as the plant ages.
Does Monstera Borsigiana Need A Humidifier?
Monstera Borsigiana need a humidifier for proper watering, but Monstera Borsigiana does need humidity to thrive. Too much heat and dry air will cause the plant’s leaves to wilt, as well as cause yellowing and splitting of the leaves.
If your plant is indoors in a room that has no or low humidity, you may need to provide supplemental humidity. Because Monstera Borsigiana is native to the tropics, it enjoys humid conditions. Provide relative humidity levels between normal and above average for optimal plant development.
Maintain lush, green leaves by increasing humidity with a humidifier, cultivating the plant in a light bathroom, or combining it with other plants. Monstera Borsigiana is a tropical plant and prefers humidity levels between 70% and 85%, so you should maintain humidity through the use of a humidifier.
In order to get the best performance from your humidifier, here are some things to remember: If your indoor air is dry, it may be helpful to raise the humidity level in your home. This can help with many household comfort issues.
Humidity in your home should be between 30% and 50%. Most people find levels that are too high uncomfortable. However, thanks to the humidifier you can now enjoy a higher level of humidity without having to put up with the discomfort.
Use your humidifier in rooms where it will do the most good. It is not necessary to turn on the humidifier every time you enter a room. In fact, you may want to use a timer so that it turns on and off automatically.
Why Is My Monstera Borsigiana So Leggy?
If your Monstera Borsigiana is developing a droopy appearance, it may be because you are overwatering or under-fertilizing. You should avoid overwatering and under-fertilizing because they can both cause growth to slow or stop entirely.
Almost every plant lover has experienced the appearance of a leggy Monstera Borsigiana at one time or another. Lack of light causes Monstera Borsigiana plants to become lanky. Inadequate illumination leads the plant to extend and travel towards a location where it may receive sufficient lighting.
As a result, the plant has a lanky look with long stems and sparse leaves. The following are some of the reasons causes Monstera Borsigiana to become leggy;
Lack of light: Monstera is a low-light plant, which means that it will do best if it receives between 2 and 4 hours of sunlight. A lack of light can cause the Monstera Borsigiana to become lanky and spindly. Monstera Borsigiana leaves need to be able to receive enough light to be able to produce food through photosynthesis.
If the leaves cannot produce food, they will no longer have the energy that is needed for growth. Monstera Borsigiana will “run” towards a light source. If you have a sunny window and your Monstera Borsigiana is not getting enough sun, it may become leggy.
Under-watering: Monstera Borsigiana is a tropical plant and retains moisture well under the right conditions. However, a heavy infrequent fertilization schedule may cause Monstera Borsigiana to become spindly and leggy. Monstera Borsigiana requires moist soil to ensure that not only is the root system healthy, but that the leaves are also vibrant and full. A once a month feeding schedule is sufficient for Monstera Borsigiana, but if you notice that your plant is becoming leggy it may indicate that you are over-fertilizing.
Under-fertilizing: Another reason that Monstera Borsigiana can become leggy is because it is not getting enough food. As said before, Monstera Borsigiana thrives in moist soil, but too much moisture will also cause leggy Monstera Borsigiana plants.
Monstera Borsigiana is also sensitive to excessive fertilizing. If you feel that your Monstera Borsigiana needs a more balanced and less frequent feeding schedule, it is possible that you are over-fertilizing it. Over-fertilizing can create a heavy root system that is unable to absorb enough nutrients to keep the plant healthy.
Improper pruning: If your Monstera Borsigiana is becoming leggy, it may be due to improper pruning. Although Monstera Borsigiana is a tropical plant, you should only prune when absolutely needed. Try not to prune more than once a year and be sure that you are removing the right part of the plant.
Monstera Borsigiana only has one season of growth and is deciduous, which means that it loses its leaves in the winter. However, Monstera Borsigiana does have an active growing season from spring to fall. This is when you should make any necessary cuts.
It is said that the longer it takes for a Monstera Borsigiana to establish itself in its new environment indoors, the less likely it will be able to handle pruning.