Monstera Esqueleto, also known as Monstera Epipremnoides, is a unique tropical plant that will test your indoor gardening skills. It requires higher temperatures and a humid microclimate than most common houseplants, and not meeting this plant's needs will result in poor growth. This Monstera Esqueleto care guide will help you tackle this persnickety plant and ensure it is happy and healthy for years to come.
Introduction
For plant lovers wanting an unusual and rare houseplant to up their gardening game, look no further than the Monstera Esqueleto. Once called Monstera Epipremnoides, this tropical houseplant features large green fenestrated leaves and is unique to any indoor plant collection. These unusual leaves make it easy to identify monstera epipremnoides. However, the downside to this slow grower is that it can be a bit temperamental since this plant thrives in high humidity and high temperatures. Thankfully, with the proper Monstera Esqueleto care, your plant will thrive while bringing you years of joy.
Where Does Monstera Esqueleto Come From?
Monstera Esqueleto originates from the mountainous regions in the rainforest of Costa Rica. It thrives in the mild temperatures, high humidity, and the abundance of rain these cloud forests provide. The Monstera Esqueleto is considered a rare houseplant with its unique fenestrated (meaning it has "windows" or pieces missing from the leaf) leaves. While the Monstera epipremnoides leaves are the most striking part of the Monstera Epipremnoides, with the right monstera esqueleto care, this evergreen plant will flower, producing a spadix covered by a spathe.
Monstera Epipremnoides is a member of the Araceae family and the Monstera genus. The mature plant can grow up to 13-feet and grows outdoors in US Hardiness Zones 9b to 11. This evergreen plant has bigger and wider leaves than some of its other Monstera plants relative, such as the Monstera Adansonii.
Where to Find Monstera Esqueleto
Even though this plant isn't as hard to come by or as expensive as the Monstera Obliqua, trying to find the Monstera Epipremnoides can still be a bit of a challenge. Most chain garden stores won't carry this plant, nor do local nurseries. In most instances, you will need to turn to the internet for help to purchase this plant. Utilize online marketplaces, such as Etsy or Facebook to locate reputable sellers. Make sure to read reviews of the seller left by previous customers. This will give you a good indication of whether this is a legit seller or a scam.
There are also a few small gardening businesses that sell Monstera Epipremnoides in their online store and Monstera oblique and Monstera Adansonii. Performing a quick Google search should provide various options for businesses that sell this stunning, slow-growing plant.
Monstera Esqueleto Plant Care
Caring for the Monstera epipremnoides is a little more complicated than more common houseplants, but it isn't impossible. In fact, the Monstera epipremnoides needs are fairly simple: a pot with good drainage holes, damp but not soggy soil, well-draining potting mix, indirect light, a humid environment, and high temperatures.
Soil and potting
The Monstera Esqueleto thrives in soil that is damp but not soggy. To achieve this ideal soil, you will need to ensure the soil has good drainage. If not, the roots of the Monstera will become waterlogged, which could result in poor plant growth and deadly root rot.
The soil compensation used for the Monstera Equeleto should be light and loamy with a pH level of 5.5 to 7. Soil comprising of perlite, charcoal, pine bark, potting mix, and coco coir can be used for this plant, but we have included a soil mix recipe below that works best for houseplants such as this one.
Monstera Epipremnoides Soil Mix Recipe
Below you will find a well-draining potting mix recipe that Monstera Epipremnoides, as well as other tropical houseplants, thrive in. This recipe can help prevent the rotting of its roots since it is loose and drains well.
- 40-percent Pine bark chips
- 20-percent Peat moss
- 10-percent Perlite
- 10-percent Coco coir
- 10-percent Sphagnum moss
- 10-percent Vermiculite
Use the well-draining soil mixture whenever you repot or propagate the Monstera Epipremnoides. For best results, plant the Monstera in a pot about 3-inches larger than its root ball to provide growing room. Don't forget to ensure the pot has drainage holes!
How To Pot Monstera Epipremnoides
Potting Monstera Epipremnoides isn't difficult but does require care and gentleness to help prevent damage to the plant. You can use just about any type of plant pot as long as it has drainage holes. Using the soil mixture listed above, fill the bottom of the pot with the fresh soil. Carefully sit the plant root side down in the soil and then fill the remainder of the pot with the mixture. Leave a little bit of headroom in the pot, about an inch or two. Water the plant thoroughly and then place it in an area where it will receive bright indirect light.
Light
The Monstera Epipremnoides is a tropical houseplant that needs indirect but bright sunlight. In its native rainforests, this plant is protected from harsh sunlight by the canopy above it. Direct light will cause the plant to appear dried and faded. That is why it is important to keep the delicate leaves of this plant out of direct sunlight. Instead, choose a spot with filtered light, such as one close to an east, north, or west-facing window.
Direct light is a common cause of leaf damage to tropical indoor houseplants. If you notice the leaves on the Monstera Epipremnoides have faded or appear dry, try moving the plant to a different location that doesn't receive direct sunlight. You want to ensure the Monstera epipremnoides get enough light while still keeping it out of the scorching rays from the direct sun. While a few hours of those direct rays won't kill the plant, it will have an adverse effect on its appearance. Direct sunlight can burn the plant's delicate leaves.
Another option is to use LED lights to mimic the sun in dark rooms. This may be a better option for those who do not have a place in their home that receives bright, filtered, indirect sunlight that is suitable for the Monstera epipremnoides to grow.
Keep in mind that the answer to the question "is Monstera Epipremnoides toxic?" is yes. Monstera plants, including Monstera Epipremnoides, Monstera obliqua, and Monstera Adansonii, are toxic to animals and should be kept in an area where children and pets cannot reach them. This is an important piece of information when trying to choose the ideal location for your Monstera Epipremnoides.
Water
The Esqueleto Monstera needs soil that is evenly moist without being soggy. You can check the dryness of the plant's soil by inserting your finger about 2-inches deep into the dirt. If it feels dry, water the plant deeply. Another option is to invest in a moisture meter that tells you what the moisture level is deeper in the soil. This can help prevent root rot caused by poorly draining soil since the moisture meter can determine what the water level is near the root ball.
Using distilled water is the best option to water your Monstera Esqueleto as it won't contain chlorine that can damage your Monstera epipremnoides. You can still use tap water. However, it is recommended to let the tap water sit in a glass container overnight to allow the chlorine in the water to dissipate before you water your Monstera.
If the soil is constantly staying soggy, your Monstera epipremnoides will start to develop root rot, which could severely damage and even kill the plant. You can avoid this by ensuring the plant has well-drained soil and isn't overwatered. If rot does occur, the Monstera epipremnoides will need to be repotted in a new plant pot with better drainage holes and loose potting mix. You can reuse the pot it was previously growing in as long as it has adequate drainage holes and you have thoroughly cleaned it with warm soapy water. Before repotting the plant, carefully snip off any dead or damaged roots and toss them in the trash. Do not compost the dead or damaged roots as they may be contaminated with root rot pathogens.
Temperature and Humidity
Since the Monstera Equeleto is a tropical plant, it will require higher temperatures, as well as higher humidity, to imitate its natural habitat. This plant needs to be kept in a room where temperatures are between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid sitting the plant in an area with temperatures higher than 85-degrees and lower than 65-degrees. Furthermore, keep the plant away from fireplaces, air conditioners, heating and cooling vents, and drafts. All these things can cause extreme temperature fluctuations, which can damage the Monstera Equeleto leaves.
The Monstera Equeleto also loves humidity and thrives in high humidity levels of 80% to 100%. With that said, however, they can live just fine in humidity levels a little lower, but those levels should never fall below 60%. A humidifier kept near the plant will help keep those humidity levels up, or create a humidity tray by creating a pebble tray, which is done by lining the bottom of a shallow tray with small pebbles and then filling that tray with water. Set the plant's pot on top of the pebbles, making sure the plant's roots do not touch the water.
Fertilizer
One of the difficulties of keeping houseplants, especially ones such as Monstera epipremnoides, is ensuring they get the proper amount of nutrients. Unlike outdoor plants that get nutrients naturally from decomposing organic matter that lands on the soil around them, indoor plants are left to sit in the same potting mix for months, with no organic matter breaking down into vital nutrients. You can correct this problem by fertilizing monstera epipremnoides with store-bought fertilizer, regularly repotting with fresh soil, or by using Lomi Kitchen Composter to introduce high-quality organic compost to the Monstera epipremnoides soil.
To keep the Monstera Esqueleto thriving, it will need liquid fertilizer that'll provide it with important nutrients. A fertilizer with an NPK of 5-2-3 designed for Monstera plants is ideal. Make sure to apply the fertilizer during the plant's active growing season, which is in the spring and summer, and stop fertilizing in the fall and winter months. For best results, follow the application and usage instructions found on the fertilizer bottle.
A tabletop composter, such as Lomi, will also come in handy to create your own compost from table scraps, food waste, composted animal matter, and yard waste that you can use for feeding Monstera Epipremnoides. The Lomi breaks down these reusable items and turns them into nutrient-rich dirt that you can then use as fertilizer for Monstera plants, as well as your other houseplants and even your outdoor garden. Lomi is a small investment that provides an abundance of benefits for you, your plants, and your environment.
Repotting
It is not uncommon to have to repot the Esqueleto Monstera every year or so. Repotting monstera varieties helps to replenish the soil, reduce root compaction, and improve growth. A telltale sign that the esqueleto monstera epipremnoides needs repotting is seeing roots peeking out of the bottom of the pot or top of the soil.
Tools Needed
- Planting pot
- Well-drained potting mix
- Water
Steps to Repot a Monstera Esqueleto
- With the pot tipped to the side, gently loosen the soil and wiggle the plant free and out of the pot. Never pull the plant out by its stems, as this could cause irreversible damage.
- Add some well-drained soil to the new pot, which should be about 3-inches larger than the previous pot, and then gently set the plant in the pot.
- Fill in the gaps with more soil and continue adding soil until it reaches about 2-inches below the rim of the pot.
- Water the plant deeply. If the soil settles, add more so that the soil sits 2-inches below the pot's rim.
Propagation
Monstera Esqueleto propagation can be done by separation or stem cutting. Both methods have their own positive and negative aspects that you should consider before you take on the task of monstera varieties propagation. The separation method, for example, does require removing the parent plant from its pot, while the cutting method keeps the original plant potted during the process. The cutting method takes longer to produce viable Monstera Epipremnoides since you have to wait for the cuttings to root. The good news is that both methods will help keep the parent plant healthy while also providing you with additional plants.
How To Propagate Monstera Epipremnoides by Separation
Tools Needed:
- Pots
- Well-drained soils
- Water
Step-by-Step Instructions for Monstera Epipremnoides Propagation by Separation:
- Carefully slide the parent plant out of its pot.
- Using your fingers, gently untangle the plant's root ball so that you have separated the plant and its roots into smaller plants. Avoid breaking the roots.
- Plant the young Monstera Esquelto in their own separate pot filled with well-drained soil and water thoroughly.
- Care for the young plants as you would the mother plant.
- Repot the mother plant into a new pot with soil. Make sure you are watering Monstera Epipremnoides after the process.
How To Propagate Monstera Epipremnoides by Stem Cuttings
Tools Needed:
- Pruning shears
- Glass
- Distilled water
- Pot
- Well-drained soil
Step-by-Step Instructions for Monstera Epipremnoides Propagation by Cuttings:
- Locate a healthy, young leaf on the parent plant.
- Using a pair of clean pruning shears, cut right below the leaf's node. You want to ensure you have the node on the cutting because this is where the roots will grow from.
- Fill a glass with distilled water and place the cutting into the glass so that the node is submerged in water.
- Set the glass in a location with bright sunlight. Roots will begin to grow in a few weeks.
- Once the roots reach about 2 or more inches, plant the cutting in a pot filled with well-drained soil and care for it as you would the parent plant.
No matter what method you choose, if done properly, you will have increased the amount of Monstera Epipremnoides you have. Furthermore, the above instructions work for monstera obliqua cuttings as well as monstera esquaeleto.
Why is Monstera Esqueleto expensive?
Monstera Esqueleto is both rare and sought after, which means it comes with a higher price tag than more common houseplants. In addition, the monstera plant isn't as readily available as others, so local stores usually do not keep it in stock. So ordering the plant is often the only option available. In fact, the Monstera Epipremnoides cost can reach over $100.
The good news is that, despite its higher price tag, the monstera plant will give your indoor garden a boost with its aesthetically pleasing appearance. You also may be the first of your friends to own this unique tropical houseplant.
Should you prune Monstera Esqueleto?
Pruning Monstera Epipremnoides helps control its size as well as prevents it from becoming leggy. What leggy means is that the plant is producing long vines with less foliage. This is due to overcrowding that prevents the monstera species from receiving enough sunlight, so it gets "leggy" to try to find the sunlight it desperately needs. Pruning the Monstera Epipremnoides will also promote growth and improve the overall health of the plant.
To Prune Monstera Epipremnoides, snip off the unwanted part of the plant by cutting above the node. The new growth will come from that node still on the plant. Make sure that you always use clean pruning shears when cutting any plant, and place the gardening waste in your Lomi kitchen composter.
You can also prune the Monstera epipremnoides to remove any dead, damaged, or spent leaves and blooms. Make sure to always use a clean pair of pruning shears before cutting the plant and then thoroughly wash and sanitize the shears after you are done pruning. This will reduce the chance of cross-contamination. Any removed plant parts can be composted in the Lomi kitchen composter as long as they are not removed from a diseased Esqueleto Monstera Epipremnoides.
Conclusion
Monstera Epipremnoides care does require monitoring its environment more than other common houseplants to ensure it receives the right amount of bright indirect sunlight, heat, humidity, and temperature. But with the proper Monstera Equeleto care, your monstera species will do more than survive. It will thrive and live its best plant life. Furthermore, consider investing in the Lomi kitchen composter to convert green waste into food for your houseplants. Feel free to share this article if it helps you learn more about Monstera Epipremnoides Care.