Monstera adansonii 'Indonesian Marble'

Horticultural and species background of Monstera adansonii ‘Indonesian Marble’

‘Indonesian Marble’ is a horticultural name for a variegated form of Monstera adansonii. The trade name refers to the cultivated form; Monstera adansonii itself is native to tropical America.

Monstera adansonii ranges through Central America, the Caribbean and South America. ‘Indonesian Marble’ refers to the cream-and-yellow patterned form in cultivation.

Care for Monstera adansonii ‘Indonesian Marble’

• Light: Use bright, filtered light and keep the plant out of hot direct sun, especially after a move from a darker position.
• Water and substrate: Water a chunky, aerated mix thoroughly after the upper portion has partly dried. Let the pot drain freely after watering and never leave it sitting in collected water; avoid repeated bone-dry cycles.
• Support: Place the nodes against a vertical support and use loose ties on the main stem, leaving the leaf stalks free. Supported growth gives later leaves room to enlarge and develop longer holes.
• Pruning and growing conditions: Feed moderately while the plant is active and keep enough green tissue on any shoot you retain or propagate. Warmth, moderate humidity and airflow help thin new leaves open cleanly.

Common problems with Monstera adansonii ‘Indonesian Marble’

• Brown areas appear in cream or yellow tissue: Hot sun, uneven drying, fertiliser salts or root stress can all damage pale areas. Move the plant out of intense sun, rewet a dry rootball evenly and flush the mix with plain water if salts are likely. If the plant remains wilted or declines while the mix is moist, inspect the roots and remove only tissue that is soft, hollow, slippery or foul-smelling.
• A new shoot carries very little green: Watch the next leaf if the current shoot is otherwise healthy. If successive leaves are weak and almost entirely pale, cut back to a healthy node that previously produced a better mix of green and pale tissue.
• Grey-black or water-soaked patches expand: Spreading soft or water-soaked tissue points to a possible leaf-spot problem. Isolate the plant, keep the foliage dry, remove badly affected material with clean tools if the damage continues to spread and improve airflow around the remaining leaves.
• Leaves become smaller with fewer holes: Young growth may be naturally simpler. On an established vine, make sure the nodes are held against support and that the growing point still has bright indirect light. If the rootball is crowded, move up one pot size; if drainage has slowed because the mix has compacted, replace it with fresh airy substrate. Existing leaves will not gain new holes after these changes.

Monstera adansonii ‘Indonesian Marble’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

Why is it called Monstera adansonii?

Monstera comes from Latin monstrum or monstrosus, words for something unusual or abnormally formed, referring to the striking holes and divisions in the leaves. Adansonii honours French naturalist Michel Adanson.

Michel Adanson established the genus Monstera in 1763 in Familles des plantes, volume 2, page 470.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott first described Monstera adansonii in 1830 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 4, page 1028.