Monstera adansonii 'Indonesian Marble'

A variegated form of a tropical American species

Monstera adansonii is native across tropical America, from Central America and the Caribbean into South America.

‘Indonesian Marble’ is a cultivated variegated form with irregular pale marbling across the leaves.

Steady moisture for marbled, thin leaves

The thin variegated leaves of Monstera adansonii ‘Indonesian Marble’ respond poorly to repeated complete drying. Water the chunky aerated mix thoroughly and repeat after a partial dry-down, never leaving the roots saturated. Keep the plant warm with moderate humidity and airflow.

Provide bright filtered light and protect the cream and pale-yellow areas from hot direct sun. A vertical support helps the vine produce larger, more consistently fenestrated leaves. Apply a balanced fertiliser at moderate strength while new leaves are forming. For propagation, choose a node-bearing section with enough green tissue to establish strongly.

Marbling, pale shoots and leaf damage

• Stable cream and yellow marbling: This is normal.
• Wet, haloed or spreading dead tissue: Move the plant away from others and remove affected material when the damage continues.
• Weak all-pale shoot: Cut back to a node with a better balance of green and pale tissue.
• Brown pale areas: Check for strong sun, heat, uneven drying, mineral buildup or damaged roots.
• Small or weakly perforated leaves: Improve support, light and root health while allowing for juvenile growth.

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.