Monstera deliciosa 'Bulbasaur'

Selected from seed-grown plants in China

Chinese grower Yang Liu selected the plant from seed-grown Monstera deliciosa and propagated it.

The species comes from southern Mexico and Guatemala, where its habitats extend from warm lowlands and seasonally dry forest into humid mountain and cloud forest.

Care for fenestrated aroid roots and climbing growth

Growth and support: Give the thickening vine a sturdy vertical support and a stable container. Secure the stem without restricting leaf stalks, new leaves or aerial roots.

Light: Changing the light cannot select the amount or placement of marbling on the next leaf.

Watering: Water once the upper rootball has dried slightly, soaking the whole pot and allowing it to drain. Check below the surface, especially in a deep container.

Roots and substrate: Keep the pot proportional to the rootball. Too much wet substrate around a small root system leaves the roots short of air.

Troubleshooting patterned leaves and climbing growth in Monstera deliciosa 'Bulbasaur'

Normal leaf pattern and shape

Coarse pale and dark marbling is Bulbasaur’s normal pattern. A new colour change needs closer attention when leaves also distort, the spaces between leaves shorten or the whole plant declines. Compare several later leaves before intervening; stable firm patterning does not require treatment.

Yellowing, wilt or brown edges

Older dry mix may pull away from the pot and repel water, leaving the centre dry after a quick watering. Soak it gradually until the full rootball accepts moisture. Wilt in a genuinely wet pot has a different cause. Drain standing water and examine the roots for firm living tissue before watering again. Replace dense substrate around the healthy roots when large soft sections have died, using a container that fits what remains.

Pest signs on leaves and nodes

A folded leaf can be marked by a hard support, by opening while the plant is too dry, or by thrips feeding. Let the next leaf open freely without pulling it apart. Black deposits beside silver streaks support thrips; a clean tear beside an obstacle supports physical damage. Check nodes, leaf undersides and opening growth for scale, cottony mealybugs and thrips before treating the plant.

Changes to check

A greener or paler shoot can reflect the tissue surrounding its bud. Pruning is useful only when the same unwanted colour continues across several leaves. Compare the change with root firmness, exposure and new growth before taking action.

Monstera deliciosa ‘Bulbasaur’ 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.

When was Monstera deliciosa first published, and what does it mean?

Monstera comes from Latin monstrum or monstrosus, words for something unusual or abnormally formed, referring to the striking holes and divisions in the leaves. The Latin epithet deliciosa means delicious, referring to the edible ripe fruit.

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

Frederik Michael Liebmann first described Monstera deliciosa in 1849 in Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra den Naturhistoriske Forening i Kjøbenhavn, volume 1, page 19.